convince me.......

[WHAFAN]

I've been called racist, and harrassed for my thoughts and views. Can anyone here convince me to be a fan of the ABA? I have been going to sporting events in the Chicago area for 30 years, minor leagues included. I know that when I buy a ticket, there will be a game. They will return the next season. Can the same be said for the ABA? 4 teams in Chicago that played a total of 30 games? You don't agree with my views, so I'm a racist and troublemaker. Some of you are worse than born again holy rollers. If we don't agree with you, we're always wrong and your right.

As far as defending myself against being called a racist. People come to this country for personal freedom, yet they are first to complain when someone says something they don't like or agree with. So the majority now needs to cater to the minority? I have a right to speak my mind whether you like it or not. As for the ABA, I see it as an amateur hack league, that will never be credible. Change my mind..........well??

[preeths]

No one's going to change your mind, for better or worse. Are you going to change anyone's by approaching them like this? If not, then why are you wasting your time, not to mention ours? Look, there are more than enough facts to make a good case that the ABA has serious problems. You don't need multiple rants to make the point.

Keep the racial stuff out of this. Some people, immigrants as well as people born here, will try to live off the system. That's just the way it is. No race is inherently any more guilty of it than another. It has nothing to do with basketball.

[WHAFAN]

Forgive me Father, for I have sinned. I didn't realize ABA basketball is a religion rather than what it is.........garbage sports.

[Strong Island Sound]

I've been called racist, and harrassed for my thoughts and views. Can anyone here convince me to be a fan of the ABA? I have been going to sporting events in the Chicago area for 30 years, minor leagues included. I know that when I buy a ticket, there will be a game. They will return the next season. Can the same be said for the ABA? 4 teams in Chicago that played a total of 30 games? You don't agree with my views, so I'm a racist and troublemaker. Some of you are worse than born again holy rollers. If we don't agree with you, we're always wrong and your right.

As far as defending myself against being called a racist. People come to this country for personal freedom, yet they are first to complain when someone says something they don't like or agree with. So the majority now needs to cater to the minority? I have a right to speak my mind whether you like it or not. As for the ABA, I see it as an amateur hack league, that will never be credible. Change my mind..........well??
WHA- you bring up many valid points. The teams that you are referring to from Chicago should not have been a part of any league if they could not sustain their business and schedule. I personally do not know about the situations over there, but I will take your word for it.

Anyone that throws racist barbs at you is 100 percent wrong. That stuff has no place on boards that supposedly are covering sports. From what you are saying, you have good reason to view the ABA as a hack league. Four teams playing 30 games is not acceptable. If you can list some particulars about the teams and what happened to them, I would be interested in hearing about it.

It bothers me that I put so much effort in trying to promote the team that I work for (Sound) and the ABA, in general while there are teams out there that do not even make a good attempt to change the way people such as you view the league. And you have every right to say these things. If I wanted to go to a game in my area and there was no website or one that has not been updated in a month, then when I arrived the venue was closed, I would lose faith, too.

These are the things that the ABA needs to work on, team by team and the league as a whole. Whatever I can do to make improvements will be done.

[Pounder]

Actually, there are things WHA has said that I have questioned. At this point, it's water under the bridge.

SI, your diplomacy SORELY needs to be replicated in the ABA front office.

[Fells]

Actually, there are things WHA has said that I have questioned. At this point, it's water under the bridge.

SI, your diplomacy SORELY needs to be replicated in the ABA front office.

Yeah, that would be an understatement. I have had nothing but good dealings with Joe, and I hope the rest of the league can model his class.

[WHAFAN]

There are 2 basketball teams in Illinois that draw sellouts. The Bulls and the Fighting Illini. The ABA franchises in Chicago drew 0 interest. There was no advertising, no mention of them in papers, radio or TV. When these owners bought in, they didn't have enough capital to make phone calls, let alone advertise. A business with no sign,is a sign of no business. As a matter of fact, the Rockstars played at Northeastern Il University. It's a beautiful facility in a convenient area. I went to one game in Decemeber and there could'nt have been 30 people there. Then they cancel a Sunday game so the players could watch the Bears playoff game? Are you kidding? I left messeges on the team phone number.......no return calls. Emails bounced back, it was a mess. I really can't see anything working here other than whats already here.

[Strong Island Sound]

There are 2 basketball teams in Illinois that draw sellouts. The Bulls and the Fighting Illini. The ABA franchises in Chicago drew 0 interest. There was no advertising, no mention of them in papers, radio or TV. When these owners bought in, they didn't have enough capital to make phone calls, let alone advertise. A business with no sign,is a sign of no business. As a matter of fact, the Rockstars played at Northeastern Il University. It's a beautiful facility in a convenient area. I went to one game in Decemeber and there could'nt have been 30 people there. Then they cancel a Sunday game so the players could watch the Bears playoff game? Are you kidding? I left messeges on the team phone number.......no return calls. Emails bounced back, it was a mess. I really can't see anything working here other than whats already here.

WHA- Thanks for giving me some info on this. Any ABA team would not be in direct competition with an NBA franchise (Bulls) or an established college program with a big following, such as the Illini. But the market can be attacked in other areas. Especially if they have a nice venue to play in.

I'm not in the position to bash other franchises, but I feel that some reccomendations cannot hurt. If that is true about a game being cancelled to watch a game on TV (even the Bears, and speaking from experience by attending a game at Soldier, I know they're a BIG deal there) is not the way to gather a fan base of your own. Perhaps a time change could have been made? I'm not sure because I wasn't there. But it sounds like something could have been done other than a cancellation.

There's no excuse for unreturned phone calls or e-mails bouncing back. That is the least that teams should be able to provide for their fans, or potential fans. But there was one part of your post that I can speak about is capital for advertising. ABA teams are not making money for the most part and advertising rates (especially print) are ridiculous. The Sound did have TV commercials both seasons and we did receive positive feedback from them.

You have to use the funds in the correct areas and there are other ways to get your name out there instead of spending a large amount of cash to put an ad in a newspaper. These are the things that the Sound is doing currently- getting out in the community at events, fund raisers, etc. By lending yourself to other organizations, you are both benefiting. Having your mascot go to a school event with little kids bringing home a photo of him/her with the mascot and a flyer for Mom & dad to read, you may have just picked up a season ticket package for 2 or 3 next season. But you can't go into this thing blind. If the parent reads the flyer and goes to the team website, having a month-old piece up there is just the same as telling them that the team doesn't care and may not even be around come November.

This isn't brain surgery or splitting atoms. You just have to have committed people that are willing to go that extra mile to make it work. There are always going to be people that will not take minor league teams seriously. But for the ones that do, you have to convince them that they are spending their time and money in the right place.

[Fells]

WHA- Thanks for giving me some info on this. Any ABA team would not be in direct competition with an NBA franchise (Bulls) or an established college program with a big following, such as the Illini. But the market can be attacked in other areas. Especially if they have a nice venue to play in.

I'm not in the position to bash other franchises, but I feel that some reccomendations cannot hurt. If that is true about a game being cancelled to watch a game on TV (even the Bears, and speaking from experience by attending a game at Soldier, I know they're a BIG deal there) is not the way to gather a fan base of your own. Perhaps a time change could have been made? I'm not sure because I wasn't there. But it sounds like something could have been done other than a cancellation.

There's no excuse for unreturned phone calls or e-mails bouncing back. That is the least that teams should be able to provide for their fans, or potential fans. But there was one part of your post that I can speak about is capital for advertising. ABA teams are not making money for the most part and advertising rates (especially print) are ridiculous. The Sound did have TV commercials both seasons and we did receive positive feedback from them.

You have to use the funds in the correct areas and there are other ways to get your name out there instead of spending a large amount of cash to put an ad in a newspaper. These are the things that the Sound is doing currently- getting out in the community at events, fund raisers, etc. By lending yourself to other organizations, you are both benefiting. Having your mascot go to a school event with little kids bringing home a photo of him/her with the mascot and a flyer for Mom & dad to read, you may have just picked up a season ticket package for 2 or 3 next season. But you can't go into this thing blind. If the parent reads the flyer and goes to the team website, having a month-old piece up there is just the same as telling them that the team doesn't care and may not even be around come November.

This isn't brain surgery or splitting atoms. You just have to have committed people that are willing to go that extra mile to make it work. There are always going to be people that will not take minor league teams seriously. But for the ones that do, you have to convince them that they are spending their time and money in the right place.

Joe,

I don't know what the rates are down there, but radio advertising tends to be less expensive than print. It also tends to be more effective in the day and age where many people get their news online. As much as I have tried, I cannot read the paper while driving to work.

The ads themselves if they are attention grabbing and have a little spice to them are effective. I will zap along an example of one that did well for the Heaves.

Chris

[Strong Island Sound]

Fells- We did look into radio spots last season, but it was a bit pricey, as well. We did get a radio deal with a local FM station that broadcasted our home games live most of this season. So we did grab some of the radio market in a bigger way than just advertising.

[a1sports]

When you are told you can make lots of money and you dont have any to start with the result is you become one of the 90% of the teams in the ABA. You need a minimum of $ 250,000. Joe gets his 20k and then leaves you hanging. I spoke to Mr. Sullivan last year, owner of the rock stars, his basic problem, Joe sold him a bill of goods. He said Joe never returned phone calls and offered no help, like he promised he would do. When Mr. Sullivan became a pain in the ass to Joe with his phone calls he was told " Its you problem that you dont follow my business model" The last I spoke to Mr. Sullivan, he said he wa going to sue Joe but I havent heard anything about that.

AGAIN, the leader has all you snowed and there isnt a thing you can do about it.

[jamesaba]

When you are told you can make lots of money and you dont have any to start with the result is you become one of the 90% of the teams in the ABA. You need a minimum of $ 250,000. Joe gets his 20k and then leaves you hanging. I spoke to Mr. Sullivan last year, owner of the rock stars, his basic problem, Joe sold him a bill of goods. He said Joe never returned phone calls and offered no help, like he promised he would do. When Mr. Sullivan became a pain in the ass to Joe with his phone calls he was told " Its you problem that you dont follow my business model" The last I spoke to Mr. Sullivan, he said he wa going to sue Joe but I havent heard anything about that.

AGAIN, the leader has all you snowed and there isnt a thing you can do about it.

PULLLEEZZEE.....you mean to tell me that Mr. Sullivan, a NFL vet, can blame his lack of success on the ABA itself or Joe Newman?? Why did Rochester and Vermont and other succeed where he failed?

We all get promised tons of things when we watch an infomercial about a get rich quick scheme or losing weight, but does that mean its THEIR fault if we buy the thing and don't do it right?? No.

The first indicator of success is the market you choose. Vermont and Rochester immediately have a HUGE advantage over the Rockstars because their markets are great for the product and Chicago sucks.

The second indicator is venue. Both Vermont and Rochester have well suited, advantageous venues! The Rockstars initially had a new 7,000 seat arena at Chicago State but when that wasn't going to be built on time, they had to move last minute to another venue....is that Joe Newman's fault????

And from what I heard, the Rockstars sold no sponsors....so how COULD HE MAKE IT...with a last minute, unmarketed venue and no sponsorship dollars in a tough marketplace????