ABA on Spalding.com

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The ABA logo is along the bottom of the pages on www.spalding.com, along with the logos of the NBA, WNBA, NBDL, AFL, etc. of the leagues that they are sponsoring the official game balls.

For a company that has been around since the 1800's, it is not a bad thing to be associated with. The ABA is doing something right with their association with Spalding.

If you go to the 'Basketball' link, the next page (www.spalding.com/basketball/index/php) has an image of a ball rack with all the different types, including the ABA.

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True, but I wonder happened between this:
http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2004081906001
RAWLINGS AND ABA EXTEND AGREEMENT FOR TEN YEARS

19-Aug-2004
St. Louis, MO. Rawlings Sporting Goods Co. Inc., a division of K2, Inc. (NYSE: KTO) announced today that they have agreed to extend their partnership with the ABA for an additional ten years or until 2013.

"We are very excited about our partnership with the ABA. The same enteprenurial spirit that set the ABA apart in the '60's and '70's is very much alive in the ABA of today," said Jeff Rich, Business Unit Manager for Rawlings. "They are experiencing phenomenal growth and we are proud to be a part of their success."

Joe Newman, ABA co-founder explained, "Extending our agreement with Rawlings after less than a year was not a difficult decision. Rawlings has done everything it promised and more - providing the ABA with an exciting new ball of very high quality, affordably priced (fitting the ABA goals of affordability) and extraordinary distribution with outstanding companies. Who could ask more from a partner?"

Rich continued, "The 37 teams of the ABA will play with a distinctive red, white and blue Rawlings TEN panel ball. Rawlings has a long history with the ABA. We made the original red, white and blue ABA ball and we've now helped them to upgrade to the TEN panel technology. Instead of the traditional eight panels on most basketballs, the TEN adds two more panels and seams to help players improve their grip, control and shot."

"Aside from providing the official game ball, Rawlings also sells ABA licensed balls at retail," concluded Rich. "Currently there are several national retailers that carry the ABA TEN basketballs, including Target, Dick's, Sports Authority and Big 5. By the end of the year, several more retailers have committed to carrying the ABA balls as well. This has been a great success with consumers."

ABA TEN's are also available via the ABA website, at www.abalive.com/store/.

and this:
http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2007020506001
SPALDING GOES RED, WHITE AND BLUE
COMPANY TO PRODUCE OFFICIAL BASKETBALL OF THE ABA

05-Feb-2007
Indianapolis, IN -- The American Basketball Association, Inc. (ABA) (OTCBB:ABKB) has selected Spalding, the world's leader in basketball equipment, to produce the famous red, white and blue basketball used by the ABA in all official games. The ball was introduced at the recent ABA All-Star game in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

"We used the new Spalding ball for the games, the three-point competition and the slam dunk competition, and every player loved it," noted Joe Newman, CEO of the ABA. "There is no doubt in my mind that we have the best possible company producing our basketballs. We intend to offer several variations of the ball - from the official ball, to replicas, to an outside rubber ball."

"We are excited to have the red, white and blue basketball back on our home court," stated Dan Touhey, vice president of marketing, Spalding. "From the three-point shot to the new and exciting 3D defense, the ABA is an innovator of the game and share's our philosophy in moving the game forward. The fact that the league is growing on the international stage fits well with our global strategy."

About Spalding
As a Division of Russell Corporation, the Spalding Group consists of three business units: Spalding in Springfield, MA; American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) in Jefferson, IA; and Huffy Sports, in Sussex, WI. The three companies, collectively combined, are now the largest basketball equipment suppler in the world. Spalding is the official basketball supplier of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and Woman's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the official backboard of the NBA and NCAA, the official volleyball of the King of the Beach Volleyball Tour, and the official football of the Arena Football League (AFL) and Pop Warner. For more information, visit www.spalding.com.

About the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association, Inc. is an Indiana corporation that is engaged in operating a professional basketball league composed of teams in the United States, Canada and Mexico. The ABA is innovative in its approach to bring diverse, family-friendly, exciting basketball to true fans. ABA also markets league-related merchandise and other products and is developing or expanding media outlets and ancillary entertainment businesses that complement the league's operations. For more information about the ABA please visit www.abalive.com.