cue PT Barnum...

[Paul S]

Welcome to the ABA Conway!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://thecabin.net/news/local/2011-10- ... pzzBmDBrok

Before they take to the court for their inaugural professional season, the Conway Cyclones are taking to the community.

The Cyclones, one of the newest of American Basketball Association franchise and Conway’s first pro basketball season, are beginning a Coats for Kids Drive this week, a month before they begin play at the Hendrix Wellness & Athletic Center.

The Conway team, which will play in a division with four other Arkansas teams, will also sponsor a Student-Athletic Achievement initiative to recognize outstanding achievements by young athletes in the community, a “Bullies Are Cowards” program and a Fast Break club that involves the family.

“For us, it’s more than just a game; it’s community oriented,” said Brandon Kimbrough, the chief executive officer for the Conway Cyclones. “What we’re trying to do is all about family.”

Kimbrough, a Little Rock Parkview alumnus who served two tours of duty in Iraq with the military, has been at work building the franchise from the ground up since last summer.

“After I got out of the military, I wanted to still wanted to serve people,” he said. “I’ve learned life is about community and helping other. This is a way to get involved and do things I’ve always dreamed of.”

The Coats for Kids Drive, a 10-week program that begins Monday, may be the first major contact by the Cougars with the community. They open what is projected to be a 30-game season (15 home, 15 away) on Nov. 13.

People are asked to bring new or slightly used coats to any TopLine or Classic Cleaner locations in Conway and the clothing will be donated to needy families. The Cyclones will donate one ticket per coat received.

The Conway team is part of the ABA revival, which started 10 years ago. The old ABA (1967-76), which came along in the 1960s and influenced professional basketball with a flashy style of play, red, white and blue balls and 3-point goals, introduced icons-to-be Julius “Dr. J” Erving, Connie Hawkins, George “Ice Man” Gervin and Moses Malone.

The revived ABA is partly owned by music industry veteran J. Erving and has independently owned franchises throughout the country, recently establishing a division in this regions. Players in the league, similar to Arena Football, have part-time jobs and are paid by the game. Almost all the players on the Cyclone roster, selected by tryouts, have junior college or four-year college experience, Kimbrough said.

“The emphasis, like the old ABA, is on an up-tempo style,” Kimbrough said. “There’s a 24-second clock and red, white and blue basketballs and in most of our games, each team will score 120 to 130 points.”

Another feature will be a “big point light.” At different junctures of the game, often after a steal or on a fast break, a light above the goal will flash. A basket scored when the light is flashing carries an additional point. For example, a player might chose to try a 3-pointer (which would count four points) instead of a layup (which would count for two points).

The league has tried to make tickets affordable, $10 per person. For a $20 per membership, a person can join the Fast Break Club, which is good for two-person admission, discounted future tickets and team merchandise plus eligibility for prizes given away during each game and the possibility to participate in a 3-point shootout and a fan radio interview. A portion of membership sales will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Faulkner County.

“We call ourselves family entertainment, not just sports entertainment,” Kimbrough said. “We want fans to be participants in the game, not just sitting back and watching.”

The Cyclones will play in the ABA’s South Central Conference that includes the Bluff City Reign (Memphis), the Delta Storm (Helena), the Little Rock Lightning, the Missouri Rhythm (Raytown), the Nashville Soul, the Northeast Arkansas Swag (Jonesboro) and the St. Louis Pioneers.

Why Cyclones?

“I wanted a nickname that started with a C to go with Conway and to go with the logo that represents a team storming through the city making things happen,” he said.

Coach of the team is David Clark, who has coached various teams in Little Rock. The assistant is Diedrick Harris, a former ABA player-coach.

“I don’t think the NBA situation (the lockout) will be a negative in what we do,” Kimbrough said. “Some of the ABA teams in other parts of the country will have some NBA players playing for them on a temporary, game-by-game basis to stay in shape and to play basketball somewhere. For awhile, one of the only pro basketball leagues around will be the ABA.

The team will primarily play games at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday.

Conway Cyclone schedule

Once again Joe has found a former vet who wants to do 'good'. Whilst I appreciate the sentiment, this guy is hopelessly out of his depth. He also is one of a long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,long, long, long,,..........list of former military guys trying to do the right thing by joining the ABA.


The cycle contines.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

more media mistakes:

http://www.uccsscribe.com/mobile/sports ... -1.2661980

No NBA, no problem
By Tyler Bodlak
tbodlak@uccs.edu
Remember the ABA? Remember the red, white, and blue balls, the birth of the dunk contest, and the highflying beauty of Dr. J's well-groomed afro?
If you said "yes" to any of these questions, you're either old, or you're lying.
During its far-too-short existence in the late 60s and 70s, the American Basketball Association (ABA) revolutionized the entertainment aspect of professional basketball, providing spectators with the type of up-tempo, rim-rattling action that dominates today's highlights.
The ABA died in 1976, but now it is back. This time around, Colorado Springs is getting in on the action with its own team, the Crusaders.
Established in Nov. 2010, the Colorado Springs Crusaders are one of four teams in the ABA's Rocky Mountain Conference. The other conference teams are the Colorado Cougars (Greeley), the Colorado Kings (Denver…better watch out, Nuggets), and the Wyoming Roughnecks (Gillette, WY).
The Crusaders play their home games at James Irwin High School and are currently 1-0 for the season, having defeated the Wyoming Roughnecks 116-108.
Beginning on Nov. 5th and 6th with a double header against the Colorado Kings, the Crusaders will have games every Saturday and Sunday until the season concludes in early March.
Tickets can be purchased by email at info@crusaderhoops.com or at the door on game days. Students and members of the military both receive ticket discounts.
The original ABA marketed itself as a unique league, one predicated on pure entertainment and innovation, introducing new rules such as the three-point line and a longer shot clock. True to its flashy roots, the resurrected ABA has also implemented a few new twists of its own.
The most unusual of these innovations is the 3-D rule. In short, the 3-D rule awards teams with an extra point per basket after the opposing team has turned the ball over.
Following a turnover in the backcourt, the "3-D rule light" flashes on until another turnover occurs. While the light is on, an additional point is added to all field goals by the team who didn't commit the turnover. Consequently, no lead is ever truly safe in the ABA.
Other unique rules include the sixth foul rule and the four-point shot. The sixth foul rule allows players who have committed six fouls to stay in the game as "six foul players."
When a 6th Foul Player commits a foul, the other team is awarded one (or one additional) free throw, plus the ball.
The four point shot is exactly what it sounds like: a shot that is worth four points. All baskets made from behind the division line are "four pointers."
As NBA labor negotiations drag on and players and owners squabble over exactly how many millions of dollars it takes to feed a family, the season is gradually shrinking into nothingness. The ABA can help fill the void.
No, it's not the NBA, but it doesn't want to be. Just like the ABA of old, this upstart league is dedicated to providing its fans with a unique brand of basketball. High scoring games will be the norm and five point plays are possible (can you say "comeback"?).
If nothing else, the ABA promises to be exciting. After all, the league's commissioner has a little experience when it comes to excitement. You might have heard of him: his name is Julius Erving.

Yup, that last line must come as a surprise to the Kitchen Czar.....

And, even at that - it's not THAT Julius Erving in any case.

[panchess]

The Conway team can pass out the coats when the arena cuts the heat for non-payment of rent.

How many ABA games do you think Mr. Newman actually attends each year?

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.aberdeennews.com/sports/aan- ... 0444.story

Pro Basketball: Aberdeen Attack to compete this winter

Comments
0Share52
BY RYAN DEAL, rdeal@aberdeennews.com
3:05 a.m. CST, December 3, 2011

A basketball town is getting another basketball team.

The Aberdeen Attack will begin play in the American Basketball Association, a semi-professional men's basketball league that was founded in 1999. The current ABA has no affiliation with the original American Basketball Association that merged with the National Basketball Association in 1976.

“We assembled this team as we were playing in tournaments throughout the Midwest region,” assistant general manager/director of operations Derek Campbell said. “We formed a team once our eligibility was exhausted at our previous schools. There was still a lot of talent around right here in Aberdeen. All of us just kind of formed up and made one team to go out and play in amateur tournaments and now we have just started this new expansion team, that we are going to enter into the ABA called the Attack.”

The Attack already played a game last summer against the Wyoming Roughnecks. Aberdeen also played a game last winter against the Colorado Kings. The expansion Attack has six games lined up for this season, but they are on the road and are trying to get one home game scheduled for this season.

“It is just giving guys an opportunity that stayed in the community and had to keep their commitment to their job and their family and still kind of wanted to compete on a high level,” Campbell said. “What we tried to do was seek the local guys that still had that desire.”

Next season, when Aberdeen becomes an official member of the league, it will play its home games at the Aberdeen Civic Arena. The Attack will be members of the Rocky Mountain Division, which has three teams from Colorado and one from Wyoming.

Other divisions throughout the country include: Atlantic South, California/Northwest, Canada, Colonial, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Mid-Central, Northeast, South Central, SoCal and Southwest.

The regular season runs from November through the end of of May. Campbell said a regular season can be about 25 games. The Attack need to pay a $5,000 fee to enter the league.

“For us to reserve the market,” Campbell said, “we have to raise quite a bit of money. There has been a few payments, but not enough to reserve our market. To host those 15 home games there is a fee. We are looking for sponsors. We are looking for, not donations, but somebody who would be in agreement to get this going.”

Campbell said the team currently has about 14 players. The Attack will have a three-point/free throw contest on Thursday, Dec. 15, at the Washington Street Gym.

For more information about the contest or about the team, e-mail hubcityballers@aol.com or check out the Facebook page at Aberdeen Attack Hubcityballers. The ABA web site is abalive.com.

“We are trying to keep to the script of your commitment to your job and your family,” Campbell said. “The ABA is far different than the NBA. The NBA, the guys are getting paid millions to play ball. This is not a situation like that. This is a situation for you to continue to play on at a high level, but also we have to work and also support ourselves and support our families.”

The regular season runs from November through the end of of May. Campbell said a regular season can be about 25 games. The Attack need to pay a $5,000 fee to enter the league.

“For us to reserve the market,” Campbell said, “we have to raise quite a bit of money. There has been a few payments, but not enough to reserve our market. To host those 15 home games there is a fee. We are looking for sponsors. We are looking for, not donations, but somebody who would be in agreement to get this going.”

If they can't pay the $5K (discount rate from Joe?) - well, the conclusion is obvious....

[Paul S]

Thing is, Joe has flown so low under the radar that most other owners in this ridiculous league probably don't see these things. Now wait and see what happens when an owner that paid 10k reads that......or the next sucker, ah sorry, ummm INVESTOR in this circus reads that and also wants a 5k entrance fee.

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.silive.com/sports/index.ssf/ ... dy_to.html

Staten Island Vipers ready to launch pro basketball start behind local couple
Published: Sunday, December 04, 2011, 8:32 AM Updated: Sunday, December 04, 2011, 8:57 AM
By Ernie Palladino/Staten Island Advance
The big things in life often start with a gamble and the larger the bet, the bigger the payoff.
Tompkinsville residents Ayanna Phillip and Kyle Brereton have jumped headlong into the biggest gambit of their lives in hopes of making the Staten Island Vipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) the biggest thing to happen here since the Staten Island Yankees.
Using their own combined life savings, the two have organized, funded, and created the ABA's newest franchise among its 90 teams nationwide. The Vipers, featuring former Island high school stars Zaire Taylor and Lawrence Borha, are scheduled to open their 11-game home schedule at the Gerard Carter Community Center in Stapleton Monday at 7:30 p.m. against the Connecticut Top Ballerz.
For those who believe starting a franchise is as simple as writing a check, think again. The couple, who have two children, have basically put their financial lives on hold to make a go of the Island's first men's pro basketball team in 24 years. The last squad, the Stallions of the defunct United States Basketball League, lasted only two seasons, playing in the summers of 1986 and '87.

There are also plans for a women's franchise, the Lady Vipers, to start play in January.
"It's very scary," said Phillip, who led St. Peter's to four straight Island championships, played collegiately at Seton Hall and is currently listed as a member of the Trinidad & Tobago national team. "We're still in a big hole. But once we start building revenue, we'll be OK. We're just keeping our fingers crossed."
To spur interest, admission to tomorrow night's game will be free. All other games will be priced at $12, $8, and $5 (under 12), with children under 5 admitted free.
The team is scheduled to use the College of Staten Island for future home games.
The couple has yet to draw any meaningful sponsorships, and significant financial backing from the ABA will only come when Phillip and Brereton prove they have a viable franchise. The league is providing uniforms, but they won't be shipped until Dec. 9. So the 0-2 Vipers (they lost road games to the Jersey Express and Connecticut) will have played their first three games in practice garb.
That's a small price to pay for getting started, considering two of the Vipers' Northeast Conference foes fell out of the league before they even started. The conference is down to five teams now.
"It's very difficult without funding and trying to pay for everything out of pocket," the 29-year-old Phillip said. "We're still waiting for sponsors, so everything has been out of Kyle's and my pocket. And the players, it's a professional team so they expect to get paid. But they're all being patient and we're hoping that will happen soon."
Phillip said the players will earn between $150 and $400 per week. And then they have to pay the coach, nine-year NBA veteran Wesley Matthews.
What the Vipers lack in funds, they make up for with local talent. Eight of their 13 players come from Staten Island, led by Taylor, an Advance All Star for Curtis who played in the NCAA Elite Eight with Missouri. He last played 31 games for the Dutch League's Magixx, averaging 13 points, three assists and two steals in 30 minutes per game.
Borha, a Jaques Award winner at MSIT who went to Utah, averaged 31 points for the Sea Gulls in 2002-2003.
Other names listed on the current roster that will be familiar to Island hoop watchers include Jaques-winning St. Peter's guard John Baiano, former Monsignor Farrell big man Adam Jensen, ex-Curtis frontcourt player Angel Branch and Stanley Bolden, an Advance All Star for New Dorp.
Even Brereton, a former Curtis and ABA star with the Harlem Strong Dogs from 2004-06, is thinking about lacing up the sneakers again after the Vipers' slow start.
"The past two games, he's been a little antsy about whether he should play," Phillip said. "He started to work out. He played for Trinidad two years ago, but he had a knee injury and really hasn't played after that."
The CEO of the ABA, Joe Newman, thinks the twosome can make a go of it.
"I've always thought Staten Island would be a great place for an ABA team and have waited for just the right ownership group," Newman said. "In Ayanna and Kyle, we have a wealth of basketball and business experience. In just a few weeks, they've made enormous progress."
That hasn't helped with the pocketbook, however. Phillip works full-time for the External Relations department of Chartis, the insurance arm of AIG, and also runs her family. Putting together a roster on top of all that as the Vipers co-GM with her longtime fiance Brereton wasn't easy.
"I'm getting a lot of gray hairs," she said. "I've got 12 or 13 more children now."
Brereton said the Vipers should be competitive quickly. And that should draw fans to the Carter Center.
"There's so much talent in the New York Metro area," he said. "We know we can make this a successful business and an important part of our community, too."

"We're still in a big hole. But once we start building revenue, we'll be OK. We're just keeping our fingers crossed." - what an EXCELLENT business plan; no doubt it will be part of the Wharton School of Business' curriculum

The couple has yet to draw any meaningful sponsorships, and significant financial backing from the ABA will only come when Phillip and Brereton prove they have a viable franchise. The league is providing uniforms, but they won't be shipped until Dec. 9. - allow me to edit this passage:

The couple has yet to draw any meaningful sponsorships, and significant financial backing from the ABA will only come when Phillip and Brereton prove they can walk across the frozen lakes of Hell.

"It's very difficult without funding and trying to pay for everything out of pocket," the 29-year-old Phillip said. "We're still waiting for sponsors, so everything has been out of Kyle's and my pocket. And the players, it's a professional team so they expect to get paid. But they're all being patient and we're hoping that will happen soon."

Again with the hope and wish business model.

To sum up -

this team is screwed.....

[Paul S]

I have to hand it to ABARedWhiteBlue. I really do. I don't know where you find these articles but.......in the words of Chris Berman

C'mon MAN


This article has managed to sum up the ABA to an absolute perfect. Underfunded, overwhelmed and hopelessly out of their depth. This is simply beyond crazy.

Pooling ones life savings to "invest" in an ABA team and then hoping the league comes through is the absolute worst business plan I have ever heard of

There are so many flashing red lights and warning bells in this article that it simply beggars belief. So many of these simpletons operate on the premise that they 'know' basketball, it's like saying " I can tell time so therefore I can build a watch"


Astounding. An absolute classic article that will have the same providence as the mother Williams stuck at an airport article. Or Spyder Ledesma arrested on a bicycle. Or the owner of the Montreal Matrix who's car was re-po'ed at a game


I just hope these poor people can cut their losses, they seem like the type to borrow to keep this idiotic dream alive

[ABARedWhiteBlue]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/s ... crush.html

Basketball team tries to bring hoops back to Calgary
CBC News Posted: Dec 11, 2011 4:30 PM MT Last Updated: Dec 11, 2011 4:27 PM MT Read 4 comments4

American Basketball Association

A new semi-professional basketball team is hoping Calgary warms up to the sport.

The Calgary Crush would be the only Canadian team in the Amercian Basketball Association. (Meghan Grant/CBC)The Calgary Crush is vying to become the only Canadian team in the American Basketball Association — or ABA.

Dave Lee, who played for Mount Royal and U of C, headed to Europe after graduation in order to stay in the game.

But he’s hopeful the Crush will catch on, allowing him to stay and play in Calgary.

“I’m excited to just see how things unfold and how they go from here,” he said.

There are 59 teams in the ABA. Calgary would be the only Canadian squad.

The new team still needs to be formally approved by ABA officials before it joins the league. Last week the Crush played twice against the second-place Los Angeles Slam, a team that’s stacked with former NBA players.

Calgary lost both times, but only by a few baskets each time. That could bode well as the Crush awaits league approval, which comes only if the team can prove it's competitive.

Coach Eddie Richardson said the goal is to get as many local players on the roster as possible. He wants the team to be a platform for players straight out of university, he added.

“It’s actually a community project because we want people and we want Calgary to be put on the map. So there's some great phenomenal players that come out of Calgary that nobody really knows about that have done some great things,” he said.

But Calgary has proven to be a tough market for basketball.

Six years ago the Calgary Drillers managed only one season in the ABA.

And two earlier attempts to bring pro basketball to Calgary were scuttled after their leagues folded.

The Calgary Outlaws were part of the National Basketball League, which lasted only the 1994 season. And the Calgary 88’s played in the city from 1988 until 1992 when the World Basketball League folded.

If the Crush gets league approval its first official game will be next fall.

The new team still needs to be formally approved by ABA officials before it joins the league. Last week the Crush played twice against the second-place Los Angeles Slam, a team that’s stacked with former NBA players.

Calgary lost both times, but only by a few baskets each time. That could bode well as the Crush awaits league approval, which comes only if the team can prove it's competitive. - since when is proof of ANYTHING OTHER than a negotiable form of payment needed for approval? Either this owner is blowing smoke, or the reporter is sadly unaware.

[The Sweeper]

http://abalive.com/aba-featured-news/ab ... #more-2670

Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) http://www.abalive.com today announced that it will add a team to its Pacific Northwest Division next season - the Kitsap Admirals located in Bremerton, WA.

“Our Pacific Northwest Division has been a bit of a problem with development behind the rest of the country. Next season, we believe we’ll have a full division of teams that will make it much easier for the Seattle Mountaineers and the Washington Rampage,” stated ABA CEO Joe Newman. “The Kitsap Admirals are the first of several new teams we will be adding and we are very pleased with the ownership group of Ashley and Erica Robinson.
The couple owns a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization focusing on faith, family, community and empowerment. Ashley, a former Army veteran and Erica, a former Navy veteran met at the Pearl Harbor Military Base in Honolulu, HI. They also own the ITM Gospel Awards Show that is now seven years old and they have gained the respect and comradery of the Seattle and Tacoma communities. Ashley is also a former ABA professional basketball player.

“We are really excited about this opportunity,” stated Robinson. “Ever since I graduated from Olympic College in 2005, Erica and I and our daughter Eboni and son Isaiah have talked about doing this after I finished playing. We know that we can make it something very special and I would like to thank Don Sims,

owner of the Seattle Mountaineers, for his help in putting this together. We will have a strong division.”

For more information, email kitsapadmirals@gmail.com or call 360 633 7165 or visit http://www.kitsapadmirals.com (to be available shortly) or http://www.abalive.com.

[panchess]

I work with small businesses. This wing and a prayer model isn't particularly unusual, especially for the first startup a person does.

Their web site mentions "the larger the bet, the bigger the payoff." Maybe in Vegas, but not in the real world, and certainly not with your own money.

If there was any out-of-town travel, these guys would be out of business before Christmas. There simply isn't any real income stream, playing in rec centers with no media exposure or bankroll to support marketing.

Bigger venues are going to want a contract, insurance and upfront payment. Hence the Vipers won't be going to one. One of the partners works for AIG, so there is your level of expertise with money.