ABA Announces Seven New Teams in Pacific Northwest

July 2, 2009 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced the largest single expansion ever with seven new teams to play this season in the Pacific Northwest. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "I don't think any league has ever announced seven new teams at one time, but the interest in and the enthusiasm for the ABA has been growing so rapidly and we waited until everything was set prior to making his historic announcement. This is the final piece of the puzzle and fills out our eight divisions beautifully."

A new partnership group consisting of leading businessmen and women in Washington and Oregon, led by Tim and Regina Joseph, owners of the ABA Washington Raptors, have put this together. The partnership group consists of the Josephs, Dr. Richard Wailing, David Husheack, Roger and Lorraine Cambeis, Ken Huckaby and Kathy Knapp. Included will be the ABA's second Asian team named Seattle zhen gan (tremors). Other teams will include the Everett Longshoremen, Yakima Hoppers, Portland Stumpers, Walla Walla Aggies, Vancouver (WA) Explorers and Spokane Sunz. They will complete against the current Washington Raptors and Seattle Mountaineers and will begin play in December.

Dr. Richard Waling is the owner of Starr Chiropractic Center in Seattle. He is committed to promoting the optimal health and well being of his patients and will serve as the Seattle team trainer. He was a surgical technician in the military during Vietnam and was the Athletic Trainer at Michigan State University before going to chiropractic college.

David Hushbeck is a prominent businessman in Oregon having spent 30 years at companies including Hewlett Packard, Alcoa Aluminum, Menio Worldwide and is a specialist in management, finance, sales, marketing and information technology. "I am looking forward to this opportunity of being part of the ABA expansion and providing ABA teams across the Pacific Northwest with entertaining, high paced, and community engaged basketball," stated Hushbeck. "It is exciting to be part of an organization that will provide affordable, entertaining basketball with some of the best players in the world. We will work with the communities to provide games, camps and fund raisers to kids and their families."

Roger and Lorraine Cambeis are residents of the Yakima area and basketball enthusiasts. "We want the kids in the community to know the players, get their autographs, shake their hands and look at them as role models," added Mrs. Cambeis. "Our players will be good citiizens of the community and will provide value to all of the communities we serve. We need to help develop the kids of tomorrow by helping them understand their value and importance."

Ken Huckaby is a prominent business owner in Washington and is the cousin of LA Lakers Hall of Fame inductee, Jerry West. "I am looking forward to working with the Josephs and our other partners to help make our Pacific Northwest Division the best in the ABA. We have great basketball talent here," commented Huckaby.

Kathy Knapp is the owner of Bumblebee Towing and Recovery in Kelso, Washington. "I cannot wait until the season starts," stated Ms. Knapp. "but we have a lot of work to do in just a few months so we're all planning to hit the ground running."

"We are now looking for General Managers for each of the cities," stated Tim Joseph. "If you are interested, please contact me at info@washigtonraptors.com or call 360 274 7084 as soon as possible. "Our web sites for each of the teams will be up shortly." For more information, visit www.washingtonraptors.com or www.abalive.com.

Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.



American Basketball Association Stories from July 2, 2009


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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