ABA to return to Chicago in 2006
July 12, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Chicago Rockstars News Release
Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association today announced that the league would return to Chicago in 2006. Joe Newman, ABA CEO, stated, "This is a good day. We have wanted to return to Chicago; we have not been able to find the right ownership group that could maximize the potential that this fabulous city provides. Now we have and we have no doubt that Chicago will be one of the premiere operations in the league. The group has terrific experience in sports, the ABA, entertainment and knows Chicago inside and out. Who knows, maybe they can even get on Oprah. They are strong."
The team will be co-owned by Mrs. Veronica Sullivan and Dominick Young. Mrs. Sullivan is a University of Illinois at Chicago alumnus, a former Junior National Olympian Gymast and wife of former University of Illinois All-American and NFL player Marques Sullivan. Mrs. Sullivan is CEO of Rockstar Entertainment, an up and coming event promotion company.
Dominick Young is a former ABA team owner in Visalia, CA as well as a standout basketball player at Fresno State University, and in professional leagues including the ABA.
According to Mrs. Sullivan, "The main objective is to provide Chicagoland with a high level of competition, entertainment and affordable prices for fans of the ABA. Even the team's dance squad, the "Rock Stars," will have a lot of flare. Incidentally, it will be led by former Michigan All-American gymnast, Ayana Peters. Ms. Peters will be working with the "Rock Stars" in conjunction with many of Chicago's premiere R&B singers and rappers for spectacular half-time shows." She added, "Chicago is definitely one of the sports capitals of the world. We simply want to give back what the city has given to us; exciting, competitive and passionate sport for the masses.
Dominick Young added, "First, the Chicago Rockets would like to thank the ABA for its support with our efforts to produce a great ABA team in Chicago. My first experience as an owner in Visalia did not work out as well as I would have hoped; I learned a lot - mostly to make sure that I had very strong people with me (I do) and the capital to do the things necessary to be a successful operation (we have) - and to be in a great basketball city (we are). We have from now until November 2006 to get the job done and we've started already. We'll be almost as active as those teams playing this season."
For more information, call 312 914 6010 or email chitownrocketsaba@yahoo.com or visit 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.
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