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December 8, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Answer: DB and others. Next to the NBA Katrina game challenge, we've received more questions about the teams that have been removed from the ABA schedule than any other questions. Contrary to some press reports, teams have not folded. The ABA has suspended teams for failure to meet league requirements as relates to schedules, game operations and other standards of performance. We made a commitment to our team owners and to our fans that there would be a marked improvement this seaosn in ABA team operations. The league is growing rapidly and we need to make sure that we provide high quality professional basketball and entertainment at affordable prices as well as a strong, safe environment for the fans and the teams. That is our goal. After a month of play, we made some assessments and made some moves to strengthen our league.

In spite of teams that have been removed, the ABA still has more well-operated teams than the CBA, USBL and NBDL combined, and a great diversification of ownership (African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women) than the CBA, USBL, NBDL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and NFL combined. We are very proud of this. And the ABA still provides good jobs for nearly 500 players, 100 coaches and 300 officials as well as hundreds of staff and management. We are not happy about having to suspend these teams. In several cases, we have already replaced ownership groups with stronger, more effective owners and of course, we have twenty new teams scheduled to begin in 2006 that will expand the ABA even more. As a side note, Texas, under its present ownership, will be back next season along with three other Texas teams. They were not suspended. Hope this answers your questions. If you have a question, email joenewman@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 December 8, 2005


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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