Ask the CEO

June 7, 2007 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Question from KW, Wilmington plus many others: "Would the ABA allow teams that have gone to other leagues back into the ABA?"

Answer: KW and others. Thank you for the emails and questions. I am not sure exactly what triggered such a flurry of the same question on one day. And I certainly do not want to stir up controversy. The questions (and comments) on this subject are really very interesting and there is no single answer. Obviously, we are not pleased when a team chooses to go to another league. We believe that the ABA is the best option for professional basketball ownership outside of the NBA. And we work very hard to make it the best. We think we have the best ownership group in the history of professional basketball and it is also the most diversified with the majority of our teams owned by African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women. Our business model and overall operating plan, including The Keys to Success, when followed, have no equal in professional sports.

There are teams that have left for another league that would not be welcome back into the ABA. (In answer to the many specific questions - Rochester, Maryland, Florida Pit Bulls, and Hollywood would not be welcomed back to the ABA. There are teams that would be welcomed back. (In answer to many specific questions - Reading, Wilmington, Indiana (not in Anderson), Pittsburgh, Minot ND (formerly San Jose) would be welcomed back). However, unlike other leagues, we do not recruit or solicit teams from other leagues. We consider the recruitment of other leagues' teams to be unethical and lacking in sportsmanship.

As I've stated many times in Ask the CEO, we believe in the free enterprise system and we believe in good healthy competition. There is plenty of room for Lowes, Home Depot, Ace Hardware. There is plenty of room for McDonalds, Burger King, Wendys. There is plenty of room for United, Delta, Northwest and US Airways.

They compete and it is healthy. Competition is the cornerstone of capitalism and it is good.

We do not believe in building your business by hurting or disparaging your competition (though this answer isn't too friendly, is it?). For other leagues to use the solicitation of ABA teams as their primary marketing plan is wrong. And businesses that do that might succeed in the short run, but certainly not in the long run. Ethics and good sportsmanship still count.

And I can only imagine the response my answer will trigger. Again, thank you for so much interest. It is exciting to know that so many people have such a great interest in the ABA. If you have a question, email conniejoenewman@aol.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 June 7, 2007


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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