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Big weekend as ABA season unfolds

November 3, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release


Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) starts its full season this weekend as teams all across the country begin their 36 game schedules. With an expansion to 48 teams in both large and small cities from coast to coast as well as Hawaii, Mexico and Canada, basketball fans will have a chance to see exciting, high-scoring professional basketball at affordable prices - what the ABA presents as the best value in sports and entertainment.

For the last four months, over 100 tryout camps hosted over 5000 players eager to have a chance to play in the league including former NBA players, top draft picks, Division I & II college stars, international players, streetball players and others. According to Tom Chichester, ABA Director of Officials, "Our staff of officials has had an opportunity to see many of the tryout camps, practice sessions and exhibition games. The level of talent in this league is amazing and capable of competing at the highest level. Fans will love the ABA game."

Ricardo Richardson, ABA EVP added, "What makes the ABA so unique is also its diversity. Our ownership groups include many African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, Native Americans and women. What they have brought to the ABA is a totally different prospective in sports and entertainment. The uniforms, mascots, dance teams, entertainment, and other things have made the look and feel of the ABA different than any other league in any other sport. There is just something very special about an ABA game - very up close and personal - with players and coaches interacting with the fans, with the fans including parents with children, students, military, senior citizens, disabled - all energized by the terrific quality of basketball, the presentation itself and the affordable prices. I think anyone attending the opener last Sunday in Pittsburgh would testify to this. There's nothing like an ABA game for the money."

"We will not be without our problems," stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO. "We have had record-setting expansion these past two years as we will have again in 2006. Many of these teams are "first year teams" and will need to settle into the season which extends into mid-March. But our ownership groups are good businesspeople and they will solve any problems that may arise. One thing is certain - these owners are committed to providing exciting professional basketball and entertainment at affordable prices. And they will. We hope that the fans will attend the game and give their teams support. And we wish all of the teams the best of luck." For more information, 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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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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