Dallas Generals Chris Terrell Wants North Texas Fresh Kicked Out of ABA

December 8, 2009 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
North Texas Fresh News Release


FORT WORTH - Dallas Generals Coach Chris Terrell sends out email to Owner/CEOof the North Texas Fresh, Jay Bowdy in regards to asking for the North Texas Fresh and Bowdy to be removed from the ABA. Dallas Generals and North Texas Fresh are the newest rivalry in the ABA this season and have already shown that it is a heated battle with the announcement fromboth Jay Bowdy and Assistant Coach Lisa Bowdy in the findings ofsuch error on film.

"To hear about someone wanting us [North Texas Fresh] out of the league because of their co- worker making a mistake is horrendous," stated Assistant Coach Lisa Bowdy. "We play basketball fairly and just was pointing out the error. It would be different if we watched the film and someone travel but there wasn't a call, but the referee called it and the guy still gave them 3 points 10 seconds later. I am behind my son [Jay Bowdy] 100% for protecting his franchise."

After the Fresh released the article expressing that the truth had been found, Chris Terrell sent an email for Bowdy to be removed from the League. (listed below)

"I have to do what I have to when it comes to pointing out costly mistakes," stated Owner/CEO Jay Bowdy. "I'm probably one of the youngest Owners in the history of the ABA but im not illiterate or ignorant of certain things. Never has my intent been made to make deformatory comments towards a franchise. If they want to count trash talk in they maybe all of us needs to get sued, even fans. I have the truth in front of me and it's my job to present and if I am lying about the score being changed then I will personally remove myself from the ABA, but I have witnesses from the game that worked broadcasting for the Generals that sent me emails also showing that the score was really 101 - 100 North Texas Fresh. It's too many witnesses on their side that have contacted us about the same situation."

The North Texas Fresh are still a current ABA franchise, even with the Dallas Generals Coach wanting them out because of their finding of the error. The North Texas Fresh face no penalties and will continue noting themselves as 3 - 0 with their next two games on the road against the West Texas Whirlwinds and Texas Fuel before traveling back home for another game againt the Dallas Generals. "We here to win and just want fairness," stated Assistant Coach Lisa Bowdy. "You can't blame ones for sticking up for what's right, especially if the evidence is right in front of you. Nice, clean, hard, fun, but "fair" basketball is what we want and that is what the North Texas Fresh are all about."REMARKS OF CHRIS TERRELL ARE SHOWN BELOW

----- Forwarded Message ----

From: "chris@dallasgenerals.com"

To: northtexasfresh@yahoo.com

Sent: Tue, December 8, 2009 12:04:41 PM

Subject: Defamatory comments made public, legal recourse, libel

Keio, Per our conversation, Jay of the North Texas Fresh has published erroneous and defamatory statements that could cause harm to the Dallas Generals organization and to the ABA. I just hope he doesn't get on usbasket, oursportscentral, and his website with this stuff like he has his facebook page. He stated that he will report a different score and change records of teams on his website? I think we may need to consult with legal. Below is the definitions ofmalice, defamatory statements, and libel:

----Proof of malice allows a party defamed to sue for general damages for damage to reputation, while an inadvertent libel limits the damages to actual harm (such as loss of business) called special damages. Libel per se involves statements so vicious that malice is assumed and does not require a proof of intent to get an award of general damages.Most states provide for a party defamed by a periodical to demand a published retraction. If the correction is made, then there is no right to file a lawsuit. The rules covering libel against a "public figure" (particularly a political or governmental person) are special, based on U.S. Supreme Court decisions. The key is that to uphold the right to express opinions or fair comment on public figures, the libel must be malicious to constitute grounds for a lawsuit for damages. Minor errors in reporting are not libel, such as saying Mrs. Jones was 55 when she was only 48, or getting an address or title incorrect.To broadcast or publish a written defamatory statementis considered libel.----

I don't want to make a big deal of this issue, but we have to protect ourselves if Jay is publishing these statements online, it not only will hurt our reputation but also the league!

Chris Terrell

PS: After originally sending this email, I have found that the North Texas Fresh has gone ahead and published these things on their website, on oursportscentral, it has been sent and probably will be posted on usbasket and I'm afraid to say that it will probably be picked up by the local media such as the dallas morning news and the fort worth star telegram. This is going to hurt our franchise and the league as the defamatory statements (www.northtexasfresh.com http://www.oursportscentral.com/sports/?t_id2332) call into question the integrity of the Dallas Generals organization and the integrity of the ABA officials. This is libel and does not follow league protocol as to how a dispute is handled. I am asking for an immediate retraction of all defamatory and libel statements published online and for the league to take necessary action to remove the franchise rights to any team that purposefully sets out to cause harm to another organization and who does not follow league standards, rules, and protocol.

The scorebook in game is what is referred to in the event their is a dispute as it relates to the score. The officials have the ability, at a dead ball, to refer back to the scorebook and make any necessary correction. Both teams have the ability to have a stats person at the table and any dispute should be dealt with at the time of the dispute and not 3 days later in the press.

This is going to bring harm to the business of the Dallas Generals organization and to the ABA. I am urging my organization and the league to take necessary legal action to force an injunction and a full retraction of defamatory remarks made public. This is not the first time Mr. Bowdy and the North Texas Fresh organization has made public comments against another team in the ABA.In addition to filing legal action, I am asking the league to immediately remove Jay Bowdy and the North Texas Fresh from the ABA. My organization will do what is necessary to step in and see the games are played.

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, 2009


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