Detroit Expansion Team
June 12, 2008 - American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release
Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that it is adding a second team to Detroit for the upcoming season. The Detroit Zafir, a team composed of primarily Middle Eastern players was previously announced. According to Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "Detroit is a great basketball city. What we were looking for is an ownership group with strong community ties, good marketing and promotional skills, and an extensive background in basketball. We've found the combination in Gerald Watson and Giovanni Johnson. They are truly a dynamic duo and it should be fun watching them put their organization and team together."
Gerald Watson is currently the President and CEO of Rhythm N Soul.com, an online radio station and Urban News, Sports and Entertainment web site. He specializes in marketing. Before launching Rhythm N Soul.com, he was very successful with Clear Channel Radio with WMXD MIX 92.3 and WJLB FM98 and is the former owner of "Snook's Off the River," a top supper club in Detroit.
The co-owner if Giovanni Johnson, a Detroit businessman, who is currently the owner of a professional basketball team in Mexico, but has been involved with basketball in Detroit for many years. "We have a tremendous amount of talent here, and I'd like to give the players a chance at professional ball. The ABA is a great opportunity for them," said Johnson.
"Drug prevention is very important to me," added Watson. "Already we have partnered with the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD) to target programs at local Detroit schools to the youth on drug prevention. My passion for the community is very strong; in fact, I will become a candidate for the Detroit City Council in 2009. Our team will be a winner on and off the court." For more information,
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.
• Discuss this story on the American Basketball Association message board...
American Basketball Association Stories from June 12, 2008
- Detroit Expansion Team - ABA
- Las Vegas Lights Introduces New Website - Las Vegas Aces
- Buffalo Select All-Stars To Square Off Against Italian National Team - Buffalo Silverbacks
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.
