Gallup Talons Owner Responds to ABA Changes
April 5, 2006 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Gallup Outlaws News Release
GALLUP, N.M. - The original ownership of the Gallup Talons/ABA franchise said Tuesday, it is appalled that a new ownership group has been awarded the ABA franchise for Gallup.
"I don't want to say I am surprised given the history of Joe Newman's management of the league, but I will say he will not dictate my business or how it is run in Gallup," said Joe Kolb, owner of the team.
Kolb said Newman removed his ownership of the team three times this year. The first was after a dispute in December about the league's lack of providing Gallup a schedule after the George Gervin Division folded. The second was when Gary Grant forfeited a game in Gallup but the blame was put on Kolb, despite officials supporting his position.
The last came when, still after an entire season, of not having a schedule, Kolb found it not to be cost, as had the Utah team that dominated the league last year, and the Florida Pit Bulls who followed suit with the Talons.
"Newman cannot just remove an ownership, after saying they are in good standing," said Kolb. "If he is taking this stand against us most of the teams in this league should be thrown out," said Kolb.
He said Newman has tried to manipulate reasons for iniquities in his management of the league by deferring blame. Kolb said the league paid the Orange County and Hawaii teams to travel to Gallup but when Kolb requested assistance in traveling to the west coast he was denied by Newman. And the league was going to pay Tijuana to come one time and despite a confirmation, they rescinded the game. They were not thrown out of the league but when Kolb did not attend a final California road trip it was another final straw for Newman.
"When Lincoln, St. Louis, and Kansas City folded before the season, I could have followed suit with Texas, but I decided to stay in the league for the sake of my fans and community hoping to see a revised schedule," said Kolb. "Months of promises only resulted in Newman's rhetoric. I struggled without a schedule or support from Newman who personally told me he had been funding teams through much of the season. And when I spoke up, I was thrown out!"
Kolb said there have been repeated incidents of disparate treatment of teams and owners particularly those who criticize Newman or league policies. Kolb said he was promised reimbursement from Newman for sending two players and a coach to the All-Star Game which he and other teams have not seen.
"He talks about the owners but yet he has shown no integrity in any of his dealings with us," said Kolb of Newman. "Despite the obstacles we faced and lack of support from the league we still posted one of the better records of the year," said Kolb.
As for the league's most recent decision to remove him as owner of the franchise rights for Gallup, Kolb said he plans to immediately file a court injunction in Federal Court to block Newman's action and to let a Federal Court judge decide in open court whether Newman's antics are legal. Kolb said although he harbors no personal animosity towards the new ownership, he said they could have handled this situation more professionally.
"My partner and I went to the Money's twice to see if they wanted to unite forces but they never returned our calls," said Kolb. "If Newman and the Money's cared about Gallup they wouldn't have made a back door deal that can divide a small community," said Kolb.
Although confident in the passion and support Gallup has for basketball, Kolb said he took a risk in bringing professional basketball to such a small market and he is offended by former employees and people in the community who have sat back and will now attempt to capitalize on his vision and hard work.
"It's a lot easier sitting back, criticizing then think they can take advantage of someone else's work," said Kolb. "I have an obligation to my partner, who was ignored by Newman, as well as the investment in time and money and aggravation I endured with Newman to simply walk away," said Kolb. "If the league or alleged new ownership want to do this professionally they can discuss a proper buy-out. The life and livelihood of my partner and I are not part of Newman's ABA monopoly game."
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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