Inglewood joins ABA

Published on April 27, 2005 under American Basketball Association (ABA) News Release

Inglewood, CA. Nine Sports Entertainment LLC today announced that it would locate its ABA professional basketball team in Inglewood, California. Inglewood's diversity is reflected by the ABA as an international league with teams in the US, Mexico and Canada. This brings the number of announced ABA teams in California to eight (8) committed to play in the 2005-2006 season beginning in November with others on the drawing board.

With the support of the city and its residents, the team is committed to community involvement in Inglewood along with its fan-exciting professional basketball. Mayor Roosevelt F. Dorn supports the ABA Inglewood team and says, "I am pleased by the fact that Sean Higgins has chosen Inglewood as the proposed site of a new ABA basketball team. As a former NBA player, Mr. Higgins has the background, knowledge and experience necessary to make this project a success. I am supportive of Mr. Higgin's efforts to bring this team to our city."

According to Higgins, the principal owner of the team, "Mike Casey joins the Inglewood team as a partner, and former NBA coach, Don Casey joins the team as sports advisor. He brings great experience and knowledge to our organization with nearly 20 years in the NBA including Head Coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey Nets. And at the collegiate level, he coached at Temple University and he has an international presence. We are looking forward to making Inglewood our home and to playing in Southern California this season."

Higgins added, "This is like a homecoming for me and an opportunity for community service. I'm looking forward to the excitement, the competition, and the positive image that professional basketball can bring. We believe that ABA basketball reflects the kind of family, something-for-everyone kind of entertainment that the city of Inglewood wants to offer. We're planning outreach activities for the community's youth and seniors. With our affordable ticket prices, we expect that everyone will have an opportunity to experience sports and entertainment at the fabulous Forum."

Higgins also joins the Inglewood team as Head Coach and says, "I loved coaching in the ABA and look forward to bringing in top quality players to fit into our Inglewood program." Higgins coached the Fresno Heatwave in 2003-2004.

The Inglewood team has yet to be named and expects to play at the Forum in Inglewood. "The Forum is looking forward to hosting quality basketball again," says Vernon Giscombe, GM of SMG at the Forum. More information is to come about the team organization, ticket sales, community involvement, recruitment, tryouts, venue and the community naming of the team.

For more information, contact the team at email NineProHoops@yahoo.com or 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.

American Basketball Association Stories from April 27, 2005

• Inglewood joins ABA - ABA

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