New Mexico Sports Authority gets behind Talons
June 1, 2005 - American Basketball Association (ABA)
Gallup Outlaws News Release
Gallup, NM. In a meeting held May 31 in the Mayor's conference room, Dennis Latta, the Director of the New Mexico Sports Authority under Governor Bill Richardson, gave a statement of support to the Gallup Talons of the American Basketball Association, owned by local businessman Joseph Kolb.
"We have decided to back your team in anyway we can, except with money," said Latta before the small crowd that had assembled, including the Mayor, the City Manager, the Assistant City Manager, and the Director of the Chamber of Commerce. "We don't have a budget for that. Anything else from media relations to advertising we are willing to work with you to make this a success."
While stressing that there are no guarantees, Latta mentioned that the Sports Authority had endorsed the American Basketball Association team in Gallop for a couple of reasons. One is the fact that the Talons' owner lives and works in Gallop and is trying to reach out to the area in ways that are accessible to him. Another is Kolb's willingness to use the Talons as a showcase for Native American basketball talent, and the third reason is that Gallup is well known as a basketball town in New Mexico. The meeting, which lasted over an hour and a half, was lively with questions and answers were batted back and forth between the assembled representatives.
The Talons have announced two tryout dates for players who think they can play. The first one is in Gallup and will be held at the Junior High School June 18-19. The second tryout camp will be held in South Dakota July 23-245 at a location that has not yet been confirmed as of this date. The Talons are also in the process of setting youth camps for basketball players in the area from about the fourth grade through high school. A minimum of eight camps is being scheduled but no definite dates or sites have been established at this time. For more information, contact Joe Kolb at ghsat@hotmail.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.
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