Pittsburgh Xplosion join Continental Basketball Association
September 27, 2006 - Continental Basketball Association 1 (CBA 1)
Pittsburgh Xplosion News Release
PITTSBURGH, September 27, 2006 - The Pittsburgh Xplosion announced today its partnership with Trinity Sports & Entertainment Group Inc. (TSEG) and immediate admission into the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for the 2006-07 season. The CBA, along with Trinity, aims to reposition itself this season as the "The World's League," becoming truly continental by expanding to larger media markets in the United States and growing globally to include international competition.
"We are truly excited to join the Trinity and CBA families," stated Xplosion general manager and majority owner Freddie Lewis. "The CBA has been in business for over 60 years and not only do we feel it is essential to provide our fans, sponsors and partners with that level of professionalism and stability, the proposition of international play is also very intriguing. Basketball has taken off globally and there are no limits to the possibilities for growth."
Lewis, who had an 11-year pro career in the NBA and ABA, is the driving force behind the Xplosion. An original ABA legend, he averaged 17 points and 4.2 assists per game in nine ABA seasons with the Indiana Pacers and the St. Louis Spirit. A three-time ABA champion with the Pacers, he was a four-time league All-Star and named MVP of the 1974-75 contest.
"Joining the CBA provided an opportunity to elevate our level of competition and also to partner with an established league that has brand name credibility across the country," added team CEO Richard Hersperger. "Our affiliation with Trinity and the CBA's new positioning as 'The World's League' will expand our marketing, media and advertising opportunities on a national and global scale."
TSEG is a sports and entertainment holding and management company. Conceptualized in early 2006, the Company was formed by Jay Fiedler (10-year veteran NFL quarterback), Tim Hardaway (five-time NBA All-Star) and Demetrius Ford (South Florida investment banker) to acquire and develop professional sports franchises throughout the United States, and eventually, internationally. Through its relationship with The Peebles Corporation, TSEG will also seek to build and manage state of the art, multi-use sports and entertainment complexes in certain markets in need of urban economic revitalization and receptive and supportive of a new professional sports franchise.
Ford, Trinity's CEO stated, "The CBA is a brand that's been operating continuously for 61 years. With the departure of several teams to the NBA Development League at the end of last season, the CBA was left with four teams and a very uncertain future. My partners and I saw an opportunity to be directly involved in repositioning the CBA as a true 'Continental League,' and by bringing the best run organizations from the ABA to the CBA to replace those that moved on to their perceived greener pastures, we are building a solid foundation that's sure to bolster major expansion over the next 2-3 years. This new CBA will be the greatest ever, and I've extremely excited and proud to be a part of its bright future."
This marks the return to the Steel City for the CBA after 11 years. In 1994-95, the Pittsburgh Piranhas were the Eastern Division Champions and were eliminated in the CBA Finals by the Yakima Sunkings.
"The CBA is excited about returning to Pittsburgh," said CBA Director of Operations Dennis Truax. "It's a great sports town with passionate fans. The Xplosion have an established organization and we are excited to welcome them to the CBA. We're thrilled that basketball is back in the Steel City after a long absence."
Recognized as the world's oldest professional basketball league, the CBA begins its 61st season of competition in 2006-07. Now branded as "The World's League," the CBA features nine teams across the United States and one in Canada with the goal of implementing international competition by 2007-08. The CBA has produced many of basketball's most recognizable names including current NBA head coaches Rick Carlisle, Maurice Cheeks, Phil Jackson, George Karl and Flip Saunders along with notable players such as Mark Blount, Bruce Bowen, Stephen Jackson, Mike James, Bo Outlaw and David Wesley.
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