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RimRockers will not return to ABA

April 19, 2005 - NBA G League (G League)
Arkansas RimRockers News Release


Indianapolis, IN. The American Basketball Association (ABA) announced that the defending champion Arkansas RimRockers will not return to the ABA next season. On Thursday, the ABA received notice from Larry Crain, RimRocker owner, that "...the Arkansas RimRocker team does not plan on playing in the ABA next year..."

Recently, Crain gave the professional basketball league a series of ultimatums that included, but were not limited to:

1. The league must form a national super division of 12 selected teams,

2. That the national super division play in larger venues, travel by air, and allow higher salary caps,

3. That the ABA stops its expansion at around 30 teams,

4. That Larry Crain be made Commissioner of the super division.

The ABA rejected all of these things for the followings reasons:

1. The formation of a national super division would reduce all other ABA teams to "minor status" and would de-value the non-national super division teams,

2. The formation of this division would create a situation where the best available 144 players would play in the division and hurt the caliber of play throughout the league. Increased operating expenses (salaries, travel, venues) would drive up the cost of tickets and impact the family-friendly, affordable goal of the ABA,

3. The league felt strongly that exciting ABA basketball could be played nationwide and that divisions similar to those of the NCAA could be created, creating great regional rivalries and lowering operational costs so that ticket prices could remain low,

4. The league did not feel comfortable having Larry Crain as a Commissioner.

The ABA respects the Arkansas RimRockers, Larry Crain, Otis Birdsong, Joe Harge and others in their fine organization. They did an outstanding job and deserve much credit.

We are not pleased with Larry Crain's decision, but it was his to make. His vision of the ABA and the ABA's vision of the ABA are different. The goal of the ABA is to provide exciting, fan-friendly, family-friendly professional basketball at affordable prices - to provide fans with an opportunity to see the extended careers of their local high school and college players once again. We wish the Arkansas RimRockers well.

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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.

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