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Weekly Sports League and Franchise Report

by Dan Krieger
July 26, 2010 - Golden Baseball League (GBL)


BASEBALL

Pacific Coast League: The plan for the San Diego Padres to move its Portland Beavers Triple-A PCL affiliate to a proposed new ballpark on the campus of Cal State-San Marcos is apparently dead. The Padres have approached the city of Escondido (CA) about building a new ballpark for the PCL team. Escondido is about 30 miles north of San Diego. Two groups in El Paso (TX) are reportedly interested in purchasing the Beavers and relocating the team to Texas.

Golden Baseball League: The GBL has taken over operations of the Yuma Scorpions from the Venezuelan-based group called Golden Glove Baseball, which was operating the team this season. Last season, the Yuma Scorpions were taken over by a team in the Colombian professional league just before the 2009 season, but that deal was not renewed. Golden Glove Baseball was brought in to run the team in 2010 and provide players through its affiliation with the Venezuelan pro league.

Atlantic Baseball League: The proposed new ABL franchise to be located in Sugar Land (TX) has announced a name-the-team contest. The Houston area franchise plans to start play in 2012. This move is part of a westward expansion that could see the league eventually add four to six teams in a new division.

New York-Penn League: There is again speculation that the Burlington-based Vermont Lake Monsters of the short-season Class-A New York Penn League will consider relocation if financing for a new or renovated ballpark is not found. The current ballpark is not up to the standards of Minor League Baseball.

Can-Am League: Preliminary work on a new ballpark in Ramapo (NY) for a proposed Can-Am League team has been delayed. Financing for the project may require a public vote to gain final approval.

Super Independent Baseball: The proposed SIB reports that it is set to make a major announcement following the conclusion of the 2010 independent baseball season. The SIB plans to be the first nationwide independent baseball organization with eight regional divisions throughout the continental United States

BASKETBALL

Premier Basketball League: The new St. John (New Brunswick) PBL franchise, which is the relocated Manchester (NH) Millrats franchise, is not pleased with a proposed change to start the PBL season in October instead of January. The league is considering the season change to accommodate possible Puerto Rican teams that might join for the upcoming season. The St. John franchise is expected to announce the team's nickname next week.

American Basketball Association: The ABA plans to add a team in Little Rock (AR) for its 2011 season. An ABA team called the Arkansas RimRockers was based in Little Rock for the 2004-05 season, but the team left for the National Basketball Association Development League for the 2005-06 season.

Americas Basketball International: The Birmingham-based ABI is still trying to get its league play started and will be holding tryouts in August. The league plans to have U.S.-based teams competing with visiting teams from Central and South America.

Universal Basketball Association: The proposed new UBA recently completed its Playoff Classic tournament with four teams-the Austin Knights, Southern Generals, GIE Morrow Disciples, and Team Japan. The UBA purchased last season's United Regions Basketball League and plans to start league play in the fall of this year.

MidWest Basketball League: The proposed MWBL has announced the Kansas City (MO) Ducks as the league's fourth team and its second team in the Western Division.

FOOTBALL

American Indoor Football Association: The AIFA's Harrisburg (PA) Stampede plans to return for a third season in 2011. The ownership of the league's Wenatchee Valley (WA) Venom franchise plans to return in 2011, but it is not sure if the team will return to the AIFA. A new indoor football team called the Reno (NV) Barons plans to start play in 2011, but has not yet announced which league the team will join. The team has ruled out the Arena Football League, so the likely choices are the AIFA or the Indoor Football League.

Indoor Football League: The new Lehigh Valley-based IFL franchise, which will be based in Bethlehem (PA) and start play in 2011, has announced five potential team nicknames-the Blast, Ironmen, Steelhawks, Vipers, and Gamblers-for a name-the-team contest.

Southern Indoor Football League: The SIFL plans to add at least three new teams for next season, but it could grow from 5 to 12 teams. The primary focus for expansion will be in Georgia and Alabama. Potential groups from Rome (GA), Macon (GA), Augusta (GA), Mobile (AL), Jackson (MS), Biloxi (MS), and several areas in southeast Texas have expressed interest in the SIFL.

Ultimate Indoor Football League: The proposed UIFL announced its new Huntington (WV) team will be called the Huntington Hammer. The UIFL plans to start play in the spring of 2011. In addition to the Hammer, the Canton (OH) Cougars have been announced along with three other markets-Johnstown (PA), Highland Heights (Northern Kentucky), and Pikeville (Eastern Kentucky).

Regional Indoor Football League: The semi-pro RIFL plans to add a Virginia team in 2011. The team is expected to be based in Fredericksburg and could be called the Gorillas. The RIFL's Sarasota Scorpions are leaving the city for a different location on Florida's east coast, so the team will be called the Florida Scorpions in 2011. The proposed Lake Erie Buzz team was suspended by the league due to legal issues.

Independent Indoor Football Alliance: The semi-pro IIFA and the new three-team Independent World Football Alliance recently held an inter-league all-star game.

Canadian Football League: When the new Ottawa franchise joins the CFL in 2013, the franchise will most likely not be using the historic Ottawa Rough Riders nickname that was last used in 1996. When Ottawa was recently granted its new CFL franchise, the league's Saskatchewan Roughriders franchise was given veto power over the use of the Rough Riders name by the Ottawa team. The former Ottawa-based Rough Riders were named for log rollers in the nearby rivers, while the Saskatchewan Roughriders were named for a group that broke wild horses.

HOCKEY

Central Hockey League: For its upcoming 2010-11 season, the CHL plans to rename its Northern Conference and Southern Conference after historical figures representing the IHL/CHL.

All American Hockey League: A new arena has been approved for the AAHL's West Michigan Blizzard, which is a Single-A pro hockey team in the Muskegon area. The league has yet to announce all of the participating teams for the upcoming 2010-11 season.

Continental Junior Hockey League: The new five-team CJHL has announced that its Johnstown (PA) team will be called the Johnstown Wings when the league starts its inaugural season in 2010-11.

Northern Junior Hockey League: The NJHL has announced it will have six teams for the upcoming 2010-11 season. The Troy (OH) Bruins, Jamestown (NY) Jets, and Findlay (OH) Grrrowl have returned, while new teams called the Battle Creek (MI) Revolution, Alpena (MI) Thunder, and Danville (IL) Express have joined. The NJHL also announced the league has joined the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU).

Major League Roller Hockey: The MLRH held a tour event in the Washington (DC) area last weekend. The Miami Mambo, Motor City Hot Wheels, and LA Cru competed in the co-ed SLAMM Hockey League competition. The Maryland Crush, Virginia Wings, and New York Rockers participated in the MLRH Pro competition. The event also featured AAA and AA competitions.

SOCCER

United Soccer Leagues - I-League: The USL has confirmed it will launch its indoor soccer league known as the I-League with an inaugural season running from November 2011 until February or March of 2012. The Rochester (NY) Lancers was the first franchise announced with additional announcements on teams in Syracuse (NY) and Hampton Roads (VA) expected soon. The Rochester Lancers name was used by a professional outdoor soccer club that played in the city from 1967 to 1980. The league will take a regional approach and eventually hopes to have divisions in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest, Mid-South, and Southeast.

Major Indoor Soccer League: The owner of the Rockford (IL) Rampage has put the MISL franchise up for sale with a deadline of August 16. It is hoped that local investors will come forward to keep the franchise in Rockford.

Arena Soccer Association: The new indoor soccer league known as the ASA plans to start its inaugural season in 2011and is meeting with potential ownership groups in the United States and Canada. The original ASA teams will be located in mid-America with plans to expand coast-to-coast.

Dan Krieger is the creator of the Leagueology™ almanac known as "Leagues, Teams & Nicknames", which tracks the changes in league alignments, franchise movements and team nicknames in today's sports world. The latest 2009-10 edition is available at http://www.lulu.com/product/paperback/leagues-teams-nicknames-2009-10/6534940. Dan can be contacted at dankrieger@leaguesteamsnicknames.com.



Golden Baseball League Stories from July 26, 2010


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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