The American Basketball Association Growing in leaps and bounds and eventually coming to Vancouver Kevin Welsh, Features Editor TE he American Basketball Association (ABA) is best known as the organization that challenged the National Basketball Association (NBA) between 1967 and 1976 as the premier pro- fessional basketball league in the world. The maverick league eventually failed in its attempt to dethrone the NBA, but did make a lasting impression on the pro bas- ketball landscape, bringing us Julius “Dr. J” Irving, the 3-point shot, the slam-dunk contest, and the red, white, and blue ball. Today, four original ABA clubs, the San Antonio Spurs, Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and New Jersey Nets, live on in the NBA. In the year 2000 the ABA was reborn, albeit not as a direct rival to the NBA. Today, the ABA is devoted to developing professional players and providing family entertainment at reasonable prices. It has also quickly become the largest profession- al basketball league ever, and continues to expand on an almost daily basis. Since its re-inception, the ABA has grown from eight clubs to 52 and counting. The league has clubs in the US, Mexico, and Canada, and their website has listed Vancouver as an expansion city for well over a year, though little local press has been generated and the status of that franchise is current- ly in doubt. The ABA tipped off its new life in 2000 with ten charter franchises. Before the first game was played, two clubs, the Anaheim Roadrunners and New York Express, fold- ed. The league completed its first season with eight teams, and the Detroit Dogs defeated the Chicago Skyliners for the inaugural championship. The ABA returned for the 2001/02 season with seven teams, yet only three of the original clubs remained. The league was inactive for the 2002/03 season before returning in 2003/04 with seven clubs. To the casual observer, the league appeared to be on life support. 20 | www.theotherpress.ca Before the 2004/05 season, though, the ABA began expanding aggressively, even- tually welcoming 29 new clubs. At any given time, the number of expansion teams was higher or lower. It appeared to be anar- chy: press releases would be issued trumpeting new teams, who sometimes disappeared without a trace. Vancouver and the Calgary Drillers were originally supposed to be the first two ever Canadian ABA franchises, but the Vancouver owners decided to wait until the 2005/06 season to commence play. Membership issues did not settle down after the season commenced. The Calgary Drillers failed to complete their schedule, though they do plan on returning next sea- son. As well, many of the expansion teams were plagued with ownership troubles. Shortly before or during the season, the Atlanta Mustangs became the Vision, the Visalia (California) Dawgs became the Central Dawgs, the Cincinnati Blaze became the the Motown (Detroit) Jammers became the Detroit Wheels, the Orange County Crush became the Buzz, the Harlem Revival became the Strong Dogs, and the Philadelphia Fusion became the Colonials. Not content (or financially viable) to re-brand themselves, the Oklahoma City Ballhawgs relocated to Baton Rouge and became the marvellously named Louisiana Cajun Pelicans. What makes the ABA such an attractive investment to potential owners is the rela- tive ease of securing a franchise and the freedom given to operate it. On the ABA website there is a link to reserve a market. According to ABA CEO Joe Newman, the cost to reserve a market is $20,000 (US). Apart from that, there is no expansion fee or other payments to the league. Each team may keep all revenue derived from spon- sorship, ticket sales, merchandise, or broadcast deals. Travel costs are kept to a minimum by having each team play region- al schedules, competing primarily against Monarchs, local ABA clubs. With a cost of $20,000 (cheap by pro- fessional sports standards) the strength of each club varies greatly—from flagship, professionally run clubs like the Arkansas RimRockers and Utah Snowbears, to the Ontario (California) Warriors, who aver- aged around 200 fans per game and had to deal with their entire roster quitting shortly before a scheduled pre-season game. The Warriors, like most ABA clubs who suf- fered financial hardship during the season, prevailed, rebuilt their team, finished the season, and are currently expected back for the 2005/06 season. These hardships have not muted the ABA’s enthusiasm towards expansion and membership growth, but it did prompt them to set new membership standards and requirements at their recent owners’ meeting in Indianapolis. Among the areas targeted for new standards were capital requirements, websites, marketing and business plans, public relations, and nation- al sponsor responsibilities. Many team owners enthusiastically endorsed the new standards set at the meetings, yet there were still some disconcerting develop- ments. Larry Crain, the owner of the league champion Arkansas RimRockers, issued the ABA a series of ultimatums that demanded a cap of 30 teams on league membership (which would force nearly half of the current teams to fold), the for- mation of a national super division of 12 selected clubs, and that Crain, himself, be named Commissioner of the super divi- sion. The ABA rejected the demands, and the RimRockers will not be returning next season. As well as the RimRockers leaving the ABA, Vancouver was recently removed from the list of confirmed expansion teams. The club was to be owned by John Brazier, and was planning to operate with a largely Chinese roster in an effort to capi- talize on an audience the NBA Grizzlies never properly targeted during their brief stay in Vancouver. As well, they were to be coached by Jim Harrick, a veteran of 23 seasons as a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) coach who lead the UCLA Bruins to a national championship in 1995 and was honoured as National Coach of the Year the same season. However, when everything was settled, the franchise simply did not have the resources to field a team. On the fate of Vancouver in the ABA, Newman told the Other Press, “We have removed Vancouver temporarily from the ABA website. We are working with a different group and are trying to get a team set there for next season. The ABA likes Vancouver. We'll do whatever it takes to make it happen.” Whatever it takes can take a lot. While Vancouver sports fans have embraced baseball and soccer at the minor-league level, other sports, like lacrosse and roller hockey, have failed to become financially viable over the long term. Vancouver has also had a sparse, checkered past with bas- ketball. The Vancouver Hornets played in the Pacific Professional Basketball League from 1946-1948 against teams like the Asotria Royal Chinooks, Seattle Blue Devils, and Spokane Orphans. Pro basket- ball didn’t return until 1988 when the Vancouver Nighthawks spent one season playing out of cavernous BC Place in the World Basketball League, an organization that enforced a height restriction on play- ers. Then, of course, there was the brief, ill-fated affair with the NBA Vancouver Grizzlies. Nonetheless, the ABA seems deter- mined to bring Vancouver on board. Whether the upcoming 2005/06 season, or the season after that, expect a local team to be competing against the likes of the Bellevue (Washington) Blackhawks, New Mexico Style, Portland Reign, San Francisco Pilots, San Jose Skyrockets, and the Bellingham Slam. May 11/2005