ABA: Exclusive: With Co-Founder and Chairman Joe Newman
Jarrod Rogol
November 21, 2005
What is a basketball league? It is a league where for four quarters, players run up and down a court and a lot of history has been made over the years. “Dr. J” Julius Erving, George Gervin, Rick Barry, Larry Brown and many others found their way to the NBA by way of the American Basketball Association (ABA). I recently had the chance to interview Co-Founder and Chairman Mr. Joe Newman.
JR: Explain how the ABA was founded?
JN: The ABA was founded by Dick Tinkham, an Indianapolis attorney and me. Dick co-founded the original ABA, the original Indiana Pacers and was the lead attorney that sent the 4 ABA teams into the NBA in the '70s. Dick and I felt that the NBA had gotten out of touch with the common people - families with children, students, seniors, military and disabled - that it had gotten too expensive for people to attend games. We also felt that the NBA game was dull and boring and not as interesting to watch as college and international games. The ABA is designed to be fan friendly, family friendly, exciting and affordable.
JR: 60-percent of the teams are comprised of minority and or women ownership groups. Discuss the importance of this?
JN: The reason for the diversity of ownership is because it is the right thing to do. We felt that minorities were not getting an opportunity for ownership - African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women in particular. Since we started on our diversity, a few opportunities have opened in the NBA, but the NFL, MLB and NHL is still vir
JR: The ABA is interseting in the fact that Beijing is the first team in the US with a roster completely made of foreign players?
JN: It is the first of several teams we anticipate in the next two years with complete rosters made up from an individual country. With large numbers of Latins, Asians, Europeans, Africans, etc in the US, it makes good sense for us to have representative teams. We are talking with Mongolia, Mexico, Italy and the Philippines now.
JR: When people look at the ABA some say it's an "alternative" to the NBA. Discuss how the ABA fits this claim and what makes it different from the NBA?
JN: We are not an alternative to the NBA. We are another league just as Target competes with Walmart, Burger King with McDonalds, Lowes with Home Depot. We are fan friendly and affordable. The NBA is not affordable but is making some strides to be more fan friendly.
JR: Speaking of the NBA, there's been a lot of talk and confusion about an ABA/NBDL Match-up. If you would, clear up the confusion?
JN: There has been a lot of talk about a game between the NBDL and the ABA, but it is all unofficial. We have not spoken with the NBDL. We would be open to having the conversation and a game if it were to happen.
JR: It seems like the ABA does a lot when it comes to supporting not only the troops overseas, but also when it comes to the "Home Court," with the Red Cross, etc. Discuss some of the involvement with a few of the organizations?
JN: The ABA, like most professional sports leagues, is a socially-conscious league and does what it can whenever it can to be helpful to good causes. We do what we do, we don't want to boast about it or exploit it. But we will continue to help whereever and whenever we can. Thanks for asking.
JR: Discuss your 5year plan for the ABA? Where do you see things in 2010?
JN: We believe we'll settle in around 100 teams throughout the US and will provide millions of people with the opportunity to see great basketball at affordable prices.
JR Closing comments comments?
JN Like any business, the ABA is not without its problems and not without its critics. But when you think of the fact that we have over 500 players and 100 coaches doing what they love to do, play and coach basketball, over 300 referees doing what they love to do, ref basketball, and over 500 employees with good jobs, the ABA is making quite an impact and quite a statement in the world of professional sports - and we appreciate people like you who recognize this and write about us.
Official Site: American Basketball Association
JR: Explain how the ABA was founded?
JN: The ABA was founded by Dick Tinkham, an Indianapolis attorney and me. Dick co-founded the original ABA, the original Indiana Pacers and was the lead attorney that sent the 4 ABA teams into the NBA in the '70s. Dick and I felt that the NBA had gotten out of touch with the common people - families with children, students, seniors, military and disabled - that it had gotten too expensive for people to attend games. We also felt that the NBA game was dull and boring and not as interesting to watch as college and international games. The ABA is designed to be fan friendly, family friendly, exciting and affordable.
JR: 60-percent of the teams are comprised of minority and or women ownership groups. Discuss the importance of this?
JN: The reason for the diversity of ownership is because it is the right thing to do. We felt that minorities were not getting an opportunity for ownership - African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and women in particular. Since we started on our diversity, a few opportunities have opened in the NBA, but the NFL, MLB and NHL is still vir
JR: The ABA is interseting in the fact that Beijing is the first team in the US with a roster completely made of foreign players?
JN: It is the first of several teams we anticipate in the next two years with complete rosters made up from an individual country. With large numbers of Latins, Asians, Europeans, Africans, etc in the US, it makes good sense for us to have representative teams. We are talking with Mongolia, Mexico, Italy and the Philippines now.
JR: When people look at the ABA some say it's an "alternative" to the NBA. Discuss how the ABA fits this claim and what makes it different from the NBA?
JN: We are not an alternative to the NBA. We are another league just as Target competes with Walmart, Burger King with McDonalds, Lowes with Home Depot. We are fan friendly and affordable. The NBA is not affordable but is making some strides to be more fan friendly.
JR: Speaking of the NBA, there's been a lot of talk and confusion about an ABA/NBDL Match-up. If you would, clear up the confusion?
JN: There has been a lot of talk about a game between the NBDL and the ABA, but it is all unofficial. We have not spoken with the NBDL. We would be open to having the conversation and a game if it were to happen.
JR: It seems like the ABA does a lot when it comes to supporting not only the troops overseas, but also when it comes to the "Home Court," with the Red Cross, etc. Discuss some of the involvement with a few of the organizations?
JN: The ABA, like most professional sports leagues, is a socially-conscious league and does what it can whenever it can to be helpful to good causes. We do what we do, we don't want to boast about it or exploit it. But we will continue to help whereever and whenever we can. Thanks for asking.
JR: Discuss your 5year plan for the ABA? Where do you see things in 2010?
JN: We believe we'll settle in around 100 teams throughout the US and will provide millions of people with the opportunity to see great basketball at affordable prices.
JR Closing comments comments?
JN Like any business, the ABA is not without its problems and not without its critics. But when you think of the fact that we have over 500 players and 100 coaches doing what they love to do, play and coach basketball, over 300 referees doing what they love to do, ref basketball, and over 500 employees with good jobs, the ABA is making quite an impact and quite a statement in the world of professional sports - and we appreciate people like you who recognize this and write about us.
Official Site: American Basketball Association