Frozen Hoops - American Basketball Association
Our Balls Bounce Higher
Saturday Feb 12 2005: Frozen Hoops provided you the "inside scoop" on the Calgary Drillers. More than 20
pages of information. Several of our articles were published in newspapers and mentioned on TV along with
republished in prestigious hoop websites like oursportscentral and USbasketball. Now that the Drillers are
on a hiatus we will keep you informed on their future in the ABA along with the proposed Montreal and
Vancouver team for the 2005-2006 season.
Wednesday Feb 23 2005 Calgary Drillers Accepting Resumes for Head Coach/Director of Basketball
Operations for 2005/2006 02/23/05 - American Basketball Association (ABA) Calgary Drillers The Calgary
Drillers are happy to announce we are accepting resumes for the positions of Head Coach and Director
of Basketball Operations for the 2005/2006 season. Preference will be given to qualified Albertans who
fully supports the overall developement of basketball in the province and across the country of Canada.
This is a full time position which would commence May 1,2005. Applicants are urged to send their resumes
by e-mail to al@calgarydrillers.ca.
For more information contact the Drillers office at 403.243.2252Indianapolis, IN. I have received many
emails and calls from Calgary Driller fans and media asking what happened to the Calgary Drillers
and why they suspended operations. Fair questions. First, Calgary is a tremendous sports city and you
embraced the Drillers from day one. We are deeply apreciative of the interest and support you showed.
The problem was travel - getting ABA teams to Calgary - getting Calgary on the road. It was just too difficult
both ways.
The ABA wants very much to be in Calgary and is working on a plan to make that happen next season.
The Calgary Drillers Basketball Club, Inc. and the ABA are working to develop a team in Edmonton for next
season. With a second team in Alberta, it would then be feasible for northwest division ABA teams to make
the road trip and to play several games before returning home. It would also create an excellent rivalry between
the two teams in Alberta. The Drillers and the ABA are working with a couple of different potential ownership
groups to own the Edmonton team and believes that this can be accomplished in the next few weeks. We are
also looking at creating a community ownership structure similar to how several CFL teams are operated.
The addition of Edmonton to the ABA would enhance the long history of intense rivalry between the two Alberta
cities and would encourage the growth of the ABA across the province. It would be anticipated that Calgary
and Edmonton would play one another several times during the season. We have also been assured by the Calgary
Drillers Basketball Club, Inc. that they are working to resolve the unsettled business matters of the past season in
Calgary. Once again, Calgary, the suspension of the ABA team there was through no fault of your great city.
And there's nothing we'd like more than to return. Thank you for your support. Joe N. Commish For more
information, contact al@calgarydrillers.ca, visit www.calgarydrillers.ca or call 403 243 2252 or visit www.abalive.com
.The Calgary Drillers Basketball Club is working hard to ensure an ABA franchise is located in the city of Edmonton Alberta
for the 2005/2006 season. The presence of a franchise in Edmonton is critical to the long term success of professional
basketball in Calgary and the province of Alberta. 
The location of a second franchise would eliminate the difficulty of travel and back to back home games that the
Drillers suffered through the past season. With the location of an Edmonton franchise teams could now come into
the province and play four games in one swing. Calgary and Edmonton could play each other several times and build
on the long time rivalry between the two great cities The Drillers are working with two separate groups who have
expressed interest in the franchise plus a additional one who has expressed a interest in placing the franchise
in a community ownership model similar to how several CFL teams are owned. Interested parties should contact
al@calgarydrillers.ca or at the Drillers office 403.243.2252
and didn’t disappoint in a 132-100 win over the Portland Reign on Friday night. The Drillers scored more than 130 for the second straight game in
improving their record to 3-7 in front of 1,132 at the Corral. Nate Driggers led the Drillers attack with 29 points and 6 boards. Jerrick Oliver added 21
with 5 boards while Melvin Whitaker led both teams with 11 rebounds.
The two teams play the second half of their doubleheader at
Friday night’s game also marked the debut of the first Albertan to play in the
The former SAIT and
December 18, 2004 - It was a history making night for the Calgary Drillers in New Jersey. The road weary Drillers won their first
ever game in the American Basketball Association upsetting the New Jersey SkyCats 91-85. It was the Drillers third game in as
many nights on a road trip that took them to Dallas, Texas on Thursday night and Harlem, New York on Friday. The Drillers and
SkyCats hook up for an afternoon encounter on Sunday before Calgary heads to Portland, Oregon to wind up their five game
road swing. After Christmas in Calgary the Drillers go back on the road for three more games before playing their home opener
in Calgary on Sunday, January 2 nd Former Boston Celtic Nate Driggers led the Calgary attack on Saturday night. The 6?6?
forward from Montivello scored 17 points with six boards. Damian Owens, Calgary?s 6?6? forward from West Virginia chipped
in with 15 points and led both teams with 9 rebounds. Calgary led 50-42 at the half. Drillers tickets will go on sale in Calgary on
Dec. 27 th through Ticketmaster. The Drillers play 11 games at home during the month of January. General Manager Ruby Richman
is now negotiating with a former Toronto Raptors star to join the club after Christmas. (www.oursportscentral.com)
Friday Dec 17 2004 The travel tribulations of the ABA's northern outpost caught up with the Calgary Drillers on Friday night.
After leaving Alberta on Wednesday the Drillers played in Dallas on Thursday night then answered a 4 a.m. wakeup call and flew
to New York city on Friday morning. Friday night the travel weary Drillers lost to the Harlem Revival 118-101. Willie Murdaugh
, the 6'2" guard from USC, led the Drillers in scoring with 31 points. Nate Driggers added 23 and Leland Anderson 22 for the
Drillers who led 56-52 at the half. Calgary was in the lead until the third quarter when Harlem went on a 15-4 run to take control.
The Drillers continue the torrid pace of their season opening road trip with back to back games against the New Jersey SkyCats
on Saturday and Sunday nights before heading to Portland to play the Reign on Tuesday. After a two day stop for Christmas in
Calgary the Drillers are off again for a three game road swing before playing their first game at home on January 2nd. (www.oursportscentral.com)
Thursday Dec 16 2004 Commentary The Calgary Drillers may have set a new record for a professional sports debuting in it's f
irst week of competition. Traveling from Calgary Alberta to Fort Worth Texas to Harlem New York to New Jersey and then to
Portland Oregon and back to Calgary and if they did that in a direct line they would have put on 5,100 miles! Here are the
estimated distances Calgary to Fort Worth 1525 miles; Fort Worth to Harlem 1401 miles; Harlem to Portland 1610 miles
; Portland to Calgary 553 miles. Strange how the ABA would simply not schedule them to play against teams that are in their
(red) division? Calgary to Salt Lake 723 miles, Salt Lake to Portland 553 miles, Portland to Bellevue 436 miles, Bellevue to
Calgary 436 miles. For a total of 2,148 miles as the crow flies saving 3,000 miles travel? Maybe it’s the penalty for late entry? Unbelievable?
Calgary last saw game action over a week ago when they scrimmaged against the University of Calgary. The unfamiliarity with
ABA rules hurt the Drillers late in the first half. The Tycoons broke open a 4 point game in the final minute of the half with c
onsecutive four point baskets. In the last minute of each half in the ABA, a backcourt steal adds a point to each shot and
Texas sank back to back ?threes? off a full court press for 53-40 half time lead.
Former Boston Celtic Nate Driggers scored 24 points with 5 boards for the Drillers. Damian Owens almost matched that
feat for Calgary with 24 points and 4 rebounds.
The Drillers continue their hectic five game road trip in Harlem, New York on Friday night against the Knights, then
meet the first place New Jersey SkyCats in back to back games on the weekend, making it four games in four nights.
Calgary then heads to Portland, Oregon to face the Reign before heading home for Christmas. The Drillers then play
three more on the road during Christmas week before coming back to Alberta for their home opener on January 2nd.
They then play 10 more games at home in January.
Details on Drillers tickets and their playing venue will be announced early next week.
December 16, 2004 - For Canadian Basketball Hall of Famer Ruby Richman it?s his third ABA team. This time,
however, he is the General Manager of a team in his own country. After a year in Chicago and two more in Las
Vegas Richman now leads the first Canadian franchise in the American Basketball Association, the Calgary Drillers.
The Drillers finally start their 2004-2005 season with an extended road trip this week that will take them to Dallas (Texas Tycoons),
New Jersey (New Jersey SkyCats), Harlem (Knights) and Portland (Portland Reign) before Christmas. Calgary will
play their first home game the first week of January 2005.
The historic Corral, former home of the WHA Calgary Cowboys and WHL Calgary Hitmen will become the home base for the Drillers.
On the court head coach Otis Hailey has assembled a veteran team led by former Boston Celtic Nate Driggers. The 6?6? f
orward from Montevallo College in Alabama will anchor a Drillers team that features two of the tallest players in the ABA
, 7?3? center Luke Minor, a product of the Michigan Wolverines program and 6?10? center Mark Evans from Rhode
Island. USBL star James Penny will join the team in Dallas for their season opener against the Texas Tycoons. It should
be quite the homecoming for Penny was had an outstanding career at Texas Christian University.
Defensively the Drillers are led by 6?2? guard Willie Murdaugh of South Carolina. The former Spartans star is no strange
r to playing in Canada having previously played for Coach Hailey with the Saskatchewan Hawks where he also was
8th in the CBA in scoring with an 18.7 point average.
The complete Drillers roster is as follows:
Leland Anderson 6' 8" F Providence
Nate Driggers 6' 6" F Montivello
Mark Evans 6' 10" C Rhode Island
Jerry McNair 6' 5" G Washington State
Luke Minor 7' 3" C Huron
Willie Murdaugh 6' 2" G USC
Fred Nichols 6' 5" G Cal. State Bakersfield
Kevin Norris 5' 10" G Miami
Jerrick Oliver 6' 7" F McNeese State
Damian Owens 6' 6" F West Virginia
James Penny 6' 7" F Texas Christian
Jai Pradia 6' 6" F Pittsburgh State
The Drillers will announce their complete home schedule and ticket information on Monday, December 20th. January will be their busiest month with 10 home games.
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Damien Owens signed sealed and ready to deliver  | |||||||||
Saturday Dec 4, 2004 (7:05 p.m.) Calgary Sun has a good story on the Drillers (check link below) and unlike Frozen Hoops took the safe road by not naming any players on the team roster. Probably because no one really knows - even the Drillers - who is on the official roster. It changes day-by-day. Frozen Hoops has gone out on the limb and taken the word of Otis Hailey. Most of it is what if's and maybes. That is the nature of their operation and league But it is fun to generate interest. The team roster that was mentioned a few weeks ago would have had the best starting five in the ABA...hands down. The team roster menrtioned most recently would probably have the worst starting five in the ABA. You gotta love it. Saturday Dec 4, 2004: Drillers look for homecourt
Saturday Nov 27, 2004: Horray! It's finally up and running the Calgary Drillers website www.calgarydrillers.ca. The colour scheme is nearly identical to our site Frozen Hoops and catchy. Drillers' Head Coach Otis Hailey told me originally that the site would be up by Thursday Nov 19 but better late then never. The key now is to start filling in the blanks ASAP with player profiles...game schedule...photographs...ticket purchase info and most importantly Calgary Drillers merchandise! Friday Nov 26, 2004:Indianapolis, IN. The ABA professional basketball league today announced that the Calgary Drillers will be added to the ABA schedule and will play this season. According to Joe Newman, ABA co-Founder, "We know it is late and the season started. However, due to scheduling and transportation problems, it was necessary to delay the start of Calgary's season. They can quickly make up the games and play a full season." Newman added, "The team has made some excellent personnel decisions, including well-known attorney and Canadian basketball figure R. Ruby Richman as President/General Manager of the team. Otis Hailey will be Head Coach; Sean Tyson Asst Coach and Director of Player Development; and Kelly Hazelgrove as Athletic Trainer. The team has just signed Damien Owens, a 6'6" guard/forward from West Virginia; Jerrick Olliver, a 6'7" guard/forward from McNeese and Rodney Bass, a 6'6" guard from Texas Tech. Richman stated, "We have our work cut out for us but within a few days, we'll be ready to roll and we will be very competitive." For more information, contact Kelly Hazelgrove at 403 998 2480 or email to k_d_h34@hotmail.com, Sean Tyson at 403 383 2480 or ohaileyaba@yahoo.com or visit www.abalive.com. Tuesday Nov 16 2004: Just got off the phone (12:21 p.m.) with Drillers' coach Otis Hailey who told me the Drillers are a go and that the season will commence for them on November 29 when they start a six-game road series. They will return home for six game stands with three different teams coming in for two game series. They will continue the season with six games away and six games at home to cut down on travel costs. Hailey also said they are close to signing DeJuan Wheat. The two-year NBA vet (U of Louisville) was the first player in NCAA Division I history with career totals of 2,000 points, 450 assists, 300 three-point field goals and 200 steals. GO DRILLERS E-mail (8:05 a.m.) from Joe Neumann head of ABA in regards to Calgary Drillers situation: "Calgary is confusing. I'll try to clear it up. Calgary will play this season. Their original schedule was assigned to Visalia CA for travel reasons for both home and away. We are reworking the Calgary schedule to make it easier for them on the road, and easier for teams to visit there (because of the distance)." Excerpts from Canadian Press story Monday Nov. 15, 2004: (CP) One of the ABA's targets is Montreal, a notoriously fickle and unforgiving market that has seen pro basketball, Major League Baseball and even junior hockey teams bolt. Montreal businessman Alain Lord is getting involved in trying to bring the ABA to Montreal, where the NBL's Montreal Dragons folded after 17 games in 1993. Lord contacted the league last month to express his interest in paying the $10,000 US franchise startup fee. He said he's willing to build a new, 10,000-seat arena himself with one caveat - he wants to the city to give him the land for free. Lord also says he doesn't want land in the city's east end, where the Expos struggled for years in cavernous Olympic Stadium. The city's two existing medium-sized venues aren't options, said Lord, because they're governed by city contracts that funnel all profits from food sales straight to city workers. "In professional sports, what is your first source of revenue?" he asked in a recent interview. "It's concessions, merchandising, tickets. So if you don't have the concession money, how can that work?" In the same above CP feature ABA commisioner Joe Neumann had this to say: The Calgary Drillers, owned by Hall of Famer Ruby Richman, are Canada's first and only entry this year in the ABA, which is undertaking an ambitious 30-team expansion effort. While the league's visibility in Canada is virtually nil, co-founder and chairman Joe Newman says he plans to bring teams to three of Canada's largest cities by next year. "Calgary will play this year, Vancouver and Toronto in 2005 and hopefully Montreal," the longtime basketball enthusiast said in a telephone interview from league headquarters in Indianapolis. "We have to market it properly, there is no doubt in my mind that Montreal or Toronto or Calgary or Winnipeg or Vancouver will welcome it."
by Curtis J. Phillips Forget about Vince Carter or the Toronto Raptors holding the key to unlock the age of enthusiasm in Canadian basketball. If the door is to be open, it will be thanks to the American Basketball Association’s Calgary Drillers. Calgary has dribbled into the semi-pro realm before with the Calgary 88s' - World Basketball League (1988-1992) reaching the finals three times – and the short-lived Calgary Outlaws (1994 National Basketball League), but this time around their success on the hardwood will be of greater importance. Despite one of the largest expansions in North American semi-pro sports history, 28 teams this past summer, the 35-team A.B.A. has secured several major media outlets and with that in mind, some reassurance. The Drillers, who will play in the Stampede Corrall, will probably have one of the strongest ABA rosters thanks to owner/coach Otis Hailey. Hailey has the longest tenure of professional basketball coaching on Canada soil having called plays for the Montreal Dragons, Saskatchewan Hawks and the Vancouver Nighthawks. Hailey was an assistant coach with the ABA's Tijuana Diablos last season. "This is where I want to finish my coaching career," says Hailey of the city of Calgary and the ABA franchise. "Calgary has strong support for (semi-professional) basketball in the past and I have nothing but positive vibes about the community and it’s support. "There are a lot of knowledgeable fans here in Calgary plus a strong base of Americans living here from places like Dallas and Houston." Hailey, a coaching veteran of 30 years who first came to Canada from Bakersfield, California in the 1980s' to play for the traveling comedy squad the Harlem Clowns, said there will "probably be Canadian player(s) on the team," but added, "we will not keep a Canadian player just for sake of having one just on the principle that they are Canadian. If he makes the team he will be on it because he deserves to be." Canadians mentioned include 6-foot-1 Jamie Charlton (University of Saskatchewan Huskies and Midwest Basketball Association Buffalo City) and former national team member 6-foot-0 Novell Thomas who also played semi-pro with the Buffalo City Thunder. Names already mentioned for the Calgary team include former NBA Vancouver Grizzly and Washington Wizards veteran 6-foot-5 Lawrence Moten (Syracuse), 6-foot-6 James Penny (Texas Christian University and USBL Oklahoma Storm, 2004 leagues 6th leading scorer 19.7 and sixth in blocked shots 1.6) 6-foot-10 Kelly Wise (U of Memphis and CBA Grand Rapids Hoops) and Andre McCollum (a 1999-2000 International Basketball Association All Star and basketball gypsy who has played in the CBA, NBDL and most recently overseas in Israel). Hailey also mentioned former NBA players Todd Day and DeJuan Wheat signing possible deals. Add to the mixture the hiring of Ruby Richman, a legend in Canadian hoops, as General Manager and you have a strong base. With 2005 expansion slated for a possible 16 teams, including Vancouver and possibly Montreal, look for Edmonton, Saskatoon and Winnipeg to return to the semi-pro scene. Alberta has had the Outlaws, 88s’, Alberta Dusters (Lethbridge, Continental Basketball Association) and the Edmonton Skyhawks (NBL) and this past summer the Ontario Professional Basketball Association made an attempt at stimulating the game north of the 49th parallel but quickly folded. "We will be playing in by far the strongest division (Red/West)," says Hailey of the 11-team division which includes teams in, among other places, Los Angeles (Stars) Las Vegas (Rattlers), Long Beach (Jam) and Portland (Reign). "The fans will be entertained...we guarantee that" The Drillers open their season on Nov. 16 hosting the Utah Snowbears a team Hailey had tentatively signed on to coach last April before relocating to Calgary. PLEASE STAND FOR THE PLAYING OF "OH CANADA." http://www.calgarydrillers.ca/ City gets minor-pro basketball team Calgary - The city has been awarded an American Basketball Association team, which will begin playing this fall.
Calgary is the 27th expansion franchise to be granted by the ABA for the upcoming season. Vancouver is also among the new clubs. The league had seven teams last season. Calgary businessman Spero Kokkans heads the local ownership group. Otis Hailey will serve as co-owner, president and general manager, while Ronald Pryor is vice-president and director of operations. The team will begin league play in November. Hailey has over 30 years of basketball experience, most recently as coach of the Tijuana ABA team, while Pryor is a professional scout. "The city of Calgary is very excited, though we haven't even made the official announcement, and the calls and e-mails have been overwhelming," Hailey said in a release. "Ron and I are confident that we'll have one of the best operations in the league and appreciate the ABA letting us start this late. But we're moving ahead full steam." Pryor said there would be a contest to name the team. with files from Canadian Press
Harrick had a 470-235 record in 23 seasons as a collegiate head coach. He has taken four schools to the NCAA Tournament. During his stints at Pepperdine, UCLA, Rhode Island and Georgia, Jim built outstanding teams, winning championships at each stop, and reaching the NCAA Tournament an amazing 16 times. His UCLA Bruin squad racked up 31 wins and captured the NCAA National Championship, gaining him honor as 1995 National Coach of the Year.
Harrick added, "This is a great opportunity for me. Vancouver is a first-class organization, the quality of play in the ABA is outstanding as is the coaching. Our team will be predominatly Chinese. We have great talent coming in - and we will be very competitive. This will be both fun and interesting and I am looking forward to the challenge." ABA's Vancouver team appoints new CEO A native of Seattle, WA, Brazier attended the University of Washington where he played football and track. Upon graduation, he served two years in the U.S. Navy on a cruiser in the Pacific. Following his service, he entered the forest products industry and established Brazier Forest Industries that owned and operated sawmills, lumberyards, a door plant, and a laminating plant in Washington, Oregon, California, Hawaii and British Columbia with sales offices in western Europe, Japan, Australia and Vancouver, B.C. Recently, Brazier joined Rising Star Holdings as Vice President of Marketing prior to being appointed CEO of the basketball operations.
Brazier added, "As you know, our team will be very unique with almost all of our players being Chinese. We've spent considerable time in China and have no doubt that we'll be very, very competitive. The talent is extraordinary. Vancouver is a great basketball city and deserves a high quality organization. I think fans will love the ABA style of basketball and will be very impressed with the quality of play. We're looking forward to the challenge."
For more information, log onto www.abalive or email John Brazier at j.brazier@verizon.net or usainvesting@yahoo.com. Calgary has been home to two former pro basketball teams. The Calgary 88's of the World Basketball League from 1988-1992 and the Calgary Outlaws of the National Basketball League in 1994. The World Basketball League was founded as the International Basketball Some of the feature players for the Calgary 88s' included Carlos Clark, Dave Henderson, Chip Engelland, Jim Thomas, Sidney Lowe, Perry Young and David Boone. Coaches for the team were Mike Thibault, 1988, Cory Russell, 1989 and Roger Lyons, 1989 - 1992. A cornerstone franchise for the WBL, the 88's reached the league finals three times. Although the team never won a WBL title, Calgary posted the league's best regular season record in 1988, 1989, and 1991. In five seasons, the 88's went 151-78.
The team will be owned by Sports Franchise Acquisition Corporation, with the principle co-owner being Serena Locker-Coles, a well-established businesswomen and a native of Montreal. Mrs. Coles added, "The ABA appears to be a league of opportunity with so much diversification of ownership including women owners. We are extremely excited about this opportunity and echo Mr. Newman's sentiments - Montreal is a terrific sports city if you give the fans a quality product. My partners and I intend to do just that."
For more information, contact Serena Locker-Coles, 703-942-7449 or fax 703-942-7450 or email locker02s@aol.com or visit www.abalive.com.
"We are working on it (home opener Nov. 16, 2004 against the Utah Snowbears) right now but the facility (Calgary's Stampede Corrall) we are dealing with have other things going on. The plan right now is to start on the road (at Utah Nov. 19) and probably come back here in December. But to be honest we are making a decision next Tuesday (November 8, 2004) whether to postpone the (2004-2005) season and come back ready for next year 2005-2006," says Ruby Richman, GM of the Calgary Drillers.
"Everyone in Calgary is excited but we want to do it right the first time. From marketing and promotion
Sunday October 10, 2004: It's time to let the cat out of the bag. The new GM for the Calgary Drillers, to be announced this week, is Canadian basketball legend Ruby Richman. b
Calgary, Alberta to be ABA'S 27th Expansion Team
Indianapolis, IN. Joe Newman, ABA Co-Founder, today announced that Calgary Alberta, Canada would be the 27th expansion team in the league this season. According to Newman, "Our goal has been to expand in Canada, especially with three teams in Mexico. We were waiting for the right opportunity and were thinking 2005. But the new ownership group, headed by Calgary businessman Spero Kokkans, wanted to play this season and felt that they could put things together quickly. So, here we go again."
Newman added, "Mr. Kokkans brought in two people to spearhead the operation naming Otis Hailey as Co-Owner/President and General Manager and Ronald Pryor as VP/Director of Operations. Both bring with them considerable basketball experience and expertise and have confidence of being able to jumpstart operations for a successful team."
Hailey has over 30 years experience as a professional player and coach most recently having coached the ABA Tijuana team. Pryor is a professional basketball scout.
Hailey added, "We know it is late and that we have only a few months before the start of the season. But Mr. Kokkans and his investment group are helping us put together a very talented staff and providing great assistance. The city of Calgary is very excited though we haven't even made the official announcement and the calls and emails have been overwhelming. Ron and I are confident that we'll have one of the best operations in the league and appreciate the ABA letting us start this late. But we're moving ahead full steam."
Pryor added, "We haven't even had time to name the team. I think we'll have a Name the Team Contest and we are already scheduling some tryout camps and putting together our staff. We'll be making many more announcements shortly. But if you have a good idea for a team name, please email it to us; we'll award some season tickets to the winner."
For more information, call Otis Hailey at (306) 249-3146 or email ohaileyaba@yahoo.com or call Ron Pryor at (469) 877-5282 or fax (817) 640-2012, email ron_pryor@yahoo.com. 
ABA's Vancouver team announces head coach
June 19, 2004 - Vancouver, BC. John M. Brazier, Co-owner, CEO and Director of Basketball Operations of the new ABA Vancouver professional basketball team today announced the signing of Jim Harrick as Head Coach. According to Brazier, "Vancouver is a major league city and deserves a coach with major league credentials and ability - Jim Harrick fits both - and will help make Vancouver one of the premiere teams in the ABA."
June 3, 2004 - Vancouver, BC. John Probandt, Co-Owner of the ABA's new Vancouver professional basketball team today announced that John M. Brazier has been appointed CEO and Director of Basketball Operations. Probandt stated, "John provides us with the perfect combination of sportsman/businessman, a man who has had success in every endeavor in which he has been involved. He'll lead our organization well."
VANCOUVER BC EXPANSION TEAM NAMES PRESIDENT/GM
Jamian Lai to Head Team Operations
Vancouver BC. The new ABA Vancouver professional basketball team has announced that Jamian Lai will be its new President/GM of Basketball Operations. Lai will be responsible for overseeing team operations including scouting, marketing, merchandising and overall business development for the new team. Lai brings a strong international background in finance, marketing and media from the US and Asia. Lai studied at Harvard University and Beijung University and speaks both English and Chinese.
Vancouver team co-founder John Probandt stated, "Jamian has the idea background to successfully build our Vancouver team from both a local and global perspective. His international experiences in business development, marketing and media relations are important to achieve the global vision of our basketball organization."
"Jamian's global experiences and connections in the sports and entertainment world will help establish Vancouver and the ABA to fans around the world. Given his background, Jamian has the ability to bring a unique perspective with tremendous value to our franchise, fans, partners and the ABA," added Vancouver team co-founder Weiqing "Walter" Huang.
Lai stated, "I am very excited at this opportunity to put Vancouver basketball on the world map. We look forward to cultivating strong relationships with the local community, as well as bringing a truly international flavor to the ABA."
"We aim to build a winning team that will bring fun and excitement to basketball fans around the world, especially in Asia. Basketball growth has been impressive in China, and we believe there is enormous potential from both a talent and market outlook. I believe our team will represent the future direction of basketball and sports in the 21st century," Lai added.
Finally, Lai stated, "I believe Vancouver will enthusiastically welcome the fast-paced, thrilling brand of ABA basketball that is appealing and affordable to friends everywhere."
Vancouver is planning a press conference in the near future to announce the venue, personnel, coaching staff, team development and other details, including the new team name.
For more information and inquiries about the ABA Vancouver team, log onto www.abalive.com or contact Jamian Lai directly at jamian@post.harvard.edu.
John Probandt
usainvesting@yahoo.com
Jamian Lai, President/GM
jamian@post.harvard.edu
Association in November 1987, but changed its name prior to the 1988 season.
The league allowed only players under 6'5" tall, changing the restriction to
6'7" in 1992.
Former Calgary 88s' player Sidney Lowe was head coach for Memphis Grizzlies and Minnesota Timerwolves. Calgary teammate Chip Engelland is now a assistant coach with the Denver Nuggets.
