I suspect the DOJ will find evidence of malfeasance. Why? Because "Big Basketball" has always played by those rules. I also do not expect much will come of it. Remember the ABL? That was a women's league, intended to compete with the then-fledgling WNBA. The format was almost a carbon copy of the NBA, but aimed at cities where there was already a strong interest in women's basketball. The league was player-owned. The season corresponded to the NBA season. The league was struggling, but seemed to be on the upswing, as far as I know. The NBA ran that league out of business, using tactics likely similar to what they are doing to Cube now. They "replaced" that league with the WNBA, which is focused on cities where there is already a men's team, regardless of interest in the women's game. In essence, the WNBA has one main purpose, outside the ostensible goal of giving women a professional league. It provides a way to use the gyms while the boys ain't playing. That is why the schedule is so short. That is why it is set up during NBA off-season. And possibly, that is also why the women playing cannot make reasonable cash, although it's probably more complicated than that. (In full disclosure, I realize I could easily be mistaken on any of this, but this is the information I have handy!) Anyway, I do not expect the NBA to go quietly or relinquish their stranglehold on "basket sports."
Wasn't Pistol Pete from the ABL too? The Ice Man, Dr. J and Pistol Pete?!! The ABL was wildly entertaining. I think it historically had more black players at the time, and the NBA revolved around basketball "fundamentals", but the ABL brought the flash. 😎
I did not know about the ABL! So it seems to be a pattern! This will be interesting to see what the DOJ discovers.
I suspect the DOJ will find evidence of malfeasance. Why? Because "Big Basketball" has always played by those rules. I also do not expect much will come of it. Remember the ABL? That was a women's league, intended to compete with the then-fledgling WNBA. The format was almost a carbon copy of the NBA, but aimed at cities where there was already a strong interest in women's basketball. The league was player-owned. The season corresponded to the NBA season. The league was struggling, but seemed to be on the upswing, as far as I know. The NBA ran that league out of business, using tactics likely similar to what they are doing to Cube now. They "replaced" that league with the WNBA, which is focused on cities where there is already a men's team, regardless of interest in the women's game. In essence, the WNBA has one main purpose, outside the ostensible goal of giving women a professional league. It provides a way to use the gyms while the boys ain't playing. That is why the schedule is so short. That is why it is set up during NBA off-season. And possibly, that is also why the women playing cannot make reasonable cash, although it's probably more complicated than that. (In full disclosure, I realize I could easily be mistaken on any of this, but this is the information I have handy!) Anyway, I do not expect the NBA to go quietly or relinquish their stranglehold on "basket sports."
Ice Cube is an entertainment genius, and it is crazy the NBA doesn't support him and their former players.
Wasn't Pistol Pete from the ABL too? The Ice Man, Dr. J and Pistol Pete?!! The ABL was wildly entertaining. I think it historically had more black players at the time, and the NBA revolved around basketball "fundamentals", but the ABL brought the flash. 😎
ABA, not ABL. :-) ABA was men's league competing with NBA. ABL was women's league, competing with WNBA.
Ah, thank you for the acronym clarification! The ABA brought the flash. ☺️