Former ABA Players Fighting For Dignity
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jerseyshorejohnny
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Part 3 of series:
beast of the east
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I played 3 years of CYO , a few years of PAL, and in the CityWide tournament in Montebellair park in Jamaica. I think I may be entitled to a pension also.
Not really sure why the author keeps referring to "promises" that were broken. There was either an agreement, or there wasn't. That's for the courts to decide. I loved the ABA. My ear glued to my transistor radio listening to Spencer Ross call the Net games. One of the happiest days of my life was when the Nets acquired Dr. J. But I'm sort of on the fence about this one.
ABA was fun to follow. The Net franchise may have the record for number of home courts. In no particular order: Commack Arena, Island Garden Arena, Nassau Coliseum, Rutgers, Meadowlands Arena, Prudential Center and now Barclay.
Redmen alums who played for Americans/Nets: Sonny Dove, Bob McIntyre, Bill Schaeffer, Bill Paultz and maybe Joe DePre. Any others?
Redmen alums who played for Americans/Nets: Sonny Dove, Bob McIntyre, Bill Schaeffer, Bill Paultz and maybe Joe DePre. Any others?
jerseyshorejohnny
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Kevin Loughery was the Nets coach
jerseyshorejohnny
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Tony Jackson in 1967
jerseyshorejohnny
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John Kresse was his assistant
beast of the east
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Hank Cluess has a cup of tea in the ABA.
Wally Szczerbiak's Dad Walt played in the ABA.
The ABA provided an avenue for players in a league trying to be something. Their only other choices were leagues like the old Eastern League. I don't think they are due anything, even if there were a slew of players that in an expanded NBA would have been starters - and some did become just that - Bobby Jones, Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore and a slew of others. There were a lot of really good players, like Louie Dampier, Mel Daniels, Zelmo Beatty. But for the NBA to owe them anything is making any generosity of the current NBA into an entitlement.
Wally Szczerbiak's Dad Walt played in the ABA.
The ABA provided an avenue for players in a league trying to be something. Their only other choices were leagues like the old Eastern League. I don't think they are due anything, even if there were a slew of players that in an expanded NBA would have been starters - and some did become just that - Bobby Jones, Dan Issel, Artis Gilmore and a slew of others. There were a lot of really good players, like Louie Dampier, Mel Daniels, Zelmo Beatty. But for the NBA to owe them anything is making any generosity of the current NBA into an entitlement.
I would tend to agree with you. There were 3 main reasons for players to sign with the ABA:
1. More money than an NBA team was offering(a business decision by the individual player)
2. They could leave school early and pay for play, something the NBA didn't allow at the time
3. They weren't good enough to play in the NBA(the case with a large majority of the players)
Regardless of the reason, I don't see how the NBA of today owes the ex-ABA players of almost 50 years ago anything. That's not to say that there shouldn't be a fund set up to help players in need, but as you say it's not an entitlement as this article attempts to portray it as.
Top salaries are over 30 mill per season. What did the article say it would take to fund these guys a mill or two. That ain't even locker room urinal cake money in today's NBA. Ever heard of being charitable especially for those who came before you and helped pave the way. Does everybody have to be a greedy bastard today?
beast of the east
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What about the ballboys, coaches and assistants who never made much, the security guys at MSG who work for peanuts for 30 years.... Sharing the wealth generally is reserved for those who put fannies in the seats, not for the guys who helped make the seats.