TV + an ABA article.

Posted on November 2, 2009 · 4 Comments

I’ll be on ESPNEWS today at 2:40 pm EST.

Also, I wrote a fun piece on the American Basketball Association, focusing on some of the weirder and quirkier stories coming from the league’s history, for mental floss.

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4 Responses to “TV + an ABA article.”

Jeff Kerr on November 2nd, 2009 8:37 pm

Since my first exposure to professional basketball was attending Houston Mavericks games (don’t think I was one of the 89 fans at that game, though), I particularly enjoyed your article on the ABA. Nevertheless, I must take exception to your statement that no other upstart league as had as lasting an effect as the ABA. Certainly the American League in baseball and the American Football Leagues have had effects every bit as consequential as the ABA. Both leagues forced their way onto the scene and endured, with permanent consequences for their respective establishments. But the ABA did indeed make a substantial difference. And I miss the red, white, and blue ball!
keith on November 2nd, 2009 9:14 pm

Jeff, I never said that. Re-read the intro. I’m clearly referring to the rival leagues of the late 1960s and the 1970s. The American League was in existence for 60+ years by that point.
Sriram on November 3rd, 2009 4:59 am

Keith,

In the piece you mentioned the Andy Oliver case. Wasn’t that settled? If so, does the NCAA still have the right to do as they damn well please with agents? I still am not sure the implications for the rules.

The ABA was a colossal commercial failure, but yes the three point line, the slam dunk contest, all innovations. The amazing thing is how un-fabricated the Will Ferrell movie “Semi Pro” is about this. It seemed ridiculous, but the ABA really was not too much less silly in real life.
Grant K on November 5th, 2009 12:27 pm

Is KLaw in charge of Google’s main page today?