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| Friday, February 9 |
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| Two teams join IBL Associated Press | |||
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PHOENIX – Teams of the cash-strapped Continental Basketball
Association scrambled Friday to pin down their options for
survival. Some simply called it quits.
The league suspended play Thursday, less than a week after eight
of the 10 teams failed to meet player payrolls.
"In my opinion, the CBA as a league is gone," said Bill Ilett,
former majority owner of the Idaho Stampede.
The Sioux Falls (S.D.) Skyforce and the Gary (Ind.) Steelheads
both said Friday that they have joined the International Basketball
League and will play each other Saturday in Sioux Falls, IBL vice
president Greg Burke said. He expects other teams to follow.
"We would welcome any teams that would like to join us," Burke
told The Associated Press.
The New Mexico Slam team is a member of the IBL.
Reportedly at least $1.5 million in debt, the CBA's value
plummeted when the NBA decided to operate its own developmental
league rather than relying on the CBA. The NBA had extended its
partnership through the current season -- the 55th for the CBA.
Isiah Thomas, the former NBA star who is now head coach of the
Indiana Pacers, bought the CBA in 1999 for slightly more than $9
million. The NBA ordered him to sell the CBA before next season's
training camp.
Thomas personally advanced funds to pay the players through
their last games, the league said. A message left for Thomas with
the Pacers was not immediately returned Friday.
Some former owners were thrilled to have an opportunity to buy
back their franchises.
But Otis Harlan said he doesn't want the Yakima (Wash.) Sun
Kings back, even though they won the league championship last
season and in 1994-95.
Sun Kings general manager Rich Austin has declared everyone in
the team's operation a free agent.
"It's a shame that after 11 years in Yakima ... it came to
this," Austin told the Yakima Herald-Republic.
The Rockford (Ill.) Lightning suspended operations indefinitely
Friday until former team owner Wayne Timpe decides if he wants to
buy the team back. A decision was expected by Saturday.
Two former owners of the Skyforce, Roger Larsen and Greg
Heineman, said they acquired the Skyforce in return for assuming
the team's debts and expenses for the rest of the year, the Sioux
Falls (S.D.) Argus Leader reported.
Three CBA teams -- the Idaho Stampede, the Quad City (Iowa)
Thunder and the Fort Wayne (Ind.) Fury -- likely have played their
last game.
"We are not interested in resuming ownership of the
franchise," said Jay Gellerman, Quad City's majority owner.
Fort Wayne suspended operations Friday and won't join the IBL,
said Fury general manager Rich Coffey.
Jay Frye, the former owner of the Fury, had expressed interest
in reacquiring his franchise but his offer was not accepted.
"There is less than a one percent chance of me getting back
into this," Frye said.
Ilett, of the Stampede, said he received a proposal Thursday
that would allow his group to take over the team without being
responsible for any of the franchise's debt. But by midseason,
nearly all revenue had been collected and half the expenses have
yet to be paid.
"I don't think it would be fair to the season-ticket holders in
Boise if we took it over and couldn't make it a success," Ilett
said. "All you're doing is extending the patient's life."
Other teams were more optimistic.
The Connecticut Pride said it expected a positive outcome and
would make a formal announcement about the team's future in
Hartford next week.
Two other CBA teams -- the Grand Rapids (Mich.) Hoops and the La
Crosse (Wis.) Bobcats -- were not answering their phones Friday.
The league's trustee, Ivan Thornton, said back-pay issues for
league employees are among details that trust lawyers were deciding
Friday.
Some owners have said they plan to fight Thomas for any money
owed.
Stampede president and part-owner Clay Moser said Thomas owes
him $25,000.
"I'm digging in and fighting back," Moser said, "and I
probably won't be the only one."
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ALSO SEE Skyforce bolts CBA for IBL Demise of CBA has been a long time coming CBA general manager: 'League is running on fumes' AUDIO/VIDEO  Indiana Pacers GM David Kahn breaks down Isiah Thomas' agreement with the CBA and the NBA.wav: 2810 k RealAudio: 14.4 | 28.8 | 56.6 | |
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