Oregon Riptide

Oregon Riptide
Founded	2006
League	ABA
Team history	no games ever played
Based in	Portland, Oregon
Team colors	TBA
Owner	Christopher Sears
Head coach	TBA
Championships	0
Division titles	0

The Oregon Riptide was the name chosen for an American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise which was to be based in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area. In May, 2006, founding team owner, Jeremy "J" Brice, of Salem, Oregon, had gained ABA approval, opened a front office in downtown Portland, and announced its staff.^[1] A May 27 free agent camp was held to recruit an initial roster of players.^[2]

Brice arranged with Warner Pacific College for arena facilities for a summer youth basketball camp to be sponsored by the team, and for the competitive season to have begun in November, 2006.^[3]

He had even contracted with the Jupiter Hotel to house visiting team members.^[4].

Plans for the youth camp were quickly cancelled in July, 2006, following an article revealing that Brice, a Nevada native who had served as a high school and youth league coach, was a registered sex offender. Warner Pacific, a Christian college affiliated with the conservative Church of God (Anderson), withdrew availability of their facilities.^[3]

Brice sold the franchise to Christopher Sears less than a week later, telling a reporter for the Tribune, "I am no longer associated with the Riptide due to the negativity and black cloud over my name." The league approved the transfer, and Joe Newman, ABA CEO, stated that the team would still play in the 2006 season.^[5] When the ABA season started in November 2006, however, the Oregon Riptide was not on the schedule, and the team's official website is no longer accessible.

References

1. ^ "Oregon Riptide announce web site and front office" (Press release). American Basketball Association. May 4, 2006. http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2006050406001. Retrieved November 29, 2006. 
2. ^ "Oregon Riptide free agent camp crucial" (Press release). American Basketball Association. May 8, 2006. http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2006050806006. Retrieved November 29, 2006. 
3. ^ ^{a b} Vondersmith, Jason (July 13, 2006). "Basketball team owner's past could derail dream". Portland Tribune. http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=115284969806224900. Retrieved February 26, 2007. 
4. ^ "Oregon Riptide partners with Jupiter Hotel" (Press release). American Basketball Association. May 22, 2006. http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2006052206001. Retrieved November 29, 2006. 
5. ^ "Sources say: Scandal-ridden Riptide ownership changes hands". Portland Tribune. July 18, 2006. http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=115319174037799200. Retrieved February 26, 2007. 

External links

• American Basketball Association (ABA) official website