Premier Basketball League

Infobox sports league

pixels = 150px
caption =
sport = Basketball
founded = 2007
motto =
teams = 13
country = USA
CAN
champion = Rochester Razorsharks
website = [http://www.pblproball.com/ http://www.pblproball.com/]

The Premier Basketball League (PBL) is a professional basketball league that began play in January 2008. The league had ten teams for the 2008 season.

History

Birth

The PBL was born out of frustrations several former member teams of the modern American Basketball Association (ABA) had with that league. Eight of the initial ten teams either played in or were slated to play in the ABA.

Original Ten Teams

"* -ABA team"

ABA Controversies

In early 2007, Joe Newman was voted out of his position as CEO of the ABA by the board of directors, which included Maryland Nighthawks owner and then-ABA COO Tom Doyle, due to dissatisfaction with how Newman executed his duties as CEO. Newman responded by using his and other shares that formed a controlling interest to remove the entire board of directors. [cite web | url = http://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1332044/000114420407005571/v064649_8k.htm | title = United States Securities And Exchange Commission Form 8-K | date = 2007-01-31 | accessdate = 2008-05-21]

Newman then refused to reschedule a weather-delayed playoff game between the Rochester Razorsharks and Wilmington Sea Dawgs although the two teams agreed to a make up date, wanting instead to force Rochester to accept a forfeit. [cite web | url = http://www.starnewsonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070324/NEWS/703240374/-1/State | title = Sea Dawgs are unlikely hosts | last = George | first = Rachel | date = 2007-03-24 | accessdate = 2008-05-21 | publisher = Wilmington Star News ]

It was on the heels of these two incidents that the Nighthawks and Razorsharks ownership groups combined forces to create the PBL.

Current PBL Teams with ABA Pasts

"* - Slated to play in ABA but never played"

Commissioner

Former Houston Rockets point guard and current NBA on TNT analyst Kenny Smith is the league's first commissioner. cite web | title = Nighthawks prep for New Year, new league | publisher = Gazette.Net | date = 2008-01-02 | last = Rao | first = Chay | url = http://www.gazette.net/stories/010208/gaitspo165521_32357.shtml | accessdate = 2008-01-15] [ cite web| title = NBA Legend Kenny Smith Named PBL Commissioner | publisher = Premier Basketball League | date = 2007-12-06 | url = http://www.pblproball.com/press/league/20071206-KennySmithNamed.htm | accessdate = 2008-01-15]

econd year defections from other leagues

During the 2008 off season, six more former ABA teams decided to move to the PBL. First, on May 9, the Manchester Millrats and the 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 ABA champion Vermont Frost Heaves moved.cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3637863 | title = Premier Basketball League Welcomes Vermont Frost Heaves And Manchester Millrats | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-05-09 | accessdate = 2008-05-09 ] Then on May 20, the inactive Detroit Panthers re-activated and joined the league.cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3643972 | title = Detroit Panthers Join Premier Basketball League | date = 2008-05-20 | accessdate = 2008-05-20 | publisher = Our Sports Central ] And on May 21, the Quebec Kebs joined.cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3644389 | title = Quebec Kebs Join Premier Basketball League | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-05-21 | accessdate = 2008-05-21] On June 5 another team with an ABA history, the Augusta Groove, joined the league, but from the Continental Basketball Association.cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3653860 | title = Premier Basketball League Welcomes Augusta Groove | date = 2008-06-05 | accessdate = 2008-06-05 | publisher = Our Sports Central ] On June 23, the Halifax Rainmen, announced they were also joining. cite web | url = http://www.metronews.ca/halifax/sports/article/73452 | title = Rainmen to join Premier Basketball League | publisher = Halifax Metro.Ca | date = 2008-06-23 | accessdate = 2008-06-23] The first International Basketball League defection came on July 31 when the Battle Creek Knights joined the league.cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3692898 | title = Premier Basketball League Welcomes Battle Creek Knights | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-07-31 | accessdate = 2008-07-31 ]

Teams

2008-09 Teams [ [http://www.pblproball.com/teamsites/ 2008-09 PBL Team Websites] ]

*Augusta Groove
*Battle Creek Knights
*Buffalo Stampede
*Chicago Throwbacks
*Detroit Panthers
*Halifax Rainmen
*Manchester Millrats
*Maryland Nighthawks (will play abroad during the 2008-2009 season) [cite web | title = Maryland Nighthawks To Be Internationally Showcased | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3725822 | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-10-07 | accessdate = 2008-10-08 ]
*Mid-Michigan Destroyers [cite web | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3725816 | title = Premier Basketball League Welcomes Mid-Michigan Destroyers | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-10-07 | accessdate = 2008-10-07 ]
*Montreal Sasquatch
*Quad City Riverhawks (will sit out the 2008-2009 season) [cite web | title = Quad City Riverhawks To Sit Out 2009 Season | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3714521 | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-09-05 | accessdate = 2008-09-13 ]
*Quebec Kebs
*Reading Railers (will sit out the 2008-2009 season) [cite web | title = Reading Railers To Sit Out 2009 Season | url = http://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=3723999 | publisher = Our Sports Central | date = 2008-10-02 | accessdate = 2008-10-02 ]
*Rochester Razorsharks
*Vermont Frost Heaves
*Wilmington Sea Dawgs

Defunct Teams/Failed Expansion

*Arkansas Impact
* Bridgeport, Connecticut
*Buffalo Dragons - sold to the management of the Buffalo Sharks of the ABA to form the Buffalo Stampede.cite web | url = http://www.buffalonews.com/291/story/442767.html | title = Teams merge to form Stampede | last = McKissic | first = Rodney | publisher = The Buffalo News | date = 2008-09-19 | accessdate = 2008-09-19 ]
*Chicago Aztecas - will be PBL representative travel team
*Dallas Defenders - ownership revoked midseason, replaced by league-run replacement, folded when no outside owner could be found
*Jacksonville JAM - expelled by league, searching for other options
*Jacksonville SLAM - league-run replacement for JAM, folded when no outside owner could be found
*Minnesota Ripknees - returned to ABA, folded shortly afterwards
*Rockford Fury - folded when the PBL instituted a "one team per owner" rule [cite web | title = Fury Finished | publisher = MyStateline.com | date = 2008-08-08 | accessdate = 2008-08-12 | url = http://mystateline.com/content/fulltext/?cid=18671 ]
*Southeast Asian All-Stars - previously announced by PBL, have not been heard from since and not on official website's team roster.
*Toronto Lazers - previously announced by PBL, have not been heard from since and not on official website's team roster.

Awards

MVP

* 2008: Jeremy Bell, Arkansas Impact

Playoffs MVP

* 2008: Keith Friel, Rochester Razorsharks

Coach of the Year

* 2008: Rod Baker, Rochester Razorsharks

Championship Game results

*2008: Rochester Razorsharks defeated Arkansas Impact, 142-112 (Blue Cross Arena)

ee also

*List of developmental and minor sports leagues

References

External links

* [http://www.pblproball.com/ Official Website]
* [http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070321/SPORTS/70321037/1007 News story announcing league's formation]