Youngstown Pride (basketball team)

The Youngstown Pride was a professional basketball team that competed in the World Basketball League during the late 1980s and early 1990s.cite web | url = http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2371 | title = Youngstown Pride | publisher = Ohio History Central | accessdate = 2007-11-07] Based in Youngstown, Ohio, the Pride was established in 1987 by Phar-Mor executive Michael I. Monus and performed well during its five-year lifespan.cite web | url = http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2371 | title = Youngstown Pride | publisher = Ohio History Central | accessdate = 2007-11-07]

In 1988, the Pride closed its second season with a 28-26 record, placing third in a five-team league that included franchises from Calgary, Las Vegas, Chicago, Fresno, and Vancouver.cite web | url = http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html | title = World Basketball League | publisher = Basketball History | accessdate = 2007-11-07] The following year, the team fared better, narrowly losing the league championship to the Calgary 88's. Youngstown closed the season with a 31-13 record, compared to Calgary's 31-13.cite web | url = http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html | title = World Basketball League | publisher = Basketball History | accessdate = 2007-11-07]

In 1990, the Youngstown Pride enjoyed its best season, when it seized the WBL championship with a stunning record of 38-8.cite web | url = http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html | title = World Basketball League | publisher = Basketball History | accessdate = 2007-11-07] The next year, the Pride competed well in the WBL's Northern Division, closing the 1991 season with a 26-25 record and placing second in the five-team division.cite web | url = http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html | title = World Basketball League | publisher = Basketball History | accessdate = 2007-11-07]

During its final season in 1992, the Pride posted a 22-13 record, placing second in what was now a 10-team league.cite web | url = http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html | title = World Basketball League | publisher = Basketball History | accessdate = 2007-11-07] At this point, however, the WBL was in trouble, and it disbanded before the close of the season.cite web | url = http://members.aol.com/apbrhist/wbl88-92.html | title = World Basketball League | publisher = Basketball History | accessdate = 2007-11-07] The league's unraveling is generally attributed to waning public interest.cite web | url = http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2371 | title = Youngstown Pride | publisher = Ohio History Central | accessdate = 2007-11-07]

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