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Basketball Fan
Joined: 20 Feb 2004
Posts: 5634
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 Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:43 pm Post subject: Kobe's dad to launch the Phoenix Fury |
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http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/sports/articles/2008/07/11/20080711fury0711.html
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Valley to boast an ABA presence
Fury might be coached by 'Jellybean' Bryant
1 commentby Amy Brittain - Jul. 11, 2008 12:00 AM
The Arizona Republic
The father of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant is a key partner in launching the Phoenix Fury, an American Basketball Association expansion team.
Former NBA player Joe "Jellybean" Bryant might coach the Fury, although the Los Angeles resident said Thursday that he remains "undecided."
The potential of Bryant's move surprised even Kobe, who heard the news through the media and called, saying, "Hey, Dad, you're going to Phoenix?"
Bryant is the Fury's operational director and will join CEO Xavier Mitchell at Phoenix Greenway High at 9 a.m. today to interview potential Fury players, coaches, sponsors and dancers.
The ABA season begins in early December. The league has been criticized for organizational flaws, quick folds and sub-par play.
The original ABA merged with the NBA in 1976 after experiencing financial struggles from limited television exposure.
A new league with the same ABA name launched in 2000 and revived the classic ABA's signature red, white and blue ball.
The league has about 50 teams in locations such as Nashville, Detroit, Los Angeles and Buffalo.
Bryant said the Fury will save traveling costs by playing nearby teams, such as Prescott Valley's Arizona Rhinos and the San Diego Wildcats.
Bryant and Mitchell said they remain optimistic about the Fury's survival if the community rallies in support.
"This is supposed to be Phoenix's basketball team," Mitchell said. "There is a hotbed of talent here."
Players of interest include former high school standouts and Division II or III college players, Bryant said. He reiterated that potential players must be committed to community service.
"Don't look at us just as wins or losses," he said. "Look at what we're doing in the community."
Bryant, a former coach of the WNBA's Los Angeles Sparks, also said he hopes the Fury set a precedent for welcoming women to the ABA.
"We are not going to exclude women," he said. "A lot of women can play with the guys."
ABA salaries range from $200 to "five-figure amounts" per game, Mitchell said.
The Greenway gymnasium, which seats around 2,000, will serve as the Fury's home court. Mitchell originally explored Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum as a potential venue but opted for Greenway because of the smaller size and partnership with the school.
Mitchell said he plans to charge about $7 for admission.
Mitchell and Bryant did not specify a time line for choosing the team but encouraged fans to suggest talented local players by visiting thephoenixfury.com
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akola
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 226
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| Didn't Jellybean coach The Sparks before? or am I mistaken? |
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CaCHooKa Man
Human Highlight Reel
Joined: 07 Jul 2004
Posts: 10248
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:32 pm Post subject: |
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| akola wrote: |
| Didn't Jellybean coach The Sparks before? or am I mistaken? |
yea he did
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| On August 17, 2005, Bryant, who had been serving as the assistant coach to the Sparks team in the Women's National Basketball Association, was named Head Coach of the Sparks, succeeding previous coach (and former 76ers teammate) Henry Bibby. During the 2006 season, he led the Sparks to a 25-9 and a Conference Finals berth. However, in April 2007 Bryant was replaced as Sparks head coach by Michael Cooper, who had previously helmed the team in 1999-2004. |
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"The game getting foul so here's a free throw."
http://www.soundclick.com/cachookaman |
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nicehair911
Still Waiting For Ron
Joined: 11 Aug 2005
Posts: 10153
Location: Wit so much drama in da LBC it's kinda hard bein Snoop D-O double G
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| Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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I heard about this on ESPN today in a sandwich shop. Interesting. I didn't know LA had an ABA team 
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"Michael Jordan once said that there's a right way and wrong way to practice basketball. He said that it doesn't matter if you practice eight hours a day-if you're practicing the wrong way, all you're doing is getting really good at doing the wrong things"
-Adam Robinson on the SAT |
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Basketball Fan
Joined: 20 Feb 2004
Posts: 5634
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funkychunky
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Location: L.A., CA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:04 am Post subject: |
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| Deport Luke to the Los Angeles ABA team. |
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The Original 81
Joined: 07 Oct 2006
Posts: 1502
Location: New York City
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:37 am Post subject: |
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| funkychunky wrote: |
| Deport Luke to the Los Angeles ABA team. |
Agreed.
_________________
"Let me say one more thing about Kobe. He will be the best player in the history of the game. If he keeps doing what he's doing, there is no stopping him. He is that good." - Shaquille O'Neal in his autobiography, "Shaq Talks Back"
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wrathletik
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Posts: 1069
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: |
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| Puke would get outballed in the ABA, too. |
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funkychunky
Joined: 21 Apr 2008
Posts: 60
Location: L.A., CA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 11:02 am Post subject: |
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His only hope is the WNBA then.
'Degraded from the NBA, the new Forward of the Los Angeles Sparks... LUUUUUCY WALTON!' |
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