It was published today in NewsOK that the CBA will be returning to Oklahoma City as the Cavalry.

It appears to be yet another sad attempt for Baron Hopgood to try to capitalize on Oklahoma City's major league market and thirst for the NBA, by offering a minor league product to sooth the city until the NBA arrives (or prohibit them from eventually coming). Early in 2007, NewsOK published that Baron was to bring an ABA franchise to the city - claims which were false, now this "higher league" is dangled and the paper again is running with it.

I, of course, already composed a nice letter to the mayor and other civic officials, informing them about the "story" and expressing my feeling that the city should not allow mediocrity to the city's entertainment options - just as I did during the ABA "announcement." I encourage you all to do the same.

Oklahoma City is the hidden gem of a major market, one which proved itself as major league by successfully hosting the NBA Hornets. OKC is major league, and should not "settle" for any minor league BARRONS to try to get rich off our market. If Baron had an NBA franchise - this would be a different story. But Im sure he's aware of OKC's impending chances of landing an NBA team - and Im sure he would like to come in while the getting is good and get rich before the NBA gets here permanently.

I feel, the CBA would be the wrong message to the NBA and the world, that OKC is impatient and just settling for the CBA would show the city is not major league after all. Especially if they would play in the Ford Center, which the paper indicated would be a potential home, along with the Cox Convention Center and the State Fair Arena.

Honestly, if they were to play in the Norman Lloyd Noble Center - I would be all for it! But I dont think a city as big as OKC with the prominence we've gained in the NBA and major league's eyes - that we should accept second best! I made this point to the civic officials - we should actively pursue the NBA. We are an NBA city, and at least from a basketball prospective - we should not settle for any minor league team.

I also think we are major league with regard to hockey (and football) as well, but I think we should go big time for the NBA since we have the synergy of past and recent events - and not show to the world that OKC is as backward as those rumors have indicated.

I patiently await a response from the city - as soon as I do (and I hope it is in the same tone and content of what they sent me during the ABA "announcement"), I will post here - heeping you all informed.

We are the voice of Oklahoma City and I am so glad that this forum is here. We have improved our city big time - and Im glad to do my part. We can not allow or accept major league teams (especially in basketball) just to "have something".

We need to be like our peer cities in Indy, Denver, and Portland - demand major league and make it happen!!!

------OKLAHOMA CITY, RENAISSANCE CITY-----

Minor League Teams (esp Basketball)

thoughts?

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

Oh boy...I can hardly contain my excitement....I'm all for a CBA team to come in...AFTER we land an NBA team

Now that we had a taste of the real deal Holyfield it just won't feel right

__________________
Dr. Spaceman: Now Jenna, medically speaking for your height your weight puts you what we call the "disgusting" range. Fortunately there are solutions. For example, crystal meth has been shown to be very effective. How important is tooth retention to you?

my sentiments as well. The CBA should wait until after we land a NBA team or at least play in a suburb - Norman could surely support the CBA, but the team could still be called Oklahoma City or Oklahoma.

Why doesn't the CBA pursue Tulsa?? Isn't the CBA a step above the NBA-DL?

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

ahh...That is a much better suggestion hot rod

Think it would have a much better chance at success in Tulsa...Already know the CBA wasn't exactly popular here in OKC

I remember some pretty weak crowds at the few I attended

__________________
Dr. Spaceman: Now Jenna, medically speaking for your height your weight puts you what we call the "disgusting" range. Fortunately there are solutions. For example, crystal meth has been shown to be very effective. How important is tooth retention to you?

I think this Barron guy is just trying to come in and get rich off of OKC. He knows OKC is in love with teh NBA and will get a team.

I just hope his CBA team does not interfere with the NBA coming. That is my main concern. Otherwise, he can have the team play in Lloyd Noble - that would be a boon for Norman and the South Metro!!!

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

I heard something about this on the Sports Animal (FM 97.9) a week or two ago. I can guarantee you I WILL NOT be attending these games. I'm sure i could find better things to do around the house than go watch a CBA game. After being spoiled with the NBA for the past 2 years, I WILL NOT settle for second best.... and i greatly encourage OKC to NOT support the CBA.

I supported the Hornets by attending many games the last two seasons. I WILL NOT support a CBA team. This is a slap in the face to those of us that supported NBA last season. I'd rather have no team, than to have to settle for a CBA team.

And if homeboy Clay Bennett can't bring a team home, I curse him.

Tsk, tsk, Patrick... that's not very Christian of you...

"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." — James 3:10

Romans 3:23: For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

Patrick 1:1: May those from the state of Oklahoma that purchase an NBA team, and fail to bring it home, pay the consequences of their actions.

.o(Jesus saves ... Moses gets the rebound, he shoots ... he scores!)Oo.

Hopgood is free to do what he wants with his money, and I do believe that he will find out the hard way that the CBA in Okc is a bad financial investment. I predict one horrible season with lousy attendence, and that will be the end of the CBA in Okc.

There is no way that the CBA will stop the NBA from coming to Okc. Also Mayor Mick will not allow this CBA team to play in either the Ford Center or the Cox area.

The eleventh commandment: Thou shalt not deprive Oklahoma City of the NBA.

Another 2nd rate league trying to make a buck. I urge Oklahoma Citians to soundly REJECT this B,C D, F troop league. NBA basketball in OKC or no professional basketball in OKC. The days are over when Oklahomans were glad to get second rate anything just to have something. Make sure this guy loses big and send message to all the other carnival acts looking for a place to play

This is where you can leave your comments.. as much as I want to welcome someone showing interest in OK, I don't want themt o get too comfortable in the Ford Center or even the Cox Center.. schedule conflicts etc etc..

I won't support them... I've never even heard of the Continental Basketball Association.

The Calvary? Oh Please.

NewsOK: Cavalry returns to city

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

I really fear this could send a very bad message if this team actually comes to fruition.

Hot Rod

You crack me up with your major league or bust attitude. What are the Redhawks ?? chopped liver ??

What happened to the Wranglers ? hmm left town even before the FOrd Center opened, Wonder why nobody has brought a AFL team to OKC since then ???

Sorry folks but a near max capicity Ford Center does not make OKC major league city. The other key ingredients are the TV markets and corporate dollars. (sidenote: attendance/ticket revenue are slight percentages of a teams income)

While OKC is on the cusp of being a major league city and the city has made great strides in the last 10 yrs. Lets get our corporate side built up and increase our TV market rating before we boost about being a major league city.

I would actually like to see major league baseball or hockey long before a basketball team of any irk.

I fail to see where we are lacking in corporate support, and we can't control the size of our TV market short of just increasing in population. The lines are drawn. Wichita Falls/Lawton and Sherman/Ada take huge chunks out.

Well I would actually like to see a NFL or MLB before an NBA team, but that ain't gonna happen

Let's just be blunt though...The Redhawks are chopped liver...Good for a game or two with the family, but they aren't much of an entertainment attraction for most OKC'ers

I don't think we are a major league city in the sense we could support more than one...No way not right now...But we have shown we are capable of supporting one team...Tv market is higher then Nawlins and decent enough if coupled with solid attendance and corporate backing, which OKC has proved it has both

In fact our city and corporate backing is one of the things Stern loves about OKC...Not so much on the tv market, but that can be overcome with time

__________________
Dr. Spaceman: Now Jenna, medically speaking for your height your weight puts you what we call the "disgusting" range. Fortunately there are solutions. For example, crystal meth has been shown to be very effective. How important is tooth retention to you?

Oklahoma City is not ready for Major League Baseball. The RedHawks are fine for now (except for their affiliation with Texas). The Wrnaglers did not leave town. They were one of four teams folded by the league in a move called contgricion (sp). The league foreclosed on the team because of massive debt in Portland. Oklahoma City was actually a good market for them.

And on the remark about "near capacity." Very few, if any major league teams sell out all of their games. Many sell out a small percentage and still make a profit... In markets that are in direct competition with Oklahoma City.

No one posted their comments/reactions besides me to the NewsOK article on their website??

That's baseball, not basketball. And the Redhawks are chopped liver. Not the best quality of baseball IMO.

Because we're an NBA town, not an AFL town. And actually our city did support the Wranglers well. It was the debt they brought with them from Portland that led to their demise. The league chose to fold all teams with debt.

And we proved all of that with the Hornets. It was more like 40-50 near max capacity crowds, with many of them being sell outs. And who can forget all of the corporate support our corporations showed.....the best ever in the history of the NBA.

We've already proved our corporate support. No other city in the history of the NBA has shown the corporate support that our corporations did towards the Hornets.

We couldn't support 50K fans a night for 50 games a season for baseball. And we don't even have a facility. We could probably support NHL, but that is uncharted territory. We've already proven we can support NBA long term. We did it for 2 seasons.

Im not sure if Blairman was trying to get a rise out of me or what, but based on the comments/support from others on this forum - it looks like Blairman is the one "out-of-touch with Oklahoma City's major league chances."

For one, I specifically said OKC was major league as far as basketball is concerned, and very arguably - football, yet he brings up "baseball, of all sports - which OKC is content to be AAA and has NEVER thought of moving up on (hence the construction of the 13000 seat ballpark".

Oklahoma City IS a major-league town and a basketball town, with plenty of corporate support and excellent fan base. This was proven already, Blairman must have been sleep or is a resident from Tulsa or Texas.

Although he is entitled to his opinion, I think next time he should base it on facts instead of posting some nonsense just to try to get a rise out of me.


=================


That being said, I did email my contacts at city hall .... ..... .......

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

- and they assured me that Oklahoma City's goals to attract a major league NBA franchise HAVE NOT CHANGED! It appears based on the response, that something is probably in the works - but there was no direct statement in that regard. I think we all can assume what this means, especially since a prominent downtown OKC businessman owns a frailing NBA franchise in the city where I live, which my legislature recently failed to even consider an arena here in my local metro area (a major 15-metro and largest city in the U.S. Pacific NorthWest by the way..... wink... wink.....)

OK, enough fun....

The city official (I will respect the official's trust by non naming on this forum, but trust me) assured me that the CBA will not likely enter into a lease at the Ford Center or Cox, and this was almost reflected ver-batum in today's online NewsOK commentary.

The city official assured me that OKC is working to retain it's major league status and that the NBA is the target - and the city will not rest until this is the case.

I think we could rest assured that the city officials are on top of things and that they are aware of those who seek to come in to town and try to get rich off of the city's renaissance! I think we can also be confident that the city officials are in tune with what we - the residents, citizens, expats, and interest OKC fans - want for the city... and this will ensure that OKC will Continue the Renaissance.

I also am now confident that even IF the CBA does come into town, it will have no effect on the NBA (when as soon as an agreement for a NBA franchise comes to fruition, OKC would no longer be lucrative for any other minor league, bball wise).

Oklahoma City, the Renaissance City!!

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!

Now that you guys are done with your water ballon fight ...

I think there is only one reason the CBA wants to return OKC. The Cavalry (the US military not the place Jesus died) was the name of OKCs former CBA team. It is a name that I personally like and I think promotes a very good image of OKC. It is a name unique to sports and has a long history in Oklahoma, i.e. Ft Reno and the supply depot for Ft Reno that is now called Bricktown. I suspect the owner of the team wants to come back so when the team from Seattle arrives and is looking for a new name he can cash in by selling the name.

I for one would like OKCs NBA team to be called the Cavalry. I can't think of a better name.

NBA Oklahoma City Cavalry does have a nice ring to it, imagine all of the merchandise that could be created/sold as well. ...

and Kerry, you might have a point - since Cavalry is "home-grown" so to say, it could be something like putting the SuperSonics to rest in Seattle and starting "a new" in Oklahoma City????

I dont know, but I am elated that the city is not selling us short by Settling for the CBA. I am happy that the city is gung-ho for the NBA and is doing everything it can to make it happen, Cavalry or who ever else tries to cash in in-the-mean-time.

__________________
Oklahoma City, RENAISSANCE CITY!