Published: May 09, 2008 10:36 pm            

BASKETBALL: ABA heading back to Buffalo

The red, white and blue ball of the American Basketball Association will return to Buffalo for the third time in four years this winter.

Vinnie Lesh, owner and promoter of Club Infinity in Williamsville, has taken over the franchise from previous owner Todd Wier, an East Aurora businessman. Recently, Wier announced plans to start up a Premier Basketball League team in the Queen City next January.

Lesh’s franchise, Buffalo Pro Hoops Inc., will be known as the Buffalo Sharks. The Sharks will re-join the ABA in November and be in direct competition with Wier’s Buffalo Dragons, Lesh announced Friday at a kickoff party at his club.

“I’ve been promoting local entertainment for a long time and I look at basketball in the same way — local entertainment,” Lesh said. “We have some great things planned for this franchise.”

This all after the initial run of the ABA team in Buffalo — both the Rapids and Silverbacks — struggled to find a niche in the Western New York market, whether due to ownership, finances, lack of venue stability or disputes with the league office. Niagara Falls native Rich Jacob, who served as coach and general manager of the previous ABA teams and will return in the same capacity with the Sharks, vows this time things will be done right.

“We have always believed that basketball belongs in Buffalo,” he said. “Like all minor league teams, we had our issues, but we’ve got a great owner and we’re really hoping to build a strong organization this time around.”

The Sharks have an agreement in place with Canisius College to play their 18-game home schedule at the Koessler Center next winter. Season tickets were made available Friday at the kickoff party with prices starting at $75 for general admission up to $225 for courtside seats. Lesh said promotions, community events, sponsorships and partnerships are already well in the works, including an agreement with local organizations for prospective players to find work as counselors and mentors during the day. Finding local players is also a priority, according to Lesh.

“Local players know local people,” he said. “It’s important that we get the community and media behind this effort.”

Jacob agreed.

“Our first priority is always the local community, so we will always be open to having local players that are willing to work hard and take advantage of this opportunity,” he said.

Some locals that Jacob mentioned as possibilities for the roster included Buffalo native and former Cincinnati standout Leonard Stokes, former Canisius College player Andy Bush, former University at Buffalo player Karl Rainey and former Rapids player Carlton Mason. There will also be open tryouts this summer, Jacob said, while adding that he recently attended the Portsmouth Invitational and had discussions with numerous players from throughout the country.

Jacob, the director of the sport management program at Medaille College in Buffalo, will also be instrumental in acquiring the team’s staff.

“It’s really a natural partnership with me being the coach and general manager of the Sharks and the chair of sport management at Medaille,” he said.

The Sharks plan to hold their kickoff basketball event in June when the Italian National team will make an appearance in Western New York, according to Jacob. For more information on the team, including tickets, call 565-1730.

Contact reporter Nate Beutel at 282-2311, ext. 2262.

        

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