Remember the ABA
Posted by frankpos on October 27, 2011
The ABA.
The Colonels.
The memories…
Yes, as this new season kicks off, we’re going back for some fun. To a time when pro basketball was at its wildest and craziest–and most fun.
From 1967 to 1976 — nine full seasons during my peak sports-crazed teen years — I got to witness close-up entrepreneurial creativity at its purest. The three-point play, the 30-second clock, the first dunking contest, Moses Malone leading high schoolers going pro, bikini-ed Ball Girls, incredibly talented and bizarre player/characters like Marvin “Bad News” Barnes, enormous Afros –and run-and-gun offenses.
Without the big lumbering centers of the NBA, who actually stopped their offenses, the ABA showcased its players’ skills, allowing them the opportunity to freelance, and turned basketball into an artistic venture.
It was playground basketball at its best.
And our own Kentucky Colonels were one of the ABA’s most exciting and dominant teams. Many observers believe that the later Colonels teams, anchored by Artis Gilmore in the middle starting in the 1971-72 season, would have dominated most NBA teams.
In 1974-75, before 16,622 screaming fans in Freedom Hall, the Colonels knocked off their arch-nemesis, the Indiana Pacers, 110-105, to capture the series 4-1 for their one and only ABA championship. Yes, I was there.
Most experts now believe that the Colonels would have beaten the Rick Barry- led NBA champion Golden State Warriors. That Colonels team had two of the greatest pro players of all time–Dan Issel and Artis Gilmore–and the premier scorer in ABA history, little Louie Dampier. Oh, yeah, and it was coached by Hubie Brown.
By the time the ABA folded in 1976, the Colonels had won the most regular season games in ABA history. Generally, Kentucky, Indiana, New York, Denver and San Antonio had been the most consistently strong ABA teams.
It was clear to everyone that the Colonels had the talent and the fan support to join the NBA for the 1976-77 season. So it was an incredible shock to Louisville fans–and to true basketball aficionados nationwide– when owner John Y. Brown sold off Issel right after winning the championship, and then later the team.
Yes….. our own Kentucky Colonels once ruled the pro basketball world.
Sonja said
Frank,
I knew, well…dated a guy in high school who happened to be working at that Burger Queen and went to watch the shooting match. He was all fired up about it later that evening when he came by to pick me up for our date and told me all about it. Didn’t know Louie’s opponent too well, he went to a different high school than I did, but my ex-boyfriend stayed in touch with him after he moved to Florida. My husband also has a good story about the Colonels, they had a youth club called the “Basketeers” and the kids got to play at halftime of Colonels games. He once made (2) three pointers during this mini-halftime game..at the ripe age of 9. Unfortunately, his basketball skills, from his account, peaked that afternoon. He was a pretty good high school football player, though.
frankpos said
Sonja,
What a great, vivid story!
My sister knew Louie well and worked at his BBall camps — she was a star at Mercy and Bellarmine.
Louie was as good-natured and down to earth as you get…I can see
him grinning and going out on that asphalt.
What intrigues me…was Young Mr. High School a friend or a relative of yours?
Thanks for the great post and memory!
Frank
Sonja said
A bit of legend and lore on the Kentucky Colonels. It was back in 1973, and the now defunct Burger Queen was a big supporter of the Kentucky Colonels. The Colonels would occasionally send one of the players to one of the burger joint locations for autographs, and even the Burger Queen mascot (Queenie Bee) would show up. Louie Dampier appeared at one of the locations for an autograph apperance, and one of the employees at this location was a pretty fair high school basketball player. They got to talking, and an informal wager was struck up between said high school player and Louie on who was the better outside shooter. After the autograph session, the two and about 30 curious onlookers went to a local outdoor court to settle the bet. In sweltering 90+ degree heat on the blacktop the two squared off. They were to take 10 shots each from beyond the top of the free throw circle. Best of out 10 wins. After a few warmup shorts, Dampier started off the contest. A few minutes later, he walked off the court, grinning about his 7 of 10 performance. Young Mr. High School grabbed the ball and a few minutes later, strode off majestically with 8 out of 10 to his credit. Grimly, Dampier proposed a rematch, moving back 5 feet. It was agreed upon, and Mr. High School went first. 7 out of 10. Dampier took the blacktop and drilled the first 3. He missed the next 2, and calmly proceeded to swish the final 5. Young Mr. High School called for a final match, from just inside the half court circle. Approx. 35 footers. Dampier grinned, headed to his car and claimed he was late for a previously scheduled appointment. After Dampier’s departure, young Mr. High School canned 8 for 10 from the distance.
Young Mr. High Schools father was transferred later that summer and he finished his high school career in Florida. Never got a scholarship to college, ended up working for the city as a parks and recreation counselor, but always told the story that on one hot summer day, he took on, and held his own against one of the best 3 point shooters in the game.