The ABL held its inaugural All-Star Game in Hartford
last night and 6,387 watched a "game made for Dennis Rodman
and Anthony Mason," according to Bruce Berlet in the
HARTFORD COURANT. The "physical" affair, which actually had
a player ejected, marked the half-way point of the league's
first season. Jennifer Azzi, a ABL founding player: "Things
have gone better than expected as far as attendance
projections and getting new sponsorships." ABL co-Founder
Steve Hams "said he has been pleased with attendance (an
average of 3,390) and the quality of play." Berlet notes
the league's focus in the second half of the season "will be
on expanding sponsorships, improving officiating and
finalizing the draft" (HARTFORD COURANT, 12/16).
AROUND THE RIM: In Boston, Barbara Huebner notes that
players have expressed concern about being "out of the
communications loop." Founding player Dawn Staley: "I
thought the founding players would have a little more input
in how the league is run on a daily basis." League co-
Founder/VP Anne Cribbs said a commissioner with "name
recognition will be in place within six months, and meetings
about player communication and involvement are being held
this weekend" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16). In Hartford, Bruce
Berlet notes that Reebok Dir/Women's Sports Marketing Kathy
O'Connell said Reebok, which has a two-year deal with the
ABL, "will begin marketing T-shirts, hats and replica player
jerseys in January." ABL co-Owner Gary Cavalli said the ABL
will add two teams, possibly in TN and TX, and one player to
its 11-player rosters next season (HARTFORD COURANT, 12/15).
In S.F., Nancy Gay writes that the "alarming number of
injuries has been a major concern," and adds "with the rival
WNBA scheduled to debut next June, the ABL players feel an
urgency to keep the momentum alive" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/15).
In S.F., Bruce Jenkins writes the WNBA's signing of Lisa
Leslie and Sheryl Swoopes, "plus highly marketable Rebecca
Lobo and Ruthie Bolton, ... spells demise for the scrappy
ABL, and it's really a shame" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 12/15).
