CT-based Phoenix Home Life Mutual Insurance is now "on
the hook" to the ABL for a $6M bank loan "it may never
recover," according to Kauffman & Wong of the HARTFORD
COURANT. Among the ABL's 1,000 creditors, Phoenix "is
taking by far the biggest hit" among those who will lose
money, since it "guaranteed payment of a loan from Fleet
Bank." ABL bankruptcy lawyer Michael Lubic said that the
league "plans its own antitrust suit" against the WNBA, "a
move that might provide more money for season-ticket holders
and others." Lubic said that he could "offer no details" of
the ABL's legal plans, nor would he identify the defendant
in the case (HARTFORD COURANT, 1/13). CT's Commissioner of
Economic & Community Development James Abromaitis wrote a
letter Friday to the WNBA urging them to locate a franchise
in Hartford by "offering the [CT Gov. John Rowland]
administration's assistance" (HARTFORD COURANT, 1/13).
ALL-STAR GAME FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE ABL: In San Jose,
Sheldon Spencer writes that two ABL fans have announced
plans for a "hoopSalute" game featuring Jennifer Azzi and
"at least" ten others former ABL players who have
"tentatively agreed" to participate. The 1,600-seat De Anza
College (CA) gym will host the game on January 24. The
event, not endorsed by the ABL, will pay each player a
$5,000 appearance fee, and tickets will range in price from
$50 to $1,500 (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 1/13).
