Big3 co-Founder Ice Cube said it is "hard to introduce a new sport to America," and until his league can "get over the hump," it will not turn a profit, according to Annie Costabile of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Ice Cube, speaking ahead of the Big3's games at Allstate Arena on Saturday, said, "It’s been 20 years since the last league was invented from scratch and has taken off, which was UFC. It really took them nine years to turn a profit. We plan to do it in less than half the time." Ice Cube is confident that the league will be able to "turn a profit" in the near future. Meanwhile, Ice Cube said former NBAers interested in the Big3 will reach out to the league "when they’re ready." He said, "At this point the league speaks for itself. If they really want to play they’ll call me. If I have to call them too much, they really don’t want to play." Ice Cube also said he has "been in contact" with Kobe Bryant, but "not about playing in the Big 3." Ice Cube: "He’s told me he’s not going to play, so I’m going to take him for his word until he shows me otherwise" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 8/3).
