World BA World Basketball Association
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The World Basketball Association would be a natural expansion of the success of professional sports. We propose initially an eight team league with room for future expansion.
North America
East Europe
West Europe
East Asia
West Asia
Africa
South America
Australia
PLAYERS WOULD PRIMARILY BE OVER 40 OLD
THE "OVER THE HILL" LEAGUE
It has long been an irony that advancing age slows performance and forces retirement. This occurs at the apex of an athlete's career, when he or she is the most popular and in the most demand. The professional is still a superb athlete, but eventually cannot compete with younger people.
An "Over the Hill" League composed of over "40" athletes should be developed. The charisma and popularity of the former stars should ensure the success of the league. The baby boom generation is the largest population cohort and is now beginning to turn 40 years of age. In this scenario the baby boom generation could continue to follow its present athletic heroes into middle age.
The following are a list of possible organizational principles:
- The majority of the athletes must be over forty, with one player fulfilling an over 50, an over 60, and an over 70 age slot.
- Members of the teams could come from a variety of sports, as follows:
2 Basketball
2 Baseball
2 Football
1 Hockey
1 Boxing
1 College level player
1 High School player
1 Sports writer
1 No experience in organized athletics whatsoever
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12 Total, with alternatives as needed.
The question arises as to whether the league could attract the older big name players and whether enough fans would be attracted to make the effort worthwhile.
Certainly some former players could be attracted to the league. Many of these men thoroughly enjoyed the competition and fame. They could be expected to participate for a percentage of the profit. It is not beyond the realm of possibility that the league could become very profitable. Certainly, it would be no great problem to attract the high school and college stars, and individuals with no experience.
Attracting substantial numbers of fans might be difficult. It is not clear whether fans follow teams because of the prowess of young men or whether simple competition, territorial loyalty, and camaraderie are more important. I personally believe the latter reasons account for team support and that the over the hill league could attract that support.
The baby boom is in its 30's and 40's now. It is already seeing most of its generation of athletes head toward retirement. The establishment of the "over the hill" league would allow this group to follow its stars through their lives and careers, instead of constantly realigning loyalties to ever younger, more overpaid, and more pampered athletes.
Several paths towards establishing the "Over the Hill" League may be pursued. The most obvious would be for each team of an existing league to form an "over the hill" team. This approach seems logical since existing teams and leagues have the know-how, stadiums, contacts, and capital to implement and promote their teams. Existing leagues could also coordinate double headers and travel with their "youth" team and their "over the hill" team.
Another method for forming the league would be to form teams independent of existing teams or leagues. This approach has the strengths of attracting fresh venture capital and new and aggressive ideas, but suffers from lack of know-how and contacts.
A third implementation method would involve a player cooperative, with players providing the leadership and capital. The lack of a guiding entrepreneur would probably hinder this approach.
The "Over the Hill" League is a workable concept and should be implemented. It will be a profitable concern, providing entertainment and employment. It will help move America away from its preoccupation with youth and extend the values of competitive athletics into older groups.
To make play competitive, time slots for the various age categories and abilities would have to be established.
OWNERSHIP
The individual teams could be led by independent businessmen similar to the way most sports teams are now owned. Alternatively the league could be one company, and hire all staff.
The second option could have the NBA as a part owner. Ownership by established stars would obviously be beneficial.
WOMEN
Women could be among the players. To ensure fair competition, the rules of the league would require substitution for women to play other women with fixed time periods.
DISTANCE
The great distances of playing around the world would require a different approach. Most likely the schedule would require two teams to play three or four games in the same continent.
Craig Hullinger
941 312 1032
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