Many experts believe the entire 2011-12 NBA season might be in serious jeopardy.
The official word from the NBA: During the lockout, players will not receive their salaries; teams will not negotiate, sign or trade player contracts; players will not be able to use team facilities for any purpose; and teams will not conduct or facilitate any summer camps, exhibitions, practices, workouts, coaching sessions or team meetings.
“We have made several proposals to the union, including a deal targeting $2 billion annually as the players’ share — an average of approximately $5 million per player that could increase along with league revenue growth,” said NBA Deputy Commissioner Adam Silver in an NBA press release. “We will continue to make every effort to reach a new agreement that is fair and in the best interests of our teams, our players, our fans, and our game.”
Today, both sides are extremely far apart.
And there is a company that will soon be providing basketball fans and amateur players with an alternative. The Community Basketball Leagues (CBL) is an amateur-based basketball network in the U.S. and they are currently raising $2.5 million for their expansion into 600 cities across America. The buzz surrounding the CBL centers on its Exposure League (also known as the E-League).
“The CBL is creating the most unmatched and comprehensive preparatory basketball league experience in America,” said Jamar Johnson, chief commissioner of the CBL. “Our E-League is amateur-based so NBA players could not play in our league, but we would love for NBA players to join us as general managers and mentors of E-League Teams in local communities across the country.”
Jamar Johnson led the University of Nebraska college basketball program to its first ever Big 12 conference tournament championship in 1994 and completed his bachelor’s degree in human resources and family science. From May 1995 to May 1997, Johnson served as an Administrative Graduate Assistant Coach for the University of Nebraska men’s basketball program. And in 1996, Johnson also had a brief stint in the professional Continental Basketball Association (CBA) with the Omaha Racers.
The CBL E-League will offer professionally organized and managed teams, as well as guaranteed playing time and player development opportunities for all players. CBL players and teams have access to the organization’s global basketball network of college coaches, professional and minor league basketball teams and scouts, and every basketball agent in the United States representing grad-level players within the US and overseas. General managers and coaches even receive an incentive bonus if they place a player on a college, minor or professional basketball league team.
With a 30-game E-League scheduled slotted to begin in May 2012. The 2012 CBL schedule includes E-League teams from cities in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, and Texas. To learn more about the CBL youth and adult leagues and its nationwide, preparatory E-League basketball program, visit the CBL website.
Paul M. Banks is CEO of The Sports Bank.net, an official Google News site that generates millions of unique visitors. He’s also a regular contributor to Chicago Now, Walter Football.com, Yardbarker, and Fox Sports
He does regular weekly radio spots in Chicago and Cleveland and has appeared on live shows all across the world from Houston to New Zealand. You can follow him on Twitter