Steel City Yellow Jackets Journal

by Thomas Leturgey  Pittsburgh’s most important ambassador to basketball spends many of his days at A Giving Heart Community Center, formerly the St. John Vianney Catholic Church gymnasium in the Allentown neighborhood within the city of Pittsburgh.   "Coach" Ace Pippens may be the Owner and CEO of Pittsburgh’s only current professional championship team—the Steel City Yellow Jackets—but he is not resting on his laurels. The American Basketball Association (ABA) team owner also helms the Women’s American Basketball Association (WABA) squad, the Steel City Queens. That club is in pre-season tryouts and the roster is being assembled.    While that team only plays 8 games (compared to the Yellow Jackets’ 20-plus), the Queens have been inspired to advance to the next competitive step by their basketball brothers.   During the summer, Yellow Jackets co-captains Gilmore Cummings and Tone Reddic are among the players who make up a ruckus D.R.E.A.M. summer league at A Giving Heart. P

New ABA International President Ross Kurland. Photo courtesy of the ABA. From the desk of ABA Owner and CEO Joseph Newman Indianapolis, IN.  The American Basketball Association (ABA) today announced that Ross Kurland has been named President of ABA International, a division designed to establish the ABA brand  throughout the world.  "Ross has been with the ABA for over 13 years," stated ABA CEO Joe Newman. "He gained great experience operating the San Diego Surf prior to selling the team and moving into ABA domestic expansion.   Ross has tremendous experience internationally with his players having signed and played in over 35 countries and his team having played 45 games in 7 countries, including 25 games  in China." Following his US Army service as Community Relations Representative of the United Nations  Command in Korea, Kurland had a successful career in business including opening a boxing gym in Times Square in NYC; and following a move to San Diego, developed

New ABA President Greg Brown By Thomas Leturgey Hard work and determination has done Baltimore’s Greg Brown well. A decade ago, Brown came to the realization that his basketball playing career–which had flourished in high school and college–was coming to an end due to a torn ligament in his hand. While visiting one day he turned to his grandmother, Velma Price, and told her about his dream of owning a professional basketball team. “You can do whatever you put your mind to,” Price told her grandson. He used some of those words of wisdom to pursue his goal. The young man worked diligently as a door-to-door Verizon Fios representative and moved up the corporate ladder. During that time, Price passed away and left Brown a small inheritance. He used that money and his own savings to purchase an American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise in his hometown. At 24, Brown founded the Baltimore Hawks and became the youngest professional basketball team owner anywhere. “Not just the United Sta