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ABA ‘spirits’ CougarsNEW YORK (UPI) - The Carolina Cougars of the ABA moved to St. Louis Wednesday and put All-America Marvin Barnes in the driver’s seat for pro basketball's first venture into the Mississippi River city since the NBA Hawks left for a new home in Atlanta.The franchise transfer issue was cut and dried as the American Basketball Association’s Board of Trustees approved the sale of Tedd Munchak’s Cougars to a group of New York City area businessmen.Even before the sale was finalized.the 6-9 (2.03-meter) Barnes of Providence College, who maintained that he’d rather work in a factory than play in pro3 for less than a million dollars, was the possessor of a $2 million multi-year contract.Bames, a trim 215 pounds (96.8 kilograms) who wants to gain weight because I’m tired of being leaned on,” said he was anxious to be in a league that features his heroes — Julius Er-ving, Wilt Chamberlain and Billy Cunningham.“I made the ABA my preference overthe National Basketball Association because of its dedication in getting the best of all college players,” said the hungry young man who also was the No. 2 draft choice of Philadelphia in the NBA.• But instead of latching on with the 76ers, Bames is the newest Spirit of St. Louis, which is • owned by Harry Weltman, a New York sports marketing executive; Ozzie Silna of Teanpck, N. J.; his brother Daniel of Woodcliff Lake, N. J., and attorney Donald Schupak of New York.Storen quits as ABA boss, NEW YORK (UPI) — Mike Storen pesigned as commissioner of the American Basketball Association Wenesday and purchased the Memphis franchise from the league.Tedd Munchak, who earlier in the day sold the Carolina Cougars to a New York group, which will move the franchise to SL Louis, succeeds Storen as the ABA’s fifth commissioner since the league was formed seven years ago.:5I have puchased the Memphis franchise and will talk to local interests there about buying into the club,” said Storen, who was general manager of the Indiana Pacers and Kentucky Colonels before accepting the commissioner’s job in the ABA. His previous administrative experience with league dubs allowedhim to adapt easily to the position.•lt; “Storen should do fine with the Memphis franchise,” said Munchak, ;‘.‘he is an administrator, a guy who has been a general manager and knows how to make moves with a team.'1Munchak said the decision to accept his new position was an easy one to make because “I am a man with a mission. Not many people worry about the game of basketball as a professional sport the way I do. I have a feeling that I can contribute something to make this a better game, to make players better players.”The new commissioner had poor luck with his team last season and has not been able to field a champion in the two years he owned the Cougars.iMunchak virtually disbanded the Carolina franchise within a period of several weeks after the season ended, selling All-Star guard Ted McClain to Kentucky, trading Mack Calvin to Denver and waiving high-priced center Jim Chones out of the league. He also told his president and general manager Carl Scheer and head coach Larry Brown to seek employment elsewhere and they subsequently signed with Denver.But Munchak, who fled Carolina because the crowds weren’t supporting his team even though Storen often said better promotion would make a significant difference there, now says he “couldn’t run away from the responsibility of the ABA pommissioner’s job.Barnes to St. LouisWeltman takes over as president of the team which will be known as the Spirits of St. Louis and will play its 1974-. 75fhome,games in a 20,000 seat arena. The city has been without a team since Ben Kenner sold the Hawks in 1968. The new St Louis team is without a coach and there was speculation that Richie Guerin or Alex Hannum, both former Hawks mentors, could be the new ofcmers’ choice.But it was the aggressive Bames, the young man who once used a tire iron to settle an argument with a teammate, who was the focus of attention Wednesday. He walked in on the news conference with a factory lunch pail and a Spirits sweatshirt, opened the metal container and pulled out a signed contract plus a sheaf of bills.“I’m glad he signed that contract,” said Mrs. Lula Bames as she looked up affectionately at her son, who stands about nine inches (23 centimeters)MARVIN BARNEStaller titan his mother. “I didn’t want him to work in a factory either.” Bames said he wanted to pattern himself after Julius Erving, a master at dff the floating basket shot and dunk.“But I think they want to use me at forward so I can feed off to Cunningham or Joe Caldwell. I’m one of Dr. J’s biggest fans. Man, isn’t it something the way he flies through the air and sinks those shots.”L Getting thoughtful for a moment, femes said that he’ll probably form the nucleus of the St. Louis defense because of his rebounding ability. He . led the nation last season in rebounds with an 18.8 average and posted a 21.9 scoring average.He led Providence into the NCAA tournament three years running. The Friars reached the semifinals in 1973, before losing to Memphis State when Bames suffered an injury during the
Newspaper Details
Columbia Missourian Newspaper
Columbia, Missouri, US
Thu, Jul 18, 1974
Page 13
Full Page
Clipped by
Robert G.
USA 03 Apr 2025
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