Bill Bellamy, Jalen Rose, Bryon Russell, Ephraim Salaam and Alan Payne Among Others to Participate in American Basketball Association Entertainment League (ABA E League) Open Run

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Basketball Association (ABA) and its ABA Classics division today announced that it will launch a new entertainment league this fall featuring entertainers, directors, producers, elected officials, business professionals, ex-NBA, NFL, MLB and collegiate athletes. "There's no doubt about it, good competitive basketball is a very important pastime for so many professionals in the LA area," stated Deon Taylor, CEO of Ether Sports Marketing, LLC, and one of the principals in the recently-announced ABA Classics, a celebrity-driven, prize money basketball division of the ABA that will make its debut next summer. "The ABA E League was created to promote sports and entertainment while supporting the growth of ABA E League's social network which has generated significant player participation and audience attendance."

"We are very pleased to be a part of the ABA Entertainment League," stated Joe Newman, ABA CEO, "and we are looking forward to being a part of this exciting new development in professional basketball. The ABA brand now extends to its ABA Classics Division, WABA and ABA Global."

The ABA E League is fast emerging as the premier entertainment basketball league in Southern California. The long-term goal of the ABA E League is to create opportunities to promote the sports and entertainment experience while expanding upon and cultivating the ABA E League brand and social network. The ABA E League also fills the void arising from the NBA's withdrawal of its support for what used to be the NBA Entertainment League 2 years ago.

The ABA E League Open Run will commence Saturday, September 10, 2011 at Memorial Park in Santa Monica at 2600 Ocean Park Blvd., Santa Monica CA 90405, at 1pm; the event will run until 4pm. In attendance will be a number of celebrities and sports figures including Bill Bellamy (Actor), Jalen Rose (NBA & Fab Five), Bryon Russell (NBA), Cuttino Mobley (NBA), Olden Polynice (NBA), Chris Spencer (NFL), and Ephraim Salaam (NFL). The event will feature a DJ spinning great music and will showcase the tremendous basketball talent around LA.  The public is invited.  

About American Basketball Association, Inc. (ABA):

The ABA is the largest professional sports league in the US with over ninety (90) teams based in the US and internationally. It is also the most diverse professional sports league in history with over 75% of its teams owned by women and minorities. The ABA has made professional basketball fan-friendly and affordable and it teams are committed to working closely with the youth in their communities. The ABA provides over 1000 players, 200 coaches and 200 referees the opportunity to work and compete at the professional level.

About Ether Sports Marketing, LLC (Ether):

Ether is the owner of the exclusive license with the ABA to manage ABA Classics.  Ether is led by Hollywood director and CEO Deon Taylor, and is run out of Sacramento and Los Angeles.

SOURCE American Basketball Association