More basketball???? Haven’t we had enough?! I’ve been an avid basketball fan and player for most of my life, but honestly. NBA, WNBA, NCAA Mens’, NCAA Womens’, Streetball, and now THIS?! We’ve already got problems with refs like Donaghy in the NBA and coaches in the NCAA like Bobby Knight. We went through the dress code thing. Then the new basketball thing. Then the brawls. The endless debates about if high school students should be allowed to be drafted or if they should stay in college. We’re already concerned about the NBA possibly having knowledge of games that were thrown and millions of dollars made through potentially illegal (or at the very least, unethical) gambling practices. Do we really need more basketball? Well, I guess SOMEBODY thinks we do.

3BA is the newest branch of the professional sports world and brings its fans full court 3-on-3 professional basketball.

The mission of the 3BA organization is:

to provide a fiscally and socially responsible professional sports organization and related environment, positive fan-player relationships and interaction, both on and off the court, working to bring communities together through passion, teamwork and the love of the game.

By making our game, our athletes and ourselves more accessible to the public, we will help bring communities together through the magic of athletics, and change the attitude and perception of professional sports today.”

3BA is set to debut in Anaheim this Saturday, July 26 at the Anaheim Convention Center at 7pm. Ticket prices range between $8 and $30. The Los Angeles Laker Girls are set to perform, and there will be festivities that include free giveaways and celebrity appearances. So what’s the difference between 3BA and traditional 5-on-5 basketball showcased by the NBA? Here are a few

• 3BA games are played on a full court measuring 72 ‘ long and 50’ wide.
• 3BA recognizes a 22’ three point line: All offensive players must be in the frontcourt for any three-point shot to be officially scored. If a three point shot is taken prior to all three offensive players in the frontcourt, if made it shall be counted as a two point goal, and/or if missed the ball shall be live.
• Backcourt violation: Once a team scores, the opposing team must inbound the ball in the backcourt. The ball must be touched in the backcourt before it can advance to the frontcourt. 5-second advancement to mid-court.
• Game is played over four eleven minute quarters.
• Game uses 18-second shot clocks.
• Six fouls per player

Not really sure what exactly will come out of the 3BA, whether it will flourish or whether it will fall by the wayside like so many other professional sports projects. The one saving grace of 3BA might be its emphasis on speed and high scoring games. With audiences demanding more and more action, 3BA may satiate their hunger for less dribbling and passing and more shooting and scoring. However, if it was up to me, I’d never say those three letters together again. I’m sorry AC Green – just because you’re obviously not good enough to coach a REAL NBA team doesn’t mean that a whole new league should be up and started so you can coach. Ugh.

You didn’t hear me say it, but the NBA regular season is too long. We need to start cutting basketball back, not adding more to this seemingly unending barrage of boring games with no import attached to them. Double ugh.

Why can no one take a lesson from the most successful professional sports franchise in the world – the NFL. Small number of games – maximum exposure and import – huge amounts of drama and passion – record jersey, sponsorship and ticket sales – legendary status. Same with college football – fewer games = more intensity = more focused fanbase.

It’s not a complicated formula for success. But somehow the basketball people want to go in the opposite direction. Fine. Be that way. Bore us to tears. And force basketball down our throats 24/7/365. And watch your ratings plummet and your profits dwindle. I, for one, am not amused.