Remembering the ABA (BUMPED)

[Klomp]

http://www.startribune.com/sports/wolve ... 06214.html

I know many of us are too young to really remember Minnesota's part in the old American Basketball Association. But the Twin Cities had two -- count 'em two -- teams plays one season each in the early days of the old league.

At the State Fair, which begins Thursday, fans will be able to visit the Minnesota Timberwolves booth and decide which of those two teams will be honored during the upcoming NBA season. The NBA is honoring the 35-year anniversary of the 1976 merger of the NBA and the ABA. As part of that, several NBA teams will be wearing ABA uniforms for selected games as part of the league's Hardwood Classic Games.

Fans will vote, and the winning team will be honored during those games by wearing throwback uniforms.

So which team will it be?

You might recall that the original ABA headquarters were in Minneapolis and that the league's original commissioner was former Minneapolis Lakers great George Mikan. The Muskies became charter members of the league on Feb. 2, 1967. During the 1967-68 season, coached by former Lakers great Jim Pollard, the Muskies finished with the second-best record in the league at 50-28. They were led by ABA Rookie of the Year Mel Daniels and they reached the Eastern Conference finals. After that first season, though, the Muskies moved to Miami.

But on June 28, 1968 the Pittsburgh Pipers, the defending ABA champs with a roster that included Connie Hawkins, announced they were relocating to Minnesota, with another former Minneapolis Lakers great, Vern Mikkelsen, as GM. Despite injuries to Hawkins the Pipers made the playoffs with a 36-42 record but lost in the first round and ended up moving back to Pittsburgh.

For more information, you can go to the team's website at: http://www.timberwolves.com

[Klomp]

Minneapolis/St. Paul – Muskies or Pipers? That's the choice Minnesota Timberwolves fans will have at the team's booth at the 2010 Minnesota State Fair. The names are in reference to the two American Basketball Association (ABA) franchises that played in Minnesota in the late 1960s.

At this year's State Fair, fans will be given the opportunity to vote on which former Minnesota ABA team – Muskies or Pipers – they would like the Timberwolves to honor by wearing their uniforms for select games next season (2011-12) as part of the NBA's Hardwood Classic Games. The ABA team receiving the most fan votes during the state fair will be the uniform that the Wolves wear next season for the Hardwood Classic Games. Fans can vote in-person at kiosks located at the Wolves booth in the Fan Central Building (corner of Underwood St. and Dan Patch Ave.). Attached are the Muskies and Pipers logos.

As part of the NBA's Hardwood Classic Games next season, the league will be recognizing the 35th anniversary of the 1976 merger of the NBA and ABA. Several NBA teams will be sporting ABA uniforms for selected games.

"We're excited to provide Timberwolves fans and all Minnesotans the opportunity to determine which ABA team - the Muskies or the Pipers - we will honor next season," said Ted Johnson, Timberwolves Chief Marketing Officer & Sr. Vice President of Communications. "The Minnesota State Fair has a long history of being the place to take the pulse of Minnesotans so naturally we thought it would be the perfect place to capture the opinions of our fans. This is just another example of our commitment to our fan development program which allows fans unique opportunities to become part of our pack.”

The Twin Cities played a large role in the early history of the ABA. The original ABA headquarters were located in Minneapolis as the league selected George Mikan, the former Minneapolis Lakers great, as its commissioner. The Minnesota Muskies became charter members of the ABA on Feb. 2, 1967. In their first and only season (1967-68) in Minnesota, the Muskies, who were coached by former Minneapolis Lakers great Jim Pollard, finished with the second-best record in the league (50-28), were led by Rookie of the Year Mel Daniels and reached the Eastern Conference Finals, while playing at the recently constructed Metropolitan Sports Center. However, the Muskies left for Miami after one season in the Twin Cities.

On June 28, 1968, the Pittsburgh Pipers announced that they were relocating to Minnesota to fill the void left by the Muskies. However, like their predecessors, the Pipers only lasted one season in Minnesota (1968-69) despite having reigning MVP Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins on the court and another former Lakers star, Vern Mikkelsen, as general manager. Despite injuries to Hawkins, the Pipers made the playoffs with a 36-42 record, but lost in the first round and ended up moving back to Pittsburgh.

http://www.nba.com/timberwolves/news/Fa ... 08_25.html

[Klomp]

[Klomp]

The 1967 home jersey

[C.lupus]

So only people at the fair can vote? That's not right.

Oh, and Muskies all the way

[collin_k41]

That Muskies Logo looks sick! I won't be able to vote though...

[Basti]

I wish I experienced the ABA when it existed. for those who are interested about the ABA I really recommend reading the book "Loose Balls" by Terry Pluto. it's a nice read.

as far as the voting goes I agree with C.lupus. while I think the Pipers jersey looks a tad better I'd rather see the Muskies jersey as the Muskies were the better team and Mel Daniels from what I've read was a heck of a player.

if those throwback jerseys were on sale I'd really want to buy one.

[LordBaldric]

Go Muskies or go home.

[TyKixx]

I am liking the Hawk and his rowdy Pipers... although that Muskies logo is sick.

[southern wolf]

Muskies! They should wear that jersey against the Raptors when they're having a retro night, and have a Huskies v Muskies game.

[Klomp]

Muskies! They should wear that jersey against the Raptors when they're having a retro night, and have a Huskies v Muskies game.

+10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

[C.lupus]

I want a ball cap with this logo on it.

[Foye]

Muskies!!!

[pumunga]

I want a ball cap with this logo on it.

i got a sweatshirt with that logo on it, at the local goodwill ha, and a basketball autographed by dick vitale haha, as for my pick i choose pipas

[Krapinsky]

Oh man The Pipers sounds like the greatest team name of all time. St. Paul Pipers would be good. We Lay the Pipe!

[Iommi]

I have a blue and white Muskies fitted I got off ebay a few months back. They have a ton actually. Snazzy looking accessory for the Minnesota sports fan for sure.

[Klomp]

I forgot about this. Anyone know who won? I guess February is "Hardwood Classics Month", but we haven't worn ours yet. I wonder when that will happen..