VALDOSTA — The city of Valdosta has tried before to host a semi-pro franchise. Valdosta has had the Dawgs, a semi-pro football team, and the Red Sox, a semi-pro baseball team, but what about a basketball team?

With the resurgence of the ABA, many small market cities are looking to buy into the league. Cities like Gallup, N.M., and Bellingham, Wash., have established ABA franchises, so why not Valdosta?

Remember the ABA, otherwise known as the American Basketball Association? The league that produced such greats as Julius “Dr. J” Erving, George “Ice” Gervin, and Moses Malone.

Well, the ABA is back in full stride after a team of business partners bought the league for only $50,000 back in 2000.

So how is it that Valdosta could host a team? Well for starters, the $10,000 price tag to start a franchise is the most appealing part. The regional play keeps travel costs to a minimum and the salary cap is $120,000 per team. In other words players would only make between $9,000 to 11,000 per year, so don’t quit your day job just yet.

A lot of teams, such as the Atlanta Vision, play in small high school gyms that only house a couple thousand fans. Ticket prices range from $10 to $25 for court side seats. Season tickets can be as low as $120 for some teams.

VSU brings in fans by the hundreds to basketball games, and local high schools can fill out a gym on a good night. With an average attendance fewer than 2,000 per night, ABA teams are still able to function just fine.

The new ABA is focused solely on the fans. Cheap seats and new rules make the game more fun to watch than the NBA. The “11th man rule” allows for a team, during every home game, to let one local dress out, and play for the team. The “3-D” rule gives an extra point to a team that scores off a turn-over in the backcourt.

With the growing interest of basketball in Lowndes county and the hopes of playing basketball at a pro level, the team could be a smash hit. Imagine the talent that could be pulled from the local high schools and colleges.

For a name of the franchise, look no further than the history of Valdosta. The Valdosta Slingers, or the Valdosta Docs, based on Doc Holliday being from here. As a matter of fact, fans could write into the sports writers and gives ideas, just like the way many expansion teams actually get their nicknames.

Could the people of Valdosta back a professional sports team, such as the Valdosta Slingers? There would be a need for a gym to play games in, and fans to fill the seats. Local businesses would have to step up and sponsor the team, and the owners would have to do their part to make sure the fans were the most important factor.

With the demise of many professional sports leagues the ABA is a breath of fresh air. Flashy uniforms, crazy nicknames, and that beautiful red, white, and blue ball are trademarks of what is right in sports today. Valdosta is ready for something new, but are we willing?