MEMORIES OF CHARLES FRANZEN: "One of my best ABA memories was a 1971-72 regular season game at the Richmond Coliseum between the Kentucky Colonels and the Virginia Squires. It turned out as a duel also between my hero, Dan Issel, and a new magician, Dr J. The score was not impressive, but I shall always remember the toughness of Dan and the lighter-than-air quality of Julius. Dr. J floated from 15-18 feet away from the basket, seemingly hanging in the air for moments at a time, to score with ease over the overmatched Kentucky defenders.
The great thing about the ABA was the incredible energy and good humor always evident. I listened for years to the Colonels on the radio – Cawood Ledford and Van Vance – and it was pure joy as they described the bright and quick play of Dampier, Carrier, Ladner, Dan, Artis and all the rest. What a team! When they won the championship in 1975 under Hubie Brown, it was my greatest basketball thrill until the Bullets won the NBA crown a few years later. There have been few happy days since then."
MEMORIES OF BEARWKU82: "As an eight-year old boy growing up in the Louisville area, I knew who garnered most of the local media attention: University of Kentucky basketball led by legendary coach Adolf Frederick Rupp. Dan Issel, Mike Pratt and Shelby County-product Mike Casey provided explosive offensive firepower for Coach Rupp, The University of Louisville had a fair team also, led by a couple of fellows named Westley Unseld and Butch Beard.
In the 1968-69 season however, I began listening to "Uncle Ed" Kallay describe play by play of our Kentucky Colonels in the second season of the ABA. "Uncle Ed" was great describing the action, mixing wit and humor with the broadcast on WAVE radio. Then we started going to some games. I remember the free basketball promotion for kids. All the kids had to do was hit a layup to win a "genuine" ABA basketball. I missed my layup and was heartbroken. Legendary John Tong was the PA announcer welcoming the fans to the Convention Center and later Freedom Hall for "the thrill and excitement of professional basketball." Louie Dampier and Darel Carrier, "The Gold Dust Twins," shouldered much of the scoring load in the early years. Whenever a Colonel hit a three pointer at home, Tong would excitably announce, "GOALLL by Dampier! A three point play by Lou-eee Dampier! That's another twenty gallons of Marathon gasoline!" Guys like Louie and Darel could actually still be getting free gas from Marathon. Center Gene "Midnight Cowboy" Moore was another fan favorite in the early years. Yeah, yeah it's true, he was always in foul trouble.
My father took me to watch the Colonels play the Virginia Squires very early in the 1971-72 season. My dad bought a program when we arrived. Former UNC great, Charlie Scott was the veteran star of the Squires and was on the cover of the program. There was a preliminary high school game being played before the main event. Often, the Colonels and their opponents would watch some of the high school game. I noticed a lone Squire sitting in an end zone seat behind the South basket by himself, watching the high school action. I asked my dad, "Is that Charlie Scott?" Dad replied, "Why don't you find out?" After I overcame my apprehension, I made my way to floor level and sat next to the Squire. He was very gracious, patient, and engaging with a nervous eleven year-old boy. We talked fifteen minutes about basketball and SCHOOLWORK. He told me he had to leave school early to help support his family. As he rose to go to the visitors dressing room to prepare for the game, I blurted out, "Can you please sign my program?" He obliged and I wished him good luck. I proudly showed my autographed program to Dad who remarked, "Hmm, Let's see what this rookie does tonight." Charlie Scott was great, but the rookie almost single-handedly won the game for the Squires. That rookie signed my program "Julius Erving." I still have that program.
Van "Van-Lon" Vance ( The Park City Flash) became the radio play-by-play announcer for WHAS I believe from the 1970-71 until the bitter end. Van was the consummate professional, having been mentored by the late, great Cawood Ledford. I hope as long as I live I will remember other Colonels like Pierre Russell, Mike Gale, Ted "Hound Dog" McClain, Wendell Ladner, The Goose (prettiest hook shot I ever saw), Bobby Rascoe, Sam Smith, George Tinsley, Marv Roberts, "Big Game" Hunter and of course "The Plumber" Ron Thomas."
