BasketBall Connect

First, other semi-pro organizations do not assist with relocation expenses. When you sign a contract to play basketball those issues would have already been discussed and negotiated when the contract was drawn up. Since the league is under a salary cap and certain restrictions are in place to maintain the economic future of the league, these are the policies that are set forth for the Texas Basketball League:

Relocation
The League does not pay for the relocation expenses of any player at any time. We do assist in relocation by contracting apartment locators and providing job placement assistance which other semi-pro leagues do not offer. (It is not our goal to help you move, but to help your basketball career to move forward.)

Advancements
The League does not offer advancements at any time, during the course of the season or off season. The reason for this is if we give you advance for one month's work and half way through that month you are not able to perform to the letter of your contract (play basketball) then we would be out of a considerable amount of finances. Furthermore, there is no job in the country that gives you an advance on work that has not been completed.

Scheduling Media Events, Practices & Games
Judging by this particular topic towards practice schedules and media events, you are unaware that the league would obviously give you a schedule to go by. Example: On the league's website on usbasket.com, the league's organized activities schedule has been up since June 1st, 2007 and was revised on July 21, 2007. The players including yourself have not paid attention to the league's organized activities schedule(LOA). The league is doing everything it possibly can to inform the players of the SWBL towards practice times, training camp and media events but when you have incorrect phone numbers and emails, this task becomes almost impossible. Furthermore, with players having their own personal agendas instead of following league rules and schedules is making it increasingly difficult for league schedules to move forward such as training camp or practice times.

Directions
This is the Southwest Basketball League. For some reason, the players want me to hold their hand during this entire process. I do not have the time nor the pleasure of assigning my staff nor contracting an outside business entity to assist with driving directions. When speaking to the apartment locator that we have contracted, she will assist in placing you in an area and also providing information on local businesses and events in the area. Please be mindful that there are over 100 players that we have to look after when it comes to advertisement, marketing, medical insurance and finances. The league does not take any standing when it comes to simple things like directions or map requests. Please try to use Google or Yahoo! maps to learn about the area you are moving to and your new surroundings.

Other League / Player Advancement
Please refer to section 12 under termination. In article (iii), "at any time, fail, refuse, or neglect to render his services hereunder or in any other manner materially breaches this Contract."

By this understanding of the terminology of the contract, you as the player can neglect your obligations to this contract and/or the league by the following: attending tryouts or signing a contract with another semi-pro league or franchise, thus releasing you from the obligation of this contract. This is stated by "fail, refuse, or neglect."

Contract meeting on August 5th, time stamp 3:13 PM.
As I stated at the meeting and in front of witnesses of at least 30 people, I would like the players to have a job while they are under this contract. The reason why I stated this point is because I know what it is like to secure your payment from your contract but also to take care of life responsibilities such as rent, car notes and other utilities. If the player has a job, the job will alleviate some of these responsibilities and the player will be able to enjoy the payments from the contract. Please take my statement to heart and look at it from a different point of view.

Final note: Due to the severity of this email and the other current league issues I am dealing with, I am asking for a decision on this contract no later than 9 AM tomorrow morning. If I do not have an answer by that time, I will resend the contract offer and it will be null and void. The reason why I am taking this action is because of the lack of thought when it comes to players' decision making toward this opportunity. Please be mindful this is semi-pro basketball and you have to be aware of the decisions before, during and after when it comes toward playing semi-pro basketball. In the NBA, if this opportunity came about, how quickly would you move to secure this opportunity?: If this was the D-League, how quickly would you move to secure this opportunity? If this was a guaranteed contract overseas, how quickly would you move to secure this opportunity? Then why are you not holding this opportunity in such high regard and moving with such zeal towards this opportunity?

Benjamin Brinkley