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Team and League History

March 5, 2010
The Continental Basketball League's commissioner, Dennis Truax, announces the addition of their fifth team, the Birmingham Steel.

In addition to Birmingham, the league currently has franchises slated for Marietta, Wilmington, Fayetteville, and Savannah.

The CBL is a new basketball league based in Ft. Lauderdale.

The league plans to play a 20 game schedule that will go from the middle of April through the end of June.

The Steel will be owned by Richard Ashmon, who played professional basketball in Europe and the U.S. minor leagues. Ashmon has coached in the World Basketball Association, the American Basketball Association, and the TPBL. He has also coached and worked with National Basketball Association players to help refine their skills. In his professional life, Ashmon owns and operates 52Sportsent, a company that assists basketball players in finding an agent. The company also manages professional musicians.

Ashmon will also be the team's head coach and general manager. "Richard has a proven track record in the business and basketball worlds. His ideas for community outreach and involving at-risk youth with his team will be a model for the CBL," said Truax.

May 2010

			2010                            Continental Basketball League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Birmingham Steel		Carolina Cougarz		Georgia Gwizzlies		Savannah Wildcats		Wilmington Sea Dawgs

2010   Continental Basketball League

Birmingham Steel

Carolina Cougarz

Georgia Gwizzlies

Savannah Wildcats

Wilmington Sea Dawgs

May 11, 2010
After playing two games, the World Basketball Association announces that effective immediately the Birmingham Steel would be withdrawing from the Continental Basketball and joining the WBA.

The WBA is set to start its seventh season.

The addition of Birmingham to the league keeps the WBA membership at seven teams in four states after the league suspended operations of the Tupelo Rock & Rollers for the remainder of the season. WBA commissioner William Slaton is hopeful that the Rock & Rollers will return to the league in 2011. "The Tupelo franchise didn't meet league standards for the 2010 season. However, we're working towards them being back in the league next year."

Birmingham will assume Tupelo's schedule, with one exception. Tupelo was scheduled to travel to Marietta to take on the Marietta Storm Thursday in both team's season openers, but that game has been moved to May 28th. Instead, the Steel will open their WBA campaign Saturday against the Florida Flight at Leeds High School.

Each WBA team will play 16 regular season games before the playoffs, which are scheduled to start in mid-July.

The Steel will still be owned by Richard Ashmon, and he will remain the Steel's head coach and general manager.

The Continental Basketball League wasted no time finding a replacement for the Steel in Birmingham. The Birmingham Sabers were quickly formed and will take over the Steel's record and schedule in the CBL.

May 2010

			2010                             World Basketball Association
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Birmingham Steel		Decatur Court Kings		Florida Flight		Franklin Knights		Gwinnett Majic
	Jacksonville Bluewaves		Marietta Storm

2010   World Basketball Association

Birmingham Steel

Decatur Court Kings

Florida Flight

Franklin Knights

Gwinnett Majic

Jacksonville Bluewaves

Marietta Storm

Epilogue
The Birmingham Steel never played a single game as a member of the World Basketball Association.

No formal announcement was ever made by the team or league as to why, but the lack of proper funding is the most likely reason.

The Continental Basketball League continued to play until they ceased operations after the 2011 season.

The World Basketball Association continued to play but the league suspended operations after the 2013 season.

Champions of the   Continental Basketball League
Year	Team
2010	Savannah Wildcats
2011	Cary Invasion

	Years local team participated

Champions of the   World Basketball Association
Year	Team
2004	Southern Crescent Lightning
2005	Rome Gladiators
2006	Rome Gladiators (2nd)
2007	Mayas-USA
2008	Decatur Court Kings
2009	Buford Majic
2010	Gwinnett Majic
2011	Gwinnett Majic (2nd)
2013	Anderson Upstate Heat

	Years local team participated

			Teams of the                            Continental Basketball League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Birmingham Sabers 2010 to 2011		Birmingham Steel 2010		Carolina Cougarz 2010		Cary Invasion 2011		Fayetteville Crossover 2011
	Florida Flight 2011		Gainesville Galaxy 2011		Georgia Gwizzlies 2010		Heartland Prowl 2011		Miami Stars 2011
									NEED LOGO
	Palm Beach Titans 2011		Port City Sharks 2011		Raleigh Rough Riders 2011		Savannah Wildcats 2010		South Florida Stars 2011
	Tampa Bay Saints 2011		Wilmington Sea Dawgs 2010 to 2011

			Teams of the                         World Basketball Association
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
							NEED LOGO		NEED LOGO
	Anderson Heat 2006		Arkansas ArchAngels 2005 to 2006		Atlanta Blaze 2013		Atlanta Hardhats 2007		Bristol Crusaders 2004
	Buford Majic 2008 to 2009		Cartersville Warriors 2006; 2008 to 2009		Cleveland Majic 2005 to 2006		Conyers Court Kings 2011; 2013		Decatur Court Kings 2008 to 2010
	Druid City Dragons 2006		Florida Flight 2010		Franklin Knights 2010		Gainesville Knights 2005 to 2006		Gastonia Gamers 2013
	Georgia Magic 2013		Gulf Coast Bandits 2005; 2007		Gwinnett Majic 2010 to 2011		Gwinnett Ravia-Rebels 2007		Jackson Rage 2004
	Jacksonville Bluewaves 2010 to 2011		Kentucky Reach 2004 to 2005		Macon Blaze 2004 to 2005		Magic City Court Kings 2005 to 2006		Marietta Storm 2006 to 2007; 2010 to 2011
	Mauldin Stars 2013		Mayas-USA 2007		Memphis Blues 2008		Memphis Tornadoes 2009		Mississippi HardHats 2005 to 2006; 2008
	Mississippi Miracles 2007		Raleigh Knights 2004		Rome Gladiators 2004 to 2007; 2011; 2013		Rome Rage 2009		South Carolina Heat 2005
	Southern Crescent Lightning 2004 to 2005		Tennessee Tornadoes 2011		Tunica Gamblers 2005		Tupelo Rock-n-Rollers 2009		Upstate Heat 2011; 2013
	VA,KY,TN Crusaders 2008

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Last update: January 30, 2023