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Will Birmingham join the WBA Exposure League?

January 21, 2009
The WBA Exposure League announces the addition of Birmingham as a franchise for the 2009 season.

The team will be named the Alabama Airmen.

Birmingham will join seven other franchises, the Buford Majic, Decatur Court Kings, Marietta Storm, Memphis Blues, Palm Coast Blue Waves, Rome Gladiators, and Tyrone Tornadoes.

The Magic City had a team in the league once before, then simply known as the World Basketball Association. The Magic City Court Kings played for two years, 2005 and 2006.

In 2002, music business mogul Leroy McMath founded the WBA Exposure League to educate, develop, and expose talented players to the NBA, the D-League, CBA, and International scouts. The WBA is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Alabama Airmen owner Marlon Sims expressed excitement about the new partnership and upcoming season. "Coming into the WBA with my new team the Alabama Airmen, is a dream come true for me. This partnership allows my coaching staff and I to work in a sport we love, while building our community through enterprise and family fun," Sims said.

McMath elaborated on the WBA's partnership with Sims by saying, "The WBA targets franchises such as Mr. Sims' that are both passionate about sports and understand the need to forge alliances in the community to help with initiatives that will improve the quality of life of residents by utilizing the core values that have made the WBA successful."

The playing season will run from May until July.

March 1, 2009
Lionel Garrett, commissioner of the WBA Exposure League, says they have no choice but to ground the Alabama Airmen franchise for the 2009 season.

The potential owner, who lives in Atlanta, had no substantial contacts in Birmingham that would work out.

Garrett has hopes there can still be a franchise in Birmingham sometime in the future.

May 2009

			2009                             WBA Exposure League
xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx		xxx
	Buford Majic		Cartersville Baseline Warriors		Decatur Court Kings		Memphis Tornadoes		Rome Rage
	Tupelo Rock-n-Rollers

Epilogue
The following year, the Birmingham Steel attempted to join the league after playing just two games in the Continental Basketball League. The team folded before playing any games in the WBA.

Unfortunately, the WBA Exposure league didn't fare much better in the long run. The league played off and on until the 2013 season before permanently ceasing operations.

			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

WBA Exposure League ball

Contact Gene Crowley
Last update: February 22, 2023