Nobody in Pittsburgh seemed to care about ABA basketball, as the Pipers struggled to a dismal 29-win 5th place finish. The team played their home games in Pittsburgh's Civic Arena. The Condors "officially" averaged Of course, gambling big money on a distant and unlikely payoff is never a good idea if most everyone in your geographic market dislikes your current product. Search for your Apparel Store and shop for school uniforms and fan gear today. ", Frustration set in soon enough. It was a cheap shot, the worst I've seen in all my years in basketball.". But that is exactly what happened. Shop high-quality unique Condors T-Shirts designed and sold by artists. Completely redesigned their uniforms to reflect the new logo. Colonials de George Washington: Carrière professionnelle * Saison: Club: 1971-1972 1972-1973 1973-1980 1980-1982 1983-1984: Condors de Pittsburgh Barons de … [2] The ABA league office was based in Minneapolis (home of league commissioner George Mikan), so the Pipers moved when a Minneapolis attorney named Bill Erickson bought a majority share of the team. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA. But the cast of characters largely remained the same. Contribute to this web page by La franchise a disparu en 1972, la ABA organisant en juin de cette année-là une draft de dispersion avec les joueurs de l'équipe. Frustration set in soon enough. Brisker was ejected from a home game against the Denver Rockets only 2 minutes into the game. He ended up being the ABA's third leading scorer in 1970-71. The school threatened immediate legal action against the ABA club if the "Pioneers" name was not dropped. In early December John The GTG ensures the highest quality in maintenance and servicing, according to the quality standards of Condor and in compliance with the strict official regulations. 3,000 half-interested fans showed up at Birmingham's Boutwell Auditorium to see the Condors lose to the Colonels, 134-107. To its credit, the team's front office (and in particular publicity director Fred Cranwell) tried very hard to fix the image of the team. When Jack McMahon was coach, I wasn't starting, but I did average about 24 minutes of playing time. Pittsburgh played in a lot of entertaining, high scoring games, but usually came out on the losing end. He often heaved up 25-30 shots per game. The March 14 home game vs. the Virginia Squires was shifted to Connellsville, around 15 miles away from Pittsburgh. Above left, team scoring leader John Brisker (#40) drives past Ron Franz of The Floridians. Each of these NBA clubs tried to tempt Brisker into jumping leagues. The March 28 home game, also against Kentucky, was shifted to Tucson, Arizona. The next game he could erupt in a scoring binge of historic proportions. Price. Coach Jack McMahon played him a lot, saying: "He's going to be a good one. Haven Industries trustee Donald J. Bezahler condemned the free ticket night as "an act of desperation" and relieved Blake of his GM position a month and a half later when Pittsburgh's record slipped to 17-27. The ABA finally folded the franchise and held a special dispersal draft for those Condors players who were still under contract. The Condors' other star was hard-working forward/guard George Thompson, who averaged 27.0 ppg in 1971-72. The Condors would need a majority vote from ABA owners to move any place, and if the city they wanted to move to is within my territorial rights, then I would be able to veto the change. "\\+(l \\\\ \\\\\\\"^\\\\U[IH[_RUP[sFTA]Y@AFIKK5I03\\\\\\\\QIJHLC02\\\\0C\\\\"+ As you know, Pittsburgh is in trouble at the gate and there have been rumors of a sale and also of the team just folding.". Whether you’re a current student, parent, player, fan or alumni, you’ll find over 500 products to customize from, including Pittsburgh Condors T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, All Hats and more. With all of the constant problems, it seemed highly unlikely that the team could last another year - let alone in Pittsburgh. Les Condors de Pittsburgh (en anglais : Pittsburgh Condors) sont un club franchisé américain de basket-ball de la ville de Pittsburgh faisant partie de l'American Basketball Association. We would like to show you a description here but the site won’t allow us. The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association. During the 1970-71 season, Brisker was involved in bloody confrontations with Joe Caldwell of Carolina, Wendell Ladner of Memphis, and Ron Boone of Texas. Originally called the Pittsburgh Pipers, they were a charter franchise of the ABA and captured the first league title. I have to think if we had something to offer we could get four or five thousand people to come out to see it.". Above right, center Mike Lewis (#24) gets one away over Billy Paultz of the Nets. Here are some rare photos from the "free ticket night" held by the Pittsburgh Condors on November 17, 1970. Save this search. Another memorable Condor was Stew On March 6, 1971, Johnson surprised the entire ABA by scoring 62 points again the Floridians. "We've put more than a million dollars into this club, and we have very little show for it. Buy It Now. He wasn't satisfied with the team's performance on the floor either. Pittsburgh's February 9 home game vs. the Utah Stars was shifted to Uniontown, over 40 miles from Pittsburgh. But, signs of trouble were still everywhere for the Condors. One club official joked that Maloy showed up so fat that "we put him out in the middle of the court and ran the team around him to build up our wind." In the educational Conservation Station, you can get up close to the condors and watch them from behind large glass viewing panels. But the next season, team owner Gabe Rubin inexplicably abandoned Pittsburgh and moved his team to Minneapolis, Minnesota (where another inaugural ABA team, the Minnesota Muskies, had already failed due to lack of fan support). While the 70-71 Condors were terrible, they did have some entertaining players. He then went back to the bench with more injuries. With the team's constant difficulties on the court, plus impatient management, MacMahon had one of the toughest jobs in the ABA. The ABA finally folded the franchise and held a special dispersal draft for those Condors players who were still under contract. The Condors lacked overall quickness, and were prone to falling into a static offense. But ABA business decisions rarely made sense - especially those made in Pittsburgh. also devoted a lot ", Mark Binstein took over as GM after Blake's departure from the team. Players were actually told to wind up their personal business in the Steel City. Above middle, Stew Johnson (#13) shoots over Manny Leaks of the New York Nets. Haven Industries representative Bezahler stated: "We want to keep this team in Pittsburgh. The Condors limped Faced with an alarming amount of litigation over a mere nickname, the team avoided further chaos by dumping the "Pioneers" name and picking its own "safer" alternative - the "Condors." 682 results for pittsburgh condors. He pushed aside most opponents to average 29.2 ppg. It seemed that Haven Industries wanted to keep the team afloat at any cost, so that the Condors could cash in on a possible ABA/NBA merger. Swift was another gunner on a team of gunners. Jack McMahon took over as coach. Needless to say, Pittsburgh residents were more than a little annoyed with the situation - many of the team's former fans viewed the ABA as a "mickey mouse" operation, and wanted nothing more to do with the league. When McMahon was fired and Binstein took over, I was reduced to two minutes of playing time. The Condors never "moved" to another city during the 1971-72 season. The Condors had signed 6' 8" All-American Howard Porter to a contract in December of 1970. He was the fourth-leading scorer on the team (behind Brisker, Thompson, and Bob Verga). More than 3,000 ticketholders didn't even bother to come. . When he did play, Brisker was the heart of the team, 29.2 ppg, 86.3% from the line, and 32.2% from three-point land. Of course, gambling big money on a distant and unlikely payoff is never a good idea if most everyone in your geographic market dislikes your current product. Each of these NBA clubs tried to tempt Brisker into jumping leagues. Very few season tickets were sold. John Brisker and Mike Lewis played in the 1971 ABA All-Star Game, but the Condors could only manage a 36-48 record, fifth place in the Eastern Division and out of the playoffs (one game behind The Floridians). John Brisker finally decided to test the NBA. 5,000 fans showed up to see the Condors lose to the Colonels, 136-134. Lewis fought for every loose ball and rebound, and was a steady, unappreciated presence in the middle for the hapless Condors. To its credit, the team's front office (and in particular publicity director Fred Cranwell) tried very hard to fix the image of the team. The Condors finished in sixth place in the Eastern Division at 25-59 and failed to make the playoffs. And he didn't want some rookie who was trying to do his job competing and trying to win some playing time. The male Andean condor of South America is even larger than our California condor. Serving as both GM and coach (photo at left), Binstein shook things up right away. The Pipers were one of the ABA's inaugural franchises in 1967. I was more or less running the entire offense, and I had some very good games. But as Becker went to the free throw line, Brisker broke free and hit the Denver forward yet again. La franchise a disparu en 1972, la ABA organisant en juin de cette année-là une draft de dispersion avec les joueurs de l'équipe. In the meantime, they began relocating home games, first to other cities in Pennsylvania, and then to farther-away places. But that is exactly what happened. Los Condors comenzaron su existencia como los Pittsburgh Pipers, una de las franquicias inaugurales de la ABA en 1967, y que ganó la liga al final del primer campeonato, en la temporada 1967-68. But, in the spring of 1972, they took unique and unprecedented steps to abandon Pittsburgh. Los Pittsburgh Condors eran un equipo de baloncesto profesional de la Asociación Estadounidense de Baloncesto (ABA) original. 2,806 fans per game in 1970-71. Out of East Tennessee State University, Swift had long Elvis-style sideburns and was a fan favorite. The team had great success on the court, posting the league's best record during the regular season (54-24, .692) and winning the league's first ABA Championship. In February, they shifted several home games from the Civic Arena to other locations across Pennsylvania. . It seemed that Haven Industries wanted to keep the team afloat at any cost, so that the Condors could cash in on a possible ABA/NBA merger. A local ad proclaimed "Bring on Alcindor" and that "the ABA-NBA merger is here". Pittsburgh Condors Snapback Hat ABA Cap Pipers. Condor Flights to Pittsburgh Prices shown are for 1 adult ticket including taxes & fees. (As ticket fares can change frequently, these advertised prices are for reference only. The Pipers swept through the 1968 ABA Playoffs and defeated the New Orleans Buccaneers 4 games to 3 to take the title, with Hawkins earning Finals MVP honors. There is too much talent on our club for it not to be appreciated by the fans. After winning the league's first championship, they moved to Minnesota, only to move back the following season. " r,i=o\\\"\\\"o,=l.xelgnhtl,o=;lhwli(e.xhcraoCedtAl(1/)3=!55{)rt{y+xx=l;=+;" + At one point during the season, Brisker scored 53 points against the Indiana Pacers, and 50 points against the Texas Chaparrals--on consecutive nights (November 12 & 13, 1970). Around the league, Brisker became known as the "heavyweight champion of the ABA." Originalmente llamados Pittsburgh Pipers , eran una franquicia de la ABA y capturaron el primer título de liga.El equipo jugó sus partidos en casa en el Civic Arena de Pittsburgh. John Brisker and George Thompson played in the ABA All-Star Game. For the next season, Haven tried to change the Condors' image, with a new logo and uniforms, plus a slick marketing campaign. Essentially, they became the "United States Condors." The promotion drew 8,074 fans. There were Condors wristwatches, Condors windbreakers (left), Condors team photo sets, Condors ashtrays, Condors t-shirts, Condors stocking caps, and Condors wristbands. One game he could be ice cold, scoring only a few points. The Pipers' move to Minnesota was a disaster in all respects. But, he was not as consistent as Brisker. Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Team Names: Pittsburgh Condors, Minnesota Pipers, Pittsburgh Pipers Seasons: 5; 1967-68 to 1971-72 Record: 180-228, .441 W-L% Playoff Appearances: 2 Championships: 1 More Franchise Info I've never had a season like this. Denver's coach, Alex Hannum, had this to say about the incident: "Utterly uncalled for. Despite a number of minor injuries, he played in 82 of the team's 84 games (best among all Condors). Even getting within ten feet of him. Don't forget the Knicks, either. Vol Condor aéroport de Pittsburgh (Pennsylvanie) PIT Distribution par agence agréée. The "Return of Hawkins" never happened - Binstein habitually answered "no comment" to The March 24 home game against the Kentucky Colonels was moved to - of all places - Birmingham, Alabama. Many of Brisker's teammates were wary of practicing hard against him, as he was perfectly happy to fight them at the slightest provocation. But he also had a nasty court personality, and loved to fight. while(x=eval(x)); A local NAIA school, Point Park College, was already using the "Pioneers" nickname. As the losses mounted for the Condors, attendance plummeted to less than 1,000 fans per game. Ownership was not amused, and Blake was fired soon after. Some ABA beat writers noted that Pittsburgh had the best merchandising program of any ABA team and offered items not on display anywhere else. figure was obviously padded and that the true figure was probably about However, local NAIA school Point Park College (now Point Park University) already had that nickname and threatened to sue. Especially early in the season. New Haven-Hartford-Springfield is just one possible area for us.". But under Binstein, O'Brien rode the pine. To beat Haywood, Johnson went 25 of 44 from the field, including one three-pointer. Haven Industries immediately got rid of the Pipers nickname. Jimmy O'Brien (above, # 44) was a Pittsburgh Condor for just the first few weeks of the 1971-72 season. The night before, he had poured in a scintillating 3 points against the Virginia Squires, going 0 for 7 from the floor. While the Condors had a potent offense (fifth in the 11-team ABA with 119.1 points per game), they were often undone by their defense (fourth-worst, allowing 121.8 ppg). With every seat in the 13,000 seat Civic Arena given away for free (! He averaged 14.6 rebounds, third best in the entire ABA. ), GM Binstein suddenly canned coach Jack McMahon. But, as often was the case in Pittsburgh, things "went south" pretty quickly. Above right, Condors trainer Ray Melchiorre tends to a hand-injury suffered by center Mike Lewis (#24). describing your favorite Condors memories. However, Brisker seemed happy in Pittsburgh and signed a contract extension with the Condors. Or, did you have a favorite Condors player? Pages dans la catégorie « Joueur des Condors de Pittsburgh » Cette catégorie contient les 8 pages suivantes. Condor Court provides these massive birds with ample room to stretch their wings, rocky mountain ledges for perching almost 20 feet in the air, and nesting cavities. "{#iy9r+y=4gqc{!gczfi77\\\\1j\\\\cg\\\"\\\\f(;} ornture;}))++(y)^(iAtdeCoarc" + MacMahon suffered through countless evenings of helter-skelter offense and "matador" defense from his Condors. He does everything smoothly. The new unis were sharp. Les Condors de Pittsburgh (en anglais : Pittsburgh Condors) sont un club franchisé américain de basket-ball de la ville de Pittsburgh faisant partie de l'American Basketball Association. With all of the constant problems, it seemed highly unlikely that the team could last another year - let alone in Pittsburgh. The images are jarring - if only for the fact that most Condors action photos from the Civic Arena show a virtual sea of empty seats. A "name-the-team" contest yielded the nickname "Pittsburgh Pioneers." Missed Playoffs, Years of existence: 1970-71 through 1971-72. The name "Pioneers" was selected as the winning entry, and the man who submitted the name won a $500 cash prize. December 21 came and passed, and the Condors remained in Pittsburgh. These were significantly better than the ones in Pittsburgh; the Condors drew only 689 at their final game at the Civic Center. Shop DEFUNCT - PITTSBURGH CONDORS vintage t-shirts designed by HamburgrHotdog as well as other vintage merchandise at TeePublic. In his last year in the ABA, John Brisker (#40, above left) was simply a force. The Condors: Retired their 1970-71 cartoon bird logo in favor of a more militaristic and "intimidating" bird logo. A deal to sell the team to Washington D.C. interests fell through a month before the season started. Condors guard Walt Szczerbiak recalls: "The only problem I had in Pittsburgh was I had to guard John Brisker in practice every day. After a 4-6 start, general manager Mark Binstein fired McMahon for unknown reasons and named himself head coach. The Pipers were led by their star player, ABA MVP and future Hall-of-Famer Connie Hawkins, who led the ABA in scoring at 26.8 ppg. The Condors missed his unselfish play. Under McMahon, O'Brien enjoyed significant playing time. One ABA executive told writer Jim O'Brien: "If I had made a list of 50 ABA guys who might hit 60 points, Stew Johnson would not have been on it." As with the Muskies, their home arena was Bloomington's Met Center. Missed Playoffs, Record: 25-59 (Sixth Place in Eastern Division) In October, they lured the defending NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks (and star Lew Alcindor) to Pittsburgh for an exhibition game, guaranteeing the Bucks $25,000. At this point, things really started to get strange - even by ABA standards. Scheduled an exhibition game at the Civic Center against the NBA Champion Milwaukee Bucks and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (for various reasons, the game itself did not live up to expectations - see Fred Cranwell's memory found below). However, Brisker seemed happy in Pittsburgh and signed a contract extension with the Condors. The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association (ABA). The Civic Arena was largely empty during the 1969-70 season - not only did the fans hold a grudge against the team, but Hawkins had departed to the NBA. Condor Flights from Paris (CDG) to Pittsburgh (PIT) from . The Pipers attracted fairly respectable gates by ABA standards, averaging 3,200 fans per game.[1]. For the first season back in Pittsburgh the team retained the "Pipers" nickname. Maybe the Condors will even fold. He had brutally elbowed Art Becker of the Rockets. The Condors also had burly forward Harley "Skeeter" Swift (left, #23). to the Condors from the NBA Phoenix Suns. On January 25, 1972, Brisker felt good, returned to the starting lineup, and scored 36 points to help the Condors upset the New York Nets in overtime at the Civic Arena. Where he couldn't make any headway against a defender, he would start a fistfight. After the trade, O'Brien noted that: "The deal was a complete surprise to me. Ownership resolved the objection by changing the name to "Condors.". FAST 'N FREE. Over $35.00 - apply Price filter. Ramped up the production of team merchandise. The Pittsburgh Pipers were part of the ABA's 1967-68 inaugural season. Les Condors de Pittsburgh (en anglais : Pittsburgh Condors) sont un club franchisé américain de basket-ball de la ville de Pittsburgh faisant partie de l'American Basketball Association. The brochure had. A bitter legal battle ensued between the Condors and the Bulls. The Condors' roster was put into a dispersal draft; George Thompson went to the Memphis Tams, Mike Lewis to the Carolina Cougars, Skeeter Swift and James Silas to the Dallas Chaparrals, and Walt Szczerbiak to the Kentucky Colonels. of time trying to lure Connie Hawkins back Mailed out an attractive and flashy season ticket brochure, known among ABA collectors to be one of the best ticket brochures ever produced by any ABA team. After only 18 games, McMahon was already gone (fired by GM Mark Binstein), and O'Brien was traded to the Kentucky Colonels for Goose Ligon. Binstein acquired Rich Johnson and Arvesta Kelly for the team's "stretch drive." An awful lot of money has been poured into the franchise, and we feel it's on the verge of a breakthrough.". The scoreboard in the background indicates that only halfway through through the 1st quarter, the Condors were already losing by a score of 25-12. And he wasn't a very nice person the day after a game, in practice. Durante esta primera temporada consiguieron ser el equipo con mayor asistencia de público de la ABA, … And he didn't want some rookie who was trying to do his job competing and trying to win some playing time. Yes, Tucson, Arizona. During the 1970-71 season, Brisker was involved in bloody confrontations with Joe Caldwell of Carolina, Wendell Ladner of Memphis, and Ron Boone of Texas. After a slow (4-8) start, general manager Marty Blake decided (in an infamous ABA stunt) to give away every available seat for an early-season game against Florida on November 17. The Pittsburgh Condors were a professional basketball team in the original American Basketball Association (ABA). The Condor fleet is serviced by the experienced Condor Technik GmbH (CTG) and operates maintenance operations in Frankfurt, Munic, Düsseldorf and Hamburg. Talented forward/guard John He I know their front office is convinced that the team can't make it at the Civic Arena any longer. This was the basic problem facing the 1971-72 Condors. Johnson ran hot and cold during his time with the Condors.