Tony Farmer
The American Basketball Association (ABA) announced this week that it has added Long Beach, CA to its growing list of expansion teams for next season. 'Another great addition to the powerful Southern California Division,' stated Joe Newman , ABA CEO. 'Long Beach was a great ABA city prior to the team moving to Bakersfield CA and entering the NBA Development League. And it will be again under the leadership of Tony Farmer (6'10''-F/C-70, college: Nebraska) and Giovanni Pierce , both of whom have long and distinguished basket ball and business backgrounds - and excellent ABA experience too.'
Tony Farmer is a well know veteran basketball player who played in the NBA and Europe for 16 years. He played with the LA Lakers, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and Golden State Warriors as well as in France, Italy, Greece, Spain, Russia and Puerto Rico.
He is one of the principals at 'Blacksteet Sports & Entertainment' in which athletes utilize their in-house resources to the highest extend possible and provides them with contract negotiations, career management, legal representation, financial planning, marketing and business management expertise. Tony also has a weekly radio show called 'The Comeback' that features celebrities and athletes. (www.thecomebackshow.com ). 'As an experienced basketball owner, I will oversee the basketball operations - and I know that we will have a very competitive team in one of the ABA's best divisions,' added Farmer.
Giovanni Pierce aka 'Coach Gio' is a native of Long beach and an alumni of Saint Anthony's School and Pacific Coast School of Law in Long Beach. He is currently a Corporate Administrator/Compliance Officer at Pacific Pioneer Insurance Company and deals with government agencies like the Department of Insurance in all 50 states and Secretary of State concerning corporate structures and other regulatory requirements. He has been coaching since 1997 including Cahr High School, S & P Basketball.
'The idea of owning an ABA team in Long Beach is a dream come true,' stated Pierce. 'But it is a challenge that Tony and I are looking forward to. Our goal is simple to support and continue mentoring Long Beach city and surrounding city youth, teen and college players. We ate going to be a force to be reckoned with, you can be sure of that.'
Farmer and Pierce are now running together the Long Beach Rockets of the WCBL that, according with mr Farmer statements to Usbasket.com, could be the nucleus of the future ABA team with the probable addition of Keith Closs, Juaquin Hawkins, and others.
For more information, email tony.farmer@gmail.com or gpierce@pacpioneer.com
