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Eugene Church · 01-15-2009, 01:08 AM

The Islandian Times

Thursday, November 8, 2001

IPA Commissioner To Meet With Expansion Committee
Islandian Pro Alliance Commissioner John Banford has scheduled a meeting with a group of investors who are interested in joining the professional baseball league. The expansion group is headed by billionaires Gates Billingham, Onnie Anastas and Andrus Valk. They will meet with the commissioner on November 15 at the IPA headquarters in Forest City. Four well-known and respected industrial league owners, Rickey Branch, Ryan Noland, Mack Connery and Bob Catlin will participate as well.

Spokesman Gates Billingham told The Islandian News the group represents 40 towns in the Islands that are ready to join the IPA and can be ready to play in the 2002 season. Billingham said, "We have been working on this project for the last year. Many towns were not included in the formation of the IPA last year. Our expansion group wants all of the Island towns to have a part in professional baseball. We have the players, the stadiums and the financial backing. All we need is the go-ahead from the commissioner's office. We understand that we will have to purchase franchises and are ready and willing to do so."

Billingham and his group face some strong opposition from several influential IPA owners, headed by Jock Ewing of the Waleska Westerers and Jorge Trujillo of the Belair Beach Sunbirds. Ewing told BNN, "We are not opposed to expansion, but think it should be done gradually a few teams at a time and spread over several years. Expanding next season would be too much of a rush and could lead to a lot of problems."

Billingham said his group has the financial backing and the organizational skills necessary to begin play by April. He said another important factor is that they also have the overwhelming support of the people of Islandia, who are disappointed their towns are not represented in professional baseball. Recent polls by The Islandian Times and BNN showed that 90% of the public strongly support IPA expansion.

Speaking with The Islandian Times, Billingham commented, "I know we will get a fair hearing from the commissioner. The IPA has the best man in the Islands running the league. There would be no IPA, if it hadn't been for John Banford. Our expansion committee has a convincing argument and great public support. And one day very soon we expect the IPA to expand."

01-15-2009, 01:08 AM	#658
Eugene Church Hall Of Famer Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 35,944	The Islandian Times Thursday, November 8, 2001 IPA Commissioner To Meet With Expansion Committee Islandian Pro Alliance Commissioner John Banford has scheduled a meeting with a group of investors who are interested in joining the professional baseball league. The expansion group is headed by billionaires Gates Billingham, Onnie Anastas and Andrus Valk. They will meet with the commissioner on November 15 at the IPA headquarters in Forest City. Four well-known and respected industrial league owners, Rickey Branch, Ryan Noland, Mack Connery and Bob Catlin will participate as well. Spokesman Gates Billingham told The Islandian News the group represents 40 towns in the Islands that are ready to join the IPA and can be ready to play in the 2002 season. Billingham said, "We have been working on this project for the last year. Many towns were not included in the formation of the IPA last year. Our expansion group wants all of the Island towns to have a part in professional baseball. We have the players, the stadiums and the financial backing. All we need is the go-ahead from the commissioner's office. We understand that we will have to purchase franchises and are ready and willing to do so." Billingham and his group face some strong opposition from several influential IPA owners, headed by Jock Ewing of the Waleska Westerers and Jorge Trujillo of the Belair Beach Sunbirds. Ewing told BNN, "We are not opposed to expansion, but think it should be done gradually a few teams at a time and spread over several years. Expanding next season would be too much of a rush and could lead to a lot of problems." Billingham said his group has the financial backing and the organizational skills necessary to begin play by April. He said another important factor is that they also have the overwhelming support of the people of Islandia, who are disappointed their towns are not represented in professional baseball. Recent polls by The Islandian Times and BNN showed that 90% of the public strongly support IPA expansion. Speaking with The Islandian Times, Billingham commented, "I know we will get a fair hearing from the commissioner. The IPA has the best man in the Islands running the league. There would be no IPA, if it hadn't been for John Banford. Our expansion committee has a convincing argument and great public support. And one day very soon we expect the IPA to expand." Last edited by Eugene Church; 01-15-2009 at 12:28 PM.