Youngstown Pride (basketball team)
Encyclopedia
The Youngstown Pride was a professional basketball
team that competed in the World Basketball League
during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Based in Youngstown, Ohio
, the Pride was established in 1987 by Phar-Mor
executive Michael I. Monus
and performed well during its five-year lifespan.
In 1988, the Pride closed its second season with a 28-26 record, placing third in a five-team league that included franchises
from Calgary, Las Vegas
, Chicago
, Fresno
, and Vancouver
. The following year, the team fared better, narrowly losing the league championship to the Calgary 88's. Youngstown closed the season with a 31-13 record, compared to Calgary's 31-13.
In 1990, the Youngstown Pride enjoyed its best season, when it seized the WBL championship with a stunning record of 38-8. The next year, the Pride competed well in the WBL's Northern Division, closing the 1991 season with a 26-25 record and placing second in the five-team division.
During its final season in 1992, the Pride posted a 22-13 record, placing second in what was now a 10-team league. At this point, however, the WBL was in trouble, and it disbanded before the close of the season. The league's unraveling is generally attributed to waning public interest.
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team that competed in the World Basketball League
World Basketball League
World Basketball League was a minor professional basketball league in the United States and Canada. It was founded as the International Basketball Association in November 1987, before changing its name prior to the 1988 season. One of the major differences between it and other leagues was that it...
during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Based in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, the Pride was established in 1987 by Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor
Phar-Mor was a United States chain of discount drug stores, based in Youngstown, Ohio, and founded by Michael "Mickey" Monus and David S. Shapira in 1982. Some of its stores used the names Pharmhouse and Rx Place...
executive Michael I. Monus
Michael I. Monus
Michael I. "Mickey" Monus is the former president of Phar-Mor, Inc., a defunct discount drug chain that established a strong national presence before declaring bankruptcy in the early 1990s. Accused of perpetrating a $350 million fraud and embezzlement scheme, Monus was fired from the company and...
and performed well during its five-year lifespan.
In 1988, the Pride closed its second season with a 28-26 record, placing third in a five-team league that included franchises
Professional sports league organization
Professional sports leagues are organized in numerous ways. The two most significant types are a European model, characterised by a tiered structure using promotion and relegation to determine participation in a hierarchy of leagues or divisions and a North American model characterized by its use...
from Calgary, Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
, Chicago
Chicago Express
Chicago Express Airlines, Inc. was a regional airline headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, United States.It operated regional feeder services from Chicago Midway Airport under the name ATA Connection. On June 1, 1999, ATA Airlines acquired Chicago Express for $1.9 million...
, Fresno
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
, and Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. The following year, the team fared better, narrowly losing the league championship to the Calgary 88's. Youngstown closed the season with a 31-13 record, compared to Calgary's 31-13.
In 1990, the Youngstown Pride enjoyed its best season, when it seized the WBL championship with a stunning record of 38-8. The next year, the Pride competed well in the WBL's Northern Division, closing the 1991 season with a 26-25 record and placing second in the five-team division.
During its final season in 1992, the Pride posted a 22-13 record, placing second in what was now a 10-team league. At this point, however, the WBL was in trouble, and it disbanded before the close of the season. The league's unraveling is generally attributed to waning public interest.