ɪn ɹᵻspˈɑːns tə ðɪs ˈɛfɚt baɪ ˌɛsˌɛmpˈiː, ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts bˈæskɪtbˌɔːl lˈiːɡ ɐwˈɔːɹdᵻd ɐ fɹˈæntʃaɪz fɚðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti ˈeɪt sˈiːzən tʊ ˌɛsˌɛmpˈiː.
In response to this effort by SMP, the United States Basketball League awarded a franchise for the 1998 season to SMP.