The Continental Basketball Association is the grand daddy of pro hoops worldwide. The CBA, founded in 1946, is the oldest professional basketball league in the world, predating the NBA by just a few months. Considered minor league play, the CBA fields ten teams, located primarily in the Midwestern US with names like the Albany (New York) Patroons, Atlanta Krunk, and the Minot (North Dakota) Skyrockets. Most CBA players try to use the league as a launching pad into the NBA, about 600 have succeeded. It also serves as the training ground for officials and coaches who want to make the jump to the big leagues.The CBA is the "World's Oldest League," dating its origins back to April 23, 1946, when it was called the Eastern Pennsylvania Basketball League (1946-47). The league began with six franchises - five in Pennsylvania (Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton, Allentown, Lancaster and Reading) and a sixth team in New York (Binghamton, who later moved in mid-season to Pottsville, Pa.). In 1948, it was renamed the Eastern Professional Basketball League. Over the years, it would later add franchises in several other Pennsylvania cities, including Williamsport, Scranton and Sunbury, as well as place teams in New Jersey (Trenton, Camden, Asbury Park), Connecticut (New Haven, Hartford, Bridgeport), Delaware (Wilmington) and Massachusetts (Springfield).

The United States Basketball League (USBL) operates an association of professional basketball teams that play a 30-game schedule from April through June. The league encompasses a half dozen teams, including the Brooklyn Kings, the Dodge City Legend, and the Kansas Cagerz, which compete with 11 players each. The USBL generates revenue mostly through franchise fees and marketing sponsorships. It is intended to be a development league for recent college graduates and international players to showcase their skills for scouts from National Basketball Association teams. The founding Meisenheimer family controls about 90% of the USBL.

Jumeirah, which began operations in 1997, is a member of Dubai Holding, a collection of Dubai-based businesses and projects. The Dubai-based international hospitality firm Jumeirah Group manages about 10 luxury hotels and resorts primarily in the Middle East, but also in London (the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and Jumeirah Lowndes Hotel), and the US (it acquired the Essex House in New York's Central Park South in 2006 and renamed it the Jumeirah Essex House). The group's portfolio also includes Wild Wadi, a water park located in Dubai, and The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management.

Clipper Ventures would never try to circumvent circumnavigation. The seaworthy Clipper Ventures organizes around-the-world yacht races. Its Clipper Round the World Yacht Race is staged in alternate years. Its 5 Oceans solo grand prix (cosponsored by window-manufacturing firm Velux and formerly known as the Around Alone race) is run every four years. Clipper Ventures owns the National Zapcat Championships, which is a race run by smaller powerboats. The company also charters its fleet for corporate events or private use. Chairman Robin Knox-Johnston started the firm in 1995.

The manufacturer of Live-Call Bingo™ the top-earning, bingo based Class II gaming platform for Native American casinos, VGT’s gaming platforms are known for their reliability, service and un-matched player appeal. Driven by innovation, VGT’s accomplishments continue to set the standard in the competitive Class II and Skill-based markets. Working closely with our Native American and emerging market partners, VGT has created exciting game titles that generate intense customer loyalty and record-setting gaming revenues.

You might say this company wants to bring back the Happy Days of dining. 5 & Diner of North America operates a chain of 1950s-themed restaurants with about 15 company-owned and franchised locations in Arizona and about five other states. The family-dining units sport checkered and chrome exteriors, vintage jukeboxes, and waitresses dressed in poodle skirts. The 150-item menu is also true to the retro motif, with meals named Big Bopper Burger, Blue Moon Burger, Hound Dog, La Bamba Melt, and Surf City, among others. 5 & Diner also serves egg creams, malts, and shakes for dessert. Started in 1987, the chain is controlled by chairman Robert Watson.

MTR Gaming Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, engages in the racing, gaming, and entertainment businesses. It owns and operates Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Chester, West Virginia; Presque Isle Downs & Casino in Erie, Pennsylvania; and Scioto Downs in Columbus, Ohio. The company operates slot machines, poker tables, and casino table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, and other games, as well as offers live thoroughbred horse racing and on-site pari-mutuel wagering. MTR Gaming Group also operates Racelinebet.com, an account wagering service that provides online and telephone wagering on horse races. MTR Gaming Group, Inc. was formerly known as Secamur Corporation and changed its name to MTR Gaming Group, Inc. in 1996.

International Speedway Corporation (ISC) doesn't believe in slow and steady. The company is the top motorsports operator in the US with more than a dozen racetracks hosting more than 100 events annually. Its race facilities include Daytona International Speedway (home of the Daytona 500), Talladega Superspeedway, and Michigan International Speedway. In addition, ISC operates the Daytona 500 EXperience theme park and museum and it owns 50% of motorsports merchandiser Motorsports Authentics with rival Speedway Motorsports. Former CEO James France and his family own about 70% control of the company. Events sanctioned by NASCAR, also controlled by the France family, account for about 90% of sales.

The innocuous name belies the provocative nature of Galardi South Enterprises. Galardi South Enterprises, Inc. operates a small chain nightclubs featuring live adult entertainment in Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina. Operating under such names as Crazy Horse, Gold Rush, and Pink Pony, the clubs offer special shows with adult entertainment stars, female wrestling, and exotic dancing contests. President and owner Jack Galardi entered the nightclub business in the 1970s and formed Galardi South in 1996.

In 1948, Herbert and Frances (Lengfeld) Meyer, the founders of Meyer Motels, Ltd. (now known as Meyer Crest, Ltd.), purchased their first motel in Red Bluff, California. Since then, the Meyer family has owned and operated as many as 45 hotels in three Western states. Herb, a transplanted New Yorker, was a highly self-motivated man with strong aspirations. The motel business provided him with outlets for his creative energy and aspirations. Fran provided support and guidance, contributing her ideas and maintaining the accounting for the family business while also raising their four children. Throughout their younger years, all the children were involved in the family business in varying degrees.

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