3 Leagues. 3 Sports. 1 Man.
The Man Who Changed Sports Forever
Gary L. Davidson didn't just play the game — he rewrote the rules of American professional sports.
"He was 50 years ahead of his time on player empowerment."— Ryan Hockensmith, ESPN
The Legacy
In the span of a single decade, Gary L. Davidson — a California lawyer with the irrational confidence that sometimes accompanies being good-looking and wealthy — founded three major professional sports leagues that shook the establishment to its core. The American Basketball Association (1967), the World Hockey Association (1972), and the World Football League (1974) collectively signed hundreds of players, launched dozens of franchises, and forced the established leagues to compete in ways they never had before. At the core of every business plan was one overarching strategy: aggressively pay players, cater to them, then broadcast to the world how much the entrenched leagues used and abused their talent. Davidson's audacity changed the economics of professional sports permanently.
Three Leagues
One Vision
The Timeline
A Decade That Defined an Era
1967
ABA Founded
Davidson co-founds the American Basketball Association, launching 11 franchises and the iconic red-white-and-blue ball.
1972
WHA Launches
The World Hockey Association debuts with 12 teams, immediately signing Bobby Hull in the most shocking deal in sports history.
1974
WFL Takes the Field
Davidson's third league in seven years signs the Miami Dolphins' dynasty trio — Csonka, Kiick, and Warfield — for $3 million.
1976
ABA–NBA Merger
Four ABA teams — including the Nets, Nuggets, Pacers, and Spurs — join the NBA, validating Davidson's vision.
1979
WHA–NHL Merger
Four WHA franchises merge into the NHL, including the Edmonton Oilers — who would soon feature Wayne Gretzky.
It's time for the world to know the story of Gary Davidson.— Howard Baldwin, WFL owner & Oscar-winning film producer (Ray)