By Glae Thien
SPECIAL TO THE san diego UNION-TRIBUNE
2:00 a.m. July 30, 2009

After nearly a year’s absence, the professional American Basketball Association is returning to San Diego.

The San Diego Surf will start play with the league’s trademark red, white and blue basketball under the ownership of local businessman and basketball enthusiast Ross Kurland next season at Cathedral Catholic High School, it was announced yesterday.

This venture replaces the Wildcats, who played one road game last year before suspending operations because of financial hardship.

Terry Mason, who recently retired from a 31-year career as a high school educator and coach, will coach the Surf after a serving as an assistant during the Wildcats’ two-plus seasons.

The Surf has scheduled its first player tryout on Aug. 22 at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center in La Jolla in anticipation of the season opener, tentatively set for Dec. 5. It will play in a division with teams principally from Southern California but also from Las Vegas and as far away as Honolulu.

“I’m fired up. I’m excited every day that I think about it,” said Kurland, 61, of University City, who has been a longtime participant in local recreational games.

Kurland opted to start a new club after considering a sizable investment last season in the Wildcats, owned by Anthony Lacey, who assumed control of the club midway through its first season. The Wildcats played home games during their second season at the Kroc Center after a nomadic existence during their first campaign.

Ahead of their curtailed final season, the Wildcats were the top team in the ABA preseason poll. This came after they reached the title game of the league’s playoff tournament the previous season under coach Zack Jones.

“We had a group of young men who went along with the system and played very hard,” Mason said. “I like to have an up-tempo game. As old-school as I am, I also like fundamentals.”

Mason’s high school coaching stops have included San Diego High, Marian Catholic and San Marcos. Most recently, he was the dean of students at Mission Hills.

Kurland, an Iowa native, operated the amateur boxing program at the famed Bobby Gleason’s Gym in New York before moving to San Diego in 1976.

Ken Kurland is a songwriter/composer who has written over 2000 songs in the genres of classical crossover, contemporary instrumental, soundtrack, straight classical, swing and blues jazz, cabaret, theater songs, folk styles, Jewish music, pop-rock-reggae instrumentals, new age, children’s music, and straight pop. He wrote the score for a musical performed Off-Off-Broadway in New York, collaborated on a jazz song that was selected for an ASCAP showcase and performed at Birdland, wrote music that is used on various video soundtracks, and has been played on numerous podcasts and on internet radio.

With releases such as ‘Princess of the Sword’, ‘With Every Breath’, ‘The Mage’s Daughter’ and more, Lynn Kurland publishes a range of fairy-tale and magical novels that engage her audience all the way to the end.

Yetta Kurland, New York resident may become a member of the 3rd district New York city council.  A tenant rights activist who is running on a platform of civil rights, education, arts and culture, affordable housing, employee rights, and health care advocacy is a council hopeful.