Oregon Riptide
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox sports team
| logo = Riptide.PNG
| pixels = 150px
| founded = 2006
| league = ABA
| history = no games ever played
| arena =
| city = Portland, Oregon
| colors =
| owner = Christopher Sears
| coach =
| championships = 0
| titles = 0
| cheerleaders =
| dancers =
| mascot =
}}
The Oregon Riptide was the name chosen for an American Basketball Association (ABA) franchise which was to be based in Portland, Oregon. In May, 2006, founding team owner, Jeremy "J" Brice, of Salem, had gained ABA approval, opened a front office in downtown Portland, and announced its staff.{{cite press release | title = Oregon Riptide announce web site and front office | publisher=American Basketball Association | date = May 4, 2006 | url = http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2006050406001 | accessdate =November 29, 2006}} A May 27 free agent camp was held to recruit an initial roster of players.{{cite press release | title = Oregon Riptide free agent camp crucial | publisher=American Basketball Association | date = May 8, 2006 | url = http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2006050806006 | accessdate =November 29, 2006}}
Brice arranged with Warner Pacific College for arena facilities for a summer youth basketball camp to be sponsored by the team, and for the competitive season to have begun in November, 2006.{{cite news |last = Vondersmith |first = Jason |title = Basketball team owner's past could derail dream |publisher=Portland Tribune |date = July 13, 2006 |url = http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=115284969806224900 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070926225625/http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=115284969806224900 |url-status = dead |archive-date = September 26, 2007 |accessdate =February 26, 2007}} He had even contracted with the Jupiter Hotel to house visiting team members.{{cite press release | title = Oregon Riptide partners with Jupiter Hotel | publisher=American Basketball Association | date = May 22, 2006 | url = http://www.abalive.com/news/releases/?newsid=2006052206001 | accessdate =November 29, 2006}}
Plans for the youth camp were quickly cancelled in July, 2006, following an article revealing that Brice, a Nevada native who had served as a high school and youth league coach, was a registered sex offender in both California and Oregon. As a result, he could not have unsupervised contact with girls under 18, except for his daughter. Warner Pacific, a Christian college affiliated with the conservative Church of God (Anderson), withdrew availability of their facilities.
Brice sold the franchise to Christopher Sears less than a week later, telling a reporter for the Tribune, "I am no longer associated with the Riptide due to the negativity and black cloud over my name." The league approved the transfer, and Joe Newman, ABA CEO, stated that the team would still play in the 2006 season.{{cite news | title = Sources say: Scandal-ridden Riptide ownership changes hands | publisher=Portland Tribune | date = July 18, 2006 | url = http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=115319174037799200 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929083336/http://www.portlandtribune.com/sports/story.php?story_id=115319174037799200 | url-status = dead | archive-date = September 29, 2007 | accessdate =February 26, 2007}} When the ABA season started in November 2006, however, the Oregon Riptide was not on the schedule.