Site lines is kickin' it old school this week. At least that's what my crack research staff tells me. The guys from that small Midwestern college have entered the Wayback Machine thanks to so many headbands and tall socks they've seen in the NBA this season. They tried to win a contest on a morning sports talk show about the Memphis American Basketball Association team's three nicknames (Pros, Tams and Sounds). And they keep waiting for hightops to come back in the NFL and long pants in the NHL.

With that in mind, they dug up four Web sites that pay homage to defunct leagues. They're so nostalgic, they've left for the video store to rent a copy of "Semi-Pro" – on Beta if they can find it.

American Basketball Association

The site: www.remembertheaba.com

The skinny: This is the not the current ABA, which has been using the red, white and blue ball as a marketing tool, not a way of life. This site takes you back to the ABA that gave us stars like Julius Erving, George Gervin and Rick Barry – plus the three-point line.

The call: The league was lively, and it comes through in this site, which is run by Arthur Hundhausen. It's pretty comprehensive, so take your time going through the list of outlandish promotions and the team warmup/uniform gallery for every year. Oh, and click on the "ABA Fashion Guide." By the way, the movie "Semi-Pro" was loosely based on a great book by Terry Pluto, but there never was a Flint Tropics franchise.

World Hockey Association

The site: www.whahockey.com

The skinny: Like the ABA to the NBA, the WHA offered the toughest competition the NHL ever faced. This site chronicles how the WHA stole Hall of Fame players, like Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull, and put franchises in cities coveted by the NHL.

The call: Hockey fans are more nostalgic than most sports fans, so there are two WHA sites. But this one has the best information. The home page is rather crude, but there are countless fun features. This site has WHA screensavers, comprehensive league information and team stats. Plus, it has a place to share your memories about the league. Like some of these sites, a few links need to be updated.

World Football League

The site: www. worldfootballleague.org

The skinny: The WFL – not to be confused with the NFL's World League of American Football that had a Sacramento franchise – was the first viable league to take on the NFL. This site has a good history of the WFL, which ran July-September in 1974-75 and featured teams ranging from Birmingham, Ala., to Honolulu.

The call: The site seems clunky, but it has some fascinating content. Click on "Logos" to see every team logo used or "Media Guides" to see the covers of all that were issued during the league's run. Some of the best items are "Fast Facts," the "Stadiums" photo gallery and "Rules changes." The producer, Robert Phillips, did a great job of rounding up a large array of WFL memorabilia.

United States Football League

The site: www.usfl.info

The skinny: This spring pro league had a good chance for survival. And, like me, you might have attended a USFL game, which featured teams such as the Oakland Invaders, the Arizona Wranglers and New Jersey Generals. This site brings you back to players like Doug Flutie, Herschel Walker and Reggie White. It tells you how Donald Trump tried to take it head-to-head against the NFL, which wouldn't absorb teams and lost the famous $3 monopoly lawsuit.

The call: The site was recently updated and keeps alive the spirit of the rogue league. Yes, it has stats and franchise histories. But the best content is under the link "USFL.INFO exclusives." You'll find an original franchise application and the league operations manual, among other items. There are some broken links, but the site is worth exploring for any pro football fan.