Meet the Great Lakes Storm

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Meet the Great Lakes Storm

by Jack B. Tany

Review Sports Columnist

A storm is brewing in mid-Michigan!

The Great Lakes Storm, that is. The Storm, which play its home games at the

Birch Run Expo Center, is currently in its inaugural season in the

Continental Basketball Association. They will play a 48-game regular season

schedule (24 home, 24 away).

According to Tabitha Giles, the Storm director of public relations, the

newest member of the 57-year-old league is looking to provide family

entertainment at an affordable price.

"Sure, we'll get the diehard basketball fans in the mid-Michigan area, but

we're aiming to lure families," said Giles.  "We will have family

entertainment at every home game."

Ticket prices range from $5 to $45, but at the newly revamped Expo Center

there's no real bad seats in the house. There are also four separate season

ticket packages to choose from, which will save cage fans 17 percent on

individual game tickets.

Flint native Jeff Grayer is the head coach of the Great Lakes Storm.

Grayer, a former National Basketball Association player and a star at Iowa

State University, formerly coached the Flint Fuze. The Fuze, which operated

in the CBA a year ago, folded.

The goal for CBA players is to make it to the next level - the NBA. The

Continental Basketball Association is one of only two leagues with direct

call-ups to the NBA. The other league is the National Basketball

Development League (NBDL). Some players are a heartbeat away from a

professional basketball career and invited to pro training camps. Others,

such as former Detroit Piston Oliver Miller are on the downslide of their

career. Most players earn between $500 and $1,500 per week.

The most recognizable name on the Storm's 10-player roster is former

Flintstone Antonio Smith. The rugged 6-foot-8 glass cleaner from Flint

Northern High School and Michigan State University played for the CBA's

Grand Rapids Hoops the past three seasons, leading the league in rebounds

the last two years.

Willie Sims

Others an eyelash away from the NBA are Jermaine Jackson, a former University of Detroit-Mercy star and Cory Hightower. Others on the roster include former Northwood University cager Kenyada Dent, Desmond Ferguson, James Head, Johnnie Selvie, Cam Stephens, Willie Simms, Marvin Gay and DeSean Hadley.

The Expo Center formerly housed the NHL Skate at Birch Run. Revamping of

the arena cost approximately $500,000, and will seat about 2,800 fans.

Larry Kiernam is the Storm's general manager and the team is owned by

businessman Greg VanBoxel, owner of the Center, and Dr. Joseph Oesterling,

a Saginaw urologist.

The Birch Run Expo Center is conveniently located along I-75 (Exit #136) in

Birch Run. For ticket information, please call the Storm office at (989)

624-4665.

Their web site is http://www.greatlakesstorm.com/.

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