minorleagueball
07-17-2005, 03:20 PM
Sweet just be freakin careful!
Friday, July 15, 2005
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND -- The Hope College men's and Holland Christian boys basketball teams are moving out, but the Holland Civic Center will have a new tenant next year.
The same West Michigan-based ownership group that brought International Basketball League play to Grand Rapids this year will be forming a second team that will begin play at the Civic Center in 2006.
Owners Tyler Whitcomb and Fred VanderPloeg, team general manager Tom Moore, along with IBL director of operations Tony Alvarez, Holland Mayor Al McGeehan and area coaches met on the steps of the Civic Center on Thursday morning to make the announcement.
Hope and Holland Christian, which have played at the Civic Center since the early 1950s, will be moving to the new DeVos Fieldhouse next season. But basketball will return to the Civic Center in late March with a professional team, when the new IBL season is expected to tip-off.
"It's summer, for Pete sake, why in the world are we talking about basketball?" McGeehan asked. "It's because you will see basketball hoops set up in driveways throughout the community. We have high school and junior high and college players in the area working out and getting ready for next season.
"In other words, there is great interest in our community for this great American born and bred game. If you listen carefully, you will hears the yells and shouts from Hope and Holland Christian fans (in the Civic Center). This is a great place for basketball."
League is growing
The IBL, which plays into June, was founded last year and recently completed its inaugural season. The league featured 17 teams, including the Grand Rapids Flight, which went 14-6. Teams ranged from Akron, Ohio, to Vancouver, Wash. The only team that isn't returning is Akron. League officials expect to add up to 12 teams in 2006.
The league was created by Mikal Duilo, and Alvarez said if the IBL is to experience long-term success, it must keep down travel costs. Alvarez said the goal is to have teams operating on a $100,000 budget or smaller, and that's why putting a second team in West Michigan is a smart business move.
IBL teams strive to find local talent -- Chad Carlson of Holland, who starred for Hope, played for the Flight. Whitcomb said he isn't concerned about saturating the fan base or talent pool now that there are two teams in West Michigan.
"Maybe we will have to recruit in the Columbus area or some of the other markets for players," said Whitcomb, 26. "But we had 60 players try out last year, and I was confident that we could have fielded two competitive teams. I probably receive five e-mails a week from players who want to try out."
Whitcomb is from Grand Rapids, while VanderPloeg resides in Grand Haven. Whitcomb was the freshmen basketball coach at Catholic Central and served at his alma mater, Union High School, as the junior varsity coach.
Holland did play host to professional basketball more than 40 years ago. The Cook Oilers played in the Midwest Professional Basketball League in 1964 before the league folded. Whitcomb said he began exploring the idea of bringing basketball to Holland in March, and he said Carlson's background and insight into Lakeshore basketball proved beneficial.
Fast action
The IBL features a 22-second shot clock, so Carlson said expect a fast-paced game. Teams averaged nearly 127 points a game during the IBL's first season.
"In a community where we have great college and high school basketball tradition, and a great facility, it only makes sense to have a pro team here," said Carlson, who said he is interested in returning to his hometown to play next year. "I think it will catch fire here.
"It's definitely a fast-paced game chock full of players who score a lot and score often. We have a short shot clock, and you will see guys flying up and down the court, dunking and shooting 3-pointers."
Whitcomb and VanderPloeg agreed that fun, affordable family entertainment is the goal. Tickets were $6 apiece for Grand Rapids games this season.
"Pop is a dollar, and so is bottled water," VanderPloeg said. "It's not like going to a professional game where it costs you $6.50 for a hot dog."
The Flight played their games at Wyoming Park High School this past season and are expected to move to Cornerstone University's gymnasium next year.
Friday, July 15, 2005
By Steve Kaminski
The Grand Rapids Press
HOLLAND -- The Hope College men's and Holland Christian boys basketball teams are moving out, but the Holland Civic Center will have a new tenant next year.
The same West Michigan-based ownership group that brought International Basketball League play to Grand Rapids this year will be forming a second team that will begin play at the Civic Center in 2006.
Owners Tyler Whitcomb and Fred VanderPloeg, team general manager Tom Moore, along with IBL director of operations Tony Alvarez, Holland Mayor Al McGeehan and area coaches met on the steps of the Civic Center on Thursday morning to make the announcement.
Hope and Holland Christian, which have played at the Civic Center since the early 1950s, will be moving to the new DeVos Fieldhouse next season. But basketball will return to the Civic Center in late March with a professional team, when the new IBL season is expected to tip-off.
"It's summer, for Pete sake, why in the world are we talking about basketball?" McGeehan asked. "It's because you will see basketball hoops set up in driveways throughout the community. We have high school and junior high and college players in the area working out and getting ready for next season.
"In other words, there is great interest in our community for this great American born and bred game. If you listen carefully, you will hears the yells and shouts from Hope and Holland Christian fans (in the Civic Center). This is a great place for basketball."
League is growing
The IBL, which plays into June, was founded last year and recently completed its inaugural season. The league featured 17 teams, including the Grand Rapids Flight, which went 14-6. Teams ranged from Akron, Ohio, to Vancouver, Wash. The only team that isn't returning is Akron. League officials expect to add up to 12 teams in 2006.
The league was created by Mikal Duilo, and Alvarez said if the IBL is to experience long-term success, it must keep down travel costs. Alvarez said the goal is to have teams operating on a $100,000 budget or smaller, and that's why putting a second team in West Michigan is a smart business move.
IBL teams strive to find local talent -- Chad Carlson of Holland, who starred for Hope, played for the Flight. Whitcomb said he isn't concerned about saturating the fan base or talent pool now that there are two teams in West Michigan.
"Maybe we will have to recruit in the Columbus area or some of the other markets for players," said Whitcomb, 26. "But we had 60 players try out last year, and I was confident that we could have fielded two competitive teams. I probably receive five e-mails a week from players who want to try out."
Whitcomb is from Grand Rapids, while VanderPloeg resides in Grand Haven. Whitcomb was the freshmen basketball coach at Catholic Central and served at his alma mater, Union High School, as the junior varsity coach.
Holland did play host to professional basketball more than 40 years ago. The Cook Oilers played in the Midwest Professional Basketball League in 1964 before the league folded. Whitcomb said he began exploring the idea of bringing basketball to Holland in March, and he said Carlson's background and insight into Lakeshore basketball proved beneficial.
Fast action
The IBL features a 22-second shot clock, so Carlson said expect a fast-paced game. Teams averaged nearly 127 points a game during the IBL's first season.
"In a community where we have great college and high school basketball tradition, and a great facility, it only makes sense to have a pro team here," said Carlson, who said he is interested in returning to his hometown to play next year. "I think it will catch fire here.
"It's definitely a fast-paced game chock full of players who score a lot and score often. We have a short shot clock, and you will see guys flying up and down the court, dunking and shooting 3-pointers."
Whitcomb and VanderPloeg agreed that fun, affordable family entertainment is the goal. Tickets were $6 apiece for Grand Rapids games this season.
"Pop is a dollar, and so is bottled water," VanderPloeg said. "It's not like going to a professional game where it costs you $6.50 for a hot dog."
The Flight played their games at Wyoming Park High School this past season and are expected to move to Cornerstone University's gymnasium next year.