IBL welcomes Southern Illinois Truth
Published on April 2, 2009 under International Basketball League (IBL) News Release
Portland, Oregon-the International Basketball League welcomes today its newest team-the Southern Illinois Truth. Co-owners Michael Tangman and Robert Ring both have local ties; Tangman is originally from Robinson, Illinois and Ring currently resides in Mt. Vernon. Their vision was to bring a professional level basketball team to this rural area of the state giving members of the smaller communities a chance to see a high quality basketball event. Says Tangman "this will provide something new and exciting for the entire community to enjoy. We wanted the smaller communities of Southern Illinois to have an opportunity to be a part of something that has never been experienced in this area before." Tangman's background includes playing two seasons on the Marine Corps traveling basketball team and another year in Japan. Co-owner Michael Tangman-"I became interested in fielding a team while playing semi-professionally in Japan. I wanted to provide the same professional basketball game experience to the smaller towns of Southern Illinois- an opportunity only larger cities usually get to experience." Ring attended Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri on a wrestling scholarship. Both owners are excited about the potential economic impact on the region and the opportunity to give something back to the community. As well, the Truth and their sponsors will combine to provide free basketball clinics for youth in the area.
Coaching staff: Mike Boyce will serve as Head Coach and Director of Basketball Operations for the Truth in 2009. Boyce brings with him over 30 years of national and international coaching experience in both basketball and track and field. He has been bestowed numerous awards including the prestigious Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award and in 1999 was named to the All-USA Teacher Team by USA Today for his work in basketball. Joining Boyce's staff will be Jim Hayes and Palmer Alexander. Hayes is a life-long educator and a former Missouri sports official. Alexander is currently a sports commentator and reporter in the St. Louis area.
Roster:
Player's name height weight age hometown
Teri Ayers 6'3" 185 30 Peoria, IL
Adam Cartwright 6'5" 215 20 Flora, IL
Vic Chukwudebe 6'8" 265 31 Springfield, IL
Jonathan DePalmer 6'0" 180 22 Mt. Vernon, IL
Michael Doggan 5'9" 185 23 Mt. Vernon, IL
Jamar Horton 5'9" 180 23 Okolona, AR
Daryle Jones 5'6" 215 25 St. Louis, MO
Dominique Leake 6'4" 290 25 Centralia, IL
Glendale Moore 6'6" 208 21 Mt. Vernon, IL
Averi Peoples 6'3" 195 21 Mt. Vernon, IL
Tyler Sickmeyer 6'6" 245 22 Springfield, IL
Kenny Simelton 6'7" 240 25 Cairo, IL
Christopher Washington 6'6" 250 26 Mt. Vernon, IL
Ronald Wyatt 6'1" 195 31 St. Louis, MO
The above roster is a current 2009 roster. The Southern Illinois Truth will use this roster for its first 2 road games, coming up this Saturday and Sunday in Kankakee Illinois. IBL Commissioner Mikal Duilio-'the Truth roster may shift and shimmy with their roster, until it hits a professional level of play but it is great to see 15 guys ready to go, right now".
About the Southern Illinois Truth 2009 schedule:
A normal team playing in the IBL-plays a 20 game schedule.
The Southern Illinois Truth will play 10 games (4 home games and 6 away games) in their inaugural season.
Each of the 10 games (listed below) count as official games in the IBL, although the Southern Illinois Truth will not compete for the overall IBL Championship because they are in what is known as a 'branding year'. A branding year is the first year entry method for new teams in the IBL where teams play between 5 and 10 games to learn the industry. The Truth was officially accepted, paid, etc. to be in the IBL but they still must go through this first year process. About the branding year: being a minor league basketball team owner is complex in that the owner handles media relations, promotions, sales, gathers partnerships, rents venues, creates agreements and contracts, handles business operations and as well, the minor league owner handles basketball team operations. And the owner does all of this- in an efficient manner relying on a lot of volunteerism and community support (support that has to be garnered and gathered over time). New team owners need to gain experience before they get going with a full 20-game season; otherwise historically-it (owning a minor league team) can be too much to handle... so the IBL allows teams joining in the next season (2010) to play a few games in the current season (2009) as you see below with the Truth schedule below (thus, allowing the Truth to responsibly learn the ropes of this industry).
About the 4 home games
Friday May 29th 7:15PM Kankakee Soldiers @ Southern Illinois Truth (Salem Illinois High School)
Saturday May 30th 7:15PM Kankakee Soldiers @ Southern Illinois Truth (East Richland High School)
Friday June 19th 7:00PM Kankakee Soldiers @ Southern Illinois Truth (Flora High School)
Saturday June 20th 7:00PM Kankakee Soldiers @ Southern Illinois Truth (Mt Vernon High School)
Note about home schedule: each of the 4 home games will be played in a different locations, maximizing the opportunity for families in the region to come check out a professional basketball game.
Note about ticket prices for home games: Tickets will be $10 each, $7 for children 17 and under (also $20 for VIP seating). There will be various entertainment and giveaways at each home game and a portion of the proceeds from ticket sales will be given back to each respective host school.
About the 6 away games:
Saturday April 4th 1:00PM Southern Illinois Truth @ USA All-Stars (Kankakee Resource Center)
Sunday April 5th 11:00AM Southern Illinois Truth @ USA All-Stars (Kankakee Resource Center)
Friday June 5th 7:15PM Southern Illinois Truth @ Grand Rapids Flight (Grand Rapids, Michigan )
Saturday June 6th 7:00PM Southern Illinois Truth @ Holland Blast (Holland Civic Center)
Friday June 26th 7:15PM Southern Illinois Truth @ Holland Blast (Holland Civic Center)
Saturday June 27th 7:15PM Southern Illinois Truth @ Grand Rapids Flight (Grand Rapids, Michigan)
Note about the away schedule: the Southern Illinois Truth will take a brand new ownership, brand new coaches and 15 brand new players into their first two games in the IBL-this weekend April 4th and 5th in Kankakee, Illinois.
International Basketball League Stories from April 2, 2009
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