IBL's Los Angeles Lightning features star studded roster
April 21, 2009 - International Basketball League (IBL)
Los Angeles Lightning News Release
The Los Angeles Lightning is a second year professional basketball team competing in the fifth year International Basketball League (for information on the IBL, see following page).
The Los Angeles Lightning made their name in the 2008 International Basketball League season by assembling a roster full of former NBA players and former UCLA Bruin stars. The Lightning will continue this trend in 2009 with the recently announced signings of 13-year NBA veteran Bryon Russell and California State Senator Tony Strickland.
Byron Russell, who spent most of his pro career with the Utah Jazz, making it to the NBA Finals twice against the Chicago Bulls, has played in 841 games in the Association and will be one of several former NBA players on the LA roster, along with Lamond Murray and Keith Closs. Fred Vinson will return as well (Vinson averaged 16.5 points per game for the Lightning in the 2008 season). Also, on the team are former UCLA Bruins Toby Baily (who averaged 19.4 points per game in 2008 with the Lightning) and Billy Knight who won the 3-point shootout at the 2088 IBL All-Star Festival held in Gary, Indiana last June.
Tony Strickland is a 6'5" California State Senator and Whittier College alumni. Strickland-a long time basketball player-took no time to agree to the offer from Lightning owner Mark Harwell who tongue in cheek insists, this is not a publicity grab, "if the guy were 5-feet-7 and had a pot belly, that would be a publicity stunt," Harwell said. "But he (Strickland) is a tremendous athlete. ... I do not think people realize what a great athlete he is-he can still dunk the ball."
Both recently signed players-Russell and Strickland-will be on display when the Lightning open their 2009 season on May 2nd and 3rd against the visiting Edmonton Energy at Cal Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. For tickets to LA Lightning games, check the team website at http://www.lalightning.net.
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