Junkyard Dog joins Montreal ownership group
Published on April 7, 2005 under American Basketball Association (ABA)
Montreal Royal News Release
Montreal, Canada. Serena Locker-Coles, co-owner of the Montreal ABA professional basketball team, today announced that NBA star Jerome Williams will be a co-owner of the team. According to Mrs. Coles, when Jerome was with the Toronto Raptors, he was one of the most popular athletes in Canada. His style of play, similar to that of Dennis Rodman, made him a fan favorite, diving for loose balls, grabbing rebounds and playing tenacious defense. He is known for his high energy, scrappy, dogged, relentless work ethic on the basketball court - and we know he'll pursue his team ownership with the same passion. We are very pleased and excited."
Williams drawing appeal earned him his own sports TV show, his personal sports show under Reebok and was the former spokesman for Sprite in Canada. The ultimate team player, this 10-year NBA veteran is one of the most entertaining and loved athletes. He has a natural instinct for the game and understands what his teammates and his organization needs to be successful. He is also a very astute businessman and is a major stockholder in the Electroite O2 Water company and sits on its board of directors. JYD is a superbly conditioned athlete with a year round workout regimen. Although he has been blessed with a 6'9" NBA body, he acquired his stature in a most unusual way. He begin playing basketball at Magrudar High School in Rockville, Maryland as a 6'2" point guard. Neither Magrudar or Jerome grabbed the attention of the media or collegiate athletic programs. He did not receive one scholarship offer. Jerome is one of a few professional basketball players not highly recruited out of high school. Driven by the desire to continue his education and his love for basketball, Jerome enrolled in Montgomery Junior College in Germantown, Maryland where he worked parttime to pay his tuition. During his two years at Montgomery, he grew seven inches. The added height gave his career the lift it needed. He dominated at the junior college level, averaging 23 points and 17 rebounds per game and earned MVP honors for the state of Maryland during his sophomore year and Division I teams began to pay attention.
Coach John Thompson gave him a full scholarship to Georgetown University and the rest is history. Now with the New York Knicks, he is not just a basketball player, he is a "multi-professional" - NBA athlete, businessman with a degree in sociology, has acted in movies including Full Court Miracle from Walt Disney, as well as Harold and Kumar Visit White Castle; appeared in the Sue Thomas F.B.Eye TV show and has produced the Mission Possible CD, dedicated to pass on a positive message to kids. He will launch Triple Threat this month. Jerome has participated in many community activities over the years. Along with his brother Johnnie, Jerome has established the JYD Foundation, Positive Shades of Black (PSB). The organization was founded to represent all the shades of the rainbow coming together and to represent all that is positive in all ethnicities. PSB provides educational incentive programs for young people and underprivileged kids in the USA and Canada. Providing mentoring programs for the kids and providing them a good time by giving them tickets to NBA games (soon ABA games) as well as autographs, etc.
Williams stated, "Serena-Locker Coles, a long time friend, offered me an opportunity for co-ownership in her ABA Montreal team. I shared my feelings about basketball in Montreal and I told her it would be a great opportunity for the city. It'll be a good start for basketball in Montreal, but also for the Toronto fans and Canada in general. It'll give the Toronto Raptors a chance to recruit from Montreal. I'm excited." Jerome is considered to be one of the good guys in the NBA and was former Vice President of the NBA's Player Association. Serena Locker-Coles is a native of LaSalle and co-owner of Sports Fran chise Acquisition Holding Company, the owners of the Montreal ABA team. All communications should be directed to Pascal Jobin, GM/Coach at 514 356 0048 or pascaljobin@hotmail.com or visit www.abalive.com.
Note: OurSports Central no longer actively covers the American Basketball Association (ABA) as a professional league due in part to its inability to publish and play a schedule and the transitory nature of many of its teams. For information on professional minor leagues, please see OSC's basketball section.
American Basketball Association Stories from April 7, 2005
- Newark Express joins ABA - Jersey Express
- Junkyard Dog joins Montreal ownership group - Montreal Royal
- RimRockettes to hold tryouts - Arkansas RimRockers
- ABA names Vice President of Investor Relations - ABA
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