Mike Storen
Encyclopedia
Mike Storen is an American sports executive, perhaps best known for his tenure as commissioner of the American Basketball Association
.
Storen started in professional sports management in 1963, after serving in the United States Marine Corps
, as promotions director for the Baltimore Bullets
of the National Basketball Association
, originally hired when the team was the Chicago Zephyrs. Storen then was the business manager and assistant general manager of the NBA's Cincinnati Royals.
In 1967 Storen became the first vice president and general manager of the Indiana Pacers
of the American Basketball Association
.
In April 1969, Storen and others including future Governor of Kentucky
John Y. Brown, Jr.
, bought the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels
franchise. Storen became president and general manager of the Colonels.
Storen resigned his positions with the Colonels in 1973 as Brown bought out the other investors and assumed more operational involvement than Storen thought appropriate. Storen had a rocky relationship with the Louisville media after firing Colonels head coach Gene Rhodes
, a favorite of the local reporters, due to Rhodes' allegedly mediocre performance. Rhodes later successfully sued Storen for libel, slander and breach of contract after his firing. Rhodes then succeeded Storen as general manager of the Colonels in 1973.
In 1973, Storen became commissioner of the American Basketball Association. He would leave this position to become an owner of the league's Memphis Sounds
franchise with Isaac Hayes
and Kemmons Wilson
. After the 1974-75 season, the Sounds were sold and became the Baltimore Claws
.
Storen became president and general manager of the Atlanta Hawks
of the National Basketball Association
in 1977.
In 1987-88, Storen was commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association. In 1999, Storen became commissioner of the Indoor Professional Football League
.
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
.
Storen started in professional sports management in 1963, after serving in the United States Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
, as promotions director for the Baltimore Bullets
Washington Wizards
The Washington Wizards are a professional basketball team based in Washington, D.C., previously known as Washington Bullets. They play in the National Basketball Association .-Early years:...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
, originally hired when the team was the Chicago Zephyrs. Storen then was the business manager and assistant general manager of the NBA's Cincinnati Royals.
In 1967 Storen became the first vice president and general manager of the Indiana Pacers
Indiana Pacers
The Indiana Pacers are a professional basketball team based in Indianapolis, Indiana. They are members of the Central Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Basketball Association...
of the American Basketball Association
American Basketball Association
The American Basketball Association was a professional basketball league founded in 1967. The ABA ceased to exist with the ABA–NBA merger in 1976.-League history:...
.
In April 1969, Storen and others including future Governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
John Y. Brown, Jr.
John Y. Brown, Jr.
This article is about one of four John Young Browns, from Kentucky, that have served political office. For others see: John Young Brown ...
, bought the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels
Kentucky Colonels
The Kentucky Colonels were a member of the American Basketball Association for all of the league's nine years. The name is derived from the historic Kentucky colonels. The Colonels won the most games and had the highest winning percentage of any franchise in the league's history, but the team did...
franchise. Storen became president and general manager of the Colonels.
Storen resigned his positions with the Colonels in 1973 as Brown bought out the other investors and assumed more operational involvement than Storen thought appropriate. Storen had a rocky relationship with the Louisville media after firing Colonels head coach Gene Rhodes
Gene Rhodes
Eugene Stephen Rhodes is a retired American basketball player and coach.Rhodes played college basketball at Western Kentucky University...
, a favorite of the local reporters, due to Rhodes' allegedly mediocre performance. Rhodes later successfully sued Storen for libel, slander and breach of contract after his firing. Rhodes then succeeded Storen as general manager of the Colonels in 1973.
In 1973, Storen became commissioner of the American Basketball Association. He would leave this position to become an owner of the league's Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds
Memphis Sounds was the final name of a franchise in the American Basketball Association. The team had begun as the New Orleans Buccaneers, and after three seasons in New Orleans, Louisiana moved to Memphis, Tennessee, where it had occasionally played some home games in the past to reasonable crowds...
franchise with Isaac Hayes
Isaac Hayes
Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr. was an American songwriter, musician, singer and actor. Hayes was one of the creative influences behind the southern soul music label Stax Records, where he served both as an in-house songwriter and as a record producer, teaming with his partner David Porter during the...
and Kemmons Wilson
Kemmons Wilson
Charles Kemmons Wilson was the founder of the Holiday Inn chain of hotels.-Personal life:He was born in Osceola, Arkansas, the only child of Kemmons and Ruby "Doll" Wilson. His father was an insurance salesman who died when Kemmons was nine months old...
. After the 1974-75 season, the Sounds were sold and became the Baltimore Claws
Baltimore Claws
The Baltimore Claws was an American basketball team which was supposed to appear in the 1975-76 season in the American Basketball Association. The team collapsed before the season started, playing only three exhibition games in its brief history.-Background:...
.
Storen became president and general manager of the Atlanta Hawks
Atlanta Hawks
The Atlanta Hawks are an American professional basketball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are part of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association .-The first years:...
of the National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
in 1977.
In 1987-88, Storen was commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association. In 1999, Storen became commissioner of the Indoor Professional Football League
Indoor Professional Football League
The Indoor Professional Football League was the new incarnation of the Professional Indoor Football League , which started in 1998. Two of its teams left the league and their owner, Kerry Ecklund, founded the Indoor Football League in 1999...
.
Sources
- Pluto, Terry, "Loose Balls: The Short, Wild Life of the American Basketball Association" (Simon & Schuster, New York, 1990, ISBN 978-1-4165-4061-8