MHSAA may get rival
from the Detroit Free Press:
Robert Davis has accomplished a lot in his 28 years.
Davis, a Highland Park school board member since 2002, holds the season record for rebounding at Michigan-Dearborn, where he earned NAIA academic All-America honors. He also has been a newspaper intern and AAU coach.
But Davis' next undertaking might be the most daunting task he ever will attempt.
Davis will announce next week the formation of an athletic association to rival the Michigan High School Athletic Association, which sanctions most athletic events statewide.
The MHSAA has an operating budget of $8.4 million for 2007-08. It has been around for 84 years and has 767 member high schools. If even one school defected it would be news.
But Davis plans to start the Amateur Athletic Association of Michigan this fall. It will offer football, girls and boys basketball and wrestling. He said he has received pledges of more than $2 million from individuals whom he declines to name because they want to remain anonymous for now.
Davis said there is a general dissatisfaction with the MHSAA, and he feels the time is right for an option.
"It's all about knowing it's legitimate," Davis said. "Once they see this is actually legitimate, a number of big school districts are going to sign up. I'm more than confident that once they see that we are actually doing it, some will leave."
The MHSAA is a nonprofit organization; schools join for free on a voluntary basis. It has 22 employees and a 19-member board. The organization sanctions postseason tournaments in 28 sports with more than 300,000 athletes.
Catholic League director and MHSAA representative council member Vic Michaels scoffed at Davis' idea.
"This is the first I've heard of another of an association," Michaels said. "I would be surprised if any of the schools jumped on that.
"Who wants to win the NIT?"
Davis, who said high school athletics are "big business," thinks some MHSAA rules are outdated. And he promises an organization that would be more receptive to the wants and needs of its members.
Some of what Davis says the AAAM will do:
• Increase the number of games allowed so schools would have more opportunities for revenue. The MHSAA allows 20 regular-season games in basketball and nine in football.
• Lift travel restrictions so teams can play anyone anywhere for more exposure. The MHSAA restricts competition to schools within contiguous border states or a 300-mile one-way trip for schools from non-contiguous states.
• Allow for local or national TV, radio and Internet broadcasts. The MHSAA allows radio and local tape-delayed TV broadcasts and televises its football and basketball finals on FSN.
• Allow athletes to participate in national tournaments or All-Star games. The MHSAA doesn't allow participation in anything that purports to be a national championship or All-Star event during the school year.
• Davis also said the AAAM might require a fee to join.
Davis has personal experiences with some of the MHSAA prohibitions. He investigated putting on regular-season basketball tournaments, pitting top players in the country against the best Michigan has to offer, and found that MHSAA rules prohibit it.
Last summer, as Highland Park school board president, he publicly sparred with the MHSAA when the organization threatened to suspend Highland Park's athletic program because two of its wrestling coaches instructed a wrestler at a national event. When coaches at other schools were found to have violated the rule, the MHSAA backed off and ruled the offending coaches couldn't participate in postseason tournaments.
The decision to leave the MHSAA would rest in the hands of school boards and administrators.
"My first thought is I need to hear something regarding academic achievement," Detroit Public School board member Tyrone Winfrey said. "I want to know how we are actually preparing kids for college.
"You always have reservations, but this could be something to consider. It might at least give the MHSAA something to look at."
MHSAA communications director John Johnson acknowledged that some independent schools and an association for home schoolers are not members of the MHSAA. And many states -- such as New York, Alabama and Mississippi -- have multiple athletic associations.
Johnson said it's conceivable that a school could join the AAAM in the sports it sponsors and still participate in other MHSAA sports.
Davis, who said he won't take a salary, plans to hire staff and said he "will do whatever is necessary" to make his plan work.
But a longtime friend, Detroit Henry Ford basketball coach Ken Flowers, summed up Davis' challenge.
"He's really for the kids, but he has an uphill battle on his hands," Flowers said. "The MHSAA has been around for a long time. If he trying to go up against them, I guess he better have some good backing behind him."
Very interesting, what do you think about this?
Robert Davis has accomplished a lot in his 28 years.
Davis, a Highland Park school board member since 2002, holds the season record for rebounding at Michigan-Dearborn, where he earned NAIA academic All-America honors. He also has been a newspaper intern and AAU coach.
But Davis' next undertaking might be the most daunting task he ever will attempt.
Davis will announce next week the formation of an athletic association to rival the Michigan High School Athletic Association, which sanctions most athletic events statewide.
The MHSAA has an operating budget of $8.4 million for 2007-08. It has been around for 84 years and has 767 member high schools. If even one school defected it would be news.
But Davis plans to start the Amateur Athletic Association of Michigan this fall. It will offer football, girls and boys basketball and wrestling. He said he has received pledges of more than $2 million from individuals whom he declines to name because they want to remain anonymous for now.
Davis said there is a general dissatisfaction with the MHSAA, and he feels the time is right for an option.
"It's all about knowing it's legitimate," Davis said. "Once they see this is actually legitimate, a number of big school districts are going to sign up. I'm more than confident that once they see that we are actually doing it, some will leave."
The MHSAA is a nonprofit organization; schools join for free on a voluntary basis. It has 22 employees and a 19-member board. The organization sanctions postseason tournaments in 28 sports with more than 300,000 athletes.
Catholic League director and MHSAA representative council member Vic Michaels scoffed at Davis' idea.
"This is the first I've heard of another of an association," Michaels said. "I would be surprised if any of the schools jumped on that.
"Who wants to win the NIT?"
Davis, who said high school athletics are "big business," thinks some MHSAA rules are outdated. And he promises an organization that would be more receptive to the wants and needs of its members.
Some of what Davis says the AAAM will do:
• Increase the number of games allowed so schools would have more opportunities for revenue. The MHSAA allows 20 regular-season games in basketball and nine in football.
• Lift travel restrictions so teams can play anyone anywhere for more exposure. The MHSAA restricts competition to schools within contiguous border states or a 300-mile one-way trip for schools from non-contiguous states.
• Allow for local or national TV, radio and Internet broadcasts. The MHSAA allows radio and local tape-delayed TV broadcasts and televises its football and basketball finals on FSN.
• Allow athletes to participate in national tournaments or All-Star games. The MHSAA doesn't allow participation in anything that purports to be a national championship or All-Star event during the school year.
• Davis also said the AAAM might require a fee to join.
Davis has personal experiences with some of the MHSAA prohibitions. He investigated putting on regular-season basketball tournaments, pitting top players in the country against the best Michigan has to offer, and found that MHSAA rules prohibit it.
Last summer, as Highland Park school board president, he publicly sparred with the MHSAA when the organization threatened to suspend Highland Park's athletic program because two of its wrestling coaches instructed a wrestler at a national event. When coaches at other schools were found to have violated the rule, the MHSAA backed off and ruled the offending coaches couldn't participate in postseason tournaments.
The decision to leave the MHSAA would rest in the hands of school boards and administrators.
"My first thought is I need to hear something regarding academic achievement," Detroit Public School board member Tyrone Winfrey said. "I want to know how we are actually preparing kids for college.
"You always have reservations, but this could be something to consider. It might at least give the MHSAA something to look at."
MHSAA communications director John Johnson acknowledged that some independent schools and an association for home schoolers are not members of the MHSAA. And many states -- such as New York, Alabama and Mississippi -- have multiple athletic associations.
Johnson said it's conceivable that a school could join the AAAM in the sports it sponsors and still participate in other MHSAA sports.
Davis, who said he won't take a salary, plans to hire staff and said he "will do whatever is necessary" to make his plan work.
But a longtime friend, Detroit Henry Ford basketball coach Ken Flowers, summed up Davis' challenge.
"He's really for the kids, but he has an uphill battle on his hands," Flowers said. "The MHSAA has been around for a long time. If he trying to go up against them, I guess he better have some good backing behind him."
Very interesting, what do you think about this?
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