MHSAA may get rival - UPDATE

It looks like this has some legs.

Here is the Free Press article:

Reactions to the organization that hopes to rival the Michigan High School Athletic Association has been "very receptive."
That's the message Amateur Athletic Association of Michigan founder Robert Davis was trying to project at Wednesday's news conference formally announcing the formation of the non-profit organization that hopes to sponsor postseason play in high school football, and boys and girls basketball in the fall.
On hand for the announcement at the AFSCME building in Detroit was former University of Michigan basketball standout Jimmy King, who will serve as the executive director.
"I have to credit Robert and Gary for standing up and going against the grain," said Southfield board of education secretary Darryle Buchanan, who stood alongside King and Davis at the conference.
Besides Southfield, Davis said he has met with the school districts of Detroit, Saginaw, Ann Arbor, Harper Woods and Flint. Birmingham Detroit Country Day athletic director and basketball coach Kurt Keener, on spring break in Atlanta, confirmed that the Oakland County private school has some interest in the organization.
Davis, a member of the Highland Park board of education, told the Free Press last month of his plans and believes -- because of the MHSAA's rules limiting the number of games, travel, broadcast rights and participation in national events -- the time is right for change.
He also stated a goal of getting 100 schools to leave the MHSAA by July 1 or the plan won't be feasible.
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Here is the Detroit News article:

MHSAA could face new foe
Tom Markowski / The Detroit News
DETROIT -- Robert Davis says he has a plan for high school athletic programs, better then the one they currently have with the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
Davis, a Highland Park school board member, plans on forming by fall a new athletic association, the Amateur Athletic Association of Michigan (AAAM). The AAAM would not to replace but be an alternative to the MHSAA.
In its infancy the AAAM will sponsor three sports, girls and boys basketball and football.
To achieve this goal Davis is courting a number of school districts to join, including the Detroit Public Schools.
"DPS is the big brother," he said. "From there it's a piece of cake."
No district has officially joined, but Davis said school districts such as Southfield, Ann Arbor, Saginaw and Harper Woods have shown interest.
Davis said he's received financial backing from five donors, including Detroit Cooley and Detroit Mercy graduate Willie Green, who plays for the Philadelphia 76ers.
Among the handful of individuals assisting Davis is former Michigan Fab Five standout Jimmy King, now the athletic director at Highland Park.
Davis said DPS board members are expected to vote on whether to join the AAAM or not on April 10. Before that happens Davis has an appointment next week with Lafayette Evans, the director of athletics for the DPS. Evans said he has spoken with a DPS board member about the upcoming vote and that this board member, whom Evans said will remain anonymous, had asked Evans for his input before such a vote.
Among the benefits Davis lists for school districts to join the AAAM are revenue sharing and free ACT/SAT preparation classes for student-athletes.
Participation in all-star events, limits on the distances allowed to travel for competition and the live television broadcasts of sporting events are points of contention Davis has with the MHSAA. His association will not strip an athlete's eligibility for participating in an all-star game, as the MHSAA does, nor will it prohibit teams from traveling more than 300 miles (the MHSAA limit).