A New Rivalry Begins in Michigan
Expansion team set to go in Muskegon; Bergman set to lead Storm.

When the expansion Michigan Mayhem hosts the Great Lakes Storm at the L.C. Walker Arena in Muskegon, MI, there will be plenty of butterflies in the building as the 2004-05 CBA season tips off.

Those butterflies will fill the stomachs of players and coaches from both teams, along with Mayhem front office personnel, as a new basketball rivalry begins in the state of Michigan, and a new franchise takes its first steps.

"I am very nervous because it is going to seem like all eyes are going to be on me," stated Mayhem Owner Jannie Scott to a local Muskegon newspaper. "But our community is excited and we will finally be able to see the results of what it means to have a professional basketball team after a year of hard work."

The Mayhem will be under the direction of first-year head coach Reggie Fox, who captained the 1996 Sioux Falls Skyforce to a CBA title.

In six CBA seasons (1989-91, 1992-93, 1994-97) Fox averaged 14.9 points and 3.1 assists per game. In the playoffs, however, he raised his level of play to average 18.1 points and 4.0 assists per game over 37 postseason contests. His work ethic and all-out effort helped him earn a CBA title. Those same qualities will be evident on the team he will lead in its first year.

"I think what you will see is, the players that we have on our team, they will be great examples of what he truly was when he played in the CBA," remarked Fox's Assistant Coach Durand Watkins.

"He was not the captain of a CBA championship team just by luck. He showed those leadership skills and that is what has gotten him where he is today."

One of those players that Fox hopes will take on his characteristics is CBA veteran Cory Hightower. The 6-foot-7 guard is entering his fifth CBA campaign, averaging 17.4 points and 4.1 rebounds so far in his career, and looks to be the player that Mayhem fans should expect to see as the go-to guy early in the season.

"He will be that guy that, if we are in an end of quarter situation, we will look to him to help win that quarter," added Watkins.

Joining Hightower is fellow veteran guard Rob Dye, who has played two seasons in the CBA. The Mayhem also have two seven-foot centers on their roster in Cory Reader from Metro State, and Kareem Poole from Arkansas.

"It is challenging trying to get the players that we need to fit in to our philosophy so we can be competitive on the floor," Watkins added. "We are looking for guys who are going to compete every night. It is hard right now to look at our strengths and weaknesses, because technically we do not have any yet since we are an expansion team. Being products of the CBA, though, you know we are going to work hard."

That hard working attitude is what the Mayhem hopes will keep fans in Western Michigan excited about the newest team in the world's oldest professional basketball league.

As the franchise ultimately makes the transition from dream to reality, the excitement level in Muskegon is giving the team the inspiration it needs to achieve its goal of being competitive from the opening tip.

"It is pandemonium around here," said Watkins. "We are excited to have professional basketball back in Western Michigan and we are trying to put a competitive team on the floor so our fans will enjoy coming out to games. As far as winning, you always want to set goals. Life, and basketball itself, is full of goals and you have to set them high.

"We do not want to go out on the court just to be out there."

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