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Mike Storen

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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.[1][2] Storen then was the business manager and assistant general manager of the NBA's Cincinnati Royals.[1][2]

In 1967 Storen became the first vice president and general manager of the Indiana Pacers of the American Basketball Association.[2][3]

In April 1969, Storen and others including future Governor of Kentucky John Y. Brown, Jr., bought the American Basketball Association's Kentucky Colonels franchise.[4] Storen became president and general manager of the Colonels.[3][4]

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.[1][4][5] 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.[6] Rhodes later successfully sued Storen for libel, slander and breach of contract after his firing.[1] Rhodes then succeeded Storen as general manager of the Colonels in 1973.[7]

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.[3]

Storen became president and general manager of the Atlanta Hawks of the National Basketball Association in 1977.[2][8]

In 1987–88, Storen was commissioner of the Continental Basketball Association. In 1999, Storen became commissioner of the Indoor Professional Football League.

Family

Storen's daughter, Hannah Storm, is a broadcast personality on ESPN.

Storen is first cousin, twice removed of Seattle Mariners pitcher Drew Storen.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Sports Illustrated Vault article
  2. ^ a b c d Wildcats website
  3. ^ a b c Remember the ABA website
  4. ^ a b c Remember the ABA
  5. ^ Remember the ABA website
  6. ^ Sports Illustrated Vault
  7. ^ Remember the ABA website
  8. ^ News archive/Landing Page

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
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