Everything is on VOLUNTEER basis. 

Anybody interested should contact Founder/Organizer Robert Fillmore at 517-783-5928, e-mail greatlakesbasketballassociation@yahoo.com, or contact President Teandrea Watson at 773-225-0419.

We are currently looking for individuals or groups interested in owning a franchise (team) in their community.

A list of TARGETED markets can be found on this web site http://eteamz.active.com/glbahoops/teams/.
 
Each franchise MUST have  MEN'S TEAM, WOMEN'S TEAM, and a CHEERLEADING SQUAD.

Each franchise is NOT "just" a basketball team, but also a business. Franchises must be legally incorporated in the state where they play as a non-profit corporation, play in a minimum of a high school gym with bleachers, sell tickets to their games, have a concession stand, sell souvenirs at games, sell game programs, sell advertising options such as ads in their programs to ads on the back of pocket schedules.

PLAYERS AND CHEERLEADERS are responsible for contacting the team they wish to play on. Presently the only team/franchise is the Jackson Tidal Wave, however you can go visit our web site to remain up to date on where franchises are. The league does not hold a draft or assign players to teams.

Participation is all VOLUNTEER. Nobody is paid. You are responsible for your own travel costs and we do not assist with relocation.

Presently the main focus of the league is on finding FRANCHISES. We must have eight franchises, depending on locations, to begin play which will be approximately one year from the time the last franchise is approved. The very soonest a team could begin play is 2009.

You can submit an information sheet to the league, which gets distributed to the teams and they can contact you if interested. To obtain a form e-mail greatlakesbasketballassociation@yahoo.com 

ROBERT FILLMORE has resigned as President of Jackson Sports and Entertainment, Inc., which includes the Michigan Jayhawks semi-pro football team, Jackson Tidal Wave semi-pro basketball team, and Jackson Lightning semi-pro soccer team. FILLMORE’S resignation also includes resigning from the GREAT LAKES BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION and TRI-STATE SOCCER LEAGUE.

Fillmore’s resignation is due to health problems, which includes complications from his diabetes and is forcing him to apply for disability. “In the last year I’ve been through the emergency room more than 20 times and admitted 8 times”, says Fillmore.

Fillmore plans to stay on with all of the organizations as Founder/Organizer. Fillmore says “I have a vision and a dream of what I want for both, the Tri-State Soccer League and Great Lakes Basketball Association. I’ve seen the good and bad of semi-pro football due to my involvement over ten years. I want semi-pro soccer and semi-pro basketball leagues comparable to those of semi-pro football, basically a combination of the Mid Continental Football League, the Great Lakes Football League, and the Michigan Football League. For the Jackson, Michigan, community, I remember semi-pro football getting 5,000 fans per game which was great fan support and that’s what I want for the Jackson Sports and Entertainment family of teams. Staying on as Founder/Organizer will allow me to still have my input without running the day-to-day operations”.