AAU Refutes Involvement in Arizona Cactus Classic basketball event
February 5th, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT:
Joe Crawford, Director of Marketing
Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Inc.
407-934-7200
407-934-7242
joe@aausports.org
www.aausports.org
Orlando, FL February 5 – The Amateur Athletic Union of the United States Inc. (AAU) refutes involvement in the Arizona Cactus Classic of 2008 which has led the University of Arizona to self report recruiting violations to the NCAA.
The event being reported by the Associated Press, ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS Sports and various other news outlets, was not sanctioned by the AAU nor conducted by the AAU. The event operator, Mr. Jim Storey was not a member of the AAU in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 or this year. By not being a member of the AAU, Mr. Storey is not entitled to hold any position such as coach or event director.
AAU rules require application for sanctioning of events. The AAU has never received a request for a sanction from Mr. Storey.
Bobby Dodd, President of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, Inc. states, “This is a horrific misrepresentation of the AAU.”
AAU requests an immediate retraction of any reporting that has linked the AAU to the Arizona Cactus Classic or events at the University of Arizona that could possibly lead to NCAA basketball sanctions.
ABOUT AAU – The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is one of the largest, non-profit, volunteer, sports organizations in the United States. The AAU was founded in 1888 and conducts over 38 sports at the grassroots level ranging from ages 3-99. In the youth program, a simple $12 membership allows participation in over 38 sports. The AAU partnered with the Walt Disney World Company in 1995 and serves as one of the anchor tenants of the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
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