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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE --October 8, 1998
Contact: John Johnson or Mike Clifford-- 517.332.5046

Girls Basketball Motivational Tape To Be Distributed To Schools By GM; Production Features MHSAA Finals Footage

EAST LANSING, Mich. - October 8 - In mid-October, every high school in the state of Michigan, including non Michigan High School Athletic Association member schools, will be receiving a motivational videotape to distribute to each of their girls basketball players through the courtesy of the General Motors Corporation.

"You Got Next" is the title of an 18-minute video which delivers a motivational message to girls basketball players, featuring coaches and athletes from the Women's National Basketball Association. The production also includes a substantial amount of footage of MHSAA Girls Basketball championship games.

"The footage of MHSAA championship games really compliments the message that is being delivered in 'You Got Next,'" said MHSAA Executive Director John E. "Jack" Roberts. "The message is one that talks about hard work, teamwork, ethics, integrity and respect; a combination some of today's professional athletes do not espouse. We're appreciative of the more positive role modeling being done by the WNBA players and coaches in this video.

"The footage of high school championship games is something that most players watching this video will more easily identify with than action from professional games," Roberts added. "When you're setting goals, playing in a high school championship game looms as a larger possibility than playing professionally or collegiately."

Every school will be sent at least 30 copies of "You Got Next" to be distributed to players on the varsity and sub varsity teams at no cost. Additional tapes may also be obtained without charge. Each school will be asked to have their players complete a brief questionnaire about the video after watching it.

In 1997-98, there were 19,948 participants in girls basketball programs at 698 MHSAA member schools, the number of players ranking third nationally to only Texas and California. Michigan is the first state in which "You Got Next" will be distributed. The video was produced by Detroit-based sportscasters Eli Zaret and Gary Danielson.

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