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35-687: Plans to bring professional basketball to Columbus were unveiled in September 1988 and the Horizon began playing in November 1989 at the Ohio Expo Center Coliseum , where the franchise had a five-year lease. Owner Eli Jacobson had previously owned the Pensacola Tornados and was able attract Pensacola veterans Gary Youmans and Tim Sise to Columbus as coach and General Manager respectively. Jacobsen

70-628: A brief stint in France with LNB Pro B team Étoile Angers, which released him in September 1998, he played his last season in the CBA (1998–99) averaging 13 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.7 assists in 35 minutes per game. He then signed for the St. Louis Swarm , a franchise of the newly established International Basketball League , but played only 4 games before transferring to the Richmond Rhythm : he played 54 games with

105-652: A career-high 20.9 points and 5.3 rebounds in 37.9 minutes per game over 44 appearances. In the 1995 offseason Holmes signed again for the Oklahoma City Cavalry and earned All-Star honors for the 1995–96 season, averaging 17.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 37 minutes per game, having started all 56 games of the regular season: he also reached the CBA playoffs for the first time in his career, and in 4 games he posted averages of 19.8 points and 6 rebounds in 39.5 minutes. He chose to stay in Oklahoma City also for

140-598: A single game. Steve Harris scored 54 against the LaCrosse Catbirds on January 7, 1990 while Kevin Williams scored 50 in a home game against the Pensacola Tornados just weeks later on February 28, 1990. Ricky Calloway , who helped Indiana win the national championship in 1987, was suspended by the Horizon because he failed two CBA drug tests. Facing weak business support and the lowest average attendance per game in

175-538: Is also home to Columbus Ice Hockey Club (CIHC) and CCYHA youth hockey. It recently has been acquired by The Chiller and is used as a public rink for games and practices. It was also once home to the Ohio State University men's basketball team, Columbus Horizon CBA basketball team, Columbus Thunderbolts Arena Football League team, and the Columbus Stars and Columbus Chill ice hockey teams. The Barn

210-588: Is an American basketball coach and former professional player. After sitting our his first year of college basketball due to Proposition 48 , he played three years with the Oklahoma Sooners , being selected as a starter in his senior season. He went undrafted in the 1991 NBA draft and played several years in the CBA , where he won two championships and earned two selections in the United States national team , winning

245-530: Is nicknamed "The Barn". The facility hosted the 1929 NCAA Wrestling Championships . The Coliseum has become a legendary and traditional high school basketball venue. It hosted OHSAA central district and regional playoffs in boys' High School basketball until 2013, when the Central District Athletic Board opted to move games to Ohio Dominican University. During each fall and winter the Coliseum

280-481: The 1989 NCAA tournament against Louisiana Tech , recording 2 rebounds in 3 minutes. While he played primarily as power forward during his high school career, his good ball handling and his shooting skills made him more of a small forward in college. In his junior year Holmes played more consistently, and recorded 26 appearances during the season, with increased playing time (11.1 minutes), and averaged 5 points and 4.1 rebounds. He recorded another appearance during

315-605: The Big 8 both in total rebounds and rebounding average, and at the end of the season he was named the team MVP. He ended his career with the Sooners with 610 points and 419 rebounds. After the end of his senior season, Holmes was automatically eligible for the 1991 NBA draft , but he was not drafted by an NBA franchise. He was drafted by the Columbus Horizon in the 1st round of the 1991 CBA draft (5th overall). In his rookie season in

350-500: The NCAA tournament against Towson , and recorded 2 rebounds in 3 minutes, missing all 3 of his field goals. Holmes' senior year was his best at Oklahoma: coach Tubbs promoted him to the starting five, and Holmes recorded 30 starts in 31 games played. He averaged career-highs in all statistical categories with 14.8 points, a team-best 9.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1 steal and 0.4 blocks per game in 30.8 minutes. His 289 rebounds ranked him 4th in

385-743: The Oklahoma City Cavalry after being traded 4 times in a day during the 1993 offseason: he was initially traded from the Columbus Horizon to the Rochester Renegade , which then traded him to the Hartford Hellcats , which again traded him to the Rapid City Thrillers that ultimately traded him a fourth time to the Oklahoma City Cavalry in exchange for Dell Demos and a sixth round pick in the 1993 CBA draft. In his first year with

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420-493: The Pensacola Tornados franchise, was appointed General Manager. In preparing for their inaugural season, the Horizon looked to secure the services of a local college hoops star by making them their first round draft pick. Jay Burson , who at that time was the leading scorer in Ohio high school history, had suffered a fractured cervical vertebra in a collision with an Iowa player while playing for Ohio State. Despite being drafted by

455-642: The CBA he started 53 out of 56 games for the Horizon, averaging 17.5 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 37.7 minutes per game, and was selected in the All-Rookie team. In 1992 he moved to the New Jersey Jammers of the United States Basketball League , and played their last season. He then went back to the Columbus Horizon and played the 1992–93 CBA season there, averaging 8.5 points and 3.6 rebounds per game in 51 appearances. He signed for

490-642: The CBA, finishing in last place in three of those seasons. In 1990-91 the Horizon finished bottom of the National Conference Eastern Division with a 23-33 record. In both 1991 and 1992, Horizon players won the CBA Long Distance Shootout. Barry Stevens won in 91 and Duane Washington a year later. Vince Chickerella, winner of more than 400 games in a lengthy career at Linden McKinley, DeSales and Hilliard high schools in Central Ohio,

525-793: The Cavalry he averaged 14.7 points and 5.8 rebounds: in the summer of 1994 he transferred to the Westchester Stallions of the USBL and earned All-USBL Second Team honors. He started the 1994–95 CBA season with the Rockford Lightning , and was traded after 8 games to the Mexico City Aztecas in December 1994 for a first-round pick in the 1995 CBA draft. He ended the season with the Aztecas, averaging

560-540: The Horizon had a number of their games on television throughout the Central Ohio area. The games featured play-by-play commentary by Mike Gleason a former letterman and graduate of Central Michigan University . Joining Gleason to handle color commentary was Columbus-born former NBA and ABA player Larry Jones . All games, both home and away, were carried on radio on WCOL AM with play-by-play duties handled by veteran broadcaster Bob Fitzgerald . Home games were televised live on WCLS-TV 62, whose studios were also located in

595-438: The Horizon in the 1989-90 season, Burson averaged 13.6 points a game. Also among the team's first signings was another local college product Eric Newsome , a 5-foot-8 guard from Toledo, who was, at that time, second on Miami University 's career scoring list. The new team's first game came at home to Santa Barbara on November 14, 1989. Columbus lost 123-113 in what was both their and Santa Barabara's CBA debut. The remainder of

630-607: The Horizon, Burson signed a three-year contract with the Houston Rockets of the NBA saying he would not play for Columbus. However, after being released by Houston and clearing waivers in October 1989, he decided to sign with the Horizon. Burson wasn't signed just to sell tickets, Horizon coach Gary Youmans said. "We want Jay as a player, not as a drawing card. He might attract some fans but we want him so we can win ballgames." In 34 games with

665-462: The Ohio Center, two floors below Battelle Hall. The WCLS-TV coverage, was led by play-by-play man Mike Raymond and former Horizon and Ohio State standout Ron Stokes. In December of 1992, Raymond left WCLS-TV and their Horizon coverage. The team made history when Raymond's replacement, Rob Havener became the youngest play-by-play man in league history. Havener, who replaced Raymond as WCLS Sports Director

700-657: The Rhythm, starting 36 and averaging 9.9 points and 4 rebounds in the 1999–00 season. He signed for the Trenton Shooting Stars in 2000, and played his last season of professional basketball with the team in the IBL. He ranks 11th all-time in the CBA for points scored with 5,760. Holmes was selected in the United States national team for the FIBA Americas Championship 1997 , in a team formed by CBA players: during

735-537: The entire CBA, the Horizon announced in March 1994 that it would leave town. The Horizon had averaged 2,600 fans in its first two seasons, 2,900 in its third season but had dropped to 1,700 by 1993-94. It was also reported that the franchise had lost $ 2.5 million in Columbus and had a debt of about $ 1 million. The franchise departed Columbus and moved to Shreveport, Louisiana for the 1994-95 season. In their first season of play,

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770-533: The following year, and won the 1996–97 CBA championship. In 1997 he moved to Europe , signing for Turkish team Emlakbank Ortaköy , where he played 15 games, averaging 19.5 points, 8.8 rebounds and 1 assist per game while shooting 49% from the field and 37.6% from the 3-point line. In 1998 he came back to the United States and signed for the Quad City Thunder , winning another CBA championship in 1998. After

805-464: The gold medal during the FIBA Americas Championship 1997 and the silver medal at the 1999 Pan American Games . After the end of his playing career he started coaching. Holmes played high school basketball in his native town of Okmulgee, Oklahoma : he was a nationally ranked power forward , and averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds per game during his junior year. For his senior year he improved his averages to 21.9 points and 11 rebounds per game, and

840-441: The latter, and signed to play for the Sooners in November 1986. However, in 1987 he was deemed academically ineligible according to the newly established Proposition 48 , and had to sit out his first season. He regained his eligibility in 1988 and played his first season receiving limited playing time from coach Billy Tubbs : Holmes played 10 games, averaging 2 points and 2.3 rebounds in 5.6 minutes per game. He played 1 game during

875-551: The name Columbus, team officials said they wanted the franchise to become a hometown favorite throughout the entire Central Ohio area. The Houston Rockets agreed to be the club's NBA affiliate. Jay Ramsdell was on his way from the CBA league office in Denver, Colorado to Columbus for the 1989 College Player Draft when his United Airlines Flight 232 plane crashed in Sioux City , Iowa on July 19, 1989. A close friend of Eli Jacobsen, he

910-455: The season proved difficult for the fledgling franchise. In January 1990, the Horizon were forced to change coaches after Gary Youmans resigned due to ill health. He was replaced by Bill Klucas, a former newspaper sports editor turned basketball coach. Klucas was unable to change the fortunes of the new team, which finished fourth out of four teams in its division with a record of 18 wins and 38 defeats. The Horizon spent just four more years in

945-541: The tournament he played 9 games, averaging 8.1 points and 0.9 rebounds. Two years later he was called up again by Team USA for the 1999 Pan American Games where he played 5 games averaging 5.2 points and 3.0 rebounds. He earned a total of 14 appearances with the US national team. After the end of his professional playing career, Holmes started coaching and after a brief experience at Central High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma , in 2001 he

980-408: Was also a member of the league's Expansion and Rules Committees. Jacobsen told the press conference that the Horizon would become involved in the Central Ohio community and said the economic impact on Columbus would be to the tune $ 3–$ 4 million generated back into the city each year. CBA Commissioner Jay Ramsdell said Columbus had all the elements to be a winning CBA franchise. Despite the team bearing

1015-588: Was instrumental in laying the groundwork which eventually led to the granting of a CBA franchise for Columbus. The Horizon was placed in the four-team National Conference Eastern Division by the CBA. Veteran CBA coach Gary Youmans was put in charge. Youmans, who previously coached the Cedar Rapids Silver Bullets and was general manager of the Tampa Bay Thrillers , was an Ashland College graduate. Tim Sise , who had worked with Youmans as part of

1050-682: Was named as the new head coach in April 1991. Chickerella was chosen from a field of more than 100 applicants, which included seven NBA assistants, several CBA head coaches and many NCAA Division I assistants. In his first season, the Horizon, now a member of the American Conference Eastern Division, won just 18 times in a 56-game season and again finished dead last. The Horizon had selected Kermit Holmes of Oklahoma as its first round draft pick in 1991. Chickerella resigned in January 1992 and

1085-525: Was only marginally better than the 20-36 Fort Wayne Fury . In 1993 Mitchell Butler from UCLA was selected as Columbus' first round draft pick, but the 6' 5" shooting guard instead chose to sign undrafted with the Washington Bullets of the NBA. The Horizon slumped back into last place by the 1993–94 season, again managing just 18 wins. Twice in the franchise's history did a player score 50 or more points in

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1120-471: Was renovated in 2005 to include new scoreboards, the addition of shot clocks above the backboards, a fresh coat of paint, and new rest rooms. On July 28, 2010, the Coliseum was renamed to honor Bob Taft , the 67th Governor of Ohio. This article about a sports venue in Columbus, Ohio is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Kermit Holmes Kermit Leanell Holmes (born March 27, 1969)

1155-426: Was replaced by Fred Bryan, a former coach and general manager of the Pensacola Tornados. Before the 92-93 season began, however, former Michigan All-American Cazzie Russell , who had coached for seven seasons in the CBA, was signed as coach. The team moved downtown to Battelle Hall and improved slightly to lift itself off the foot of the division, but still finished 92-93 with a losing record of 21-35. Their record

1190-507: Was selected in the Super 5 , the list of the top 5 players in the state of Oklahoma by The Daily Oklahoman . He also won the state championship, beating McLain High School 55–51 in the final game during which he was the top scorer with 15 points. During his high school career Holmes was recruited by 50 colleges, and restricted his choice between Houston and Oklahoma : he ultimately chose

1225-516: Was three weeks shy of his 20th birthday when he made his Horizon debut. He did two games with Stokes before Stokes left WCLS. Stokes was replaced by Terry Brown who teamed with Havener on the Horizon telecasts for the remainder of the 1992-93 season. Ohio Expo Center Coliseum The Taft Coliseum is a 5,003-permanent seat multi-purpose arena located at the Ohio Expo Center and State Fairgrounds in Columbus, Ohio . It opened in 1918 and

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