Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Scottie Pippen among celebrities coming to Dayton for new event

Organizer: “We’ve got a great list of celebrities and athletes that will be here. It is going to be a big deal.”

The organizer of a new charity event say a who’s who of sports figures and entertainers will descend on Dayton in a matter of a few weeks.

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Ron Edwards, the organizer of the Jim Cleamons Celebrity Golf Classic and Charity Event, told us that Michael Jordan, Jerry West, Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen are among the celebrities slated to be in Dayton for the new event set for Aug. 19 and 20 at the NCR Country Club, 4435 Dogwood Trail in Kettering.

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Cleamons is a former NBA player and coach.

WHO BENEFITS 

The event will benefit Hoopology Camp, Cleamons' Columbus charity for student athlete development.

The Pink Ribbon Girls, a locally based nonprofit that helps women battling cancer, will also benefit.

WHY ARE CELEBRITIES INVOLVED?

A marketing professional by trade, Edwards says he and his wife, Arnika Edwards — University of Dayton's director of  basketball operations — are longtime friends of Cleamons. And so are the celebrities expected to play in the golf event.

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Several were coached by Cleamons or coached with him.

“All these people want to come and make it happen for Jim,” Edwards said.

He said he would release a full list of celebrities Monday.

"We've got a great list of celebrities and athletes that will be here," he said. "It is going to do a big deal. Our plan is to have this for a long time."

WHO IS JIM CLEAMONS? 

Raised in Columbus, Cleamons played basketball at Ohio State University before entering the NBA.

He played for the Los Angeles Lakers, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Washington Bullets.

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He was an assistant basketball coach for the Chicago Bulls from 1989 until 1996 — during the “Jordan years” — and was the head coach of the Dallas Mavericks a year after that.

Cleamons was also an assistant coach for the Lakers during their 2000, 2001, 2002, 2009 and 2010 championship seasons.

The Bulls won championships in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1996.

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WHY DAYTON?

Edwards said Dayton was selected as the city of the golf event that will include an auction because he and his wife are based here, the Dayton area has quality golf courses and because Cleamons — now a resident of California — remains passionate about helping Ohio youth improve their lives and have bright futures.

“Everything we are doing is for Jim and his 501(c)(3) and helping the kids in Ohio,” he said.

Links to register for the event can be found at Hoopologycamp.org.

Credit: Contributed

Credit: Contributed

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