The professional women's United States Volleyball
League (USVL) will begin its inaugural season in December
2000, with teams to be selected from among 10 Midwest
markets. Player compensation will include base salaries and
benefits up to $50,000. USVL management includes Chicagoan
Bill Kennedy, Dir of Ops Susan Nucci and Technical Adviser
Rick Butler. IL-based Venture Group will handle marketing
and business management with IL-based Wayne Messmer &
Associates handling league communications (USVL). Messmer
said that the USVL has "designed a long-range program ... to
succeed, not to fail." Messmer: "The funding is in place.
This is happening as of today." In Chicago, Steve Tucker
notes that Kennedy is the Founder & CEO of the Kennedy
Group, an Arlington Heights building firm (CHICAGO SUN-
TIMES, 2/19). Kennedy put the league's start-up cost in
"excess of a million dollars." In Chicago, Hirsley &
DeSimone report that "long-range concerns such as
advertising" and TV exposure "have yet to be addressed."
Hirsley & DeSimone adds that the USVL selected Butler, "a
controversial coach" who was banned by USA Volleyball in '95
for "alleged sexual misconduct" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/19).
