Bentel Named Chicago Thunder General Manager

[Mike Miazga, Director of Media Relations USPV]

For Immediate Release

Contact: Mike Miazga, Director Media Relations, USPV, (630) 575-8827

Chicago Sports Veteran Jim Bentel
Named Thunder General Manager

OAKBROOK TERRACE, ILL., May 15, 2002_ Chicago sports veteran Jim
Bentel today was named general manager of the Chicago Thunder, a
member of the United States Professional Volleyball league (USPV).

As Thunder general manager, Bentel will be responsible for overseeing
the day-to-day operations of the team as well as selling local
sponsorships.

Bentel, who won the Major League Baseball Marketing Excellence Award
in 1983 with the Chicago White Sox, was the Thunder’s assistant
general manager for the Inaugural 2002 season, responsible for the
organization’s entire ticket operation.

Chicago tied for the league lead in sellouts and drew an overflow
crowd and team record 2,607 (2,400 capacity) to the team’s
regular season home finale at Saint Xavier University’s Shannon
Center.

“Jim was crucial to the success of the Thunder in the first
season,” said USPV President and CEO Bill Hawkins. “With
all of his ties to the Chicago area and with his impressive and varied
sports background, we know Jim will do a superior job and help take
the team to the next level.”

Prior to joining the Thunder, Bentel was the Director of Ticket
Operations for the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Bentel also worked in the sales and marketing departments for the
White Sox, Chicago, Chicago Wolves and the Miami Dolphins and was a
former coaching assistant for the Cubs and a Special Assistant to the
Manager for the Kansas City Royals.

For the past eight years, Bentel has also owned Bentel Sports
Management, a firm that represents various major league baseball
coaches for off-field endorsements and clinics.

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Bentel is a graduate of Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Ill.,
and has a degree in business administration from the University of
Illinois.

“The Thunder had a tremendous first season,” said Bentel.
“The Chicagoland area embraced this team from the beginning.
I’m looking forward to meeting all of our fans and making the
Thunder an even bigger part of the Chicago sports landscape.”

The USPV, the first professional sports league in the United States to
precede a men’s league in the same sport, recently completed its
inaugural season with the Rochester-based Minnesota Chill defeating
the Thunder for the league’s first championship.

The USPV will expand to a 10-team league in 2003, halfway to its goal
of having 20 teams in place by the 2005 season. The locations of the
six expansion teams will be revealed in the next 30-60 days.

To obtain a photo of Jim Bentel, or to arrange an interview, please
contact Mike Miazga, Director of Media Relations, USPV, at (630)
575-8827.