NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The image of a skeleton dunking a flaming basketball played a key role in rallying the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic Men's Basketball Team to a bronze medal victory in the Barcelona Summer Olympics. The image became a point of focus and pride for Lithuania's Olympic Men's Basketball Team.
However, omitted from the original 1992 wire reports on this story, was that the iconic "Lithuanian Slam Dunking Skullman" was actually created independently by Olympic sports artist Greg Speirs, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3998173/ who donated 100% of his profits in 1992 from the sale of jerseys to become the major funder of the team. The artist was the source and creator of the image, now documented in the soon to be released 2012 movie, "The Other Dream Team." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1606829/fullcredits# The original skeleton design represented the artist's interpretation of team rising up from nothing.
Also omitted in wire reports about the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic basketball team story was that the "major funds" donation also came from Speirs. The artist was the source of the major donation that funded the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic Basketball Team and Lithuanian Children's Charities. This donation represented 100% of his profits which generated $450,000 for the team from the merchandising of his trademark skeleton design on sales of t-shirts. At that moment Speirs, the former 1970's Grooves Music Magazine Art Director, acquired the status as major funder of the 1992 Lithuanian Olympic Basketball Team.
Apart from the noble efforts of others who initially raised money and partially funded the team for its trip and expenses, the overall big money wasn't generated until the artist's design was marketed and sold on t-shirts which raised around $450,000 for the team which he readily donated. The merchandise featuring his trademark design generated a huge stream of continuing funds for the team and Lithuanian children's charities, and allowed the team to continue to pursue their Olympic dream.
Skullman.com announces the 2012, 20th Anniversary reissue of the original 1992 jerseys, with the same iconic front, and the back imprinted with 2012 and the trademarked skeletal hands slam dunking a flaming basketball available from www.skullman.com , sizes XL and XXL only.
Related links: http://www.gregspeirs.com
http://biography.marquiswhoswho.com/sports-artist/greg-speirs/4298026
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3998173
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/people/Greg-Speirs/100003250624899
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/GregSpeirs
Original Lithuanian Slam-Dunking Skeleton ® Brand, Registered Trademark & Copyright 1992 Greg Speirs
For more information visit: www.skullman.com
Federal trademark statute 15USC1125 protects the mark "Lithuanian Slam Dunking Skeleton" from reports suggesting any other origin or designation of source other than the artist in news accounts and news commentary.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50367021&lang=en