A Daytona Beach Thunder Valentine

February 14, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Daytona Beach Thunder News Release


DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - As the nation celebrates Valentines Day, members of the Daytona Beach Thunder front office staff would be remised if we didn't take time to express our appreciation to our spouses and spices for their support as we try to build a successful indoor football franchise.

[We'd also be in deep, uh, doo-doo if we didn't.]

Late nights in the office and weekend functions are the norm in the sports business, and we have been blessed with patience and understanding. In kind, we get to go as couples to Super Bowl parties and corporate functions with NFL Hall of Fame quarterbacks delivering the keynote address.

[Boy, we really need to suck up, don't we? Anyone know the number of a good florist?]

"When my brother Kevin and I decided to start this team, we were well aware of the time equity we'd have to put into it,'' said Thunder CEO Zack McDonald. "My wife, Sue, knew she and the kids wouldn't be seeing much of me, but she's accepted the fact and has remained so supportive of what we're trying to do. Sue deserves all the credit." Kevin McDonald and his wife, Terri McDonald, are working side-by-side in building the Thunder, with Terri serving as the franchise's business operations director.

"This is definitely one of the biggest adventures we've taken on together, but as always, we continue to support each other and become stronger for it," Terri McDonald said. "I wouldn't want to ride the roller coaster of life with anyone else."

Director of Sales and Marketing Antone Smothers will spend Tuesday 500 miles apart from his wife, Stephanie, who remained in Atlanta to finalize their business.

"She remains completely supportive of our cause and is behind me one hundred percent," Smothers said. " She always finds a way to give me the positive reinforcement to remain focused and steadfast."

Like Smothers, Director of Technology Bob Schmitt will also spend Valentine's Day away from his wife, Brenda, who is in Indiana with her mother who is undergoing chemotherapy. The Schmitts exchanged Valentines Day cards before she left Saturday morning.

"Brenda has always been very supportive while I spent long hours on my PC working on the Thunder websites," Bob Schmitt said. "She thinks the world of Zack and is glad that I am working with an organization like the Thunder. She's the wind beneath my aging wings."

Director of Communications Dan Ryan and his wife, Linda, celebrated Valentines Day Monday night with her working Tuesday evening and he entering Halifax Medical Center for a pacemaker installation early Wednesday morning. Linda surprised Dan by arranging with Thunder assistant general manager Jeremiah Johnson to have the Lightning dancers deliver him milk and cookies at the hospital Wednesday evening in their costumes.

"She is the keeper of my quan and she completes me," said Dan Ryan, stealing quotes from Jerry Maguire . "I'd jump on a talk show host's couch to prove it, but fortunately I don't need to resort to that."

Happy Valentines Day, everybody.



American Indoor Football Association Stories from February 14, 2006


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