'Birds, 'Wolves make moves

by AFL Press Release
Published on October 31, 2000 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I)

By Jennifer M. Boehm, www.arenafootball.com

1. "Movin', Movin', Movin'"
2. Coming to a city near you, af2
3. AFL alumni make NFL impact
4. Chicago Rush unleashed
5. Cobras garner "Best Thing to Happen" award
6. AFL in the Community
7. The Overheard Word
8. Notes from around the league

1. MOVIN', MOVIN', MOVIN'

**Firebirds head to Indiana: The Albany Firebirds have migrated to the Midwest and will make their nest in 2001 as the Indiana Firebirds in Indianapolis' Conseco Fieldhouse, also home to the NBA's Indiana Pacers. The Firebirds spent 11 seasons in Albany, winning a championship in 1999. The team moves from the 53rd smallest market to the 12th largest.

** AFL makes Canadian waves: Following a brief stop at customs, the New England Sea Wolves headed across the U.S. border and have reappeared as the Toronto Phantoms, becoming the first team to compete as a member of the Arena Football League in Canada. The team moves from the 27th smallest market in the U.S. to the largest metropolitan city in Canada. Coached by former Sea Wolves assistant Mark Stoute, the Phantoms will play in the Air Canada Centre, home to the NBA's Toronto Raptors.

2. COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU, af2

Last week, the exploding minor league of the Arena Football League -- arenafootball2 -- announced the acquisition of the Indoor Football League (IFL) and its 19 markets.

This fledgling league could add as many as 20 teams for 2001, that's if you include all approved expansion candidates coupled with more teams (from IFL markets or otherwise) to sign on by the end of November. That's a potential increase of more than 140-percent. And that's more than 50 markets in the AFL and af2 which will support the game.

3. AFL ALUMNI MAKE NFL IMPACT

** Former Minnesota Fighting Pike kicker and current Indianapolis Colt, Mike Vanderjagt connected on all 4 extra points in a 23-18 win over Detroit.

** Former Orlando Predators OS and current Arizona Cardinal receiver, Mac Cody had a pair of receptions for 29 yards and a pair of punt returns for 9 more in a 21-10 loss to New Orleans.

** Former Rookie of the Year for the Portland Forest Dragons and current Miami Dolphin, Oronde Gadsden led all receivers with 70 yards and a TD that was part of a 28-0 scoring run that culminated with Miami's sixth win of the season, 28-20, over Green Bay.

** Former All-Rookie back for the San Jose SaberCats and current Kansas City Chief, Mike Maslowski, had a pair of tackles in a 24-19 win over Seattle.

4. CHICAGO RUSH UNLEASHED

The AFL's Chicago expansion team made its presence known last week... on Rush Street. Combing the aura of one of the city's most famous streets, the NFL rushing title held by the late Chicago Bear great Walter Payton, and the energy ("rush of adrenaline") of the sport of Arena Football, the team unveiled a their logo before a full house of media, sponsors, and season ticket holders.

The Rush also introduced their first ever player, free agent DS Derek Stingley, formerly one of the top defensive specialists in the league with the Albany Firebirds over the past four seasons.

In addition, the Rush announced that the team will practice at Soccer Enterprise in Palatine, IL and that all 14 regular season games will be heard live on the popular "The Score" Sports Radio 670 in 2001.

5. COBRAS GARNER "BEST THING TO HAPPEN AWARD"

The Carolina Cobras put on quite a show in North Carolina last season. In fact, the organization and its events have been voted "Best Thing to Happen to the Triangle" by the Raleigh-Durham's Spectator Magazine.

The judges' comments: "We honed in on one aspect of the Entertainment & Sports Arena experience, the Carolina Cobras. Is this a case of ‘Well, we can't get an NFL football team, or a major league baseball team or a pro basketball presence, so we might as well celebrate arena football?' Not exactly. In fact, the Cobras have proven to be quite a draw, attracting over 92,000 people over the course of seven home games. How's that rank overall? Well, it places the Cobras third in the nation in terms of attendance this season."

6. AFL IN THE COMMUNITY

** It's "Kids Day" in Los Angeles: A free, daylong event for youth and their families? What a way to spend the day in sunny California... and the L.A. Avengers were a part of it. The Avengers joined other local sports organizations – Dodgers, Kings and Clippers – to present sports activities for the folks who strolled out to the historic Griffith Park Merry-Go-Round last Saturday.

The annual event – as proclaimed by Mayor Richard Riordan – is designed to bring families and service providers together on one day in one location in a fun and festive environment. The event offers exhibits, demonstrations and entertainment, as well as a unique opportunity for thousands of attendees to interface with an estimated 100 nonprofit service providers in the fields of health, social service, arts and culture, sports, safety and recreation that serve children and families.

** Cobras C.A.R.E.: Sixty kids at Zebulon Middle School know that sports role models in the Raleigh-Durham area really do care, courtesy of lineman Emerson Martin and a number of other Carolina Cobras team members. The Cobras officially kicked off their community outreach program, Cobras CARE, this week with visits to students at West Cary Middle School and Zebulon.

In their visits to area middle schools, a team representative and players talk about C-character; A-achievement, R-respect, and E-education. The CARE program allows Carolina players to stress the importance of integrity, sportsmanship and self-respect.

** Bronson's BEAMING light: Houston ThunderBears OS Ben Bronson was on hand to meet fans and sign autographs at an annual Sports and Celebrity Carnival at the Houston Astrodome last week. All funds generated through the carnival directly benefited Special Olympics Texas.

Bronson also greeted participants this weekend as part of the 2000 Gulf Coast "Walk to Cure Diabetes;" the six-mile charity walk will be held at the University of Houston-Clear Lake. Last year "The Walk" – held in more than 225 cities worldwide – raised more than $56 million for diabetes research.

** Red-ribbon Wranglers: The Oklahoma Wranglers partnered with Ida Freeman Elementary this week as part of "Red Ribbon Week." The team joined the school's "Say No to Drugs" campaign and spoke face to face with students grade 2-6. Earlier this month, Wranglers WR/LB Melvin Phillips spoke at a morning assembly at Cross Timbers Elementary in Edmond, Okla. and encouraged children to stay in school and to focus on setting and achieving their goals.

7. THE OVERHEARD WORD

"From Rush Street in downtown Chicago, to the NFL's all-time leading rusher Walter Payton, to the image of one of our wide receivers rushing down the field into the end zone, the name says it all." - Alan Levin, managing partner of his team's announced identity, the Chicago Rush.

"We've tried since 1986 to acquire this sport for Indianapolis. We're particularly happy to get the Firebirds. They've been a very successful team in Albany." – Pacers Sports & Entertainment President, Donnie Walsh on the sale and relocation of the Firebirds to Indianapolis.

"Before his injury he was as good as anybody in the secondary in Arena Football. His recovery is ahead of schedule and he'll be ready to go for training camp." – Destroyers coach Ray Bentley on re-signing DS Keven Jackson, who suffered a torn Achilles' tendon in a pre-season contest last year.

"You're going to love this game. Some of you may have seen it on TV, but just wait until you see it in this building." – Indiana Firebirds GM Joe Hennessy on the presence of Arena Football in Conseco Fieldhouse.

"Sometimes guys get an opportunity and get stuck behind some star players. They have to make the best of their chance." -- Oakland Raiders DB Johnnie Harris and former AFL Defensive Player of the Year on Arena players making NFL rosters.

"I'm ahead of progress with my rehab and I feel I'll be ready when the season starts." -- Houston OS Ben Bronson on his rehab from a fractured right leg in Week 12 of the 2000 season.

8. NOTES FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE

Houston re-signs OS Ben Bronson, who was on the verge of culminating one of the finest seasons in history before suffering a fractured right leg in Week 12 last year... Grand Rapids signs free agent QB Clint Dolezel, who has thrown for 12,165 yards and 234 TDs in five seasons, the last three with Houston... Dolezel was a member of the Chicago Bears training camp roster, before giving way to Shane Matthews... Toronto Phantoms have signed former Tennessee Valley Vipers QB, Bryan Snyder, who participated in the first ever ArenaCup in August... arenafootball2's Offensive Player of the Year, QB Aaron Sparrow has been signed by the Buffalo Destroyers... Carolina Cobras have re-signed FB/LB Marrio Grier, who was a top candidate for Rookie of the Year in 2000 before going down with a knee injury... New Jersey Red Dogs have signed free agent WR/LB Lawrence Samuels, who was a top candidate for Ironman of the Year and was one of Tim Marcum's most reliable played for the Storm from 1994 to 2000... World Champion Orlando Predators have re-signed Defensive Player of the Year Kenny McEntyre.

Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from October 31, 2000

• 'Birds, 'Wolves make moves - OSC Original by AFL Press Release

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