Dorados Offering Reward for Dyson's Helmet

July 12, 2004 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Rio Grande Valley Dorados News Release


HIDALGO, TX: July 12, 2004 – The arenafootball2's Rio Grande Valley Dorados have announced they are offering a $200 reward to the successful apprehension of Dorados lineman Ricardo Dyson's helmet, which was stolen from the team bench at the close of Saturday night's 55-41 Dorados win over the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz.

The helmet, which is a navy blue Riddell helmet featuring the Dorados logo, was stolen as Dyson was at midfield for a postgame prayer. It would be hard to miss the helmet if seen, as it is a XXL helmet and the largest worn by any of the Dorados. Dyson, the largest Dorados member at 6'4" 350-pounds, will seek a new helmet in the meantime. He has 4 tackles (3 solo) and 2 sacks, including a forced fumble and recovery, in seven games with the Dorados this season and moved into the starting role at center two weeks ago.

Dorados offensive coordinator Rodney Blackshear has seen incidents like this in the past end with successful results. As a member of the Texas Tech Red Raiders coaching staff in 2002, Blackshear was around as Heisman Trophy candidate Kliff Kingsbury had his helmet stolen after a game while signing autographs. Kingsbury's helmet was later spotted by a partygoer at a Halloween party, as the person who stole his helmet dressed as Kingsbury and wore the helmet.

The Dorados ask that anyone that might have seen the helmet taken from the bench, or has seen the helmet since, to contact Trey Medlock with the Rio Grande Valley Dorados at 843-7825. The team will also provide some autographed memorabilia to the individual responsible for the return of Dyson's helmet.

In the meantime, the Dorados are currently preparing for their Saturday night contest in Tulsa against the Tulsa Talons. The Talons won the previous meeting 45-35 at the Dodge Arena on June 12th and they defeated the Dorados in Tulsa on May 28th in a game the Dorados had a chance to tie in the closing seconds, but McKinley Bowie fumbled a rushing attempt at the one yard line. Tulsa is currently the top team in the National Conference's Southwest Division with a 10-3 record and they have won 7 straight. The Dorados have won 2 straight and the word "playoffs" has re-entered their vocabulary. The Dorados are currently tied with Green Bay (5-8) for the tenth conference seed with a 5-8 record and would need to leapfrog Hawaii (7-6), Peoria (7-6), Wichita (7-6) and San Diego (6-7) in the final three weeks of the season. Playoff tie-breakers and information can be explained in detail on page 4 of the arenafootball2 Record and Fact Book or by contacting arenafootball2 Media Services Manager Ron Deuter at 312-621-7804. Rio Grande Valley returns home for their regular season home finale on July 24th against the Arkansas Twisters.

Individual tickets are currently on sale for their contest with Arkansas and may be purchased by stopping by the Dodge Arena offices (2600 N. 10th St. in Hidalgo, Tx) or ordering by phone at 956-843-7825. Additional ticket information and corporate opportunities are available by contacting the Dorados offices at 956-843-7825 or visit the Dorados online at www.doradosfootball.com.



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