Legends Refuse Erie Offer
June 14, 2006 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)
Canton Legends News Release
CANTON, OH - Not too often do playoff teams with home field advantage have to fight to keep that advantage, but the Canton Legends faced that challenge over the weekend.
The 10-4 Legends, who play Erie in the opening round of the American Indoor Football League playoffs Saturday night at the Canton Civic Center, won the right to play at home by defeating Miami Valley 50-28 in the regular season finale last Thursday.
As first-year coach Bobby Olive and the Legends began post-season preparations on the field Sunday, the phone was ringing in the team's front office. When Legends' owner Joe Hoffman answered, he was shocked to hear an Erie team representative offering a bribe.
"He wanted me to move the game over there (Erie) and he offered me money to do it," said an angry Hoffman. "Our players and coaches have worked hard all year to get a home playoff game and I couldn't believe he was trying to change all that by throwing money at us," added Hoffman. "I would love nothing more than to have an Erie fan show up Saturday and not be able to get a ticket to the game because we're sold out."
To say Olive wasn't pleased may be the biggest understatement so far. "If for one second those guys in Erie think I'm going to cheat my players and our fans out of a home playoff game, they're dead wrong," said the former Ohio State and NFL wide receiver.
Canton Legends Playoffs vs. Erie Freeze
Saturday, June 17, 2006 at 07:05 P.M.
TICKETS: Available at the Canton Memorial Civic Center and all TicketMaster locations. Charge-by-phone at 330.945.9400 or purchase tickets on-line at www.ticketmaster.com
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American Indoor Football Association Stories from June 14, 2006
- Legends Refuse Erie Offer - Canton Legends
- AIFL Names Players Of The Week - AIFA
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