Wings Owner Russ Cline Inducted Into All Sports Hall Of Fame
November 1, 2006 - National Lacrosse League (NLL)
Philadelphia Wings News Release
(Prairie Village, KS - November 1, 2006) - The Boys' Club of New York will be inducting Russ Cline, President/Owner of the Philadelphia Wings Lacrosse Team, into its Hall of Fame tonight at the 31st Annual All Sports Hall of Fame Dinner that is being held at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York. Candidates for this recognition are individuals who have recognized the importance of sports in contemporary American society and its influence on children as a vehicle to promote and develop character, community and service.
Cline, who was inducted into the National Lacrosse League Hall of Fame in February of this year, co-founded the Major Indoor Lacrosse League (MILL) in 1987. For twelve years, Cline along with his partner Chris Fritz, owned and operated the first sole-proprietary owned league in U.S. sports history. In 1997, the MILL dissolved into the current National Lacrosse League (NLL) where each team is independently owned and operated. Cline retained ownership of the Philadelphia Wings and he serves as Chairman of the Executive Committee of the National Lacrosse League and has been recognized as "NLL Executive of the Year."
Cline was associated with the Kansas City Chiefs Football Team from 1974-1983 where he is regarded as a pioneer in the marketing of NFL teams through multi-event and cooperative sponsorships. In 1984, Cline formed RCA Group, an international sports and entertainment production and promotion company. RCA Group provides turnkey event production services, sponsor management and event activation. RCA Group's major clients include ESPN and ABC Sports with whom they assist in the presentation of the X Games and Winter X Games.
In addition, Cline is the Founder and President of Image Impact, a company that developed cutting edge technology to evaluate and identify sponsorship logos in televised sports and entertainment events. They are the leading web-based provider of brand placement measurement and valuing.
Cline is actively involved in a variety of Kansas City area civic and charitable organizations including the Board of Trustees of William Jewel College, City Union Mission, and numerous church and community committees.
The Boys' Club of New York's All Sports Hall of Fame Dinner, which began in 1976, is the premier Sports Dinner in the country. Each year, The Boys' Club of New York honors the achievements of the best in sports with the induction into its All Sports Hall of Fame of candidates from the world of sports executives, athletes, educators, administrators, broadcasters, journalists and recent inductees into all major sports Halls of Fame. Some of this year's inductees include track star Evelyn Ashford (2006 Olympic Hall of Fame), gymnast Shannon Miller (2006 Olympic Hall of Fame), and CBS Sports' James Brown (2006 Media Hall of Fame). Past Honorees also include, Frank Gifford, Gale Sayers, John McEnroe, Paul Tagliabue and Kansas City Chiefs Owner Lamar Hunt.
National Lacrosse League Stories from November 1, 2006
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- Wings Owner Russ Cline Inducted Into All Sports Hall Of Fame - Philadelphia Wings
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