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Post by wildcat #23 on May 15, 2007 21:27:14 GMT -5
AS of today everyone from the danville organization was released!!!  |
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Post by expressfan01 on May 15, 2007 21:32:04 GMT -5
This means now we have to watch the final express home game of the regular season against some amateur team.
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Post by riverhawkfan22 on May 15, 2007 22:08:03 GMT -5
Maybe you'll get to play the Cumberland Cardinals, Philadelphia Scorpions or the Columbus Blackhawks that played in the AIFL last year.  |
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Post by Canton Cougar Fan on May 15, 2007 22:31:11 GMT -5
Well, we were supposed to go to Danville next week.
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Late Boarder
2nd String
This nomad's finally found a train! CHOO CHOO!
Posts: 248
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Post by Late Boarder on May 15, 2007 23:24:02 GMT -5
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Post by exit322 on May 16, 2007 8:25:19 GMT -5
Can't say I blame you for being sad. Honestly, I think Danville's small size and small arena would be much better suited for an APFL-style league where not everyone is paid.
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Post by UnoBomber on May 16, 2007 8:57:18 GMT -5
After Springfield defected to the CIFL, I knew this team would have a long road ahead of them... Turns out they broke down before completing a season... Oh the pun was intended! But on a serious note, it's sad to see this team fold. I have a sneaking suspicion that you'll see the owner with a hockey team sometime soon... Time will only tell...
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Post by demoman on May 16, 2007 8:58:17 GMT -5
I disagree. The support the Demolition got from the start was good. It dwindled when it became apparent that the owner was basically a jerk! Here's a list of things I know to be true that he did to these kids and coaches before their release: 1) Each player and the head coach had AT LEAST 4 checks bounce causing most of the players to have service charges applied to their already meager accounts. 2) Told Coach Luke he could not afford assistants AFTER he took the job. Coach Luke paid his assistants out of his own earnings (when the checks didn't bounce). 3) Did not pay hotel and rent bills for his players several times. Players were moved out of hotels, locked out of hotels, thrown out of rental property. 4) Forced the players to travel to Pittsburgh on a school bus! 5) HARDLY ever promoted the team in town to the point that many people thought that Thursday night games (two in a row) were on Friday. No schedules, no posters, not advertising, just a few meager "announcements" on the radio from time to time. 6) He would put the bad checks which were already several weeks late, in the players lockers from time to time and leave the building before they got back so they couldn't confront him when they found they weren't paid in full. 7) Ordered uniforms AFTER the season started so that the team had to play in old practice gear for the first few games.... 8) Instead of getting the players rooms at away games, they slept anywhere they could. He promised it always and delivered it rarely. In fact, at Huntington last week, he promised rooms at the local Red Roof Inn and after the players drove all night and arrived about 9:00am hoping to get some rest before playing, they found out the rooms were not there (big surprise). They were directed by the owner to go to the arena and things were set up for them there. They went to the arena and found the place deserted and pitch dark. I've seen pictures a player took on his phone of players sleeping on the turf, coaches on desks..etc. REAL CLASS GUY!!!!! I could go on and on. The bottom line is that this guy has taken what could've been a good thing for this town and run it into the ground. He's gotten away with things that most people would be prosecuted for. He even went as far as to have a player of his own banned from the league by the commish (a buddy of the owner) for getting upset with him on the phone about not being paid?!?!?!?!? These guys stuck it out longer than most would've and were loyal to the town and the coach. I feel they should be commended! As for the owner,,,,Anyone ever hear of tar and feathering?  Latest news is that one of his "flunkies" who was benched and later "retired" is bringing in his semi-pro team from Kankakee to play the last couple games for free. NOW that should be some GOOD football!!!  To coach Luke and the Players.....Thanks for a good show! I really enjoyed watching you guys play! |
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Post by exit322 on May 16, 2007 9:38:35 GMT -5
Springfield wouldn't help any since they're having the same payment issues. Actually, the Stallions "still exist" but the league had to cut all the real ones and sign semipro replacements to don't-sue-me-if-you-get-hurt waivers.
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Post by incogneato on May 16, 2007 10:59:38 GMT -5
so what's the story? Is Danville playing with a semi-pro team and not paying the players or did they fold the team?
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Post by Gridiron Battle Sports on May 16, 2007 12:27:55 GMT -5
That's a bad situation. It another situation where some guy with a little bit of money tries to get rich quick. He obviously cared nothing about football and was only in it to make money. He pocketed as much money as he could and high tailed it out of town. I can't believe he treated his players like that. Making them ride a school bus to a game and not giving them hotel rooms. That's unacceptable. I give a lot of credit to those guys who stuck it this long. Can you say strike/replacement players. Though I don't think anyone would want to ever play for this jerk off ever again. Guys like this should be banned from owning any kind of professional franchise. Guy like this make the entire league look bad. These guys continue to add to the ongoing expansion and folding of pro franchises.
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Post by demoman on May 16, 2007 13:37:30 GMT -5
Gridironbattle...I agree. This guy should not be allowed to be an owner of ANY franchise. He took advantage of a bunch of good kids, coaches and a town that was eager for something new and exciting. He let us all down and should be soundly booed at the last game by anyone who happens to show up. So fans! Look for the squirrley looking guy with the blonde curly hair and the protruding chin. Hopefully he'll be dressed in a black outfit with a white stripe down the back like the skunk he is. That's the guy you want to let hear your "appreciation"! By the way, the word is that replacements are coming but aren't in town yet. Probably cause none of the hotels in town will deal with this guy any longer. ALSO - I left out one other truth from my earlier post (actually I left out many, but I was tired of typing)....Prior to the last home game, the game was put on "hold" by the league office. Why? Because the refs who had worked all the home games received checks that ALL bounced and they refused to work until he met them at the arena and paid them in full. Know what happened next? They went to the hotel where they were supposed to be staying after the game and the owner never paid for their rooms so THEY slept in their cars!!! THIS GUY IS A CLASS A JERK!!!
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Post by expresszac on May 16, 2007 14:04:54 GMT -5
All I have to say is Riverhawkfan is that one of those 3 teams would prob give us as much trouble as you guys did. NONE
But this does suck because we had 3 games like this last year and lost interest in the games. We should just get a bye for that week. Everything is cinched up for home field throughout and they need a bye week just use those tickets for the first home game. That's my thought on things.
I will be looking for this owner too since I sit right next to the opposing teams seats for the owners and I will let the fans around me know what is going on and I can promise you he will hear about it from some of our fans. You should never treat a fellow man like that. You don't treat something you are trying to sell like that if it's merchandise so why would you do that to the players who play their hearts out for you. Dare I say SNAKE!!!!
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Post by thetruth on May 16, 2007 14:13:08 GMT -5
As someone in the know I will say that most of what is being said on here is disgustingly true. However, there are some things that I know have not come to light.
One thing is for sure, what happened last night was calculated and most likely not the product of the owners own thinking. As careless as the franchise has been run to this point there is no way the front office had the ability to pull of their stunt last night. I would venture to bet that last nights antics were a result of advice from other fellow owners. Every base was covered. He even enticed the players with the notion that they might be asked to rejoin the team in the next couple of days to supplement the replacement players. This was most likely to prevent anyone going to the media and blowing the whole thing up in his face.
As someone in the know I can promise that the truth will be told when it is all said and done.
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Post by Gene on May 16, 2007 14:56:14 GMT -5
I had heard this might happen and sure enough. Its ashame its now a reality.Now i have to wonder if we will play a replacement team on June 2nd or if it will now be a forfeit and a bye week? On top of that, if there is no game this week my fan club is gonna lose money as we will have no signups nor sell any shirts.  Something i cant afford either.......... 2 things i have to add here is why didnt the league step in and save this team. Geez, couldnt they fund them for the last few weeks of the season and try to make up some of the lost monies and second, i notice the message board is down on the Danville site which only confirms to me that this is true and they dont want people posting "negative" stuff over there........ |
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Latest news is that one of his "flunkies" who was benched and later "retired" is bringing in his semi-pro team from Kankakee to play the last couple games for free. NOW that should be some GOOD football!!! 
