Post by thor!CRAZIES on Oct 25, 2007 7:32:47 GMT -5
This article came from the Lakeland Ledger newspaper, and it has me dumbfounded now, i have no idea what EXACTLY to believe......Joe, Gene, any insight on this would be appreciated 
indoor football
T-Bolts Aim To Tackle Ownership Issues
By Rick Brown
The Ledger
LAKELAND | The Lakeland ThunderBolts of the American Indoor Football Association say it is premature to say they will not play in 2008.
The AIFA issued a statement on its Web site last week announcing the 2007 AIFA Champion ThunderBolts would not play in 2008 because of internal issues.
"We view the team's internal issues to be a significant obstacle to the long-term success we desire that all of our teams achieve," said AIFA co-founder John Morris in the statement. "We remain hopeful that the team can resolve these issues, and when this happens, they will be welcomed back into the league."
The internal issues involve the owners wanting to either sell the team or get more investors to help.
According to team spokeswoman Christina Moore, primary owner Bob Draper and Andy Moore, another owner not related to Christina Moore, have been in discussions with potential investors and "feel really good it will all work out."
"The team is for sale," Moore said. "There are some interested parties. We had hoped the league would have held on for a few weeks until we caught our breath and negotiated with the interested parties. But they needed to announce their schedule, and we weren't prepared to sign a new contract with them. We understand what they had to do, and they're going to welcome us back. They want us to be viable. We're doing the best we can to work it out. We feel really good it will all work out.
"We have had some serious offers and intense discussions with potential new owners," Moore said. "We're really excited that we're going to have some good things to announce to everybody soon. The team owners want to defend their championship and play (in 2008)."
Moore said that once the ownership situation is settled, Lakeland will be able to play in 2008. Calls to the league office in Baltimore were not returned. Direct inquiries to Draper and Andy Moore were referred to Christina Moore.
Moore asked those who have already made season deposits for the 2008 season or have sponsored the team not to pull back their support yet.
"Hold on until we get this worked out," Moore said. "If they do want their money back, then we will pay everyone back. Mr. Draper assured us that all outstanding debts will be paid. We are going to do it right."
The uncertainty led coach Teddy Keaton to sign with the AIFA Huntington (W.Va.) Heroes.
"It was very hard to leave," Keaton said by phone Wednesday. "My relationship with Bob and Andy is tremendous. I appreciate everything they have done for me and my family. But they're having some internal problems. They wanted me to hold on. I wanted to stay, but if they weren't going to have a team, I would be in trouble. So Bob let me out of my contract.
"I only signed a six-month deal here," Keaton said. "I'll always have a place in my heart for Lakeland. I'm still going to live here. I won't be coaching in Lakeland this year but if there's a team in 08-09, I will be the coach of that team."
indoor football
T-Bolts Aim To Tackle Ownership Issues
By Rick Brown
The Ledger
LAKELAND | The Lakeland ThunderBolts of the American Indoor Football Association say it is premature to say they will not play in 2008.
The AIFA issued a statement on its Web site last week announcing the 2007 AIFA Champion ThunderBolts would not play in 2008 because of internal issues.
"We view the team's internal issues to be a significant obstacle to the long-term success we desire that all of our teams achieve," said AIFA co-founder John Morris in the statement. "We remain hopeful that the team can resolve these issues, and when this happens, they will be welcomed back into the league."
The internal issues involve the owners wanting to either sell the team or get more investors to help.
According to team spokeswoman Christina Moore, primary owner Bob Draper and Andy Moore, another owner not related to Christina Moore, have been in discussions with potential investors and "feel really good it will all work out."
"The team is for sale," Moore said. "There are some interested parties. We had hoped the league would have held on for a few weeks until we caught our breath and negotiated with the interested parties. But they needed to announce their schedule, and we weren't prepared to sign a new contract with them. We understand what they had to do, and they're going to welcome us back. They want us to be viable. We're doing the best we can to work it out. We feel really good it will all work out.
"We have had some serious offers and intense discussions with potential new owners," Moore said. "We're really excited that we're going to have some good things to announce to everybody soon. The team owners want to defend their championship and play (in 2008)."
Moore said that once the ownership situation is settled, Lakeland will be able to play in 2008. Calls to the league office in Baltimore were not returned. Direct inquiries to Draper and Andy Moore were referred to Christina Moore.
Moore asked those who have already made season deposits for the 2008 season or have sponsored the team not to pull back their support yet.
"Hold on until we get this worked out," Moore said. "If they do want their money back, then we will pay everyone back. Mr. Draper assured us that all outstanding debts will be paid. We are going to do it right."
The uncertainty led coach Teddy Keaton to sign with the AIFA Huntington (W.Va.) Heroes.
"It was very hard to leave," Keaton said by phone Wednesday. "My relationship with Bob and Andy is tremendous. I appreciate everything they have done for me and my family. But they're having some internal problems. They wanted me to hold on. I wanted to stay, but if they weren't going to have a team, I would be in trouble. So Bob let me out of my contract.
"I only signed a six-month deal here," Keaton said. "I'll always have a place in my heart for Lakeland. I'm still going to live here. I won't be coaching in Lakeland this year but if there's a team in 08-09, I will be the coach of that team."
:smileythunderbolts: 
