In
the wake of recent public comments, laced with blistering rhetoric
coupled with an unapologetic rebuke of the Lingerie Football League by
Kate Lundy, Australia’s Federal Minister for Sport, LFL Founder &
Chairman Mitchell S. Mortaza today has released an official statement on
the matter.
From the desk of Mitchell S. Mortaza:
“In
response to the Federal Minster for Sport Kate Lundy’s recent
irresponsible comments in relation to the upcoming June 2 and June 9
Lingerie Football League All-Star Games Tour in Brisbane and Sydney,
respectively, we are incredibly disappointed. LFL Football has been
broadcast on Fuel TV since 2009 throughout Australia with incredible
fanfare and excitement.
It
was only the consistent persistence of Aussies wanting to see an LFL
game LIVE that convinced us to move forward with the upcoming All-Star
Game Tour.
With
all due respect, as a government official Mrs. Lundy should be a
representative of her entire constituency and not try to impose her own
personal morals and what she deems as sport or entertainment to the
entire country. We were under the impression that our All-Star Games
Tour was scheduled for Australia, not North Korea.
Her
recent comment about LFL Football being ‘cheap, degrading perv’ is
certainly not representative of our sport or its athletes. If Mrs. Lundy
actually took the opportunity to watch an LFL game or meet with its
athletes, she would have understood that LFL Football is a real sport
played by remarkable women from all walks of life which include doctors,
lawyers, mothers, military personnel, etc. It is incredibly insulting
to these women for Mrs. Lundy to make these remarks without
understanding the sport or its athletes.
The
thousands of Aussies who have already bought their tickets to the
upcoming tour and the millions that will be watching around the world,
obviously disagree with Mrs. Lundy’s observation of the sport and its
athletes. Everyone has the choice to either buy a ticket or not.
I
would like to take this opportunity to invite Mrs. Lundy to sit next to
me in my executive suite during either the Brisbane or Sydney game, and
if after watching the sport she still maintains that it’s nothing more
than ‘cheap, degrading perv’, we will respect her opinion.”
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Pittsburgh Power Dismiss Head Coach Chris Siegfried
After dropping five consecutive games, the Pittsburgh Power dismissed Head Coach Chris Siegfried today.
In Siegfried’s second season as an AFL Head Coach, the Power were off to a 2-8 start. The decision came just two days after the team fell, 37-43, to the then-winless Kansas City Command. In 2011, the Power’s inaugural season, Siegfried coached Pittsburgh to a 9-9 record, missing the playoffs by one game.
Defensive Coordinator Derek Stingley will replace Siegfried as Interim Head Coach. Under Stingley, Pittsburgh’s defense ranks atop the League, only allowing 232.3 passing yards per game.
“We are confident (that) his strong leadership skills are what we need to get things moving in the right direction,” Power owner Matt Shaner said.
The team also added former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak to take over duties as Offensive Coordinator.
Stingley, a former Arena Football League player, served as the Head Coach for the struggling New Orleans VooDoo in 2011 before being released on June 26.
He began his coaching career in 2005 as the Defensive Coordinator of the Macon Knights of the af2. He was promoted to Head Coach during the season, turning the franchise around and leading them to the playoffs. After spending another year with the Knights, Stingley joined the South Georgia Wildcats (af2). Over three seasons with South Georgia, Stingley posted a 30-13 record and was named af2 Head Coach of the Year in 2008.
In Siegfried’s second season as an AFL Head Coach, the Power were off to a 2-8 start. The decision came just two days after the team fell, 37-43, to the then-winless Kansas City Command. In 2011, the Power’s inaugural season, Siegfried coached Pittsburgh to a 9-9 record, missing the playoffs by one game.
Defensive Coordinator Derek Stingley will replace Siegfried as Interim Head Coach. Under Stingley, Pittsburgh’s defense ranks atop the League, only allowing 232.3 passing yards per game.
“We are confident (that) his strong leadership skills are what we need to get things moving in the right direction,” Power owner Matt Shaner said.
The team also added former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Mike Tomczak to take over duties as Offensive Coordinator.
Stingley, a former Arena Football League player, served as the Head Coach for the struggling New Orleans VooDoo in 2011 before being released on June 26.
He began his coaching career in 2005 as the Defensive Coordinator of the Macon Knights of the af2. He was promoted to Head Coach during the season, turning the franchise around and leading them to the playoffs. After spending another year with the Knights, Stingley joined the South Georgia Wildcats (af2). Over three seasons with South Georgia, Stingley posted a 30-13 record and was named af2 Head Coach of the Year in 2008.
Friday, May 18, 2012
AFL Hall of Fame Advisory Board Announced
The Arena Football League announced seven members of the 2012 Hall of Fame Advisory Board today.
The Advisory Board will select ten candidates for Hall of Fame voting based on AFL contribution in the categories of players, coaches, administrators, officials and “at large.”
The Advisory Board includes: MARK ANDERSON, creator of the Arena Football League Writers’ Association; ED BARKOWITZ, a veteran Philadelphia Daily News reporter; TROY CLARDY, play-by-play voice of the Pittsburgh Power; current play-by-play voice of the Chicago Rush, LES GROBSTEIN; WILLIAM NIRO, a founding father of the Arena Football League; RICHARD OBERT, Arizona Republic reporter; and ARI WOLFE, who currently serves as a play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter for “NET10 Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network.
Anderson, who created the Arena Football League Writers’ Association in 2004, covered the Las Vegas Gladiators from 2003-2007 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and later covered the AFL for Pro Football Weekly in 2008 and 2010.
Barkowitz has been covering the Soul and the AFL for the Philadelphia Daily News since the team’s launch in 2004. He has also worked as a general assignment sports writer for the Daily News since 1993, covering the World Series, Stanley Cup and NBA Finals.
Clardy, now in his 13th season following the AFL, is currently the radio play-by-play voice of the Pittsburgh Power. From 2006-2008, he hosted “Inside the AFL”, ESPN’s official Arena Football League podcast. He also served as the San Jose SaberCats pregame and postgame host during radio broadcasts from 2001-2005 and worked as a color commentator from 2007-2008.
Grobstein, a Chicago sports radio veteran of more than 30 years, is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Rush. He has covered the Arena Football League since its inception in 1987.
Niro, a Chicago attorney, is an original founder of the AFL and partner at Gridiron Enterprises, a sports consulting company based in Chicago, IL.
Obert has worked at the Arizona Republic since 1982 and has covered the Arizona Rattlers since their inception in 1992. He was on-hand for two Rattlers’ ArenaBowl victories. He also covered the University of Arizona men’s basketball program from 1992-1995 and again during the 2000-2001 season, as well as the Arizona State University men’s basketball program during the 1999-2000 season.
Wolfe worked as the TV and Radio play-by-play announcer for the Albany/Indiana Firebirds from 1998-2003 and the Philadelphia Soul from 2004-2008. He now serves as a play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter for NFL Network and has worked in some capacity at every ArenaBowl since 2002. During the 2008 season, he had his own column on ArenaFootball.com entitled, “Wolfe’s Den”.
The Advisory Board will select ten candidates for Hall of Fame nomination on Wednesday, June 20 and the nominees will be announced Friday, June 22 on NFL Network. Fans and current Hall of Fame members will then vote on the selected candidates beginning on Monday, June 25. Votes will then be turned in to the Hall of Fame Operating Board of Directors.
In order to be nominated for the 2012 Hall of Fame Class, candidates must meet four criteria. If a player was active before 1989, he must have played for two seasons. For players after 1989, three seasons of service are required. All players must be retired for three complete seasons. Coaches must have been active for a minimum of five seasons and need not be retired.
The 2012 Hall of Fame Class will be announced during ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans on August 10 and inductions will be held during the Arena Football League’s 2013 opening weekend.
The Advisory Board will select ten candidates for Hall of Fame voting based on AFL contribution in the categories of players, coaches, administrators, officials and “at large.”
The Advisory Board includes: MARK ANDERSON, creator of the Arena Football League Writers’ Association; ED BARKOWITZ, a veteran Philadelphia Daily News reporter; TROY CLARDY, play-by-play voice of the Pittsburgh Power; current play-by-play voice of the Chicago Rush, LES GROBSTEIN; WILLIAM NIRO, a founding father of the Arena Football League; RICHARD OBERT, Arizona Republic reporter; and ARI WOLFE, who currently serves as a play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter for “NET10 Arena Football Friday” on NFL Network.
Anderson, who created the Arena Football League Writers’ Association in 2004, covered the Las Vegas Gladiators from 2003-2007 for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and later covered the AFL for Pro Football Weekly in 2008 and 2010.
Barkowitz has been covering the Soul and the AFL for the Philadelphia Daily News since the team’s launch in 2004. He has also worked as a general assignment sports writer for the Daily News since 1993, covering the World Series, Stanley Cup and NBA Finals.
Clardy, now in his 13th season following the AFL, is currently the radio play-by-play voice of the Pittsburgh Power. From 2006-2008, he hosted “Inside the AFL”, ESPN’s official Arena Football League podcast. He also served as the San Jose SaberCats pregame and postgame host during radio broadcasts from 2001-2005 and worked as a color commentator from 2007-2008.
Grobstein, a Chicago sports radio veteran of more than 30 years, is currently the play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Rush. He has covered the Arena Football League since its inception in 1987.
Niro, a Chicago attorney, is an original founder of the AFL and partner at Gridiron Enterprises, a sports consulting company based in Chicago, IL.
Obert has worked at the Arizona Republic since 1982 and has covered the Arizona Rattlers since their inception in 1992. He was on-hand for two Rattlers’ ArenaBowl victories. He also covered the University of Arizona men’s basketball program from 1992-1995 and again during the 2000-2001 season, as well as the Arizona State University men’s basketball program during the 1999-2000 season.
Wolfe worked as the TV and Radio play-by-play announcer for the Albany/Indiana Firebirds from 1998-2003 and the Philadelphia Soul from 2004-2008. He now serves as a play-by-play announcer and sideline reporter for NFL Network and has worked in some capacity at every ArenaBowl since 2002. During the 2008 season, he had his own column on ArenaFootball.com entitled, “Wolfe’s Den”.
The Advisory Board will select ten candidates for Hall of Fame nomination on Wednesday, June 20 and the nominees will be announced Friday, June 22 on NFL Network. Fans and current Hall of Fame members will then vote on the selected candidates beginning on Monday, June 25. Votes will then be turned in to the Hall of Fame Operating Board of Directors.
In order to be nominated for the 2012 Hall of Fame Class, candidates must meet four criteria. If a player was active before 1989, he must have played for two seasons. For players after 1989, three seasons of service are required. All players must be retired for three complete seasons. Coaches must have been active for a minimum of five seasons and need not be retired.
The 2012 Hall of Fame Class will be announced during ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans on August 10 and inductions will be held during the Arena Football League’s 2013 opening weekend.
Thursday, May 17, 2012
VooDoo and Predators Set for Net10 NFL Network Game of the Week
The
New Orleans VooDoo (3-5) will look to get back into the win column
against the Orlando Predators (1-7) this Friday night in The Graveyard
for the NET10 NFL Network Game of the Week. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
This game marks the first of back-to-back games in The Graveyard for the VooDoo with next week's contest coming against the Arizona Rattlers (6-3). This week's game is also the first time VooDoo Head Coach Pat O'Hara will be going up against his former team, a franchise he spent the past two seasons as a head coach and six years as a player.
"I don't get caught up in all of that," said O'Hara about the game. "This is an important division game for us and I am more focused on our team and how we perform. Plus, we are on NFL Network again, so it is another chance to showcase our team to the nation."
The VooDoo is coming off a 68-62 overtime loss last week at the Spokane Shock. In the game, VooDoo QB Kurt Rocco became the franchise's first passer to throw for over 400 yards in a game with 402 in the loss. Rocco enters this week's game averaging 311.2 passing yards a game, ranking second in the AFL.
New Orleans also showcases one of the League's best defenses by leading the AFL in turnover margin (+12) and red zone defense. The Predators enter this week's contest sporting the AFL's last ranked pass offense, averaging 216.6 yards per game.
However, the Predators struggle in the passing game is countered with the team's strong defense that ranks fifth in the AFL, only yielding 270.9 yards per game to opposing offenses. Orlando lost 55-31 to the Tampa Bay Storm last time out on the turf, and was idle last week.
"They are a solid team and their record is a bit deceiving," added O'Hara about Orlando. "The South Division is such a wild division that anything is possible. I fully expect a hard-fought game on both sides Friday night."
Orlando leads the series 7-3 with all three New Orleans wins coming in The Graveyard. Last season, the Predators swept the season series en route to a post-season berth.
Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.
This game marks the first of back-to-back games in The Graveyard for the VooDoo with next week's contest coming against the Arizona Rattlers (6-3). This week's game is also the first time VooDoo Head Coach Pat O'Hara will be going up against his former team, a franchise he spent the past two seasons as a head coach and six years as a player.
"I don't get caught up in all of that," said O'Hara about the game. "This is an important division game for us and I am more focused on our team and how we perform. Plus, we are on NFL Network again, so it is another chance to showcase our team to the nation."
The VooDoo is coming off a 68-62 overtime loss last week at the Spokane Shock. In the game, VooDoo QB Kurt Rocco became the franchise's first passer to throw for over 400 yards in a game with 402 in the loss. Rocco enters this week's game averaging 311.2 passing yards a game, ranking second in the AFL.
New Orleans also showcases one of the League's best defenses by leading the AFL in turnover margin (+12) and red zone defense. The Predators enter this week's contest sporting the AFL's last ranked pass offense, averaging 216.6 yards per game.
However, the Predators struggle in the passing game is countered with the team's strong defense that ranks fifth in the AFL, only yielding 270.9 yards per game to opposing offenses. Orlando lost 55-31 to the Tampa Bay Storm last time out on the turf, and was idle last week.
"They are a solid team and their record is a bit deceiving," added O'Hara about Orlando. "The South Division is such a wild division that anything is possible. I fully expect a hard-fought game on both sides Friday night."
Orlando leads the series 7-3 with all three New Orleans wins coming in The Graveyard. Last season, the Predators swept the season series en route to a post-season berth.
Kickoff for the game is set for 7 p.m.
ST. LOUIS AWARDED 2013 LFL EXPANSION FRANCHISE
The Lingerie
Football League, recognized as ‘the fastest growing sports league in
the U.S.’ (Businessweek), today announced that St. Louis has been
awarded an expansion franchise in advance of the rapidly approaching
2013 LFL United States season.
The new franchise will play their home games at ‘The Family Arena’ in St. Charles and will compete in the LFL’s Eastern Conference against the Baltimore Charm, Cleveland Crush, Philadelphia Passion, Tampa Breeze and the to-be-named Omaha expansion team.
In only three seasons of operation, the LFL has established itself as the most successful female sports league in the United States, consistently drawing sell-out crowds, setting record television ratings and developing strong corporate partnerships in propelling the sport’s soaring trajectory to rapid domestic and international growth.
In comparison to popular multi-billion dollar sports franchises such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) or World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) through their first two seasons, the LFL has achieved significantly more television viewership, attendance and growth over the same initial period of time. Aggressive growth continues domestically and abroad, with leagues premiering in Canada (2012), LFL Australia (2013) and LFL Europa (2014).
St. Louis marks the second venture of the Las Vegas-based LFL into the ‘Heartland of America’ this off-season, coming on the heels of the creation of an Omaha franchise in April.
“The Midwest is football, which is why the LFL has awarded Green Bay, Minneapolis, Chicago, Omaha and now St. Louis with franchises. Based on the fanatical nature around local sports here in St. Louis, we expect to draw an incredible fan base that will pack out the arena,” said Mitchell S. Mortaza, Founder & Chairman, Lingerie Football League, LLC.
Fans are encouraged to vote for the eventual St. Louis team name by submitting the selections to LFLinStLouis@lflus.com.
Ticket information for the St. Louis franchise will be released in the coming weeks.
The new franchise will play their home games at ‘The Family Arena’ in St. Charles and will compete in the LFL’s Eastern Conference against the Baltimore Charm, Cleveland Crush, Philadelphia Passion, Tampa Breeze and the to-be-named Omaha expansion team.
In only three seasons of operation, the LFL has established itself as the most successful female sports league in the United States, consistently drawing sell-out crowds, setting record television ratings and developing strong corporate partnerships in propelling the sport’s soaring trajectory to rapid domestic and international growth.
In comparison to popular multi-billion dollar sports franchises such as the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) or World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) through their first two seasons, the LFL has achieved significantly more television viewership, attendance and growth over the same initial period of time. Aggressive growth continues domestically and abroad, with leagues premiering in Canada (2012), LFL Australia (2013) and LFL Europa (2014).
St. Louis marks the second venture of the Las Vegas-based LFL into the ‘Heartland of America’ this off-season, coming on the heels of the creation of an Omaha franchise in April.
“The Midwest is football, which is why the LFL has awarded Green Bay, Minneapolis, Chicago, Omaha and now St. Louis with franchises. Based on the fanatical nature around local sports here in St. Louis, we expect to draw an incredible fan base that will pack out the arena,” said Mitchell S. Mortaza, Founder & Chairman, Lingerie Football League, LLC.
Fans are encouraged to vote for the eventual St. Louis team name by submitting the selections to LFLinStLouis@lflus.com.
Ticket information for the St. Louis franchise will be released in the coming weeks.
Friday, May 11, 2012
AFL Opens 2012 NET10 Dream Team Voting
The Arena Football League has opened voting for the 2012 NET10 Dream Team, Commissioner Jerry B. Kurz announced today.
“We are truly excited about the launch of NET10 Dream Team voting,” Kurz said. “This is a very unique opportunity for both the dancers and Arena Football fans, especially with ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans. The amount of interaction and entertainment the NET10 Dream Team dancers will provide leading up to and during the event is tremendous.”
Two nominated dancers from each team will compete on ArenaFootball.com for a chance to represent their team at ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans. One dancer from each team will be selected by fans to serve on the NET10 Dream Team, perform at ArenaBowl XXV and make appearances during the ArenaBowl Championship Week in New Orleans.
A total of 34 dancers will compete for a place on the NET10 Dream Team. Fans can vote on one dancer per team, once a day on ArenaFootball.com. The dancers with the most votes on each team will be selected as members on the NET10 Dream Team.
Voting begins today and will conclude on Friday June 15, 2012.
“We are truly excited about the launch of NET10 Dream Team voting,” Kurz said. “This is a very unique opportunity for both the dancers and Arena Football fans, especially with ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans. The amount of interaction and entertainment the NET10 Dream Team dancers will provide leading up to and during the event is tremendous.”
Two nominated dancers from each team will compete on ArenaFootball.com for a chance to represent their team at ArenaBowl XXV in New Orleans. One dancer from each team will be selected by fans to serve on the NET10 Dream Team, perform at ArenaBowl XXV and make appearances during the ArenaBowl Championship Week in New Orleans.
A total of 34 dancers will compete for a place on the NET10 Dream Team. Fans can vote on one dancer per team, once a day on ArenaFootball.com. The dancers with the most votes on each team will be selected as members on the NET10 Dream Team.
Voting begins today and will conclude on Friday June 15, 2012.
Lingerie Football League’s All-Star Game Featured A Fight Between The Two Coaches
For some reason Tony Nguyen, coach of the Western Conference All-Stars, took issue with something that occurred on the field after a kick sailed out of bounds, and the Minnesota Valkyrie coach went after the coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars, Chandler Brown, whose day job is being the head man of the Philadelphia Passion.
There’s not much fight to speak of, just some shoving and grappling, but it did seem pretty heated, especially since it took place during a “f*cking All-Star game!” as Nguyen calls it, sounding eerily like the squeaky-voiced teen character from the Simpsons.
This video has a ton of curse words and sexy women in their underwear, so if you are watching at work turn down the volume or at home have the little ones leave the room.
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