Thunder’s future in question

Ownership has until today to inform the af2 of its intentions for 2010.

Vindicator staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — Is the writing on the wall?

Will af2 in Youngstown fall?

If suitable investors aren’t found soon, the professional indoor football league’s Mahoning Valley Thunder franchise could fold.

Apparently, the ownership group of Dr. Michael Slyk, Tim Chesney and Dr. Jon Saadey hasn’t had success finding other partners or means to keep the ship solvent.

It seems that the local businessmen/professionals want to have a team, but can’t absorb another financial beating like the one they took during the 2009 season.

The team has until today to inform the af2 of its intentions for 2010.

Mahoning Valley concluded its third season in July, after records of 7-9, 3-13 and 2-14.

Even though the day of reckoning is nearly here, there’s a glimmer of hope.

When last contacted, Saadey said that “a couple things are in the works, but there’s nothing concrete.”

He added, “We’re not quite there yet.”

Chesney said that the trio would have one more meeting to make a decision, possibly as late as 5 p.m. today.

“A lot of things could change,” Chesney said of a last-minute resuscitation.

As of now, still no fait accompli.

Some indications, however, aren’t so encouraging.

For instance, the fact that season-ticket sales for 2010 weren’t available at the team’s appreciation dinner in July harbors doubt.

A month ago, Thunder coach Chris MacKeown was upbeat about the team’s future, but has since had his hopes fade.

“I thought it would get worked out, but I don’t feel that way now,” the coach said most recently. “I think it would hurt to think they might have to fold, so they’re trying to do everything they can.”

Reports, both published and not, suggest that changes in the league could be wholesale.

The aftermath of the af2 championship game — ArenaCup in Las Vegas — was an example.

Following’s the Spokane Shock’s 74-27 whipping of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, the Pioneers’ owner dropped a bombshell by announcing his intention to sell the eastern Pennsylvania-based franchise.

League president Jerry Kurz said it wasn’t anything unusual.

“Wilkes-Barre was up for sale because the owner wants to move to a larger market,” Kurz said of Cosmo DeNicola. “He’s from Philadelphia and he’d like to be closer to where’s he’s from. That’s a personal preference, but DeNicola wants the team to continue and he’d like to find local ownership. He took over Wilkes-Barre to keep it going and he did a tremendous job, both on and off the field. Now, DeNicola’s looking to find something closer to home. I think it’s a good business decision.”

Supposedly, the demise of teams and subsequent restructuring would save money for the league and remaining owners.

When asked about a comment pertaining to the future of the af2 Albany Firebirds in the Albany (N.Y.) Times-Union, Kurz sounded incredulous.

“Albany done?” he said rhetorically.

“They’re not looking to continue, I take it,” I said.

“I think you take it wrong,” Kurz said. “Was I Rip Van Winkle and missed something? You must be talking to people I’m not talking to.”

The president continued: “As much as I love your estate, [Fourth Estate] if I believed everything I read in the newspaper, you’d be able to sell me many bridges.”

Kurz said he’s not the horse’s mouth until after today.

“Yesterday’s newspaper is today’s garbage,” he said. “I love the newspaper. I’m one of those people who still reads newspapers — the print version, the hard copy — because I love the industry and I understand the drive and motivation to get, sometimes, sensational headlines. If I believed everything I read in the newspapers or heard on the news, I don’t think I’d get out of bed every day.”

Kurz said he’s not privy to any inside information until after today and he won’t speculate about the Thunder’s future.

“If a team doesn’t submit a certificate of obligation by the close of business, 5 p.m., Central Time, [today], then I can answer that question. Then I’ll have actual knowledge.”

The AFL, which recently went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, could eventually be involved in the mix, but the president is vehement about that scenario.

When pressed about the likelihood of defunct AFL teams seeping into af2, Kurz answered: “Nope. I don’t believe that rumor. AFL teams were run by a union, governed by a union and their labor pool. We’re governed by a single entity. We haven’t been in the same office or the same building for the last five years.

“We [both] play arena, but I separated offices from the AFL years ago, separated staff from the AFL years ago. We have no shared staff, no shared space. The only thing we share with the AFL — other than playing the same, great game — is that the NFL oversees our [both leagues’] officiating.

“We have no common staff, no common bank accounts, no common anything other than playing the same game. We do not reside in the same office building, but we reside in the same city [Chicago]. But that doesn’t make us anything more than related by the same game we play. We have not shared the same offices for years.”

As it turned out, the separation had a silver lining.

“When the AFL did not play [2009], it had no effect on us completing our season because we never got any financial support from the AFL. We prefer them to play, but it doesn’t affect us if they don’t.”

To establish, again, his league’s independence and autocracy, Kurz empasized that he was quoted [Aug. 17, The Roof Falls In] in Sports Illustrated, saying: “We know who we are [Southwest Airlines motto] and we’re going to stay who we are so we could stay in business.”

About a possible af2 facelift, he said: “There’s two dozen rumors out there. Rumors are like people’s backside — everybody’s got one.

“Check with me on [Wednesday] and I might know more than rumors.”