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Los Angeles Avengers

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Los Angeles Avengers
Established 2000
Folded 2009
Played in Staples Center
in Los Angeles, California
League/conference affiliations
Arena Football League (2000–2008)
  • American Conference (2000–2008)
Current uniform
Team colorsRed, blue, gold and white
       
MascotTD
Personnel
Owner(s)Casey Wasserman
PresidentMatt Wikstrom
Head coachEd Hodgkiss
Team history
  • Los Angeles Avengers (2000–2008)
Championships
League championships (0)
Conference championships (0)
Prior to 2005, the AFL did not have conference championship games
Division championships (1)
Playoff appearances (5)
Home arena(s)

The Los Angeles Avengers were an Arena Football League team based in Los Angeles, California, from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.[1]

History

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The Los Angeles Avengers played their home games at the Staples Center, which is also the current home to the Los Angeles Kings of the National Hockey League, the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers of the National Basketball Association, the Los Angeles Sparks of the Women's National Basketball Association. The team began play in the 2000 season. The Avengers competed in the Western Division of the American Conference. Since its inception in 2000, the Avengers had competed in postseason play five times. The Avengers earned American Conference wildcard playoff berths in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007, and won the American Conference Western Division Championship in 2005.

The Avengers franchise was owned by Casey Wasserman, grandson of the MCA head Lew Wasserman.

As part of the Avengers's marketing plan as they got off the ground in 2000, the team placed risqué billboard slogans around Greater Los Angeles, with slogans including "On April 9th, Twelve Men Will Go Both Ways,"[2] meaning the members will play both offense and defense. One such sign, reading "Six Beautiful Women Will Show You Their Panties" (a joking reference to the team's cheerleaders) aroused the ire of Rick Cole, then City Manager of Azusa. He responded by borrowing a City truck and splashing paint over the sign,[3] further publicizing the Avengers. Following Rick Cole's apology and compensation payments, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office chose not to file vandalism charges.[4]

On April 10, 2005, in a game against the New York Dragons, offensive lineman/defensive tackle Al Lucas tackled Corey Johnson during a kickoff return with 10:17 to go in the first quarter. Replays showed that Johnson's knee hit Lucas' helmet, and Lucas did not move again after falling to the ground. Later replays and reports showed nothing abnormal on the play. Dr. William Lang, the team physician, attempted to revive him on the field. He appeared to suffer a spinal cord injury. After being treated for approximately a half an hour at the Staples Center, Lucas was rushed to nearby California Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:28pm PDT. He was only 26 years of age. It is unknown whether Lucas died on the field, or after treatment failed. An autopsy revealed that he died of blunt force trauma and an upper spinal cord injury. It is the only fatal injury incurred during a game in the history of the league. The Al Lucas Hero Award is named after him.

The Avengers announced the termination of the program on April 20, 2009, after nine years of operation. Four years later, it was announced that the Los Angeles KISS would join the AFL starting in the 2014 season making them the fourth team to set up shop in the Los Angeles area.

The Avengers' official mascot was a superhero-like character named T.D.[5]

Memorable Avengers' highlights

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  • On Sunday, March 30, 2003, in a Week 9 road game against the Orlando Predators, the Avengers trailed 63–58 late in the game. However, Los Angeles managed to recover an onside kick and, on the last play of the game, quarterback Tony Graziani threw a 32-yard touchdown pass that bounced off the rebound net and was caught by WR/LB Greg Hopkins, giving the Avengers a 64–63 win.[6]
  • On Sunday, March 31, 2004, In the championship series taking place at Staples Center, Los Angeles, Ca. #98 John Garcia not only led the team in sacks on this day with 3 also blocked and returned a FG to win the game against the Chicago Rush. Final Score 24–26. Quarterback Tony Graziani threw for only 1 Touchdown pass and 3 INT's.

Season-by-season

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Main article: List of Los Angeles Avengers seasons

Coaches

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Head coach Tenure Regular season
record (W-L) 		Post season
record (W-L) 		Most recent coaching staff Notes
Stan Brock 2000 - 2001 3-14[7] 0-0[7] Let go after starting 0-3 during 2001.[7]
Robert Lyles 2001[8] 5-6[8] 0-0 Replaced Brock, was not
retained after season.
Ed Hodgkiss 2002 - 2008 57-53[9] 1-5[9]
Pat O'Hara* 2009 0-0 0-0 OC:Vacant
DC / DB coach: Maurice Blanding
QB / WR coach: Chad Salisbury
DL / LB coach: Leroy Thompson
OL / FB coach: Mark Tucker 		Team folded before he coached a game.

Notable players

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Final roster

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Los Angeles Avengers roster
Quarterbacks

Fullbacks

  • 35 Michael Cobbins


Wide receivers

Offensive linemen


Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

  • 29 Kabote Sikyala


Kickers

Injured reserve

Other league exempt

Practice squad

  • -- Andy Collins QB
  • -- Matt McGhghy OL
  • -- Rob McMackin OL

rookies in italics
Roster updated June 25, 2008
24 Active, 4 Inactive, 3 PS

Arena Football Hall of Famers

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Los Angeles Avengers Hall of Famers
No. Name Year Inducted Position(s) Years w/ Avengers
82 Greg Hopkins 2013 WR/LB 2002–06

Individual awards

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Retired uniform numbers

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Los Angeles Avengers retired numbers
N° Player Position Seasons Ref.
76 Al Lucas DL 2004−05
82 Greg Hopkins WR 2002-06

All-Arena players

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The following Avengers players were named to All-Arena Teams:

All-Ironman players

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The following Avengers players were named to All-Ironman Teams:

All-Rookie players

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The following Avengers players were named to All-Rookie Teams:

Staff

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Los Angeles Avengers staff
Front office
  • CEO / majority owner – Casey Wasserman
  • President – Matt Wikstrom
  • Senior Director of ticket sales & service – James Jackson
  • Director of marketing & operations – Chris Holmes
  • Director of group sales – Jennifer Schwarzbach
  • Director of corporate partnerships – Evan Shapiro
  • Director of corporate partnerships – Ted Yeschin
  

Head coach

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

  • Defensive coordinator / defensive backs coach – Maurice Blanding
  • Defensive line / linebackers coach – Leroy Thompson

[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers shut down". April 20, 2009.
  2. ^ Boulware, Jack (2000-04-06). "Panty raid". Salon. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  3. ^ Oliver, Charles (2000-07-01). "Brickbats". Reason.com. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  4. ^ "City Official Won't Be Charged With Vandalism". Los Angeles Times. 2000-04-12. Retrieved 2023-11-24.
  5. ^ LA Avengers: Kids Archived 2006-03-27 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Arena Football".
  7. ^ a b c "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Stan Brock". Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  8. ^ a b "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Robert Lyles". Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  9. ^ a b "ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Ed Hodgkiss". Retrieved 2008-10-24.
  10. ^ "LA Avengers: Executive Bios". www.laavengers.com. Los Angeles Avengers. Archived from the original on December 23, 2008. Retrieved August 1, 2017.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
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