Courtesy: Orlando Predators Predators FB Odie Armstrong speaks during a "Teach-In" event at Odyssey Middle School
NEW YORK -- All 16 Arena Football League
teams are staying busy this off-season by re-signing players, hosting
open tryouts, participating in various community activities and much more.
Following is a team-by-team rundown of the latest happenings
around the AFL:
Arizona: The Rattlers will hold Sidewinders Dance Team auditions at
the YMCA in Tempe, AZ
on Saturday, December 6...One of the team’s 37 training camp roster spots will be
guaranteed to one participant at the team’s open tryout at Salt RiverHigh School
in Scottsdale, AZ on Saturday, December 13.
Chicago: The final auditions for the Adrenaline Rush Dancers will take place at
the House of Blues in Chicago on Saturday, December 6...The Rush will hold an
open tryout on Friday, December 12 at the Chicago Rush Practice Facility in
Hoffman Estates, IL...Members of the Chicago Rush coaching staff will help the
Salvation Army distribute holiday food and gift boxes at the Adopt-A-Family
gift and food distribution on Thursday, December 18.
Cleveland: Gladiators mascot Rudi and the
Goddesses dance team helped welcome Santa Claus at the 2008 Plain Dealer Winter
Lights Festival and Parade in Medina’s Town Square and
Historic District in Medina,
OH on Saturday, November 22.
After the parade, the Goddesses and Rudi signed autographs and took pictures
with fans.
Colorado: DB DELVIN HUGHLEY will be
honored at the 7th annual Denver Sports Fans Choice Awards on Monday, December
8 as a hometown hero for all of his work done in the Denver Metro Area
community.
Columbus: The Destroyers will host an open
tryout for kickers at Nationwide Arena in Columbus
on Thursday, December 18.
Dallas: The Dallas Desperados Dancers held final auditions and announced the
2008-09 dance team on Thursday, November 20 in Grapevine, TX. This year’s squad
welcomed 11 new dancers to the team. To see the team, log onto www.DallasDesperados.com.
Georgia: Force coaches BOB KRONENBERG
and ANDY KELLY will team with DL MICHAEL BOZEMAN and LB CAM
NEWTON to assist with WXIA’s 26th 11Alive Holiday Can-A-Thon. Force players
and coaches will be in attendance from 12 - 1 p.m. on Friday, December 5 at
Discover Mills Mall. The 11Alive Holiday Can-A-Thon is the oldest and largest
televised food drive in the Southeast. For more information, please visit www.11alive.com...The Georgia Force
Cheerleader audition finals will take place on Saturday, December 6 at the Mall
of Georgia in Mill Creek, GA.
Grand Rapids: The Rampage will hold an open
tryout on Saturday, December 6 at MVP Sports Spot in Kentwood, MI.
Kansas City: The Brigade girls collected over
750 pounds of food and money that provided more than 800 Thanksgiving meals for
the Kansas City
community.
Los Angeles: The Avengers were one of the title
sponsors of PADRES Contra El Cancer’s annual “Harvest for HOPE” Thanksgiving
dinner. The event, which provided a turkey and fixings to the families of
Latino children with cancer, took place at the Saban Research Institute at the
Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles
on Monday, November 24.
New York: On Sunday, November 16 the Dragons
chose the members of their 2009 dance team. The Dragons will be accepting fan
submissions to rename the dance team, with season ticket holders voting on the
final name.
Philadelphia: On Friday, November 14 the Soul
launched a new Web site for its dance team, the Philadelphia Soulmates. To view
the web site, click on www.philadelphiasoulmates.com.
The Soulmates are also holding their final cuts on Thursday, December 11. The
event is open to the public and the 2009 team will be chosen that evening.
Orlando: FB ODIE ARMSTRONG attended the “Teach-In” event at Odyssey
Middle School in Orlando, FL on Wednesday, November 19...The Predators
announced the release of their official MySpace page on Friday, November
21.
San Jose: The SaberCats will hold a tryout
camp at the TulatinHillsPark
and RecreationalCenter
in Beaverton, OR on Sunday, December 14.
TampaBay: DL TIM MCGILL and OL
EMMANUEL AKAH appeared at a McDonald’s in Tampa, FL on
Thursday, November 20 in honor of World Children’s Day. McGill and Akah worked
the drive-thru window and signed autographs...QB BRETT DIETZ and OL TOM
KALEITA visited Seminole Middle School in Seminole, FL and WR TYRONE
TIMMONS visited McLane Middle School in Brandon, FL as part of the Great
American Teach-In...Head coach TIM MARCUM, Timmons and Akah celebrated
Thanksgiving by serving meals, signing autographs and giving out holiday gifts
at Donatello Restaurant in Tampa,
FL on Thursday, November
27. The dinner provides a free Thanksgiving meal to at-risk and foster
children and their families.
Utah: DL CHRIS JANEK won his
weight class (308 lbs.) in the Southern Powerlifting Association Record
Breakers meet in Chattanooga,
TN on Saturday, November 29.
Janek posted a combined total of 2,425 lbs lifted in three categories (Squat - 1,000, Bench - 700 and Dead lift - 725). Janek was also named best lifter of
the meet out of 80 participants.