Soul Returning Without JBJ

[rodajoky]

My son just called me with this news. I'm soooo excited. It'll be weird without Jon & without the old players, but I can't wait.

The Philadelphia Soul is making a return engagement, but will be without its famous frontman.

The Daily News has learned that Arena Football will return to Philadelphia next spring with Ron Jaworski and Craig Spencer leading the franchise and Jon Bon Jovi on the sidelines.

“We are bringing back to our incredible fans the most exciting, fan-friendly and affordable brand of football in America,” said Jaworski, an original owner and current ESPN Monday Night Football broadcaster. “My partners and I are committed to putting together a championship team for this great city to be proud of.”

A formal announcement is scheduled for Wednesday.

Bon Jovi, the mega-rock star, will no longer be part of the ownership group, but crab fry-king Pete Ciarrocchi, of the Chickie’s and Pete’s local restaurant chain, will. Cosmo DeNicola, who previously owned the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers of AF2, is also part of the ownership group.

“I will not be part of the ownership group due to my focus and attention being on the current Bon Jovi worldwide tour, but I have fond memories of my experience with the Soul and especially our 2008 ArenaBowl championship season," Bon Jovi said in a statement. "I continue to be a fan of the team and want nothing but continued success on and off the field for the Soul.”

The team is expected to again play at the Wachovia Center and participate in the new incarnation of the AFL. A lockout washed out the 2009 season and resulted in several franchises folding. It also cost the Soul a chance to defend its 2008 championship.

The current AFL has 15 teams. None are located in the Northeastern region of the United States. The current 15-team roster includes: the Arizona Rattlers, Alabama Vipers, Bossier-Shreveport BattleWings, Cleveland Gladiators, Chicago Rush, Dallas Vigilantes, Iowa Barnstormers, Jacksonville Sharks, Milwaukee Iron, Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz, Orlando Predators, Spokane Shock, Tampa Bay Storm, Tulsa Talons and Utah Blaze.

[norwichliz]

Anyone else think that there's more to his not being involved than the tour?

[cattesambora]

Jun 15, 2010 17:46:56 GMT -6 norwichliz said:

Anyone else think that there's more to his not being involved than the tour?

Yep, I think:

a) he pulled his money out because the JBJ Foundation is now self-sustaining and no longer linked with the Team

b) which means the tax breaks are no longer there and, let's face it, AFL teams aren't gonna make money after the way the old league went down in a spectacular flame-out

c) he 's frustrated with the way the New AFL has been put together and doesn't have a lot of confidence in its long-term success

d) he therefore doesn't want to put himself out there as an "Ambassador for the AFL" like he did busting his butt for the old AFL, which folded in spite of his efforts (and you KNOW he can't be a silent partner)

e) he wants to use that cash to buy into an NFL team. Wouldn't surprise me a bit if he did that in the next couple years, maybe after the tour ends in 2011. There are several teams shopping for investors....

Call me cynical, but there's an angle behind every move that man makes....

[Hath]

Catte, I wouldn't call you cynical.... Painfully logical maybe

I have to agree. He didn't get to where he is today without second-and third-guessing every move he made before he made it.

[ibtfychick]

I think you're exactly right Catte and Hath. Jon doesn't do anything without really thinking it thru and knowing exactly what he's doing.

[mysterytrain]

I agree with Catte and Hath. There is more to Jon not being involved than they will ever say in the media.

I think he is biding his time until an opportunity opens in the NFL.

[norwichliz]

Yep, that's what I was thinking too. My first reaction was "Of course he's out...he doesn't like how they're doing this and doesn't want his name involved with it." If the project isn't going to be a success, he won't want to be involved.

Maybe that's why they're doing such an extended tour....he needs more money to invest in an NFL team. ;D

[rodajoky]

Here's a video of Ron Jaworski on a local sports show. He talks about JBJ (same reason). Before this video starts, they asked him 6 questions and the last one was "Will you perform any post game concerts now that Bon Jovi isn't involved". That was pretty funny.

www.csnphilly.com/pages/video_v3?PID=yMYSbmpzAWM1lr5dXl25UXE4WAEmveUI