'83 Chronology-Arizona Outlaw

Event Date: September 20th, 1983

Event Description: Tathams Take Control

Source: United Press International

Bill Tatham Sr. and his son, Bill Jr., will take over 75 percent ownership of the new Arizona Outlaws franchise under terms of a merger contract between the ex-Wranglers’ franchise and the Chicago Blitz, according to a published report.

The Arizona Republic quoted “highly-placed” sources as saying that current owner Ted Diethrich and his minority partners would be reduced to 25 percent or less of the franchise.

A “cleanup of very minor items” is the only obstacle facing the final sale, according to the report. 

The deal originally called for a 50-50 partnership in the club, but Diethrich later asked the Tathams for a larger financial commitment, the source said.

Diethrich has admitted losses of well over $2 million in his first year in the USFL. His financial problems were increased after he sold his original team, the Chicago Blitz, and bought the now defunct Wranglers from Jim Joseph.

At stake was Diethrich's primary source of income, the Arizona Heart Institute. It is not known what percentage of the team Diethrich's minority partners, George Allen and Bill Harris, will assume, but it is believed to be around ten percent.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Swap Meet

Event Date: September 17th, 1983

Event Description: Franchise Swap

Source: United Press International

After weeks of negotiations, Phoenix heart surgeon Dr. Ted Diethrich Friday announced the purchase of the Arizona Wranglers and the sale of the Chicago Blitz in a deal that includes a swap of some players on the U.S. Football League teams.

The Blitz' head coach, George Allen, and his entire staff will move to the Arizona franchise as will Allen's son, Bruce, 26, who has been the Chicago general manager.

Diethrich said the Arizona team will now be known as the Outlaws, ending speculation he might also bring the “Blitz” name to Arizona. He said that decision was made by the new owners William Tatham and his son, William Tatham Jr.

“This has been an almost impossible task,” Diethrich said in making the announcement to reporters who packed a news conference at his Arizona Heart Institute.

Diethrich and the Tathams bought the Arizona franchise from California businessman Jim Joseph and sold the Chicago franchise to Dr. James F. Hoffman Jr. of Milwaukee. 

Diethrich said there will be a number of players remaining in the cities where they played the inaugural USFL season, but some of the players would move when the franchise swap is complete.

Terms of the transactions were not announced, but sources put the value of each franchise at about $7 million. The Blitz won the league championship last season, but struggled at the turnstile, while the Wranglers struggled to a 1-17 mark.

Referring to the fact that a team with such a poor record is moving to the Midwest, Allen said, "I'm sure Chicago doesn't take this graciously."

Allen said he will build the new Arizona franchise more on draft picks than through free agents as he did in his NFL coaching days with the Redskins and Los Angeles Rams. He said that in the next draft the Outlaws will have two first-round picks and also extra selections in the third and fifth rounds. However, Allen did admit that the team will be pursuing a big-name quarterback in the days and weeks to come.

Allen was optimistic about the future of the USFL. “This league is here to stay,” Allen said. “There's too many solid people in it.”

Allen said one of his first tasks would be to improve the teams training facility at the closed East Phoenix High School and to hold a tryout camp in the Phoenix area. He said the training facilities need a weight room and improvements to the practice field.

The new Outlaws coach also joked that he was glad to be getting such schools as Arizona State and the University of Arizona in the league's territorial draft rather than the Chicago schools such as Northwestern and Northern Illinois.

And Diethrich said he was happy to have a team in his hometown, noting he had to leave Phoenix 17 times last spring to watch the Blitz play. “I think it's just impossible for an owner trying to establish a franchise to be outside his territory,” he said.

Story-(UPI Modified)

'83 Chronology-Shively Fired

Event Date: September 16th, 1983

Event Description: Shively Axed

Source: United Press International

Doug Shively, a last-minute selection to coach the Arizona Wranglers in their inaugural U.S. Football League season, was fired Sunday, team officials said.

Gerry Coyle, a senior vice president of Interland Corp., the team's parent company, and the spokesman for owner Jim Joseph, said Shively was dismissed as a first step in a reorganization.

“In order to produce a winning product on the field, we felt it was necessary to reorganize the football operation,” Coyle said.

Shively, appearing at the same news conference, said he was not given a fair chance to produce a winning team, but declined to criticize Joseph.

“The man that owns the team has the right to hire and fire as he so chooses,” Shively said. “I'm a good football coach and, given the opportunity, I can put a winning team on the field.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Brooklyn Baseball?

Event Date: September 14th, 1983

Event Description:  Fairbanks Denies Move

Source: United Press International

Chuck Fairbanks, president and head coach of the New Jersey Generals, said Tuesday the U.S. Football League franchise has no intention of moving to another city.

“I'm tired of the unfounded statements regarding the Generals leaving New Jersey to go play in Brooklyn,” he said.

“We have a 20-year lease at the Meadowlands and that is where we are going to play. We have been a New Jersey team from day one and we will continue to be just that.”

The Generals are up for sale and at least three potential buyers have negotiated with principal club owner J. Walter Duncan.

Among them is New York attorney Lonn Berney, who said Monday he purchased the team for $9 million and plans to move the club to Brooklyn by 1985. Berney's claim was not confirmed by the Generals or the USFL.

Berney named his other partners as industrialist Milton Gilbert and real estate developer Nathan Kalikow. He added besides moving the Generals to New York the investors are considering buying a baseball team and placing it in Brooklyn.

Berney said his group is interested in buying the Cleveland Indians or the Cincinnati Reds or the Minnesota Twins.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-General Salesmanship

Event Date: September 12th, 1983

Event Description: Brooklyn Generals?

Source: United Press International

Officials for the New Jersey Generals said Monday they are negotiating the sale of the U.S. Football League club.

At least three potential buyers have negotiated with J. Walter Duncan, the Oklahoma oil tycoon and club owner, a team spokesman said.

Among them was New York attorney Lonn Berney, who told UPI Monday he purchased the team for $9 million and plans to move it to Brooklyn by the 1985 season. However, Berney's claim was not confirmed by the Generals or the USFL.

“I know he has claimed that,” USFL spokesman Doug Kelly said. “But we have not heard anything definite.”

“No deal has been signed,” Generals Director Kevin MacConnell said. “(Generals coach and president Chuck Fairbanks) said when the time comes, he will talk with everybody.”

MacConnell said the Generals have a 20-year lease with Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., which would make a move to Brooklyn difficult. The league also must approve any franchise shifts.

When told Berney intends to move the team, Kelly said: “I don't know about that.”

Houston Astros owner Dr. John McMullen and Madison Square Garden also have been reportedly interested in the Generals.

The Generals finished 6-12 in the inaugural USFL season after the controversial signing of 1982 Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker to a $5 million contract.

The Generals averaged more than 35,000 a game this season, second best in the league.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Cat Belue

Event Date: September 8th, 1983

Event Description: Bulls Contract Offer

Source: United Press International

The Jacksonville Bulls of the United States Football League have offered former University of Georgia quarterback Buck Belue a free agent contract, a Bulls' official said Thursday.

“We offered him a contract Tuesday and he said he'd let me know by the end of the week,” Nick Kish, director of player personnel, said. ”My thinking is that he'll sign.”

Belue, who led Georgia to the 1980 NCAA championship, has been playing professional baseball the past two summers in the Montreal Expos' farm system. An outfielder, Belue batted .268 at West Palm Beach of the Class A Florida State League this past summer.

“I get the impression Buck is burned out on baseball,” Kish said. “We sure hope he signs. He's a quality athlete who knows what it's like to play on a championship team. That means a lot.”

The contract offered by the Bulls offers no guarantees or bonuses. Belue would receive no money unless he made the final roster.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Stock In Trade

Event Date: September 8th, 1983

Event Description: USFL Teams Stocked

Source: Star-News

'83 Chronology-Bulls Draft Bacon

Event Date: September 7th, 1983

Event Description: USFL Expansion Draft

Source: Washington Post

Coy Bacon, a durable defensive end, was one of four Washington Federals starters selected by the new franchises in the USFL expansion draft yesterday.

Bacon, who played four years for the Redskins before signing with the Federals, played all 18 games last season. He was picked by the Jacksonville Bulls in the 17th round of the draft, which will continue through six more rounds today. 

Also drafted late yesterday were defensive tackle Ron Estay, also by Jacksonville; guard Myke Horton and linebacker Joe Harris, both by the Memphis Showboats; and defensive end Mike Matocha by Jacksonville. 

Each team could lose 12 players before the expansion draft is completed. Starting with 29 protected players, teams shield an additional one each time a man is drafted. No financial compensation is made by the expansionists to the existing teams.

The new clubs, Memphis, Jacksonville, Houston and Pittsburgh, had postseason experience in mind during the first round. 

Mark Buben was taken from the league champion Chicago Blitz, DE Brad Anae from Philadelphia and tackles Phil Dokes and Greg Fairchild from the Michigan Panthers.

Story-(Washington Post Modified)

'83 Chronology-Argovitz Sells Out

Event Date: September 7th, 1983

Event Description: Argovitz Sells Out

Source: United Press International

Houston Gamblers owner Jerry Argovitz, under pressure from the United States Football League commissioner, has sold his lucrative business of negotiating players' contracts to a group of Houston businessmen, Argovitz told UPI Friday.

The deal for an undisclosed amount of cash was finalized Thursday, leaving NFL players Joe Cribbs of Buffalo, Curtis Dickey of Baltimore, David Overstreet of Miami, Billy Sims of Detroit and Robert Brazile of Houston in the hands of Jeff Prosser, 43, an international construction equipment salesman who recently involved himself with pro athletes' contracts.

Argovitz, a former dentist who earned millions through his stable of pro football players, had been ordered when he organized the fledgling Gamblers earlier this year to remove himself as a players' agent to avoid possible conflict of interest.

”I'm sure now Chet Simmons will be smiling,” Argovitz said.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Foreman Plots Comeback

Event Date: September 2nd, 1983

Event Description: I.F.L. Inks Foreman

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Taking the Helm

Event Date: September 1st, 1983

Event Description: 'Boats Hire Pepper

Source: Lakeland Ledger

'83 Chronology-Hoosier Hopefuls

Event Date: August 31st, 1983

Event Description:  Indianapolis IFL

Source: United Press International

Indianapolis has been awarded a franchise in the new International Football League, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa, real estate developer Max Bartlett will be its owner, the Indianapolis News reported Wednesday.

Bartlett, 48, has asked the Indianapolis Capital Improvements Board for permission to use the Hoosier Dome for his new club's home games, according to a story by News sports editor Wayne Fuson.

The CIB was scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider Bartlett's request, the story said.

The IFL is to be a spring league. Other IFL cities, according to Bartlett, are Miami, New York, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles, Omaha, Neb., and Columbus, Ohio.

The team would be the first professional football organization in Indianapolis. City leaders have been wooing the National Football League, and had the Hoosier Dome built as a stadium to increase the city's chances.

There was a futile attempt this summer to move the financially troubled Boston Breakers of the USFL to Indianapolis.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Point Break

Event Date: August 31st, 1983

Event Description: Breakers to Portland?

Source: United Press International

Attorneys for a prospective investor who would move the Boston Breakers franchise in the United States Football League to Portland could close a deal by next week, a newspaper reported Wednesday.

The attorneys were to meet with USFL officials to discuss the USFL's background, first season and plans for the future, The Oregonian reported.

If the purchaser likes the numbers, a deal could be closed by next week, sources told the newspaper.

Bob Watson of the Oregon Cascades Football Club, who is working with the prospective investor, said 'this could get down to a footrace.'

Portland, Honolulu and New Orleans are the leading candidates to get the franchise, should it be sold.

The sale price is $7.5 million, but the actual cash changing hands would be $4.5 million, The Oregonian reported. The remaining $3 million would come from an expansion team fee.

Watson said the Honolulu concern has 'a financial base equal to or more powerful' than the investor who would bring the franchise to Portland.

Watson's group originally tried to get an expansion team in the USFL, which would have cost $6.25 million. That effort fell through, but the group found an interested investor early in August and began talking to the Breakers.

If the franchise were to locate in Portland, Watson said, it would generate $54 million for the local economy.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-The Pittsburgh Maulers

Event Date: August 26th, 1983

Event Description: The Pittsburgh Maulers

Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette

'83 Chronology-Old School

Event Date: August 26th, 1983

Event Description: Expansion Teams-Territorial Schools 

Source: League Office

'83 Chronology-Gamblers Sign Duo

Event Date: August 25th, 1983

Event Description: Gamblers Ink Pair

Source: United Press International

The Houston Gamblers of the U.S. Football League announced Thursday the signing of two former Rice players, running back Calvin Cooledge Fance and lineman Ernie Rogers.

Fance, a 6-foot-1, 215 pounder, played with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL last season. The season before he was with the Ottawa Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League.

A Houston native, Fance played with the Owls from 1977-1980 after graduating from Houston's Forest-Brook High School.

Rogers, a 6-6, 279 pound offensive tackle, signed with the Philadelphia Stars of the USFL last season. In 1981 he hooked up with the Houston Oilers. He entered pro football in 1979, the year he graduated from Rice, with a brief stint with the Dallas Cowboys.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-No Way!

Event Date: August 19th, 1983

Event Description: Dupree to USFL?

Source: Daily Leader

'83 Chronology-Merger Talks

Event Date: August 18th, 1983

Event Description:  USFL Owners Meetings

Source: United Press International

Arizona Wranglers owner Jim Joseph says he and Dr. Ted Diethrich must decide within the next few weeks if they should continue negotiations for the sale of the team.

“I'm in a position now, that I can't wait anymore,” Joseph said.

However, Diethrich indicated late Wednesday night that he and Joseph are optimistic about coming to an agreement.

“Jim Joseph and I have been working diligently over the past few weeks in an effort to finalize an agreement regarding professional football in Phoenix,” Diethrich said in a prepared statement.

“There have been numerous obsta:les, many of which we had not anticipated and some beyond our control. These have caused considerable delay, but we do, however, anticipate a resolution in the near future.”

“We appreciate how eager the football fans are regarding this news and I trust that the final outcome will be very satisfying to them.”

Joseph said earlier in the day he is frustrated by the slow progress of the negotiations.

“The question is are we doing ourselves a disservice by dragging this thing out?” Joseph said from his California headquarters.

“When we started, I thought this would be settled by the first or second week of August. It's just elongated.”

Diethrich, a Phoenix heart surgeon who owns a majority of the Chicago Blitz, returned Wednesday from a USFL meeting in Toronto.

“We can go one of three ways,” Joseph said. “I'd own 100 percent, he would own 100 percent, or we could merge. The third way looks the least likely. It looked the most likely two weeks ago. But the basic reason is, I did not wish to be in a minority position.”

Diethrich also has indicated he prefers majority ownership.

Earlier reports indicated the only barrier to transfer of ownership was a simultaneous sale of the Chicago franchise. A Chicago businessman, Walter Kaiser, heads a group negotiating to buy the franchise from Diethrich.

Joseph said the USFL prefers a merger.

“They're very concerned about what is happening in Chicago, which is one of the three major markets,” Joseph said. “The original merging idea would have been easiest for the league to swallow.”

Joseph said there is no disagreement over the purchase price of about $7 million.

“It's the other things such as player contracts and draft rights,” he said.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Pivotal Pursuits

Event Date: August 16th, 1983

Event Description: 'Boats Pursue Strock

Source: United Press International

The Memphis Showboats are negotiating with Miami Dolphins quarterback Don Strock over a three-year, $1 million contract, officials with the USFL club said today.

“I think we're going to sign him,” said team owner Logan Young, whose fledgling franchise has not yet hired a coach or any players

“They said they would like to work out some kind of deal this week and I told them we'd work something up in a couple of days.”

Young was in Toronto attending a league meeting this week.

Strock, 33, is also in negotiations with the Dolphins for a one-year contract. Miami has countered with a one-year offer that includes a two-year option.

Young said he also is interested in former Vanderbilt quarterback Whit Taylor, who was the No. 2 signal-caller with the Michigan Wolverines last year.

In other USFL news: At the league owners meetings in Toronto a report surfaced claiming that the league is close to approving the sale or possible merger of the Chicago and Arizona franchises.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-No Collusion

Event Date: August 13th, 1983

Event Description: Chargers Lose Anderson

Source: United Press International

A federal judge says Gary Anderson's former agent did not conspire to deliver Anderson to the United States Football League Tampa Bay Bandits in exchange for obtaining a USFL franchise in Houston as Anderson alleged.

U.S. District Judge Norman Black with that finding Friday refused to clear the way for Anderson's jump to the San Diego Chargers of the National Football League -- with whom he signed a contract 11 days ago.

Anderson, out of the University of Arkansas, has a contract in force to play exclusively for the Bandits.

“The most telling point,” Black said, “is the fact that the contract he negotiated (with Tampa Bay) was as good or better present value than he got (from San Diego), and the one with San Diego was signed months after he showed his prowess.”

Anderson had hoped to play with the Chargers Saturday in a pre-season game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Anderson played last spring for Tampa Bay at the urging of former agent Jerry Argovitz. Since then, Argovitz has been granted the Houston franchise of the USFL.

Testimony indicated Anderson's four-year, $1.5 million contract with San Diego was worth $234,000 if he was injured the first year. Evidence showed his four-year $1.375 million contract with Tampa Bay was worth more than $900,000 even if he was hurt.

Prior to the hearing in Black's court, Chargers lawyers obtained a temporary restraining order that prevented the Bandits from suing him for signing with the Chargers.

Black dissolved that court order Friday, saying he saw no reason to keep the Bandits from enforcing their rights.

U.S. District Judge Norman Black, who 10 days ago issued a temporary order forbidding Tampa Bay from suing Anderson for contract violation, said Friday he saw no reason to keep Tampa Bay from enforcing its rights.

Anderson's lawyers argued he should be allowed to sign with San Diego despite a previous Tampa Bay contract and accused Argovitz of selling Anderson out to Tampa Bay in exchange for a USFL franchise.

Argovitz and Tampa Bay owner John Bassett, chairman of the USFL expansion committee, testified at the day-long hearing and flatly denied any such deal. The judge ruled in their favor.

“I don't find any evidence that Dr. Argovitz or San Diego or anyone else entered a conspiracy against Gary Anderson,” Black said in ruling from the bench. Lawyers for Anderson, Bassett and Argovitz said they did not know what the next move would be.

On the advice of his lawyers, Anderson, who said he had trouble reading, had no comment.

“They had no case,” Argovitz said. “It was asinine to accuse me of collusion.”

Bassett tried to approach Anderson after the ruling but was rebuffed by Anderson's lawyers. Even though he won in court, Bassett was unhappy.

“He's like a fifth kid to me,” said Bassett, father of four. “If he'd come and told me he was bothered about this six months ago we would never have been here.”

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-Anderson v. Argovitz II

Event Date: August 5th, 1983

Event Description: Chargers Sign Anderson

Source: The Tuscaloosa News

'83 Chronology-Anderson vs. Argovitz

Event Date: August 4th, 1983

Event Description:  Anderson Seeks Free Agency

Source: United Press International

Running back Gary Anderson, who signed with the Tampa Bay Bandits on the advice of Houston agent Jerry Argovitz, has sued Argovitz for allegedly using him to win a United States Football League franchise.

The lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court charges Argovitz with conspiring to deliver him to the Bandits as a condition for a USFL franchise for Houston, later awarded to the agent.

Anderson, a former University of Arkansas running back, had been selected by the San Diego Chargers as a first-round choice in the National Football League, but the New Jersey Generals picked Anderson as their No. 1 draft choice in the USFL. The Bandits acquired the Generals' rights to him, according to the suit.

Argovitz last spring was awarded a USFL expansion team, named the Houston Gamblers, and John Bassett, owner of the Bandits, was chairman of the USFL expansion committee, an affidavit attached to the suit said.

Anderson alleges Argovitz misrepresented the offers to him, making him believe the Bandits' offer was more lucrative, the suit said. After he signed with the Bandits, Anderson learned he could have made a substantially better deal with the Chargers.

The lawsuit alleged the award of the franchise to Argovitz was at least partially conditioned on his convincing Anderson to sign with the Bandits. Anderson, who lives in Missouri, is asking for an injunction to allow him to play with the Chargers immediately, $289,000 in damages and an order declaring his contract with the Bandits void.

Story-(UPI)

'83 Chronology-First Choice

Event Date: August 2nd, 1983

Event Description: Pittsburgh Preparations

Source: United Press International

Joe Pendry doesn't expect quite as many problems putting together a team for the Pittsburgh franchise of the U.S. Football League as he did in helping to build the Philadelphia Stars' squad a year ago.

“We are further ahead than we were last year at this time in Philadelphia,” Pendry, 36, former offensive coordinator of the Stars, said Monday after he was named head coach of the still unnamed USFL Pittsburgh franchise by club president Paul Martha and general manager George Heddleston.

“I started there Aug. 1 too,” Pendry added, “and we had to worry about more than just fielding a team. We had to form a league last year. We had to work out all the problems of a new league. All we have to worry about here is getting the Pittsburgh franchise started.”

Pendry played a larger role than that of offensive coordinator during his first few months with the Stars. When the Stars first head coach, George Perles, quit last summer to take the head coaching job at Michigan State, Pendry filled in until the Stars replaced Perles with Jim Mora later in the year.

“I saw the team put together,” Pendry said in an interview before he got the Pittsburgh job. “I ran the tryout camps. It was a great experience. I feel very qualified for the job.”

Pendry's experience with the Stars was one of three factors that made him what Heddleston and Martha called “the No. 1 guy for the job.”

Also in Pendry's favor were the fact that he is a native of nearby West Virginia and that he worked previously at both West Virginia University, his alma mater, and the University of Pittsburgh, as offensive coordinator. Pitt and WVU are among the five colleges allocated to the Pittsburgh USFL team as its talent pool.

“It became abundantly clear during our search that we needed a guy with local flavor and with a working knowledge of our allocated schools,” Martha said.

“And we thought it would be nice to get somebody with some familiarity with the USFL and with the starting of a franchise.”

Heddleston said other candidates interviewed included former NFL head coaches Marv Levy and Leeman Bennett, assistant Washington Redskins coach Joe Bugel and former Cincinnati assistant Lindy Infante, now head coach of the Jacksonville USFL team.

Heddleston said the other candidates were not officially offered the job.

Pendry said his first order of business would be to hire “personnel people” who can prepare the team for the USFL expansion draft Sept. 1, and assistant coaches.

“I already have some (assistant) candidates in mind,' he said. 'I won't name them. They're people who I've worked with before -- some of them in the USFL.”

When looking for players, Pendry said, “I want to get the best athletes and not worry about whether he plays offense or defense.”

Pendry said he would not consider signing any college underclassmen.

He also said that if any college seniors from the team's five territorial schools make the roster, the club will establish $1,000 scholarships in the players' names at their colleges. USFL rules also provide that teams pay for those players to finish school.

In the USFL college draft, each team may draft only players from institutions not named as any USFL team's territorial schools.

Story-(UPI)