Madferret
5-31-05, 12:42 PM
Gliebermans return to Ottawa ownership
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - Bernie Glieberman returned to the Canadian Football League on Tuesday, taking over as the new majority owner of the Ottawa Renegades. Glieberman and son Lonie owned the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1991 to '93 before assuming control of the Shreveport Pirates during the CFL's ill-fated expansion into the United States. The Rough Riders later folded under owner Horn Chen after the 1996 season.
Lonie Glieberman, who ran the day-to-day operations of both the Riders and the Pirates, will once again serve as team president. "We're back here to rewrite the record," he said. The Gliebermans bought a 51-per-cent stake in the Renegades with Bill Smith and Brad Watters, part of the original ownership structure, retaining 49 per cent of the club.
"I am really delighted to be back in Ottawa," said Bernie Glieberman. "We have been involved in trying to get something done from before the Grey Cup." The Gliebermans said they had no plans to replace head coach and general manager Joe Paopao but did appoint Forrest Gregg, a former player and coach in the CFL and NFL, as vice-president, football operations.
The deal was approved by the CFL's board of governors Friday. "This is exciting news for Renegades fans," said CFL commissioner Tom Wright. "This will bring certainty back to football in Ottawa." Wright, who was in Ottawa for the news conference, expects the Gliebermans to restore some stability to the Renegades after a winter of uncertainty.
The team was virtually inactive during the off-season as their ownership situation sorted itself out, leading to damage both on and off the field when free agents left and ticket sales sagged.
A summer of signing / drafting dead people is just ahead....hoorah!
Canadian Press
OTTAWA (CP) - Bernie Glieberman returned to the Canadian Football League on Tuesday, taking over as the new majority owner of the Ottawa Renegades. Glieberman and son Lonie owned the Ottawa Rough Riders from 1991 to '93 before assuming control of the Shreveport Pirates during the CFL's ill-fated expansion into the United States. The Rough Riders later folded under owner Horn Chen after the 1996 season.
Lonie Glieberman, who ran the day-to-day operations of both the Riders and the Pirates, will once again serve as team president. "We're back here to rewrite the record," he said. The Gliebermans bought a 51-per-cent stake in the Renegades with Bill Smith and Brad Watters, part of the original ownership structure, retaining 49 per cent of the club.
"I am really delighted to be back in Ottawa," said Bernie Glieberman. "We have been involved in trying to get something done from before the Grey Cup." The Gliebermans said they had no plans to replace head coach and general manager Joe Paopao but did appoint Forrest Gregg, a former player and coach in the CFL and NFL, as vice-president, football operations.
The deal was approved by the CFL's board of governors Friday. "This is exciting news for Renegades fans," said CFL commissioner Tom Wright. "This will bring certainty back to football in Ottawa." Wright, who was in Ottawa for the news conference, expects the Gliebermans to restore some stability to the Renegades after a winter of uncertainty.
The team was virtually inactive during the off-season as their ownership situation sorted itself out, leading to damage both on and off the field when free agents left and ticket sales sagged.
A summer of signing / drafting dead people is just ahead....hoorah!