Peoria Kings suspend operations

[Da Coach]

We had just heard that new management was taking over and they looked good for thier 2nd season. But apparently financial problems were too much to overcome.
It sounds a little sleazy if you read the PJ Star article. The CEO of the firm that took overe the team claims she raised over $100,000 from selling corporate sponsorships for a new ABA franchise they own in Rochester, Minnesota, and sent much of the money to the president of the new ownership company in Peoria to prop up the team. Now apparently the money and the president are missing! Also missing is few thousand dollars more raised from local Peoria sponsors like Brewers Distributing, AA Accounting, Alwan's Meats, Legacy Consulting Group and Ameren.
Furthermore, none of the players practicing with the team had been paid yet, and the Riverplex, which has a contract with the Kings, doesn't expect they will ever see the money, either. What a mess!

http://pjstar.com/stories/110707/KIN_BERTPN3B.072.php

[tornado]

Just a couple days ago, Steve Rodriguez, the guy who has supposedly disappeared with the money, was interviewed by the media in Minneapolis/Rochester, MN.
His Minnesota ABA franchise also just folded, but Rodriguez said he is in talks with other investors to sell the team.

http://www.kttc.com/News/index.php?ID=19733

And if you read this story out of Rochester, it becomes just a little hard to believe that Cynthia Hawkins would take the job as general manager of the "Rochester Fire", and yet she doesn't have any access to the finances or the accounts of the team?

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=314648&z=2

Hawkins has been the GM of the Rochester franchise for nearly a year, and claims she has no knowledge of the finances??

http://mlntherawfeed.squarespace.com/minor-league-sports-business/2007/2/26/aba-expansion-team-the-rochester-fire-have-named-their-first-general-manager-cynthia-hawkins.html

This is not possible to believe as the press release stated she would
"handle all business and corporate related activities for the team. She will oversee the Group SalesDepartment and Corporate Partners programs."

http://209.85.165.104/search?q=cache:-hiMI-32_cIJ:www.rochesterfireaba.com/press-releases/03-16-07-staff.pdf+%22rochester%22+and+%22cynthia+hawkins%22+and+%22charter+communications%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=2&gl=us

At the time of her hiring, Hawkins claimed to be experienced in sales and had been in "leadership roles" with corporations named "TAK Communications" and "Charter Communications".
But TAK went BANKRUPT as a result of HORRIBLE financial mismanagement that prompted federal lawsuits.

http://www.wiwb.uscourts.gov/Decisions_rdm/dec88.htm

And there's reports Charter Communications may not know of her, and has also been involved in lawsuits

http://www.fcc.gov/eb/FieldNotices/2003/DOC-244163A1.html

I smell a scam and wonder if a lot of advertisers and investors both here and in Minnesota have been taken in.

[mike radigan]

Previously on the Peoria Kings:

The new owners have done ONE thing right, as they have Marcello Robinson on the roster.
Finally a guy I as a Bradley fan would actually pay to see!!!!
They could use even a little more Bradley flavor...HIRE DANNY ADAMS & JJ TAUAI!!!!

No, no, no! Do not waste their time. Let this thing die. It cannot possibly survive.

[Da Coach]

Here is a long article in Thursday's PJ Star about the Kings' situation and Steve Rodriguez. This guy who pulled a massive scam here was involved in multiple previous scams.
It reads like a mystery novel. This is a facinating story.--

http://pjstar.com/stories/110807/KIN_BES8DUD3.072.php

[tornado]

I recall pretty well the scam the guy ran at the Florida Prep school,
so I guess I am amazed people do business with the guy and give him thousands of dollars without checking his background.
Personally, I think Hawkins is into this scam up to her ears, and is not an innocent bystander.