Chicago Slaughter will compete in IFL in 2010

By Doug Halberstadt

Sports Columnist

In last week’s issue of The Rock River Times, I wrote an article about the decision made by Bob Lowe, owner of the Rock River Raptors, not to compete in the upcoming 2010 season. As an addition to that story, I included some information I gathered from the Continental Indoor Football League Web site concerning the Chicago Slaughter and their troubles with the league.

Almost immediately after our paper was distributed last Wednesday (Nov. 18), I received an e-mail that I’d like to share with our readers.

Doug:

Upon reading your recent Rock River Times article, “Raptors bit by slumping economy—to sit out 2010 season,” I wanted to reach out to you with a correction to let you know the Slaughter announced in late October they had left the CIFL to compete in the Indoor Football League (IFL) in the 2010 season. Please see the press release posted below for more information.

Thank you,

Cally

2009 CIFL champion Chicago Slaughter compete in top indoor football league (IFL) for 2010 season

CHICAGO—The 2009 (CIFL) champion Chicago Slaughter, led by head coach and 1985 Super Bowl Chicago Bears star, Steve “Mongo” McMichael, will join the ranks of the Indoor Football League (IFL) for the 2010 season. The Slaughter joins the IFL as one of seven new expansion teams bringing the total number of teams in the league to 24 for the upcoming season that begins in February. The agreement between the IFL and the Slaughter was reached late last week. Previous to that, the team was a member of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)

“Being part of the IFL will allow us to showcase our team and the talent of our players on a broad stage in a more competitive environment,” said Alan Perkins, general manager of the Chicago Slaughter. “We’re a championship football team, and we are excited about competing on a higher level.”Chicago Slaughter fans may purchase tickets for the 2010 season by calling the Slaughter office at (847) 310-3190 or visiting the team’s Web site at www.ChicagoSlaughter.com.

Chicago Slaughter

The Chicago Slaughter Professional Indoor Football team was established as part of the Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL) in 2007. With division championships in 2008 and 2009, the Slaughter, led by McMichael, went 14-0 and captured their first CIFL championship trophy in 2009, capping off a truly historic season. The Slaughter joined the Indoor Football League (IFL) prior to the 2010 season. With headquarters in suburban Chicago, the team hosts all home games at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Ill. For more information about the Chicago Slaughter, visit http://ChicagoSlaughter.com.

IFL

The Indoor Football League (IFL), with headquarters in Richmond, Va., is a professional indoor football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. Under the direction of Commissioner Tommy Benizio, league expansion has been aggressively pursued. With the addition of seven new teams in 2010, the IFL now includes 24 franchises, spanning from Alaska to Maryland. Upon the dissolution of the AFL and the AF2, the Indoor Football League has now become the top indoor/arena football league in the country. For more information about the IFL, visit www.goifl.com.

I guess it’s nice to know that even the Chicago Slaughter brass are reading The Rock River Times. I’d like to take this opportunity to personally thank them and wish them a successful season in their new league.

Now, if I could only get the Chicago Bears’ front office to contact me about my suggestion of firing the entire coaching staff.

From the November 25-December 1, 2009 issue