Post by stones on Jun 18, 2006 13:43:05 GMT -5
MINERAL POINT, WI -- After helping the Stones secure their first ever CFCL Championship in 2004, and being their last remaining player with direct ties back to the the 2000 expansion draft, Stones executive management reluctantly announced today the trade of the last of the original Stones. It was announce that Geoff Jenkins was traded in an effort to begin seriously rebuilding for the future. While the complete details of the trade, rumored to involve several players, await final approval from league officials, Jenkins has been informed by team ownership of this development.
In an official press release from the Stones Mineral Point, Wisconsin team headquarters, General Manager Steve Stone was quoted as saying "It was important for us to announce this trade and to advise Geoff first before news circulated in the clubhouses around the CFCL. Geoff has been the heart and sole of this franchise since it's inception. He has seen the worst of times and been a core contributor to the best of times. Without his leadership and blue collar work ethic this franchise could not have achieved the rapid success it has enjoyed in its 6 plus seasons in the league, culminating in the coveted CFCL Championship in 2004."
Jenkins, who has long been known as a gritty team player earning the respect by his teammates, never has had a bad word to say, said he was taken by surprise by this move. A disappointed Jenkins said "I have always played with a team first attitude. If this helps the Stones return to the level of success we enjoyed as a team two seasons ago, then so be it. In looking forward, I am excited to be heading to a team with championship caliber talent and aspirations. I am excited to learn how I can help my new team achieve similar success, whether its as an everyday player or a bench player adding depth and experience. Please tell the fans in Mineral Point they are the best in the entire league and I will miss them. And although I will be joining a new team, learning a new system, filling a new role and meeting new teammates, I will always think of myself first as a Stone! Rock on, Stones!!!"
Owner Bernie Brewer was asked if this was a difficult decision. He responded "whenever you send away a player of "Jenks" caliber, of course it hurts. He was the real catalyst to the championship run two seasons ago. It was as difficult for management to break the news to Geoff as it was for Geoff to hear it. Who knows, the CFCL is a funny league, maybe one day Geoff will be in a Stone uniform again. But with each difficult move like this we bring in what we believe to be young talent with the potential to lead us in our quest for a return to a winning tradition. Geoff will help his new team, of that I am sure, but the players we got back in the trade give us the feeling that this has the potential to reset the course of this franchise and redirect the team's current path are very positive."
As Bernie Brewer was speaking, one could sense a tear was not far from his eye and a lump was in his throat.
If the Stones can, in fact, reclaim the CFCL Championship in the next few seasons, it can be said that Jenkins will have played a vital part in that success as well.
Speculation is that Stone newcomers Bobby Abreu, Danny Kolb and long time Stone Adam Everett were included with Jenkins in the trade. The trading partner and the player or players returning to the Stones are yet to be announced. It is assumed the Stone cleared a substantial amount of salary in the move.
In an official press release from the Stones Mineral Point, Wisconsin team headquarters, General Manager Steve Stone was quoted as saying "It was important for us to announce this trade and to advise Geoff first before news circulated in the clubhouses around the CFCL. Geoff has been the heart and sole of this franchise since it's inception. He has seen the worst of times and been a core contributor to the best of times. Without his leadership and blue collar work ethic this franchise could not have achieved the rapid success it has enjoyed in its 6 plus seasons in the league, culminating in the coveted CFCL Championship in 2004."
Jenkins, who has long been known as a gritty team player earning the respect by his teammates, never has had a bad word to say, said he was taken by surprise by this move. A disappointed Jenkins said "I have always played with a team first attitude. If this helps the Stones return to the level of success we enjoyed as a team two seasons ago, then so be it. In looking forward, I am excited to be heading to a team with championship caliber talent and aspirations. I am excited to learn how I can help my new team achieve similar success, whether its as an everyday player or a bench player adding depth and experience. Please tell the fans in Mineral Point they are the best in the entire league and I will miss them. And although I will be joining a new team, learning a new system, filling a new role and meeting new teammates, I will always think of myself first as a Stone! Rock on, Stones!!!"
Owner Bernie Brewer was asked if this was a difficult decision. He responded "whenever you send away a player of "Jenks" caliber, of course it hurts. He was the real catalyst to the championship run two seasons ago. It was as difficult for management to break the news to Geoff as it was for Geoff to hear it. Who knows, the CFCL is a funny league, maybe one day Geoff will be in a Stone uniform again. But with each difficult move like this we bring in what we believe to be young talent with the potential to lead us in our quest for a return to a winning tradition. Geoff will help his new team, of that I am sure, but the players we got back in the trade give us the feeling that this has the potential to reset the course of this franchise and redirect the team's current path are very positive."
As Bernie Brewer was speaking, one could sense a tear was not far from his eye and a lump was in his throat.
If the Stones can, in fact, reclaim the CFCL Championship in the next few seasons, it can be said that Jenkins will have played a vital part in that success as well.
Speculation is that Stone newcomers Bobby Abreu, Danny Kolb and long time Stone Adam Everett were included with Jenkins in the trade. The trading partner and the player or players returning to the Stones are yet to be announced. It is assumed the Stone cleared a substantial amount of salary in the move.
Darn that pesky salary cap ... Mahalo