OFFICIAL AVP PRESS RELEASE !!

[AVP Tour News]

An official Assocation of Volleyball Professionals Press Release

AVP suspends 1996 Olympic Gold Medalist Kent Steffes for 3 years

November 27, 1998, Marina Del Rey, CA., AVP acting CEO Bill Berger issued the maximum three year suspension of AVP member Kent Steffes for his continual disparaging public remarks about the AVP, various members, and AVP business affiliates.

On April 13th 1998, former AVP CEO Harry Usher wanted Steffes to cease and desist from uttering disparaging remarks about the AVP to various press entities and individual. Steffes failed to heed the warning and continued to make disparaging remarks to the public. Steffes maintains that the remarks were consistent with his first Amendment right to free speech. However, Steffes had contracted not to make disparaging remarks about the AVP and its affiliates. Other professional sports such as the NBA or MLB have proven to ensure the integrity of the sport as well as fan, city and sponsor commitment through enforcement of such contractual provisions.

Steffes, who has millions of dollars playing on the AVP Tour, continues to discredit the Association. Steffes is pursuing a derivative lawsuit against several past and present members of the AVP Board of Directors (including his former partner and three (3) time Olympic Gold Medal, KARCH KIRALY) and maintains that he has a right to speak freely about the AVP as part of that lawsuit.

Steffes' comments come at a sensitive and pivotal juncture in the AVP's evolution. BERGER indicated that, given the current position of the AVP and the positive changes that already have been realized, Steffes' suspension was another example of the new AVP's commitment to the future and to regaining it preeminence in the sports world.

[This article provided by The Association of Volleyball Professionals]

 

[Drew Kalapach]

AVP Tour News wrote:

 BERGER indicated that, given the current position of the AVP and the positive changes that already have been realized, Steffes' suspension was another example of the new AVP's commitment to the future and to regaining it preeminence in the sports world.[This article provided by The Association of Volleyball Professionals

Sounds like another guy running for office......  give me a flocking break..... this suspension is an EXAMPLE of a commitment to the future????    What kind of bull crap motivational seminar did you guys go to????  What a crock of sh*t........

Nice job...... HamBerger......

BTW... YOU won't make me cease and desist ..... In ain't in MY contract as a FAN......

Drew Kalapach
Houston.... "South Dallas" ;)
http://users.aol.com/dekkal/pages/drewpage.html
 

[Jim Wall]

Drew Kalapach wrote:
>
>
>
> AVP Tour News wrote:
>
> BERGER indicated that, given the current position of the
> AVP and the positive changes that already have been
> realized, Steffes' suspension was another example of the new
> AVP's commitment to the future and to regaining it
> preeminence in the sports world.[This article provided by
> The Association of Volleyball Professionals
>
> Sounds like another guy running for office...... give me a flocking
> break..... this suspension is an EXAMPLE of a commitment to the
> future???? What kind of bull crap motivational seminar did you guys
> go to???? What a crock of sh*t........
>
> Nice job...... HamBerger......
>

On the other hand, it is refreshing to see some official body take a
real stand on something (unlike, say, the NBA and Spreewell). I do think
that a 3 year suspension is way too severe for this. Makes we wonder if
there isn't something else going on behind the scenes.

Personally, I would have issued a fine. And the amount of the Fine?
Exactly what he is owed in back prize money. That would sort of take the
starch out of his lawsuit.

-Jim

[Drew Kalapach]

I agree with you there.... I thought of that same thing as well. It seems
Kent is the New Demon for the AVP. It use to be Sinjin and now it's him.
Maybe the two of them should team up together on FIVB just for the heck of
it! What great fun! If Karch happened to be playing that particular
weekend..... I think I'd sell the house to go see the tournament just in the
event there would be a matchup between them! NOTE TO MYSELF: Check on your
passport, you might just need it this next year. ;)

Jim Wall wrote:

> Personally, I would have issued a fine. And the amount of the Fine?
> Exactly what he is owed in back prize money. That would sort of take the
> starch out of his lawsuit.
>
> -Jim

--

[kwbrewer]

i like the fine idea equaling the amount he's owed by the avp....makes
sense......steffes should sue like sprewell did.....it worked for him!!
kwbrewer
Jim Wall wrote in message

>Drew Kalapach wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> AVP Tour News wrote:
>>
>> BERGER indicated that, given the current position of the
>> AVP and the positive changes that already have been
>> realized, Steffes' suspension was another example of the new
>> AVP's commitment to the future and to regaining it
>> preeminence in the sports world.[This article provided by
>> The Association of Volleyball Professionals
>>
>> Sounds like another guy running for office...... give me a flocking
>> break..... this suspension is an EXAMPLE of a commitment to the
>> future???? What kind of bull crap motivational seminar did you guys
>> go to???? What a crock of sh*t........
>>
>> Nice job...... HamBerger......
>>
>On the other hand, it is refreshing to see some official body take a
>real stand on something (unlike, say, the NBA and Spreewell). I do think
>that a 3 year suspension is way too severe for this. Makes we wonder if
>there isn't something else going on behind the scenes.
>

[SkiHighMd]

perfect ...steffes has done too much for the sport...fine-back pay..jim point
well made ....to go forward the sport needs the "marquee"?
players to represent ...{ie. rodman ...
so he' s outspoken ... well listen steffes out of the equation is a big loss
.. in my opion he may be the brightest guy the game .has