Gentlemen,

 

I am emailing to inform you that I am moving forward with my previous stated actions.  Inaction on your behalf has led me to no other conclusion but to proceed.   I apologize to both John and Bob for entangling you in this mess.  I just wish both of you did not let George take the lead after his complete obliteration of the situation.   His deceitfulness will catch up to him eventually.  I do plan on taking the injunction off the table because I think the players want to play no matter who is running the team.   If you wish to further discuss the situation please contact me at (315) 778-8744.  The newspaper and the Attorney Generals office should be contacting all of you for comment in the next couple of days.    

 

Thanks,

 

Thomas J. Shultz

General Manager

Sports Partners Inc.

Watertown Red & Black

 

CC

George Ashcraft

Bob Freeman

John Ramus

February 2007

 

Sports Partners, Inc.

11 Public Square

Watertown, New York 13601

 

Attn:     Thomas J. Shultz

 

                        Re:      Improper/Unauthorized Conduct

 

Dear Mr. Shultz:

 

                        This office serves as attorneys for Greater Watertown Red & Black Football, Inc.  That not-for-profit corporation owns all assets of, and operates, what is locally known as “Red & Black Football”.  It is my understanding that preliminary discussions between you and representative(s) of Red & Black Football focused upon a potential partnering arrangement whereby Sports Partners, Inc. would assist with some of the fund raising and business activities routinely undertaken as a necessary part of the football program here in Northern New York.  Those discussions were preliminary and no formal agreement was ever reached.   Sports Partners, Inc. owns no assets of, and is not authorized to undertake any activities on behalf of the Greater Watertown Red & Black Football, Inc. at this time.  Any efforts by you, or your company, in that regard are expressly unauthorized and misleading to the public and players.  Accordingly, any such activity, to the extent they have begun, must cease immediately.  Further, any monies collected from anyone pertaining to Red & Black Football must be turned over to my client immediately. 

 

                        I have also reviewed correspondence written by you pertaining to Red & Black Football and George Ashcraft and which contains several false statements of fact.  Speech which tends to harm the reputation of another as to lower him in the estimation of the community, or to deter third persons from associating with him, or to expose the victim to contempt, ridicule or disgrace is commonly referred to as being “defamatory”.  Several of those statements by you are defamatory.  Defamatory comments about Mr. Ashcraft and Red & Black Football must cease immediately. 

 

                        Unless the improper and unauthorized conduct and defamatory statements cease immediately, I will take whatever steps are appropriate and directed by my client including the possible use of the local Supreme Court. 

 

 

Thank you for your anticipated immediate cooperation.

 

                                                                                    Very truly yours,

 

                                                                                    SLYE & BURROWS

   

                                                                                    By:

                                                                                                James A. Burrows

 

JAB/jmc

 

CC:      Greater Watertown Red & Black Football, Inc.

            1358 Washington Street

            Watertown, New York 13601

            Attn:     Rob Freeman, President

                        John Ramus, Treasurer

                        George Ashcraft, Head Coach

 

 

Thomas J. ShultzSports Partners Inc.

Watertown Red & Black(315) 778-8744

WatertownRedandBlack@gmail

             To whom it may concern: I, Thomas J. Shultz, President of Sports Partners Inc. and General Manager of the Watertown Red and Black football team, am requesting the immediate and complete turnover of all property, tangible and intellectual, from the former owners, The Greater Watertown Red and Black, per our legally binding agreement. In addition, I demand George Ashcrafts immediate resignation and “retirement” from football operations. I have retained legal counsel and have been advised to make a last effort correspondence before formal litigation is filed. On or about January 30^th George Ashcraft and I met at the office of David Renzi.  We formally agreed to the transfer of the team to the new corporation titled Sports Partners Inc. dba Watertown Red & Black.  Since that time I have operated the team in a manner consistent with being the General Manager. I have spent thousands of dollars organizing and investing into the team’s future. I have aligned advertisers, collected monies and organized team affairs.  I have taken in thousands of dollars and have commitments of over $15,000 toward sponsorships.  I have a progressive plan to enhance the financial outlook for the team and have been actively pursuing this goal.  On Sunday February 20^th George Ashcraft deceitfully had player re-sign their player’s agreement with the former company.   Without any notice, I was illegally banished from the team that I own the rights to.  It is now time for me to take formal legal and ethical actions in pursuit of what is justifiably mine.  If my demands are not met by Friday February 23^rd at 10 am, I will proceed with the following actions: 1.      I will file a suit in New York State Supreme Court for possession of the team and damages against the former board of directors of the Greater Watertown Red & Black.  I will file for damages derived because these actions have caused serious and irreparable harm to me, my family and the Red and Black Football team in the amount in excess of $100,000. 2.      I will apply for an injunction to cease and desist football operations until this matter can be reviewed.  This can stall all functions of the team for as long as a few years or until the court docket is free to examine and rule upon the case.    3.      I will file a complaint with the Attorney Generals office department of charitable responsibility division.  As a not for profit organization, the former company is responsible to the community for their funds and other property devoted to them.  This office has been contacted and is waiting for a formal complaint from an outside party.  I contend that funds have been converted for the benefit of a certain individual and this department is the official office in New York State that investigates corruption.   4.      I will file a complaint with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance.  The office of Tax enforcement (OTE) enforces the criminal provisions of the New York State Tax Law and accompanying regulations.  Formal complaints can be filed against companies that avoid the public good and deny their share of the tax burden and put it onto others.  It is my understanding that no taxes have been filed in the entirety of the existence of the former company and the penalties alone can reach in the tens of thousands of dollars.   5.      I will send a copy of this letter to the Watertown Daily Times along with granting them unfettered access to my portrayal of a man who has driven the “Nations Oldest Football Team” into legal turmoil.  They will be given the whole story with the intent that the public should have knowledge as to the legal filings and therefore should not give money to a man who has no legal right to take it.    Furthermore, it is not my intentions to punish the great players and coaches of the Watertown Red & Black football team and any other board members that have been unknowingly brought into this situation.  I have been wronged of something that is legally mine.  The facts are that George tried to extort $25,000 from me in front of David Renzi and he tried to force me to sign a coaches contract that paid him more than double the average salary in the league.  I have no other option but to think that the reason George is operating in this manner is because he is losing control of the money.  George does not have honest intentions  and cannot be thinking in the best interest of the team.  I demand control be given back to me and George resign or I will proceed with my plan.    Sincerely, Thomas J Shultz   CC.George AshcraftJohn RamusRobert FreemanKendall Anderson Justin RichDave BurchFirm of Costello Cooney & Fearon PLLC

2007 EMPIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE SCHEDULE                 Revised 3/11/2007

JULY14 VERMONT @ CHATEAUGUAY WATERTOWN @ SCRANTON LAKE CITY @ AMSTERDAM OTTAWA @ ST LAWRENCE	AUGUST 18 CHATEAUGUAY @ AMSTERDAM VERMONT @ LAKE CITY SCRANTON @ ST LAWRENCE WATERTOWN @ OTTAWA
JULY 21 VERMONT @ AMSTERDAM CHATEAUGUAY @ LAKE CITY ST LAWRENCE @ WATERTOWN SCRANTON @ OTTAWA	AUGUST 25 AMSTERDAM @ VERMONT LAKE CITY @ CHATEAUGUAY WATERTOWN @ ST LAWRENCE OTTAWA @ SCRANTON
JULY 28 AMSTERDAM @ CHATEAUGUAY LAKE CITY @VERMONT ST LAWRENCE @ SCRANTON OTTAWA @ WATERTOWN	SEPTEMBER 8 ST LAWRENCE @ LAKE CITY VERMONT @ SCRANTON OTTAWA @ AMSTERDAM CHATEAUGUAY @ WATERTOWN
AUGUST 4 AMSTERDAM @ ST LAWRENCE WATERTOWN @ VERMONT LAKE CITY @ OTTAWA SCRANTON @ CHATEAUGUAY	SEPTEMBER 15 CHATEAUGUAY @ VERMONT AMSTERDAM @ LAKE CITY SCRANTON @ WATERTOWN ST LAWRENCE @ OTTAWA
AUGUST 11 OTTAWA @ VERMONT SCRANTON @ AMSTERDAM ST LAWRENCE @ CHATEAUGUAY WATERTOWN @ LAKE CITY	SEPTEMBER 22 AMSTERDAM @ WATERTOWN VERMONT @ ST LAWRENCE LAKE CITY @ SCRANTON CHATEAUGUAY @ OTTAWA
	SEPTEMBER 29 PLAYOFFS   OCTOBER 6 PLAYOFFS   OCTOBER 13 EFL CHAMPIONSHIP

  

West – Ottawa, St Lawrence, Watertown, Scranton

East – Montreal, Vermont, Lake City, Amsterdam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (877) 624-4485 e-mail: empirefoot@aol.com website: www.empire-football-league.com The Empire Football League held its 38th Annual Meeting recently in Suffern, New York. With the addition of a new team, the Pittsfield Aces from the Berkshire, MA, the EFL will have 11 member teams for the 2007 season. The Broome County Dragons were granted a one year leave of absence which will result in 10 active teams for the season. The EFL season starts July 14th, has bye September 1st and ends September 22nd. EFL member teams are excited about their decision to form one division for the 2007 season which allows each team to play one another and re-establish regional rivalries. The EFL Playoffs will take place on September 29th and October 6th and will conclude with the EFL Championship Game on October 13th. With teams in Montreal and Ottawa, Canada, the EFL’s major focus this year will be to implement plans to comply with the US State Department’s Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI). This initiative states that “As early as January 1, 2008, ALL persons, including U.S. citizens, traveling between the U.S. and Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda by land or sea (including ferries), may be required to present a valid passport or other documents as determined by the Department of Homeland Security.” The EFL wants to ensure that it’s team operations with regard to players, coaches and officiating crews continue smoothly while also complying with this major travel initiative that protects our borders. 2007 Empire Football League Officers were elected as follows: - Dave Burch, EFL Commissioner - Bill Higgins, Commissioner of Officials - Gary Shaver, Treasurer/Deputy Commissioner - Al Dole, Rules Committee Chairman/Deputy Commissioner - Jane Dole, Secretary For additional information visit our EFL web site at www.empire-football-league.com