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From Tom Flynn, Chiefs fan:
Hi Ange.
After the rough start for both our teams, it's nice
to have some good news: I received a very nice response
to the letter I wrote to Clark Hunt about the AFL's
50th anniversary. It's on sharp Chiefs letterhead
and it has a Clark Hunt signature but who knows if it's
really his. Here's what the letter said:
Dear Thomas:
Thank you for your letter and the kind
memories you expressed about my father Lamar. He loved
to recall his memories from the American Football
League and enjoyed hearing from those who shared an
appreciation for the rich history the AFL afforded
football fans.
I also appreciate your thoughts regarding
the 50th anniversary of the founding of the AFL. We
have been approached by a number of former players
and fans who share your thoughts relative to some
sort of commemoration, and we plan to encourage the
league to recognize the anniversary appropriately
when the time comes.
Thank you again for your kind letter.
Best regards,
Clark K. Hunt
Chairman
Thomas:
I received a letter with essentially the
identical content. I'm sure it is, in fact, his
signature. Obviously, other fans and players are
making some noise. My concern is that if they
wait until "the time comes", things like special patches
and throwback uniforms won't be included, because
there won't be enough time to approve and produce them.
I wrote four letters: to Wilson, Davis,
Hunt and Goodell. Wilson and Davis have not yet
answered. Hunt, as I said, sent me essentially
the same reply he sent you, and that is
good news. But I got a form-letter response
from an NFL representative (not Goodell), saying "Thanks
for your interest in the NFL". Maybe we need more
letters directly to Goodell, so that maybe one of them
will get through to him personally. I believe
that letters from former players might have a better
chance of doing so, than letters from "just fans", but
fan's letters can't hurt.
I'm asking once again
for AFL fans and former players to write, specifically
to Mr. Goodell, asking for a 2009 "Celebration of the
AFL".
You can review my original letter to Lamar
Hunt about this at http://www.remembertheafl.com/CelebrateTheAFL.htm.
Those of you with websites, please ask
your readers to write letters to Mr. Goodell as well.
Please write to:
Mr. Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner
280 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Please also send a copy of your letter
to the Sports Editor of your local newspaper.
If enough AFL fans, some AFL players and some AFL
HALL OF FAMERS would write these letters, I
believe the AFL might finally get the credit it has
been due for almost fifty years.
Thanks,
Ange Coniglio
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