Jon s'excuse de son geste pendant le match des Soul contre la Georgia Force

11 Avril 2007, 06:18am

Publié par Ch'tite K.

Bon Jovi issues apology to fans

Tuesday, April 10, 2007

Jon Bon Jovi made an obscene gesture during last night's Soul game against the Georgia Force. Today, he sent an open letter to the fans of his club.

Dear Soul Fans,

I just want to address my actions at last night’s Soul vs. Georgia Force game. As everyone knows my passion for our game and my passion for our team runs very deep and last night it got the best of me. I was caught up in a moment and my emotions took over. While I do not want to rehash everything, I addressed the matter with the media, the AFL, ESPN and the Georgia Force. I never should have done it, I didn’t mean it and I am sorry. I would hope that this incident will not tarnish our team, our league, our partners and most of all our great fans.

Sincerely,

Jon Bon Jovi

Labels: Soul

Je veux juste prendre la parole au sujet de mon attitude la nuit dernière durant le match Soul contre Georgia Force. Comme tout le monde le sait ma passion pour nos matchs et ma passion pour notre équipe est très profonde et la nuit dernière cela a pris le meilleur de moi. J'ai été pris dans un moment et mes émotions ont pris le dessus. Comme je ne peux rien y changer, je me suis adressé aux médias, l'AFL, l'ESPN et à la Georgia Force. Je n'aurais jamais dû agir ainsi je n'avais pas l'intention de le faire, j'en suis désolé. J'aimerais espérer que cet incident ne ternira pas notre équipe, notre ligue, nos partenaires et par dessus tout nos plus grands fans.

Posted on Wed, Apr. 11, 2007

League seemingly content with Bon Jovi's apology

By ED BARKOWITZ

barkowe@phillynews.com

Jon Bon Jovi wanted to take it back almost as soon as it happened.

Caught up in the intensity of Monday's game against Georgia, the Soul owner was captured by ESPN2 cameras signaling an obscene gesture after an unusual play that went against Philadelphia. The Soul suffered its first loss of the season, 57-49.

Bon Jovi, who usually avoids the postgame news conferences, made an apology outside the Soul's locker room. It appears to be enough of a gesture to avoid further sanctions from the league.

"Jon Bon Jovi is a great AFL owner, who is passionate and competitive. He has demonstrated time and time again how deeply he cares about the Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights," Chris McCloskey, the Arena Football League's vice president of communications, said in a statement.

"He has already apologized and expressed profound regret to the commissioner [David Baker], ESPN and the Soul fans. The AFL will review this matter over the next few days to determine if discipline is warranted. With as much access as the AFL provides its television partners, events such as this are unavoidable although certainly not condoned."

Just before he was to cross the goal line, Georgia wide receiver Troy Bergeron fumbled the ball through the end zone. Traditional football dictates that the play be ruled a touchback, which would have nullified the score and given Philadelphia possession. But AFL rules allow the offensive player who has fumbled the ball to recover it in the end zone, even when the ball hits the back wall.

There was also an initial question whether Bergeron had possession. Replays showed he did. The AFL does not have instant replay.

"He did have possession, he did recover the ball," Bon Jovi said Monday night. "I reacted to something I didn't know the ruling of. The Georgia Force are a class act. I apologize for the middle-finger thing. I didn't understand the rule. Simple as that."

The Soul (4-1) play another important game this week, visiting division-leading Dallas (6-0) on Monday night. Bon Jovi, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, will not be on hand for that game, however. He said Monday night he had a previous engagement involving a country music awards show.

http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/20070411_League_seemingly_content_with_Bon_Jovis_apology.html

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