View source for Los Angeles Avengers

{{short description|Arena football team}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox indoor American football team
| name = Los Angeles Avengers
| current = 
| logo = LosAngelesAvengers.png
| founded = 2000
| folded = 2009
| city = [[Staples Center]]<br>in [[Los Angeles, California]]
| misc = 
| uniform =
| colors = Red, blue, gold and white<br>{{Color box|#FF003F|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|#072D77|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|gold|border=darkgray}} {{Color box|white|border=darkgray}}
| coach = [[Ed Hodgkiss]]
| owner = [[Casey Wasserman]]
| chairman = 
| president = Matt Wikstrom
| general manager = 
| mascot = TD
| nicknames =
| league =
[[Arena Football League]] ({{AFL Year|2000}}–{{AFL Year|2008}})
*American Conference (2000–2008)
**[[Western Division (AFL)|Western]] (2000–2008)
| team_history =
*Los Angeles Avengers (2000–2008)
| no_league_champs = 
| no_conf_champs = 
| no_div_champs = 1
| league_champs =
| conf_champs =
| div_champs =
*'''Western:''' {{AFL Year|2005}}
| playoff_appearances =
*{{AFL Year|2002}}, {{AFL Year|2003}}, {{AFL Year|2004}}, {{AFL Year|2005}}, {{AFL Year|2007}}
| no_playoff_appearances = 5
| arena_years = 
*[[Staples Center]] (2000–2008)
}}

The '''Los Angeles Avengers''' were an [[Arena Football League]] team based in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], from 2000 through 2008. They folded on April 19, 2009.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2009/04/20/daily3.html | title=Arena Football League's Los Angeles Avengers shut down | date=April 20, 2009}}</ref>

==History==
The Los Angeles Avengers played their home games at the [[Staples Center]], which is also the current home to the [[Los Angeles Kings]] of the [[National Hockey League]], the [[Los Angeles Lakers]] and [[Los Angeles Clippers]] of the [[National Basketball Association]], the [[Los Angeles Sparks]] of the [[Women's National Basketball Association]]. The team began play in the 2000 season. The Avengers competed in the Western Division of the American Conference. Since its inception in 2000, the Avengers had competed in postseason play five times. The Avengers earned American Conference wildcard playoff berths in 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007, and won the American Conference Western Division Championship in 2005.

The Avengers franchise was owned by [[Casey Wasserman]], grandson of the [[Music Corporation of America|MCA]] head [[Lew Wasserman]].

As part of the Avengers's marketing plan as they got off the ground in 2000, the team placed risqué billboard slogans around [[Greater Los Angeles]], with slogans including "On April 9th, Twelve Men Will Go Both Ways,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boulware |first=Jack |date=2000-04-06 |title=Panty raid |url=https://www.salon.com/2000/04/06/panties_2/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Salon |language=en}}</ref> meaning the members will play both offense and defense. One such sign, reading "Six Beautiful Women Will Show You Their Panties" (a joking reference to the team's cheerleaders) aroused the ire of [[Rick Cole]], then [[City Manager]] of [[Azusa, California|Azusa]]. He responded by borrowing a City truck and splashing paint over the sign,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Oliver |first=Charles |date=2000-07-01 |title=Brickbats |url=https://reason.com/2000/07/01/brickbats-385/ |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Reason.com |language=en-US}}</ref> further publicizing the Avengers. Following Rick Cole's apology and compensation payments, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office chose not to file vandalism charges.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2000-04-12 |title=City Official Won't Be Charged With Vandalism |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-apr-12-me-18653-story.html |access-date=2023-11-24 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 10, 2005, in a game against the New York Dragons, offensive lineman/defensive tackle [[Al Lucas (American football)|Al Lucas]] tackled Corey Johnson during a kickoff return with 10:17 to go in the first quarter. Replays showed that Johnson's knee hit Lucas' helmet, and Lucas did not move again after falling to the ground.  Later replays and reports showed nothing abnormal on the play.  Dr. William Lang, the team physician, attempted to revive him on the field. He appeared to suffer a spinal cord injury. After being treated for approximately a half an hour at the Staples Center, Lucas was rushed to nearby California Hospital Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 1:28pm PDT.  He was only 26 years of age.  It is unknown whether Lucas died on the field, or after treatment failed. An autopsy revealed that he died of blunt force trauma and an upper spinal cord injury.  It is the only fatal injury incurred during a game in the history of the league. The Al Lucas Hero Award is named after him.

The Avengers announced the termination of the program on April 20, 2009, after nine years of operation. Four years later, it was announced that the [[Los Angeles KISS]] would join the AFL starting in the 2014 season making them the fourth team to set up shop in the Los Angeles area.

The Avengers' official mascot was a superhero-like character named T.D.<ref>[http://www.laavengers.com/fans/kids/ LA Avengers: Kids] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060327135956/http://www.laavengers.com/fans/kids/ |date=2006-03-27 }}</ref>

==Memorable Avengers' highlights==
* On Sunday, March 30, 2003, in a Week 9 road game against the [[Orlando Predators]], the Avengers trailed 63–58 late in the game. However, Los Angeles managed to recover an onside kick and, on the last play of the game, quarterback [[Tony Graziani]] threw a 32-yard touchdown pass that bounced off the rebound net and was caught by WR/LB [[Greg Hopkins]], giving the Avengers a 64–63 win.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Arena Football |url=http://www.arenafootball.com/mediaPlayer/video.dbml?DB_MENU_ID=&SPSID=38064&SPID=3172&DB_OEM_ID=3500&CLIP_ID=25766&CLIP_FILE_ID=29255&CONTENT_TYPE=ONDEMAND}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* On Sunday, March 31, 2004, In the championship series taking place at Staples Center, Los Angeles, Ca. #98 John Garcia not only led the team in sacks on this day with 3 also blocked and returned a FG to win the game against the Chicago Rush. Final Score 24–26. Quarterback Tony Graziani threw for only 1 Touchdown pass and 3 INT's.

==Season-by-season==
{{Main|List of Los Angeles Avengers seasons}}

==Coaches==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:90%;"
![[Head coach]]
!Tenure
!Regular season<br>record (W-L)
!Post season<br>record (W-L)
!Most recent coaching staff
!Notes
|-
|[[Stan Brock (American football)|Stan Brock]]
|[[2000 Arena Football League season|2000]] - [[2001 Arena Football League season|2001]]
|3-14<ref name="AFOB">{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=2 |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Stan Brock |access-date=2008-10-24}}</ref>
|0-0<ref name="AFOB"/>
|
|Let go after starting 0-3 during 2001.<ref name="AFOB"/>
|-
|[[Robert Lyles]]
|2001<ref name="AFOL">{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=56 |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Robert Lyles |access-date=2008-10-24}}</ref>
|5-6<ref name="AFOL"/>
|0-0
|
|Replaced Brock, was not<br>retained after season.
|-
|[[Ed Hodgkiss]]
|[[2002 Arena Football League season|2002]] - [[2008 Los Angeles Avengers season|2008]]
|57-53<ref name="AFOH">{{cite web |url=http://www.arenafan.com/history/?page=coaches&coach=58 |title=ArenaFan Online: AFL Coaches: Ed Hodgkiss |access-date=2008-10-24}}</ref>
|1-5<ref name="AFOH"/>
|
|
|-
|[[Pat O'Hara]]*
|2009
|0-0
|0-0
|[[Offensive coordinator|OC]]:Vacant<br>[[Defensive Coordinator|DC]] / [[Defensive back|DB]] coach: Maurice Blanding<br>[[Quarterback|QB]] / [[Wide receiver|WR]] coach: [[Chad Salisbury]]<br>[[Defensive line|DL]] / [[Linebacker|LB]] coach: Leroy Thompson<br>[[Offensive line|OL]] / [[Fullback (American football)|FB]] coach: [[Mark Tucker (offensive lineman)|Mark Tucker]]
|Team folded before he coached a game.
|-
|}

==Notable players==

===Arena Football Hall of Famers===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
| colspan="5" style= "background: #FF003F; color: white" align="center"| '''Los Angeles Avengers Hall of Famers'''
|-
!width=60px style="background: #072D77; color: white" |No.
!style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Name
!style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Year Inducted
!style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Position(s)
!style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Years w/ Avengers
|-
| style="text-align:center;"| 82 || [[Greg Hopkins]] || style="text-align:center;"| 2013 || style="text-align:center;"|[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]]|| style="text-align:center;"| 2002–06
|}

===Individual awards===
{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#FF003F; color:white;"| '''Rookie of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2000}}||[[Chris Jackson (wide receiver)|Chris Jackson]]||[[Offensive Specialist|OS]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#FF003F; color:white;"| '''Ironman of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2002}}||[[Greg Hopkins]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Linebacker|LB]]
|-
|{{AFL Year|2005}}||[[Kevin Ingram]]||[[Wide receiver|WR]]/[[Defensive back|DB]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#FF003F; color:white;"| '''Offensive Player of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2003}}||[[Chris Jackson (wide receiver)|Chris Jackson]]||[[Offensive Specialist|OS]]
|}

{{col-end}}

{{col-begin}}
{{col-3}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#FF003F; color:white;"| '''Defensive Player of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2005}}||[[Silas DeMary]]||[[Defensive lineman|DL]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#FF003F; color:white;"| '''Lineman of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2005}}||[[Silas DeMary]]||[[Defensive lineman|DL]]
|}

{{col-3}}

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
| colspan="4" style="background:#FF003F; color:white;"| '''Kicker of the Year'''
|-
!  style="width:50px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Season   
!  style="width:150px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Player
!  style="width:100px; background:#072D77; color:white;"| Position
|-
|{{AFL Year|2005}}||[[Remy Hamilton]]||[[Placekicker|K]]
|-
|{{AFL Year|2006}}||[[Remy Hamilton]]||[[Placekicker|K]]
|}

{{col-end}}

===Retired uniform numbers===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
| colspan="5" style= "background: #FF003F; color: white" | '''Los Angeles Avengers retired numbers'''
|-
! width=40px  style="background: #072D77; color: white"  |N°
! width=150px style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Player
! width=40px style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Position
! width=80px style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Seasons
! width=50px style="background: #072D77; color: white" |Ref.
|-
| '''76''' || [[Al Lucas (American football)|Al Lucas]] || [[Defensive line|DL]] || 2004−05 ||
|-
| '''82''' || [[Greg Hopkins]] || [[Wide receiver|WR]] || 2002-06 || 
|-
|}

===All-Arena players===
The following Avengers players were named to [[All-Arena]] Teams:
* '''QB''' [[Tony Graziani]] (1)
* '''FB/LB''' [[Elcardos Worthen (American football)|Elcardos Worthen]] (1)
* '''WR/DB''' [[Kevin Ingram]] (3)
* '''WR/LB''' [[Greg Hopkins]] (2)
* '''OL/DL''' [[Victor Hall (American football)|Victor Hall]] (1), [[Silas DeMary]] (1)
* '''DL''' [[Silas DeMary]] (1)
* '''OS''' [[Chris Jackson (wide receiver)|Chris Jackson]] (1)
* '''DS''' [[Mark Ricks (gridiron football)|Mark Ricks]] (1)
* '''K''' [[Remy Hamilton]] (3)
*'''MLB''' [[John Cook Jr]] (2)

===All-Ironman players===
The following Avengers players were named to All-Ironman Teams:
* '''FB/LB''' [[Josh Jeffries]] (1)
* '''WR/DB''' [[Kevin Ingram]] (3)
* '''DB/RB''' [[David Dawson (American football)|Dave Dawson]] (1)
* '''WR/LB''' [[Chris Jackson (wide receiver)|Chris Jackson]] (1), [[Greg Hopkins]] (2)
* '''OL/DL''' [[Victor Hall (American football)|Victor Hall]] (1), [[Tony Plantin]] (1)

===All-Rookie players===
The following Avengers players were named to All-Rookie Teams:
* '''QB''' [[Todd Marinovich]], [[Sonny Cumbie]]
* '''WR/LB''' [[Chris Jackson (wide receiver)|Chris Jackson]]
* '''OL/DL''' [[Arnold Miller (arena football)|Arnold Miller]]
* '''DS''' [[Damen Wheeler]]
* '''K''' [[Brian Reaves]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=clubhouse&team=44 Los Angeles Avengers at ArenaFan]

{{Los Angeles Avengers}}
{{Defunct Arena Football League franchises}}

[[Category:Los Angeles Avengers| ]]
[[Category:2000 establishments in California]]
[[Category:2009 disestablishments in California]]
[[Category:Defunct American football teams in California]]
[[Category:Sports organizations established in 2000]]