Stan Brock

The Avengers' poor start this season has cost Coach Stan Brock his job. Brock was fired Saturday, a day after the Arena Football League team struggled through a 49-21 loss to the Arizona Rattlers at Staples Center. Defensive coordinator Ron Lyles was named interim coach. After going 3-11 in their inaugural season last year, the Avengers are 0-3 and have been outscored, 159-99.

The Avengers' poor start this season has cost Coach Stan Brock his job. Brock was fired Saturday, a day after the Arena Football League team struggled through a 49-21 loss to the Arizona Rattlers at Staples Center. Defensive coordinator Ron Lyles was named interim coach. After going 3-11 in their inaugural season last year, the Avengers are 0-3 and have been outscored, 159-99.

As Stan Brock's NFL career was winding down in San Diego in 1995, the 16-year offensive tackle had an idea of what retirement might be like: Go back home to Beaverton, Ore,. and become a high school football coach. "Just kinda kick back and have a good time," Brock said. Instead he got involved in the Arena Football League, first as a broadcaster for the Portland Forest Dragons, then as their coach.

Stan Brock, a former NFL player, was named coach of the Los Angeles Avengers for the team's first Arena Football League season Monday. He will be introduced today at a news conference in Staples Center. Brock coached the Portland Forest Dragons the last three arena league seasons. He took over at Portland as interim coach in 1997, then was named coach in 1998. He has a 12-24 record.

As Stan Brock's NFL career was winding down in San Diego in 1995, the 16-year offensive tackle had an idea of what retirement might be like: Go back home to Beaverton, Ore,. and become a high school football coach. "Just kinda kick back and have a good time," Brock said. Instead he got involved in the Arena Football League, first as a broadcaster for the Portland Forest Dragons, then as their coach.

at Grand Rapids 4:30 PDT, Fox Sports Net * Radio--KMPC (1540). * Records--0-0, Rampage 0-0. * Update--The Avengers raised some eyebrows and expectations by winning their two exhibition games, including last week's 54-48 victory over Oklahoma. But the regular season can be a different beast. Just ask Grand Rapids, which went 3-11 in its first season in 1998 before improving to 8-6 last year.

Ed Hodgkiss, offensive coordinator for the Arena League Indiana Firebirds, was scheduled to meet with Avenger officials again Monday regarding the team's head coaching position. Casey Wasserman said no deal was imminent, but sources familiar with the negotiations said Hodgkiss was "close" to agreeing to a contract. Hodgkiss, along with interim coach Robert Lyles, is one of several candidates the Avengers have interviewed to replace Stan Brock, who was fired three games into the 2001 season.

vs. Arizona, 7:30 Fox Sports Net * Site--Staples Center. * Radio--KMPC (1540). * Records--Avengers 0-2, Rattlers 0-1. * Record vs. Rattlers (2000)--0-2. * Update--Looking for their first victories, both teams will try different quarterbacks tonight.

Todd Marinovich passed for 10 touchdowns, an Arena Football League record, and the Los Angeles Avengers defeated the Houston Thunderbears, 72-66, in overtime Friday night before 3,219 at the Compaq Center for their third consecutive victory. The game-winning score in overtime came on a 19-yard pass from Marinovich to Shannon Culver, who finished with five touchdown receptions. Marinovich completed 26 of 35 passes for 469 yards, with two interceptions.

Stan Brock, a former NFL player, was named coach of the Los Angeles Avengers for the team's first Arena Football League season Monday. He will be introduced today at a news conference in Staples Center. Brock coached the Portland Forest Dragons the last three arena league seasons. He took over at Portland as interim coach in 1997, then was named coach in 1998. He has a 12-24 record.

Todd Marinovich played for the first time in a regular-season Arena Football League game Friday, but neither he nor the Avengers could avoid being steamrollered by the Oklahoma Wranglers, 65-44, before 9,688 at the Myriad Center. With Los Angeles trailing, 27-6, and 7:15 left in the second quarter, Coach Stan Brock pulled starting quarterback Scott Semptimphelter and inserted Marinovich, the former USC star.

Opponent--Portland Forest Dragons Site--The Pond Time--7:30 Radio--KPLS (830 AM) Records--Forest Dragons 1-7, Piranhas 1-7 Piranha update--Anaheim lost its third game of the season by three points or less last week, 41-40, to Orlando. In each of the close losses, kicker Ian Howfield has missed a key extra point or field goal. Howfield, second in the league in scoring among kickers with 77 points, missed two extra points against Orlando.