Sportexe Synthetic Turf Hosts NFL's Big Hit

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 31, 2007--Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, joined the likes of New Orleans Saints' quarterback Drew Brees, Baltimore Ravens' linebacker Ray Lewis and a bevy of beautiful supermodels by being showcased on the cover of the latest edition of Sports Illustrated.

The SI cover story written by NFL insider Tim Layden featured the seven biggest hits last season in professional football, three of which took place on Sportexe synthetic turf systems, including the No. 1 overall selection – a vicious collision between Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown and Saints rookie running back – and former Heisman winner – Reggie Bush during an NFC divisional playoff game in the Louisiana Superdome last January.

The hit was so ferocious, even Chicago Bears All-Pro linebacker Brian Urlacher had to stand up and shout after seeing the impact on television, "Those are the ones you dream about!"

THE BIG HIT…Players live for it, fans love it, media celebrate it -- and all bemoan its devastating consequences. The brutal collision of bodies is football's lifeblood, and the NFL's biggest concern

"Sportexe is extremely proud of the fierce competition currently being performed on our synthetic turf fields," said Sportexe spokesperson, Aaron S. Lee. "Perhaps this article shows that the level of competition is picked up a notch on games played on Sportexe turf."

The Ravens earned the No. 3 slot on the SI "Big Hit" countdown with Baltimore linebacker Bart Scott's second-quarter sack of Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on Nov. 26. Roethlisberger called the hit the hardest he'd ever taken.

The Saints again made the list earning the final spot at No. 7. San Francisco tailback Frank Gore, the NFC's leading rusher, was left pained and windless after being nailed by Saints cornerback Jason Craft on Dec. 3.

"I'm not going to lie to you, man – it hurt," said Gore.

"It is nice to see that our product being used on a national stage by the some of the top teams in the sports industry, and to be shown on the cover of SI underfoot of Reggie Bush is a treat," Lee added. "Maybe next time Sportexe turf could be featured with Elle MacPherson."

Sportexe can also be found underfoot of the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, Alabama, Southern Miss and Pitt. Sportexe is the official turf provider for the AFL, af2, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Lacrosse League.

Sportexe Client Mourns Passing of Legendary Football Coach

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 30, 2007--Sportexe would like to send condolences to all family, friends and colleagues of professional football coaching legend and NFL Hall-of-Famer Bill Walsh, who died at age 75 after a long battle with leukemia.

Coach Walsh was best known for guiding the San Francisco 49ers to three NFL Super Bowl championships and six NFC West division titles during his 10 years as head coach.

"Sportexe is deeply saddened by the loss of Coach Walsh," said football-coaching insider and Sportexe spokesperson, Aaron S. Lee. "He was instrumental in developing the modern-era of offensive football known commonly as the West Coast offense. Coach Walsh is synonymous with Bay-area football after his run with the 49ers and two stints with Stanford University. All of our thoughts and prayers are with the entire San Francisco football community."

Sportexe is the synthetic turf system used at the San Francisco 49ers' Marie P. DeBartolo Sports Centre.

New Orleans Saints, Tulane Green Wave, State Farm Bayou Classic, High School State Championships, All-Star Game, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl and BCS National Title to be Decided on Sportexe Synthetic Turf this Fall

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 27, 2007--Less than one year after Sportexe installed 121,412 square feet of the SMG-managed Louisiana Superdome just in time to welcome home the NFL's New Orleans Saints after a year removed from the city following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, the SMG has chosen Sportexe turf for the fourth consecutive year to serve as the host surface during what could be the most competitive football season the Superdome has ever scheduled.

"We've been pleased to showcase Sportexe turf on repeated national and statewide telecasts with millions watching," said Superdome Assistant General Manager, Danny Vincens. "We're happy with the product and the teams have responded similarly."

Both the Saints and Tulane University will play a combined 17 games in the Superdome in 2007, including two NFL preseason games and not counting any playoff games the Saints could qualify to host in January. Beginning with the annual State Farm Bayou Classic featuring Grambling State and Southern University on Thanksgiving Day, the Superdome will host three professional football games, five Louisiana high school state football championships, one high school all-star game, the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl, the Allstate Sugar Bowl and the BCS championship game scheduled for Jan. 7.

"That's a lot of football, and a lot of use for big-time turf," said Vincens.

The Saints, coached by 2006 Sportexe NFL Coach of the Year Sean Payton, enjoyed its best season in franchise history on Sportexe finishing the year with a 10-6 record and an NFC South division title. The Superdome was re-opened with massive fanfare as the Saints upset the heavily favored Atlanta Falcons in front of a national television audience on ESPN's Monday Night Football to start the season.

"We are proud to be once again the field of choice for the Louisiana Superdome," said Mark Nicholls, CEO of Sportexe "The success of both the Saints and the City of New Orleans over the past year has been an inspiration to us all and Sportexe is fortunate to play a small role in the rebuilding efforts of this extremely proud culture."

Other Sportexe clients located in Louisiana include LSU and Tulane. Sportexe is also featured in the New Orleans Arena, home to the Arena Football League's New Orleans Voodoo and home to ArenaBowl XXI on July 29, and the CenturyTel Center in Bossier City, home to the arenafootball2's Bossier City Battlewings and ArenaCup8 on Aug. 25.

Sportexe can also be found underfoot of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, Alabama, Southern Miss and Pitt. Sportexe is the official turf provider for the AFL, af2, Major Indoor Soccer League and National Lacrosse League.

Sportexe Awards Sea Devils Coach Top Honor

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 18, 2007--Sportexe® is proud to announce Vince Martino, head coach of the Hamburg Sea Devils, as the winner of the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year award for his efforts in NFL Europa, formerly NFL Europe, this season. Martino joins previous Sportexe Coach of the Year winners such as the NFL's John Fox and Sean Payton, CFL's Tom Higgins and Wally Buono and NFL Europa's Doug Graber.

Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, has become synonymous with excellence and the Sportexe Coach of the Year award has become a respected symbol that recognizes football coaching talent from all over the world that demonstrates the same quality, integrity and performance that has become synonymous with the Sportexe brand.

"This is a tremendous honor from Sportexe," said Martino. "It is a reflection of the fine job conducted by the entire Hamburg organization, from the front office to the support staff to the coaches and players."

Martino, in his first year as head coach after spending two seasons as Hamburg's offensive coordinator under legendary coach Jack Bicknell, led the Sea Devils to its first World Bowl appearance in franchise history and captured the league title with 37-28 victory against the host Frankfurt Galaxy in front of 48,125 fans.

Martino, had joined the now defunct-Barcelona Dragons in 1991 as an offensive coach during the league's inception as the World League of American Football, which consisted of 10 teams located throughout North America and Europe. He coached in four World Bowls with the Dragons, the most recent being World Bowl IX in 2001. Martino won a World Bowl ring in 1997.

"Coach Martino coached for me for 30 years while I was head coach at the University of Maine, Boston College and with NFL Europe, so I know him quite well," said Bicknell, now retired. "I am so excited for all the success Coach Martino has enjoyed this season with the World Bowl, and especially with his acknowledgement from Sportexe as the outstanding football coach I have always known him to be."

On July 2, the NFL decided to discontinue the operation of NFL Europa, a six-team, all-European venture.

"The era of NFL Europe has ended," said Aaron S. Lee, football coaching insider and Sportexe spokesperson. "But not the legacy it leaves behind. Men like Coach Martino and Coach Graber not only embody the true spirit of Sportexe, but also the truest spirit of football.

"Sportexe is proud to call Coach Martino the 2007 Sportexe Coach of the Year in NFL Europa. We look forward to what should be continued success throughout Coach Martino's career no matter what league he may call home."

Dedicated to providing proven, technology-rich synthetic field systems worldwide, Sportexe has developed a reputation for unsurpassed quality - from start to finish. Since its incorporation in 1989, Sportexe has been perfecting the finest details that go into making better, safer, and higher performing athletic surfaces.

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 23, 2007--Company officials from FieldTurf-Tarkett announced today that FieldTurf Chief Executive Officer John Gilman died Monday morning, July 23. Exact cause of death has not been released.

According to FieldTurf.com, he had officially acted as CEO of FieldTurf since June 1995. Prior to officially joining FieldTurf, Gilman had been an active figure in the sports community. He was currently one of FieldTurf's primary shareholders.

"The synthetic turf industry lost a giant," said Sportexe CEO Mark Nicholls. "John Gilman was a pioneer, and Sportexe mourns his passing. All of our thoughts are with his family, friends and the entire FieldTurf organization."

Funeral arrangements have been set for noon on Wednesday, July 25 at Paperman & Sons in Montréal, Quebec, Gilman's hometown.

Kevin Porter Earns Sportexe Arena Football Coach of the Year Honor

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 23, 2007-- Sportexe is proud to announce Kevin Porter, head coach of the Kansas City Brigade, as the winner of the 2007 Sportexe Arena Football Coach of the Year award. Porter joins previous Sportexe Coach of the Year winners such as the NFL's John Fox and Sean Payton, CFL's Tom Higgins and Wally Buono and the AFL's Todd Shell and Kevin Guy.

Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, has become synonymous with excellence and the Sportexe Coach of the Year award has become a respected symbol that showcases coaching talent demonstrating the same quality, integrity and performance as the Sportexe brand.

Porter, a former NFL defensive back with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets, led the second-year team to a 10-6 record after a 3-13 inaugural year, becoming one of only four teams in the AFL's 21-year history to make a seven-game turnaround. The Brigade played for the Central Division title in the final week of the season and hosted a home playoff game as one of just 26 second-year franchises to reach the postseason among 62 franchises in the league's history.

"It's really an honor to receive this with all of the talented and successful coaches in our league," said Porter, once the winningest coach in arenafootball2 history with a 45-27 record. "This award represents a lot of hard work by our coaches, players, and staff. The season wouldn't have been such a success without their commitment.

"Thank you to Sportexe for this recognition and their continued support of Arena Football," he added.

What makes Porter's accomplishment more significant is the fact that Kansas City was picked to finish the season last among the AFL's 19 teams.

"One cannot help but admire the fine job Coach Porter and the entire franchise did this season," said Aaron S. Lee, football coaching insider and Sportexe spokesperson. "Coach Porter has always enjoyed tremendous success during his illustrious career, but no one expected the Brigade to accomplish such lofty goals in just its second year."

"Coach Porter is definitely deserving of this award after a successful season," said Neil Smith, co-owner and Porter's former teammate with the Chiefs. Thanks to him, the Brigade will contend for the ArenaBowl every year. We're proud to have a great teacher and leader as head coach."

Sportexe continues to solidify its status as the top professional indoor synthetic turf provider in North America as it is an official or exclusive turf provider for not only the AFL and af2, but also the Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League. Sportexe synthetic turf system clients also include the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, S.F. 49ers, and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, LSU, Alabama and Southern Miss.

Sportexe Turf System Underfoot at AFL Championship Game

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 17, 2007--The stage is now set for ArenaBowl XXI for Sunday, July 29 at the New Orleans Arena featuring Sportexe synthetic turf as the San Jose SaberCats square off against the Columbus Destroyers.

The SaberCats were crowned the American Conference champions on Saturday after defeating the defending Arena Football League champion Chicago Rush 61-49. This will be San Jose's third trip to the ArenaBowl in six years.

The SaberCats led by head coach Darren Arbet, have been dominant defensively all season due in large part to former Sportexe arenafootball2 Coach of the Year and current defensive coordinator Kevin Guy. Guy captured the Sportexe award in 2003 while serving as head coach of the Tennessee Valley Vipers.

The sixth-seeded Destroyers won the National Conference crown and their fourth straight road game in a 66-56 shootout over the heavily-favored Georgia Force. Columbus advances to the ArenaBowl for the first time in franchise history.

Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry and exclusive turf provider for the Arena Football League, is the official playing surface of ArenaBowl XXI to be televised nationally on ESPN. Like the New Orleans Superdome which installed Sportexe turf for the return of the New Orleans Saints in 2006 following the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the New Orleans Arena, home to the AFL's New Orleans VooDoo, also features a Sportexe synthetic turf system.

"We are extremely excited to be underfoot of the AFL's finest athletes at ArenaBowl XXI," said Sportexe spokesperson Aaron S. Lee. "The New Orleans Arena is the perfect venue to host the AFL's championship game. This event which combines the longevity and growth of one of the country's great pro sports leagues with the history and resilience of one of the world's great cities is something Sportexe can hang its hat on with pride. This is indeed a special season for all involved."

Sportexe continues to solidify its status as the top professional indoor synthetic turf provider in North America as it is an official or exclusive turf provider for not only the AFL and af2, but also the Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League. Sportexe synthetic turf system clients also include the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, S.F. 49ers, and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, LSU, Alabama and Southern Miss.

"Whether it's indoor or outdoor, infilled or non-infilled, no other company knows synthetic turf like Sportexe," said Lee. "That is why Sportexe is the exclusive choice of many of the nation's top professional sports leagues and the premium choice among consumers who demand quality and performance."

"Sportexe has been our exclusive turf partner providing a tremendous product to the AFL since 1999," said AFL Chief Operating Officer Joe Vrankin. "They are the perfect supplier for our championship game field."

ArenaBowl weekend will be filled with interactive player and celebrity events, the annual ArenaBall Awards Show, a player combine, concerts, fan festivals and more. Significant community relations efforts will also be apart of the events leading up to the game. ArenaBowl XXI will mark the AFL's third consecutive neutral-site championship game, all of which featured Sportexe synthetic turf systems. ArenaBowl XIX and ArenaBowl XX were both played in Las Vegas.

Sportexe is also the official turf system for ArenaCup8, the championship game for the AFL's developmental league, af2.

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 19, 2007--Only days after being promoted to full-time Chief Sales Officer with Sportexe, Marc Belloumini, who had been serving as the company's National Sales Director since 2005, has already made an immediate impact for the synthetic turf industry leader by forming a strategic alliance with Texas-based Vibra-Whirl to serve as a general contractor for Sportexe projects in The Lone Star State.

"We are very excited about our new relationship with Vibra-Whirl which is exclusive in the State of Texas," said Belluomini. "They are obviously an experienced company with a solid track record which should fit in nicely with Sportexe. We look forward to many successful installations."

In 1966, Vibra-Whirl, located in Panhandle, Texas, entered into the sports surfacing side of athletics designing, installing and surfacing running tracks, and has a robust 30 years experience within the industry.

"This is a perfect fit," said Mike Allen, Vice President of Sales for Vibra-Whirl. "We will be able to offer a sound product with a sound installation and at a sound price. Sportexe provides a big name and Vibra-Whirl provides big experience." "This is huge," added former college football coach and current Sportexe sales representative Ken Dabbs. "It gives us an opportunity to provide one-stop shopping for our clients and really opens the door for us here in Texas."

Sportexe has enjoyed recent success in Texas with heralded installations at the University of North Texas and Stephen. F. Austin, along with multiple-field installs at Pflugerville ISD, Brazosport ISD and Dallas ISD.

Sportexe can also be found underfoot of many of the nation's top athletes, including those associated with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, S.F. 49ers and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, LSU, Alabama, Pitt and Southern Miss. Sportexe is also the official turf provider for the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League.

Synthetic Turf Giant Promotes National Sales Director to CSO

ROUND ROCK, Texas. July 11, 2007--Sportexe, a global leader in the synthetic turf industry, announces the appointment of Marc Belluomini as its new Chief Sales Officer. Belluomini has served as National Sales Director responsible for the full portfolio of Sportexe synthetic turf systems in the U.S. since 2005.

Prior to his promotion, Belluomini served as Domestic Sales Manager after joining Sportexe in February 2004 as Western Regional Manager.

"Everyone who interacts with Marc Belluomini knows the professionalism, work ethic and passion that Marc brings to work each and every day," said Sportexe CEO Mark Nicholls. "We are pleased to make this appointment as it is well deserved."

Belluomini's previous experience includes prior executive and General Manager positions with other major sports surfacing and construction companies in both the Midwest and West regions. Belluomini, who resides in Clovis, Calif., with his wife Nicole and two children, Nicholas and Julia, is a 1995 graduate of Northern Michigan University with a B.S. in Construction Technology, with a minor in business management.

"I am proud to be named Sportexe CSO," said Belluomini. "Successful sales can only be nurtured by a comprehensive vision. I look forward to maximizing our potential with an endless commitment to lasting quality and complete satisfaction to our consumers."

Since 1989, Sportexe has been bringing the quality to the surface in sports facilities throughout North America and around the world. With an elite roster of clients that span a wide variety of facilities and sporting leagues, including the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, along with the NCAA's Cal-Berkeley, Southern Miss, LSU, Alabama and Pitt. Sportexe is also the exclusive turf system for the Arena Football League, arenafootball2, Major Indoor Soccer League and the National Lacrosse League.