Mark Valentino, general manager for the Seattle Sabres in 1978, took over the team from Jim Johnston in 1979 and moved it
to Parma, Ohio, renaming it the Parma Press. Under Mark, the team had its first DNFL Bowl appearance in the first year Parma
finished over .500, in 1982, easily winning the championship 34-6 over Salt Lake in a game that still holds the record for
fewest points given up in a DNFL Bowl. With the great Dan Fouts as QB, Parma looked to be a league powerhouse for years to come.
And then the strangeness set in for Mark's franchise. Parma has never won the league championship since — even though it
should have. In 1985, for example, Parma scored the most points in the league, and scored 104 points more than its next closest
opponent — and failed to make the playoffs. In 2007, Parma scored its most points ever, over 600 — and then lost its
first-round playoff game 15-13.
Mark has won Comeback Owner of the Year, Decision of the Year, Worst Non-Move of the Year, Owner of the Year, Puzzler of the Year,
the Well They Worked for Len One Time Award, and the Why He Keeps Doing It Award.
He and his brother, Michael, are in the Hall of Fame for their love of picking Dallas Cowboys.
Under Mark, Parma has made the DNFL Bowl four times and is 1-3.
Mark is known for being one of the nicest and most upstanding guys in the league. Example: tanking the last game of the 2005
season would have given him a great draft choice, but his honest play resulted in an honest result — his knocking Sunnydale
out of the playoffs and allowing Bellwood to make it in.
Mark also was a popular singer in the 1960's