Arizona
Cardinals' Greg Dortch getting the respect, opportunity he's earned
GLENDALE — “It’s been a storm, but I wouldn’t change anything.”
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Greg Dortch has made the most of his very limited opportunities since joining the franchise as a self-proclaimed “camp body” in 2021 after failing to stick with four other organizations.
Three years and two jersey changes later, though, Dortch is seeing his patience, hard work and devotion to faith pay off.
“Everything I’ve been through has made me who I am today,” Dortch said Tuesday.
“It means a lot to be where I am now, but this is really just the beginning.”
“In this life in general, you have to have patience. Things might not always go your way, but you just got to be patient and continue to work,” the wideout added. “I think when you continue to work, you put yourself in the position where opportunities show up for yourself. Once opportunities show up, that’s when you take advantage and things start to change.”
For the first time in his Arizona career, Dortch no longer has to wait for poor play or an injury to pop up to see ample playing time.
Seeing his name listed as a starter on Arizona’s depth chart ahead of its preseason opener against New Orleans was further proof of that.
“I feel like G’s got this look in his eye that he’s ready to fight, like he’s ready to go all the time,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Tuesday. “He’s about ball. I don’t know what a gamer is but he’s a gamer. … I appreciate that about him. He speaks softly and carries a big stick and I’m glad he’s one of us.”
“It’s always the same with him. He’s never up here, he’s never down here. He’s just ready to buckle up and play. He loves to play and he’s great in meetings. He’s great with maximizing his five buckets. He’s been awesome. He’s going to have a big year.”
A Red & White Dortch lighting to get through another day away from State Farm Stadium. #AZCardinals pic.twitter.com/N2eux15K3J
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) August 5, 2024
But for as much as Dortch has shot up the ranks — especially since the new regime has come to town — the wide receiver is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.
“It feels great but it’s not here yet,” Dortch said. “I still have to go out and put in the work, still have to show up every single day and be consistent. That’s what this job takes. It feels good to have people believe in you, but come Sunday, if I don’t put in the work and it doesn’t show on Sunday, it doesn’t mean anything.”
And while Dortch is expected to have an elevated role in the offense this season, he’s still very much looking forward to his special teams work.
His abilities as a returner were a big reason he was able to crack an NFL roster. He’s not about to relinquish those duties completely or willingly.
“It’s super important to me,” Dortch said. “Anytime I’m on the field, I’m trying to make a play. The more I can be on the field, whether that’s kick return or punt return, I’m just trying to help the team win. Special teams is big to me. I would hate to have a major role on offense and be taken off of special teams.”
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A former candidate for Gilbert mayor has opened the first Arizona location of a Founding Fathers-themed ice cream shop in Chandler.
Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream is a Utah-based ice cream shop centered around the early history of the United States. Female employees scoop cones in bonnets and dresses; male employees wear tricorn hats and coats. The ice cream flavors have names like Martha Washington’s Colonial Cotton Candy and Alexander Hamilton’s Not Throwing Away My Scoop.
On a trip to Utah in 2019, Arizonan Shane Krauser went to a Brooker’s and was blown away.
“I walked out of that, called my wife Janelle and I said, ‘We will own one of these,’” Krauser said.
The couple had no previous restaurant experience, but decided to open up the chain’s first location outside of Utah, choosing a storefront near the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Dobson Road. The store opened on June 6.
Krauser loves how the shop creates conversation among customers about American history.
“I love history. I love the Founding Fathers. I love the ideals of America,” Krauser said. “It’s an amazing concept.”
Opening Founding Flavors isn’t political, it’s a ‘labor of love’
Krauser is a retired lawyer turned motivational speaker who addresses topics including “freedom, the proper role of government and the parameters of the U.S. and state constitutions,” according to his website.
In 2024, Krauser ran for Gilbert mayor, but withdrew his candidacy amid scrutiny over involvement with a past investment fraud scheme and his son’s appearance in a video with the Gilbert Goons, The Arizona Republic reported.
Although the shop plans to host events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S., such as one for Constitution Day in September, Krauser said he does not see the ice cream store as related to his political career.
“The mayoral run was something to be involved in politically. This is more of a labor of love,” Krauser said. “This is not political in nature at all. It’s an ice cream shop with an American theme.”
Details: 2560 W. Chandler Blvd. #3, Chandler. brookersicecream.com, 480-881-6100.
Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.
Arizona CEO accused of stealing millions
Jeffrey Gottfurcht, the now-former CEO of Mesa startupo Cyber Dive, is accused of stealing at least $1.5 million from the company to buy gifts for his girlfriend. FOX 10’s Brian Webb has more.
PHOENIX – An Arizona chief executive officer is facing major legal trouble after being accused of embezzling money from his company.
What we know:
Cyber Dive is an Arizona startup that sells child-safety smartphones, designed so parents can monitor their children’s online activity. The company is run out of a business complex in Mesa, but the startup is barely hanging on after the CEO allegedly took off with the money to spend on his girlfriend.
Jeffrey Gottfurcht is facing federal embezzlement charges. He stands accused of lying and doctoring documents to trick investors before running off with at least $1.5 million.
On the company Facebook page, Gottfurcht claimed to be the first rheumatoid arthritis sufferer to scale Mount Everest.
Local perspective:
Red flags first popped up at the company on Feb. 13, with strange occurrences coming into the office.
Derek Jackson, who co-founded Cyber Dive, recalled the moment the discrepancies came to light.
“They mentioned to me something about getting routing documentation for funds from an acquisition deal,” Jackson recounted. “They said ‘where are those documents?’ He said he was gonna send him at 3 p.m. today, and my response was what deal are you talking about?”
Dig deeper:
Court documents show Gottfurcht used the money to buy his escort girlfriend a Lamborghini, a four-bedroom house in Miami, and a diamond ring. The girlfriend has posted videos on TikTok, but her identity is hidden because she has not been charged with a crime.
When asked to confirm if Gottfurcht purchased the car, the diamond ring, and the house, Jackson responded, “Yes. So it gets deep. Yes, it gets very deep.”
“It’s a huge gut punch,” Jackson said regarding the impact on the startup. “I think it’s been challenging to stay motivated to keep the company going because when this happened, Jeff drained the account to zero.”
At the Cyber Dive headquarters, half the workforce was let go. Jackson is now serving as the interim chief executive officer, looking for new investors to keep the lights on while coming to grips with the loss of a partner and friend.
Jackson stated that the total amount of money taken is closer to $4 million.
“I was in the army. I was an intelligence officer. I was targeting people in ISIS. I don’t even hate terrorists as much as I hate Jeff right now,” Jackson said.
The other side:
No one answered the door at the Paradise Valley home Gottfurcht shares with his wife and three children. Court paperwork shows that his wife is seeking a divorce, and helped turn her husband in to the authorities.
What’s next:
Gottfurcht was previously arrested in Scottsdale in May over allegations of domestic violence. He remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Derek Jackson, and from court documents.
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