Rockford's Attendance

[Lineman]

Does anybody know how Rockford's Attendance has been at NIU's Convocation Center?

[lightning fan]

aprox 1400 the first game.

aprox 1500 the second.

Looked fairly full with only lower bowl pulled out.

Food is great, metrocentre staff should go down and check it out.

In fact the metrocentre manager was there for the second game. I hope he sampled the food. I hope he did not spill any on his Icehog gear.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

lightning fan,
...just like I said, when the Rockford Lightning can't play at the MetroCentre, they might as well play their home games in Gary since so many Rockford fans are willing to travel to G.I. (meaning Gary, Indiana for those not in the know). Doubleheaders--ROCKFORD in the matinee match-up and Gary playing the televised game at 7.

There were a bunch of Rockford people at the game tonight. Geez! To add insult to injury, some even wore their Lightning t-shirts to Gary. To add more insult to injury, Craig pointed you out to me sitting by the Rockford bench by Dane Fife. What's up with that anyway? YOU, I can understand. But why was Dane Fife sitting over there by the Rockford bench? Showing support for his Indiana University ex-teammate Tom Coverdale? Fife was the fan favorite in Gary last season...well, at least I recognized him. I don't think too many others did. Maybe if he sat by the Gary bench...

Well, either Rockford or Gary will make the play-offs. I don't think both will. Whichever one makes the play-offs will have to back-in though. I'm not impressed.

[lightning fan]

Yes Ken, we had some fans at Gary friday night.

I had the white lightning T on which the scoreboard video cameraman found and centered me in the video board. I was pointing to my lightning logo and did not hear any boos from the crowd. Not surprised, Gary fans have always treated Lighting fans with respect. Shaman gave us a free upgrade to courtside. Thanks again Craig Shaman.

One other fan with family sitting behind basket to your right with lightning T on was Freddy Flash our mascot. Surprise...he was given free tix by coach Ticknor after talking with him at last Gary game in Rockford. Ticknor even arranged a meeting with Freddy family and your mascot before the game. That was pretty nice of your coach.

Fife and his teammate sat there because the seats by Gary bench were full. Two Indiana officials came with them and they sat over by the Gary bench. Other fans came over and Fife even went off to the side to have some photos taken with kids + family. Seems like a good kid. Daleo, Chris Allen, Coverdale, Artie Griffin+ others all talked and joked with Fife.

I don't know about backing in the playoffs, Lightning are playing pretty good now with a good inside game. Fouls are evening up and the big guys are hitting aprox 50 from field to go along with good rebounding effort.

We will see, I hope Skyforce drop and Gary makes it in. Good Luck.

I will come over and find you to say hi at next Lightning game in Gary I go to.

[lightning fan]

Ken, I talked to Chris Allen last night at a lightning player meet and greet after the win last night. (Crucial win, lightning sucked it up in 4th and are now in third place with skyforce loss last night.)

I was informed that Fife was at Gary game as a guest of the lightning. Daleo knows Fife and his agent and left them tix for the game.

I had it backwards, Fife and his group did not want to sit next to Gary bench, splitting up only because seats behind lightning bench were full.

I also talked with some lightning fans who heard rumours Fife was not happy with his experience at Gary last year with Ticknor. Fife seemed to fall into the same hole cunningham and blesson did when they played there. Daleo has had good success out of players Ticknor did not want like cunningham and coverdale.

Daleo has been working hard on the roster and now remade lightning into low post presence playoff contender after a up and down season. Gary may need to make a few moves to hang on to fourth. Good luck.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

All the teams seem to have gone big except for Idaho (who don't seem to need to adjust their roster). If Gary can't win with the big men they have now, then it's all a matter of "wait until next year". Shelly Clark, Jarrod Gee, and Aki Thomas are better than average players. Big Jermaine Williams is ok too when he looks to shoot. I still feel that the play-off picture will be determined by teams who can lose the least, rather than teams (other than Idaho) winning and determining their own destiny.

Not so fast lightning fan (pun intended). Coach Daleo waived Carson Cunningham before the end of last season. At least he did last the entire season he played in Gary. Otherwise--yes, all the players you mentioned did not leave Gary as 'happy campers'. The bright side of the story (spinning?) is that three players traded away or released from Gary are currently in the NBA...Oliver Miller, Maurice Carter, and Bruno Sundov. :roll:

...yeah Bruno is back in the NBA! I guess there is a demand there for his European "no physical contact" style of play.