Not the real Phantoms in Fayetteville

[phantom1]

We called it quits this past Monday. The team in Fayetteville is not the Phantoms for the record. It is sadd that greed plays a role in this game. Fayetteville had to fool the fans. 9 former players went to play. The better talent refused to go. This is a prime example how this league operates. The truth about this league is about to hit the fan. A certain person from the league and a person from the guard convinced a former GM of the phantoms to bring the equipment to Fayetteville so that the game can be played. If this is not a crime than I don't know what is.

[fwp]

Yes, these fill in teams are quite upsetting.

Just as bad as the owners who don't live up to their obligations and have their teams prepared to play the games that are scheduled. I think many were feeling good for the effort put out by the Phantom organization despite not having the required home venue. Coming on here gave many of us a reason to give you the benefit of the doubt. We were wrong.

EVERY effort should be made to make sure that the FANS get what they are expecting. There are teams in this league that battle that each and every week, and those are the teams that should be commended.

Obviously the Phantoms aren't, and they can just go away!

[herb1]

Yes the pot calling the kettle black is exemplified to the utmost exterior here.
The players did do there best to try perform in a completly kaotic environment
that was a total enthema to any successful sports business franchise.

Novel Concept


Being paid for work or services rendered. A very Novel concept,bouncing basketballs and CHECKS dont count.
The reason the site is not up is because the webmaster was never paid , along with ,Venues, Ex Vice Presidents,Printer and Graphics People,Numerous Staff,Bus Lines,Airlines,Equipment Suppliers,Players ,Staff,Beverage Distributors,Athletic Training Facilities,Landlords,Leagues ETC., hmmm .

Well at least they are consistant about one thing. I think its pretty clear that in this 6th year of the NIFL, you can see about 6 -8 strong decent teams and the rest are re-arranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. Sadly for those teams and I think the league because it has refused to run its self like a real business, the Carpthia is too far away and the folks on the Californian AF2 are partying big time. After the season I think they will probably take about 4 of them and the Titanic will pass beneath the waves of the Atalntic and Pacific Division.

The Ships may be sinking faster then they did after this week.

[ronaldoswalt]

We called it quits this past Monday. The team in Fayetteville is not the Phantoms for the record. It is sadd that greed plays a role in this game. Fayetteville had to fool the fans. 9 former players went to play. The better talent refused to go. This is a prime example how this league operates. The truth about this league is about to hit the fan. A certain person from the league and a person from the guard convinced a former GM of the phantoms to bring the equipment to Fayetteville so that the game can be played. If this is not a crime than I don't know what is.


are the phantoms coming to texas

[herb1]

The y only lost 70-0 and Tenn got clobbered 82-0 . I guess they played in Cincy since all of the field and equipment had been taken back by Grasstex

Katy ?? I really wouldn't count on St Louis much less you guys.

[MarshalsFAN80]

Cincinnati already played TENN in TENN!!! and it was the TENNESSEE PIONEERS that made the trip to Cincinnati!

Our D had a couple of nice picks tonight.

[Piehole 1]

How pathetic can this NIFL really be? This has to the biggest sham of a professional sports league of all time. I really feel sorry for the sponsors who waste their money for this garbage. It is a good thing I didn't go to the game tonight because I would have been screwed out of my money.

I really wonder whether or not the NFL really supplies the officials for the NIFL. I really doubt it. There is no way the NFL would want anything to do with the NIFL in any way.

Richard King, one of the Fayetteville Guard owners, was on the Fayetteville Guard show the other night and in the paper wondering why the fans aren't supporting the team. Well Richard, wake up and smell the coffee because tonight is a prime example of why nobody cares about this crap.

[herb1]

Good idea but bad execution. Actually I found out the officials of the NFL had authorized nothing with the NIFL this year. All announcements print or verbal are a misrepresentation and I hear a legal action is being prepared in the next several weeks.
As to the questions and discussions on what could make a league work the SIFL thread is getting some good response

Hey the pick up Phantoms team beat Tennesee by 12 points LOL :p

[fred1965]

Mr. Lind, do what you have to do. Go after who you need to. It would be great to watch.

[Piehole 1]

http://www.fayettevillenc.com/article?id=234104

Guard game goes on despite threat of legal action.....

[goguard88]

I really hope this doesn't get out of hand. If the Guard's season was affected by this, I'd be devastated, and a lot of other people would be, too. Man, I'd hate that.

[Piehole 1]

I really hope this doesn't get out of hand. If the Guard's season was affected by this, I'd be devastated, and a lot of other people would be, too. Man, I'd hate that.

I don't know how this couldn't affect the Guard season. The credibility the Guard was trying to establish with the fans took a huge hit with the negativity this incident has created.

[MarshalsFAN80]

I don't know how this couldn't affect the Guard season. The credibility the Guard was trying to establish with the fans took a huge hit with the negativity this incident has created.


At this point...this isn't the guard's problem! Again, this is a problem within the LEAGUE. Let them deal with it...Guard Fans, SUPPORT YOUR FREAKING TEAM!!!!

the biggest PROBLEM in Fayetteville is that their news actually covers their team...who would have ever thought that a HIGH CLASS ORGANIZATION would have this problem????

Of all of the teams that I have worked with in the past...or present...Fayetteville is one of the best. Mike Lind lied to me in the past so, I'm not going to hold much stock in what he has to say at this point. :( I thought that he was a pretty stand up guy....but I guess I was wrong.

Hopefully he is a good guy and everything with this gets figured out.

[PIONEERSFAN101]

Well Guard fans...wanna come back to the af2 as the Wildcats?

[ronaldoswalt]

i am ready for af2 but is our 6000 arena big enough

[Malepig]

Copperheadfan you are too close to Houston.

Anyway phantom at least you tried to do what's right with the away games all year. You didn't have to go this far and you did. It was uphill day one for you and most would not have started the season. Enjoy your lawsuits and be happy. Besides get your finances straight and have an af2 team in WPB, its far enough from Miami.

[phantom1]

We never tried to stop the game. We want our equipment back. The NIFL or any other party does not have permission to use the equipment. The equipment is stolen. Mike Lind ownes the equipment and leased it to the phantoms. Therefore the league has no business stating other wise. If the leauge took over this team why is there nothing on the website in reference to this take over? Because its another front to this mickey mouse BS!!! We had enough and we cut our loses. Bad guy? no way. All the truth about this game is about to come out. I will tell you the truth not want you want to hear. Mr. Jackson stated to the press that I tried to stop the game which is a lie. The guard is on the hook now. Stupid Stupid Stupid. All because of greed. Now was this a real game. I talked to the league at 11:00 before the game and informed them that my equipment was stolen and that the Phantoms name was not to be used. Carolyn stated that a replacment team from Greensboro was playing the game and not with my equipment or my name. Now she told the press that the NIFL took over the team and that they have a agreement with each franchise on using the equipment to finish a season. Well why did the story change? This equipment is not owned by the Phantoms but by Mike Lind and leased to the Phantoms. Alot of shady stuff going on and there is more to this story that will come out later. Point blank the leauge and the guard can say what they want a Judge in Broward County Florida will have the last say so Bank on That. THE EQUIPMENT IS STOLEN AND THE LEAGUE WAS PUT ON NOTICE. The phantoms ended its season last Monday. The league never contacted ownership to take the team over and finish the season.

[fred1965]

Would make the best PPV in indoor football history....

Thing is, you wouldn't root for a winner, just for a lot of damage to both.

[GTDREW]

Phantom1,
It appears to me that you guys were doomed from the get go on trying to get a team down there. First you had a leadership problem, or should I say a lack of. I think while sitting on the beach drinking a cold beverage someone came up with the idea of trying to own a professional team. The idea was possibly good but while under the influence they forgot or did not realize it is an indoor game. Then the concept of we have to pay players, support staff, etc., and also will have to travel distances of up to several hundred miles to play other teams. This too creates some cost of existance and we have to have funds for that. Bottom line is, this can get expensive and if that person does not have their ducks in a row we will fold prior to the first kickoff. The leadership your team had failed not only the people and fans of WPB but everyone in the league.
All of the *****ing and moaning about what did or did not happen is not going to help WPB's situation. Some views on here show how unhappy some have been with the league office and some owners of certain teams. But in the end it's still entertainment and not a life or death situation. At first when I heard you guys were at least going to make the schedule I thought now that's a stand up team that deserves a lot of respect. I still respect the players as they have little control over team operations but not anyone else. If anything the fans of WPB Phantoms, or my new name the WPB Ghostriders, hope not to offend anyone with any other Ghostrider name, should thank the players and staff that played the game in Fayetteville last night. They tried to give you and the rest some respect as a person by giving the fans an expected game.
Greed I don't think so here, being a man and standing by your word is what happened at the Guard last night. Mr. King and his staff did what they did not for the money but to provide a service to the people and fans of the Fayetteville area. Stolen equipment, not sure on that one, if you or someone else was to be in charge of it would it not have been noticed missing before now and why are we hearing it on here. Your team folding, you betcha, or so it seems, and for me that's great, you should have never been allowed in the league without an arena to play in. But again, no fans on here including you said anything about that until now. One last word, a wise man once said " I would rather a man steal from me than lie to me, he obviously needed the money more than I, but to lie to me is a concept with previously concieved deception." Think about how you and yours have lied to the people of WPB Fla and to fans of the NIFL as a whole.

[fred1965]

Well said.

[MarshalsFAN80]

I have to say that GTDREW is RIGHT ON WITH THIS!

As a fan, I know that people would have been upset if there was no game last night. I know that because I've gotten to know the Fayetteville fans pretty well over the last two years. Have you ever seen a more devoted "CORE GROUP" of fans?

I'm sitting here thinking about something... I would like to see the 'agreement' that owners sign when JOINING the LEAGUE! If the league wants to solve these problems, HOLD THE OWNERS of these "FOLDING TEAMS" accountable for the crap that they are pulling.

THE LEAGUE should post a PDF FILE of the AGREEMENT on the WEBSITE that all of the fans can see and read if they have the rights to take over the teams that fold and all of this BS would be taken care of and Mike Lind and the Phantoms, who's logo looks very much like the old TORONTO PHANTOMS out of the AFL, might not have a leg to stand on.

There is something to be said about actually honoring a commitment!

Tennessee brought another team other than the Riversharks and to be honest, they didn't look TERRIBLE on DEFENSE. Their offense obviously didn't have a Quarterback with them....but there is no doubt that having a game helped the Marshals in 2 ways. They got another win and they played a home game and could have because of the BLOW OUT brought a few fans to the game of indoor football.

Fayetteville will benefit from this as well. They got a win and the 70-0 score helped out their stats and hopefully brought some casual fans to future games.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOVE THE GAME OF FOOTBALL....UNITE AND BRING HONOR BACK TO THE GAME!!!! :rolleyes:

[fwp]

You gentlemen are exactly right. The replacement teams aren't appealing, but at least they're out there making sure a game goes on.

Instead of all these teams folding at will, it's time to get these people that cause it out of the game. Yes the league has its problems, but the league is each and every one of the owners. Stamp out the weeds and let's support what's left until they find greener pastures, whatever and where ever that may be. The honest owners in indoor football, the owners that are trying have my full support, for whatever it's worth.

I think I'm going to go to the websites of the teams that are making an honest effort, and if they're selling merchandise, over the next few weeks I plan to buy.

As for Mike Lind, why don't you join H.P. Patterson, aka Howard Wiener, aka whatever else, Jaime Lamunyon and others across the country who treat the fans of this sport in such a shabby manner and STAY AWAY from the sport? You'll be doing all of us a favor.

The fans deserve better, and the owners that make sure that their product is on the field each and every week, whether things are going well or not, are the people that should be lauded and get our attention.

[Eyesonyou]

Logo from Toronto

http://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=clubhouse&team=70

[goguard88]

I have to say that GTDREW is RIGHT ON WITH THIS!
Yes he is. Excellent post.

As a fan, I know that people would have been upset if there was no game last night. I know that because I've gotten to know the Fayetteville fans pretty well over the last two years. Have you ever seen a more devoted "CORE GROUP" of fans?
No doubt. We may not really have a big fan base, but the fans we do have are awesome.

who's logo looks very much like the old TORONTO PHANTOMS out of the AFL
Hahaha, you're right!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e0/TorontoPhantoms.png/100px-TorontoPhantoms.pnghttp://niflfootball.com/PHANTOMS_small.jpg

[herb1]

You dont want to know what he paid for that . Anyone starting a team should go to logoserver.com lol :cool:

[#1 Guard Fan]

I think he lost a lot of face this weekend

[Pounder]

I think he lost a lot of face this weekend

After all the blather he posted the last couple weeks, why didn't he tell us he folded the thing last Monday?

Not that I give the NIFL much credence for anything- my assessment of someone's intelligence kind of boils down to a yes or no question on actually choosing to buy a franchise in NIFL or ABA- but this takes the cake. This time, the legal issues are secondary IMO.

[#1 Guard Fan]

True that true that

[phantom fan031]

Lind stop your bellyachin'...You're a dumba$$....You weren't coming to the game and tried to wait to the 11th hour to ruin all the planning a REAL team owner did to service HIS fans. Don't take legal action, take notice MFer.


you want to call someone that name you need to look in the mirror, Real team my butt, if you knew all of the situation then you would not say that but hey goes to show again a person with no commen sence spewing nonsence you all had it out for this guy since the start and you just can't get over it now that its done and over with. Grow up already please.

[phantom fan031]

In fairness, the outcome of this weekend's game wasn't much different than it would have been with the REAL team.

considering I don't count fayettevilles team as a real NIFL TEAM as well that shows what you know and I live in fayetteville. But Fayetteville has refs like most of the other teams they make really bad calls to make there team look good.

[goguard88]

You mind telling me what you were smoking when you made that last statement? Must be some pretty stong stuff.

[preeths]

considering I don't count fayettevilles team as a real NIFL TEAM as well that shows what you know and I live in fayetteville. But Fayetteville has refs like most of the other teams they make really bad calls to make there team look good.
You say you live in Fayetteville, yet your nick is phantom fan031 and you take a cheap shot at the Guard? I don't think so unless you happen to be related to someone from the Phantoms.

[outlaw1]

Hey guys and gals....I'm back. Could not help myself. I've been quiet lately. Did not want to see what was being posted after another " " easy win turned loss. Would it be wrong if I wished the Florida PA announcer to choke on the mic? Sorry, had to go there. Talking about lack of professionalism!! Anyway, I did not come in today to banter about that goof.....It's another goof that requires my attention. So here we go. How could the " Owner " of a professional football team, that has now folded, never had a venue to play, never had a surface to put in that unaquired venue, bounced checks from here to Guam,(players confirmed that one as they've been trying to find other teams to play for), curses at people in forums, screams at fans and players like a goon at the games, and provides no transportation to those replacements to travel, and as if we need any more, looking like a possbile rip off of a logo, come in to this forum and attempt to defend himself? (Sorry, that was an incredibly long run-on sentence.) Wow!!! Now that takes the reproductive organs of a buffalo, and the brains of a chick pea. Bottom line. You're out, you lose, be gone, hasta luego,sayonara, and good riddance. Consider us the chemo and you the cancer. Take a bow, tip your hat, and walk off with what little dignity you have left, 'cause no one will be asking for an encore. Shhhh!! Did you hear that? That was the judge dropping the gavel. CASE CLOSED!!! Try the WNBA.......And, to those teams who are still hanging in there, congrats and good luck as the playoffs near. Go Osceola...

[PIONEERSFAN101]

Amen Outlaw1.

[#1 Guard Fan]

Well maybe after the clown learns to speak better he/she will be able to find you in the stands

[kristin411]

If the leauge took over this team why is there nothing on the website in reference to this take over? Because its another front to this mickey mouse BS!!! We had enough and we cut our loses. Bad guy?no way. ,,,,

,,,, I will tell you the The phantoms ended its season last Monday. The league never contacted ownership to take the team over and finish the season.


So if the Phantoms have ended their season why are players now not being allowed to sign on with other teams now? Mike Lind has now refused to release players from their contracts so that they can move on from this whole fiasco. How can the players can be held to any original contract with the phantoms?? Just doesn't seem right to me. Wouldn't the Phantoms and or the NIFL be in default of contract by not even providing a home venue or paying players?? Someone help me understand this please!

[herb1]

Yes the NIFL and MM are making strange bedfellows and the Bed is getting ready to burn I think lol

[kristin411]

Yes the NIFL and MM are making strange bedfellows and the Bed is getting ready to burn I think lol

I'll strike the match,,,, LOL

[#1 Guard Fan]

Look out for the firey redhead.......

[kristin411]

LOL,,, He (ML) has no idea what he is about to come up against. I can not wait for the fireworks to begin. I for one will have front row seats. The s*** is about to hit th proverbial fan..
Latest rumor now is that Mike Lind has "payed off" the Frenzy NOT TO PLAY Palm Beach this coming week. Funny how he can pay another teams players but not his own... Just one more nail in his coffin..

[#1 Guard Fan]

I know I would not want to deal with the Firey redhead myself

[sportsfan27]

How do you lose face when your talking out your ^%$.