AFL on NBC Highlights
Published on February 16, 2003 under Arena Football League (1987-2008) (AFL I) News Release
Courtesy: NBC Press Release
NEW YORK - Feb. 16, 2003 - Week 3 of NBC's Arena Football League coverage featured nail-biting finishes and high-octane offensive performances. Led by the battle of the unbeatens, with Dallas facing Orlando in Florida, a total of 360 points (90 ppg) were scored today in NBC's four regional telecasts. Tom Hammond and Pat Haden had the call, which saw Dallas claim victory over Orlando 50-47, and move on to an impressive 3-0 start.
In other games, Colorado had hoped to pick up its first win of the season and with six seconds remaining in regulation and Colorado leading Los Angeles 53-50, it seemed to be a lock. However, Los Angeles kicked a field goal to send the game to sudden-death overtime, and LA scored the first touchdown to win the game 59-53. Additionally, Indiana bested Chicago 28-23 and Georgia defeated San Jose 51-49.
What follows are highlights from the AFL on NBC studio show, a TelePrompTer-free zone with host Al Trautwig, and analysts Glenn Parker and Michael Irvin; and from the game telecasts:
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Dallas kicker Nick Gatto, who is missing his right arm from a birth defect, played for Orlando last year and just this week signed a one game contract with Dallas. Gatto made a touchdown saving tackle on a kickoff return that prompted AFL on NBC studio host Al Trautwig to say: "Sometimes athletes can literally take your breath away.
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NBC Sports' Lewis Johnson asked Orlando's wide receiver Cory Fleming, who was Irvin's former Cowboy teammate, if he gives Irvin all the credit for his success.
"No, I'll give him a little bit," said Fleming. "We'll give him just enough to feed on.
Irvin: Everybody said that you would be the guy to take over once I got my old self out of the game. What happened in Dallas?
Fleming: "You tried to stay around the game too long! Things happen in the game. I didn't always prepare myself, I think mentally. And to come out of college to the NFL and to a team like Dallas that already had that nucleus and had that great team, it's kind of hard for a rookie to fit in.
On Fleming's arrival to the arena --- the AFL on NBC studio team analyzed him for style points: Trautwig: "Frankly, Glenn, I see some style there. Maybe even better style than Michael Irvin.
Said Parker: "There's more style, there's more confidence in the strut. You can just see that he knows he's the man now that Michael is no longer.
Irvin's advice to Fleming: "You come to the game looking good, you're feeling good and you're going to play good. When that camera's on you, you always take your time. Leave that light right there on you.
Trautwig: "That's scary stuff." As viewers were shown a replay of a pass interference penalty called on Orlando receiver Fleming, NBC Sports game analyst Haden said, "Right before he caught it he may have pushed off." Hammond followed with, "Well Michael Irvin did teach him."
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On the best AFL team: Trautwig posed the question to the group and Irvin piped up with "Dallas." What about the best hockey team, Michael? "Uh, Dallas." and NBA? "Uh, Dallas.
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Colorado quarterback John Dutton, who threw a season-high eight touchdown's today against Los Angeles, had this to say about his team's owner, John Elway: "At first, when I first saw him, I didn't know what to call him....especially as a quarterback and watching him play and all the success he's had...but now we're on a first name basis. It's kind of weird.
NBC Sports game analyst Ray Bentley said, "Yeah, I had that same problem with my mother-in-law, for like five years. I didn't know what to call her. I never called her John, though.
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On the NFL coaches hiring practices:
Parker: "They [the NFL] have to come up with a system of punishments. Are they going to take away draft picks; are they going to fine the ownership money; are they going to take part of the salary cap away? Somehow they have to come up with a punishment that fits this crime. And it is a crime. Taking people for token interviews, as much as I believe you have to take the interview, it's still not right and it can't continue.
Members of the media can get more information about NBC and its programming on the NBC Media Village Web site at www.nbcmv.com.
Arena Football League (1987-2008) Stories from February 16, 2003
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- AFL on NBC Highlights - AFL I
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