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Commentary: NIFL daily buzz

by Jerry Hewitt
May 8, 2006 - National Indoor Football League (NIFL)


If you were a venue owed money and the NIFL leadership said the check was in the mail, would you believe that or be smart and say, no game till the check clears? I know what I would say, but the venue for the Arkansas Stars have chosen to believe the promise. I certainly hope the check is indeed in the mail.

Time to go on vacation

From the Fayetteville Arkansas NWArkansas News, "Players and fans should know I'm coming," Shiver said. "I just found investors in Montgomery. I'll find investors there. We're going to make it in that area."

Well now I didn't know she found the investors for Montgomery, I thought Arkansas Stars owner, Ron Hargrave, did, but that's a never mind. Myself personally though, if I had warning of her coming, I might be inclined to take a vacation or if I had "real" money, make sure its in a safe place. I'm not saying anyone is untrustworthy, but considering all the talk of mishandled money recently and the blame game ongoing, I might choose to be a little more cautious.

Sundays games

Rapid City made the trip to St. Joseph only to hear the venue there say, no check, no game. Well the check did show up, late, but it showed and the game between the Aces and Cyclones took place. Results were as expected as Rapid City won by a final of 82-21. Not a bad offensive output by the Aces since they haven't practiced for two weeks. Rapid City improves to 7-0 on the season and returns home for a tough test against the 205 NIFL Champion Tri-Cities Fever next week. St Joseph drops to 0-7 and takes a trip to Big Sky where one of these two teams will get their first win of the season.

Down in Arkansas the Stars found the going against the Katy Copperheads tough going as they fell to the visitors, 54-12. Katy stays on top of the Pacific South with a record of 6-3. The Copperheads now get a week off. The Stars fall to 2-5 on the season and next week entertain Twin City at home.

Tonight

Not sure on tonight's game, whether it will actually be played and if so, where? It has-been reported that the NIFL leadership has been down in Palm Beach trying to get a venue for the homeless Phantoms, but no reports anywhere if she was successful. If this game is played tonight, Florida should have no problems in winning it.

Good rumor, bad rumor

I hear that one owner may be out of the league, one associated with last year's Daytona Beach team and this years Greensboro Revolution. If that is true, certainly good news, although I also heard yesterday that Greensboro may also be folding. This is the second time this season I've heard that rumor. The last time it proved false when the NIFL leadership reportedly put money into the team to keep it going. If true this time, bad news.

Doing a good job?

Somebody the other day complimented me on doing a good job in the reporting department. I did say thank you, but added I'm tired of the reporting of problems, unfortunately I don't see that changing anytime soon.

Jumping to the af2

There is some talk of teams maybe making the lateral move to the af2. Its a given the af2 is a better run league right now than the NIFL, but it's not perfect either. I'd say going the way of the af2 is an option, but are the teams that could make that move ready to give up control of their team, ready to give up the rights to their name and venue, ready to take on higher operating costs and ready to undergo an almost complete change in their game? I ask these questions because they are ones teams looking at the af2 as an option should consider. Also I'm sure they are looking at their bottom line as far as operating with the NIFL budget, as opposed to the higher af2 one. I know I just repeated myself on operating costs, but teams that may be considering the af2 may be already pretty much doing all they can in the sponsor and box office area and maybe showing a small profit, breaking even or even losing a few dollars.

I am not saying the af2 might not be a good move for some, just not one that can be made without allot of thought. I guess fans can see the value of the more stable af2 more so than owners, or at least that's what they think, but fans buy tickets, owners have the bills to pay.

Week nine complaints

Have I mentioned before the importance of stats being posted in a timely manner? Week nine, 8 games played with one to go and as of Sunday night, only three games have stats reported. According to the Katy game broadcasters on the radio, there wasn't even anyone taking stats at that game. That's a shame, because that will be a game that is now lost forever..

We will give the Arkansas Stars a break on not having the field ready for play, no clock, only one set of goalposts hung, poorly hung dasher boards and turf that maybe could have been laid better. They were lucky to even get this game going with all the troubles there lately.

Fire watch

No one added to our fire watch but the fires are still closing in on Louisiana, burning hotter than ever. It would appear that the winds have not calmed. Appears the fire that was under control in Greensboro may have broken through the lines. Additional crews have been dispatched, but fire this time may just have to be allowed to burn itself out.

Parting notes

Time for a change folks, no question about it, but I wonder if anybody capable of making change is listening. And to maybe call out those who have the power to make a difference, to make the changes needed, I wonder, do you have what it takes to make the right decisions or cower as in years past. Blunt I know, politically correct, maybe not, but exactly as I see it.

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National Indoor Football League Stories from May 8, 2006


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