Commentary: NIFL daily buzz

by Jerry Hewitt
Published on May 17, 2006 under National Indoor Football League (NIFL)

I can't get enough coffee in the morning, although some mornings I want to hit the liquor cabinet after reading all the bad news out there in indoor football land. Now on to other secrets some would prefer to keep under their hat. Looks like the NIFL is on the verge of losing a team, if its not already lost. Next is legal action designed to destroy indoor football in markets outside of the NIFL. Now that I've got your attention, you can get on with reading and shaking your head in disbelief.

Put a fork in them

They're done or at least that's the rumors I've been hearing on Tennessee. This is all that we've heard, the team is not allowed back into the venue until $10,000 is paid to catch things up, local players paid, but out of town ones not paid since first week, jerseys, turf and other equipment not paid for and the list probably goes on a bit further. We are also told the coach has suspended practices and has informed the team they're done. Also I've heard that Ms. LaMunyun has packed her bags and headed back to Oklahoma. My source by the way comes from someone who says they are part of the Tennessee organization.

So, what does the NIFL do now? I do have one idea, Arkansas is supposed to be at Tennessee this week. How about we try to hide the bad news on Tennessee by giving the new owners in Arkansas another week to get up to speed? Seems like a great cover up to me.

Seriously, what does the NIFL do with this one if all I've heard is true, go in, shore up the team financially or make them the leagues second road only team, or maybe just hire a local semi pro team to finish out the River Sharks road schedule or do nothing. Questions, questions, answers NIFL?

Did you know

The NIFL leadership is suing every team in the UIF, AIFL, APFL and IFL for " (1) that the NIFL, and Carolyn Shiver, own patent rights to the indoor football game that the other Leagues are violating; and (2) that our League and the other leagues have copied NIFL's Rules and are violating copyrights the NIFL owns."

Now most I have talked to feel this is not going to win out in court, but what if it did? I guess one could say it isn't enough to ruin the sport in your own league, but try to destroy it for everybody else as well? I believe most of the other leagues are taking this seriously, and even though I feel this is the joke of the year, a high powered big name patent attorney has been hired and the lawsuit is 500 pages in length on cd rom. The leagues and teams were served day before yesterday.

If I understand correctly, the AFL has a patent on their game system, the nets in particular. They don't have a patent on the game itself. The game can't be patented. So what game system does indoor football have? None! OK, on rules, well that goes beyond stupidity in my opinion. First, if I am correct, the NIFL rules were pretty much copied from the old IPFL rules. So, what is this copying business about? Maybe those who hold the rights to the IPFL ought to sue the NIFL for copying.

I'd like to hear from the original holder of the patent, Dick Seuss, on his thoughts about this. Although I don't agree with all of Mr. Seuss' visions of the game, I do share his one of it being for everybody.

So what is this all about anyway? I think we all know, it's one persons attempt to have total control. In my opinion, this person has proven unable to control one league with 22 teams, let alone all teams out there. Come on, somebody please stop the madness now!

The playoffs

Got something from Jesse Morgan, a Katy Copperheads fan. Just a simple if the playoffs were to start today brackets. I cautioned Jesse since he was new to the NIFL that the league does have a bad habit of changing the play off format at the eleventh hour. But take a look. I love it when fans get involved! www.indoorbowl.com/brackets.jpg

from the af2

Ex Outlaws quarterback Chris Dixon earlier this week asked for and was granted his release from the Everett Hawks. Question now is he on his way back to Billings to solve their quarterback problems?

LaMunyon tactics spreading in NIFL?

I heard that players on another NIFL team behind on paychecks recently were told they would be fired if they didn't play. Guess it was close to walking time from the players as that owner has already contacted a local semi pro team to come in and replace the pros he hasn't paid. Not mentioning the team, but they are already on the fire watch.

Still asking

I received a disturbing email on an incident that occurred at a recent game. I'm going to post it it minus names and locations. I'm not looking for everyone to get all upset over this, but I am looking for collaboration. I feel it is potentially explosive enough to find more evidence before making everything public. I have contacted the involved police department to confirm a report was filed and whether an investigation is pending or underway.

"Now for the actual reason for this email: Sometime in the next week or two assault charges are going to be filed against the XXXXXX of the XXXXXXXX This happened when a member of the staff of a visiting team was confronted in the visiting locker room. The staff member referred to XXXXXXX as a XXXXXXX.

Mr. XXXXXXXX entered the visiting locker-room and confronted the staff member and started pushing and shoving him. The players separated the two. A police report was taken and Mr. XXXXXXX referred to some of the African American players "It was one of the XXXXXXX. I'm not sure which one, they all look alike."

If anyone witnessed the above event and can fill in the blanks on game, names, etc., please email me indoorbowl@yahoo.com I am asking that you include your real name and some details about who you are. I will keep your name and any personal information in confidence.

New league update, of sorts

Since I mentioned a possible three new leagues in a previous article, I have had numerous inquiries as to what I know. I treat all inquiries in confidence, so if you are a potential ownership, existing ownership or just interested, you can email me direct at indoorbowl@yahoo.com and I will share what I know.

Fire watch

Is Tennessee the first to burn completely? What others will follow?

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.

National Indoor Football League Stories from May 17, 2006

• Drillers to honor Lady Bruin soccer team - Beaumont Drillers
• Rage heads to Florida for showdown - RiverCity Rage
• Commentary: NIFL daily buzz - OSC Original by Jerry Hewitt

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.