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Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
March 17, 2010 - American Indoor Football Association (AIFA)


Let me see, what is on my mind this morning other than trying to enjoy my coffee and not let any bad news in the indoor world destroy the Columbian flavor.

I was thinking about different aspects of the game though. You have players that want to play, Owners and management that want to be a part of the sport for various reasons, sponsors who want to display their product, and the fan that just wants to enjoy the sport.

It seems sometimes that the fan is put at the bottom of the feeding chain when they should be at the top. Let's be honest if there are no fans, there is no game. yes, it is that simple, yet others involved in sports seem to feel that fans are not important. Something wrong about that. Oh well, next topic.

Every Wednesday during the season I plan on taking a look back and forward. Looking back over the week and how the leagues presented themselves to their fans and a look a head at the weekends games. The week that was

A lot of bantering on the OSC boards this past week, especially on the IFL. Fans discussing this minor failure or that, but over all not much that I'd call really news worthy except the Alaska Wild owner admitting to the IFL taking over that teams day to day operations. The Colorado Ice owner also announced the team up for sale citing personal matters, but it was reported that only 500 fans showed up for the Ice, Billings game and we all know one's wallet a very personal matter. Statements by both the IFL and Ice saying they couldn't guarantee the team finishing the season should be of concern, but my feeling is other owners in the Ice's division won't let them fail. At this point all one can do is keep an eye on both the Wild and Ice situations. I really found very little on any of the other leagues that deserves air time.

The SIFL had it's first major problem of the season, the Houston Lightning calling it quits just days before they were supposed to open at the Louisiana Swashbucklers. Thing I don't understand is how they could have been allowed to stay in things this long without a valid arena deal. To the best of my understanding most leagues require a team to have a deal in place before being approved for membership. Last season the SIFL didn't do their job in qualifying teams and as a result lost several during the season. I wonder if these leagues are so desperate for new teams that they'll approve just anybody ala Carolyn Shiver of the NIFL.

The IFL announced a TV deal yesterday. I think it said five games plus the United Bowl will be broadcast to something like 80 million homes across the US. These TV deals, including the one the AFL has with the NFL Network are nothing more than some in leagues stretching their ego. Let's be honest here, the old Arena Football League went down in flames with every TV deal they had and they were the biggest brand in the sport. It's a case of nobody cares. The sport of indoor and even arena football isn't popular enough foe network TV.

You have attendance down pretty much across the board, teams in financial trouble and time spent negotiating TV deals should be spent on helping teams improve off the field. Wasted energy in my opinion and I'm not referring just to the IFL, but to the AIFA, the new AFL and any other league that has this pipe dream of being the next NFL. Simply put, time and energy wasted that could have been spent on other, more important things.

The week that is

The AIFA opens Saturday with three games, Yakima Valley Warriors 0-0 at Wenatchee Valley Venom 0-0, Arctic Predators 0-0 at San Jose Wolves 0-0, and New Jersey Revolution 0-1 at Richmond Raiders 0-1. Action continues Sunday with two games, Harrisburg Stampede 0-1 at Reading Express 1-1, and Fayetteville Guard 0-0 at Baltimore Mariners 2-0. The AIFA finishes up Monday with Wyoming Cavalry 0-0 at Ogden Knights 0-0

Impact games. Fayetteville Guard 0-0 at Baltimore Mariners 2-0

Best match ups. New Jersey Revolution 0-1 at Richmond Raiders 0-1, Yakima Valley Warriors 0-0 at Wenatchee Valley Venom 0-0

Don't miss. Fayetteville Guard 0-0 at Baltimore Mariners 2-0

Possible upsets. ?

AIFA Notes. The AIFA provides the games with the most interest this week with four new teams out West hitting the field, Yakima, Wenatchee, Wasilla, and San Jose. The AIFA is the biggest gambler of the four leagues when it comes to expansion and I think these four teams may be the biggest gamble to date by the league. It would not surprise me if two of the four only play one season and the other two jump to the more stable IFL next season. Will also be interesting to see attendance figures between Yakima and the Tri Cities Fever of the IFL as the teams are maybe only 30 miles a part.

The IFL has a weekend line up of ten games. The action opens up on Friday with Rochester Raiders, 1-0 at West Michigan Thunderhawks, 1-0 and La Crosse Spartans, 0-1 at Green Bay Blizzard, 1-1. On Saturday five games are on the schedule, Alaska Wild, 1-1 at Fairbanks Grizzlies, 3-0, Maryland Maniacs, 0-1 at Richmond Revolution, 2-0, San Angelo Stampede Express, 0-1 at Abilene Ruff Riders, 0-1, Austin Turfcats, 0-1 at Arkansas Diamonds, 2-0, and Colorado Ice, 0-2 at Wichita Wild, 1-1. On Sunday two more games are on tap, Bloomington Extreme, 1-1 at Chicago Slaughter, 0-2 and West Texas Roughnecks, 1-1 at Corpus Christi Hammerheads, 1-1. The IFL weekend ends on Monday with one game, Billings Outlaws, 3-0 at Sioux Falls Storm, 2-0.

Impact games. Billings Outlaws, 3-0 at Sioux Falls Storm, 2-0, Rochester Raiders, 1-0 at West Michigan Thunderhawks, 1-0, Bloomington Extreme, 1-1 at Chicago Slaughter, 0-2, West Texas Roughnecks, 1-1 at Corpus Christi Hammerheads, 1-1

Best match ups. Billings Outlaws, 3-0 at Sioux Falls Storm, 2-0, Rochester Raiders, 1-0 at West Michigan Thunderhawks, 1-0

Don't miss. Billings Outlaws, 3-0 at Sioux Falls Storm, 2-0

Possible upset. Chicago Slaughter, 0-2 over Bloomington Extreme, 1-1

IFL Notes. Keep an eye on the Alaska Wild situation this season. If they fail to finish or look not to return in 2011, look for the Fairbanks club to either jump to the AIFA where that league has a team in Wasilla or call it quits entirely.

No games are on the schedule over in the CIFL, but action begins again after the league wide one week bye.

CIFL Notes. When the CIFL was born, it was touted as the best thing to happen in indoor football, but has been plagued with poor teams, teams jumping to other leagues and other problems throughout its existence. This season they have gone from 7 man to 8 man ball. I believe this to be a last ditch effort to keep up with the other leagues or position themselves for a merger with either the AIFA or IFL.

Just a note. I wrote this before hearing of the Houston Lightning pulling the plug. Makes the opening weekend for the SIFL less eventful and of course The Swashbuckler home opener a question mark, although I'm sure they will plug in one of the other SIFL teams or pick up a replacement, maybe the Krunch out of the IIFA. The SIFL opens their 2010 season with four of the six teams being either new or new to the SIFL. Only two games on tap for this weekend, Houston Lightning, 0-0 at Louisiana Swashbucklers, 0-0 and Lafayette Wildcatters, 0-0 at Greenville Force, 0-0. Too early to go through the don't miss, best match up thing.

SIFL Notes. Last season the SIFL was guilty of not doing their due diligence as teams dropped like flies during the season. Post season their second best team, the Austin Turfcats jumped to the IFL, but they picked up two AIFA teams, Columbus and Greeneville. They appear on paper to be more solid this season, but still only six teams and four, scratch that, now three of those either new or new to the SIFL. I'm hoping this season isn't just a repeat of last year, but not off to a good start.

Upcoming

A prelude to next week's articles. I am a strong believer in the power of the written word. I'm going to take a look at how every team in every league uses that power focusing on one league a day. I'll begin Monday with the AIFA, Tuesday for the CIFL, Thursday is IFL day and Friday I'll finish up with the SIFL. On Saturday or Sunday I'll wrap it all up with an assessment of all.

This article and more archived at The Indoor Football Report located at www.IndoorFootballNetwork.com Comments about this article or suggestions can be made to indoorbowl@yahoo.com



American Indoor Football Association Stories from March 17, 2010


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.


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