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Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
March 19, 2010 - Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL)


Keep It Positive

Recently one fan commented on a message board that it appeared the posters were only looking at negatives and not what leagues do right. His feelings being that newer fans or even those maybe interested in franchising a team might be turned off by the constant negative chatter. I couldn't agree more, there is that risk.

But let's be honest, fans don't make the news, they just read it and comment on it. It is safe to say though that some of us older fans have seen so much of the ugly that we are blinded to all but the bad. I think more than anything it frustrates us, frustrates us that leagues and teams continue to make the same mistakes over and over. So some of us are very jaded, feel change that is needed and has been needed will never happen.

It may be therapy for us to voice our frustration in provided arenas of conversation, even draw in the inexperienced and occasional know it all. As long as there are places for us to voice our opinion, we will continue to do so.

To come onto a message board and tell us to focus on the positive is absolutely the wrong approach to take with some of us long time fans. I know some would just like us to go away, kicking and screaming or quietly, doesn't matter, just go away. Well that's not going to happen and if all you want is good news, go watch Mary Poppins.

Before anyone thinks I'm being too harsh, let me tell you how many times I've heard the only focus on what is done right speech. I don't have enough fingers and toes on which to add it all up. Those that usually say keep it positive are league or team related in one way or another. They may claim to be a fan, but in reality have a vested interest in only good news being discussed.

The leagues don't like airing their dirty laundry and I can understand that. I personally don't like mine made public either, but it isn't any fans fault when a league or team screws up. I guess in retrospect I can see its the fans fault for not coming out to Alaska Wild or Colorado Ice games. True, our fault as we made that decision, but on the other hand maybe we weren't given a reason to come.

I do admit the leagues today are better in many respects than ones that started prior to five years ago. Today its rare that there is even any mention of a game maybe being cancelled as opposed to years back when it was the norm to have at least one scheduled game a week not happen. The reporting of scores has improved. The ways leagues and teams reach out to involve fans for the most part improved. There are far less junk teams in the leagues now. And that list isn't limited to just those few positives, but there is still far too much room for improvement and no reason in my mind and some others why that improvement hasn't already come to be.

I'll do my part in the keeping it positive. Next time I have a beer I'll toast to the positive, but help me out here, help me cure my negative look on indoor football, give me more positives than negatives and in time I might jump on the positive bandwagon.

Interesting Tidbits

The IFL made a big deal on their national TV deal or played it up anyway in their press release. I just thought it funny little chatter on the message boards over it and even more funny that few of the IFL teams made any mention of it. Even some who are on the TV schedule make no mention of the deal.

The IFL also had their second online radio broadcast this week. Something I do feel is a good idea although I'd like to see at least one league raise the bar by doing a video type weekly show. Would not be that difficult, nor expensive. Anyway again think it funny that few IFL teams make mention of the show or provide a link to it.

Last season The North Texas Krunch of the IIFA was asked to fill in for teams that folded in the SIFL. If memory serves me correctly they were dispatched in almost every game, if not all in blow out manner. Again this season they are called into action due to Houston pulling the plug and the AIFL trying to make the best of a bad situation plays it up like the Krunch are a great tea, two time IIFA Champ. That all may be true, but quality in the IIFA not what it should be in the SIFL and fans didn't buy tickets to watch substandard competition.

My hats off to the Krunch for stepping up, but no hats off to the SIFL for having to invite the Kunch into this thing.

This weekend

18 games fill the indoor football schedule this weekend. The AIFA has 6 with their Western Division taking center stage with three of the six. The Baltimore Mariners look to go 3-0 as the Fayetteville Guard open their season in Baltimore. The IFL fills this weekends schedule with ten games. The biggest game in the IFL has to be Billings at Sioux Falls, but Rochester at West Michigan a big one in the East. The SIFL opens this weekend under a dark cloud. Two games on the schedule, but the expected Houston at Louisiana game now the Texas Krunch since Houston dropped out earlier this week. Nothing is scheduled this week in the CIFL.

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



Southern Indoor Football League Stories from March 19, 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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