This week in indoor football
by Danny Burnham
Published on June 12, 2009 under Continental Indoor Football League (CIFL)
It's that time again, where I sit down and pen a few words about what's going on in the wild world of indoor football. This team's hot, that one's not, that sort of thing. This week however, I have decided to take it to another level. I have decided to aim my article more towards the fans than ever before.
Perhaps I'm drawing inspiration from Dan Ryan's truly profound diatribe on the SIFL fan poll debacle. Others may suggest that a heated exchange on the messageboards brought me to this point. Actually, neither of those is true, as I this idea was in the works long before either of those events took place.
The idea was to actually transcend the sport of indoor football ,and speak to fans of all minor league sports, so here goes. Pay attention kids, I'm talking to YOU!
Here we are, trapped here together in the spinning vortex of perpetual heartbreak and doom called indoor footaball (or minor league sports in general). There are different types of fans, none any more important than the other.
There are those of you who are considered "casual" fans. You found out about your local team through a radio spot, or a bill board. You show up for games, buy tickets at the gate, and watch the games for face value.
There are those of you who have season tickets, or buy shirts. You are actually aware of things like statistics, playoff standings, and and maybe you dabble in the black art of the messageboard.
There is yet another type of fan. You're a dangerous creature. You are the president of the fanclub. Or you have the ear of team or league personnel. Maybe you're a messageboard moderator. You have...... *gasp* ... inside information! I like to refer to folks in this bunch as Gadflies. With the status you posess, you tread a thin line between fan, and actual employee. You must be very careful not to be impressed with yourself. Don't be so caught up in your own importance that you forget you are a fan first. I'd be willing to bet afterall that you aren't being paid for your efforts.
There's nothing wrong with being a Gadlfly, just be careful that you're in command of your status, instead of it being in command of you.
The fact of the matter is, the only difference between you the Gadfly and the casual fan in most cases is a lack of a personal life, or the will to pick up the phone and call the league or team office. Minor league team/league officials will talk to anyone, it's not a big deal, and really almost anyone is privy to so called "inside info". Before you get mad, or feel like I have insulted your fanhood, I can relate to this group. I know it's been a few years but I was once in this category. I was named "Fan of the Year" by the WIFL in 2007. There are very few "fans" who have ever been more well connected to a league than I was, so I'm kind of throwing stones from a glass house.
But before I was writing game summaries on the league website, or doing color commentary on webcasts, or blasting ownership on the messageboards( or face to face), I was a casual fan. I heard about my local team on a radio spot. I bought tickets at the gate, and watched the games for face value. That's where we ALL start.
That's where we all need to find our way back to.
Continental Indoor Football League Stories from June 12, 2009
- This week in indoor football - OSC Original by Danny Burnham
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.
