It seems that back in 1996 some people didn't get the hint about Spring/Summer Football being a bad thing. Remember way back when in the 80's when we had the USFL, the United States Football League. Such memorable teams as the Oakland Invaders (the Raiders had just moved to LA and this was the replacement team but not an NFL team). It failed miserably because they were playing during the midst of Baseball season. Well apparently in 1996 an amateur Football league was put together called the North American Football League and they have been playing ever since and they have 71 teams!?!?!?!?!?!? If it hadn't been for a recent commercial on TV for the Nashville Storm....which made me pause and say "who the Hell is the Nashville Storm????"....I never would have heard of this league. If you look at the Wikipedia entry, apparently there will be massive expansion in the league next year with Sacto, San Jose, SF, Stockton, and other Cali cities getting teams. Has anyone even seen one of their games? Are these guys popular or even have a following? You would think they would have gotten the hint after the demise of the XFL....c'mon who didn't see that coming. It was a "Football" league created by Vince "WWE" McMahon. Hell they had the same announcers for the Wrestling matches calling the play by play on the game. Apparently during the mandatory TV time outs, the "Cheerleaders" put on a show akin to a striptease. Note on TV Time out: Pro Football is a TV sport. Every game is televised and shown somewhere in the Country. That's why there are very few games and they are played on one day, sometimes two, only. Watching the game live it's very odd because when the networks switch to commercial, play on the field stops. The live game you are sitting and watching in the stadium actually stops for what is called a TV Timeout. Now back to the Rant. The XFL died after only one season. They made such a huge deal out of it too, but it was not to be. Then we got the AFL or Arena Football League. Played indoors on a half sized field it was more action packed and higher scoring. It also has been steadily losing enthusiasm since day one. Our team out here in Nashville was sold twice. Apparently the Predators Hockey team didn't like to share the Sommnet Center. The AFL team owners decided to cancel the 2009 season to reassess the business model of the league and try and find out why it's not popular. Gee, I can tell you why. See USFL, XFL, etc. Hell see professional LaCrosse and the funniest one of all, professional Roller Hockey. Oh yes, there was once a team called the Oakland Rhinos. The one that got me was when the NHL was expanding to areas of the world without snow: San Jose, Phoenix, LA., there was a league trying to compete called the IHL. There was a SF team called the Spiders and they played in the Cow Palace. Oh yeah, they were doomed from the start. The Cow Palace is in one of the most Ghetto areas of SF to begin with. Put it this way, the KFC near the Cow Palace has a huge lexan wall with tray slots and speakers and this is INSIDE the restaurant. If a fast food restaurant has to take your orders and serve you through bullet proof glass then it's a Ghetto. The other reason they were doomed is because the Cow Palace is an ancient facility. If you've never seen a concert there, don't. I don't care who it is. In High School I saw my share of concerts there and the acoustics are horrible. I know what you're thinking, but no. I didn't go to concerts to get high or drunk, I actually went to hear the music and see the band play. I know, GEEK....whatever. My brain cells will die off naturally over time and not because of some funny green leaf that makes you stupid. Maybe this amateur league will survive because no one knows about it. I guess obscurity is better than hype.
3 comments:
Hey.... my first hockey game was a Spiders game, at the Palacio de la Vaca. It was awesome.
And, Arena Football is actually pretty fun to watch. All action, good athletes... it's not the NFL, but it's a good place for second-tier "skill position" athletes to keep sharp for that second chance.
AND, lacrosse is a cool game. Like hockey but on grass. It's what they should be playing in parts of the country without snow (instead of hockey).
AND, there was a study published recently that indicates that said "green leaf" actually improves memory. (The trick is to use it in such small doses that you don't actually get high.) http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2008/11/marijuana-could/
Hockey seems to be working in some of the areas with no snow...San Jose and Anaheim being two of those places...
I've heard Arena Football can be pretty cool to watch. Craftsman and Red used to go to the SaberCats all the time. I'm glad they are being smart and putting it on hiatus until they come up with a better business plan. The Lacrosse I watched was pretty cool....remember back in 94 when they cancelled the World Series? I watched alot of different sports then. As to Anonymous, yes Hockey does seem to be big in some places without snow. I know here in Nashville the future of the Predators is constantly in question from declining attendance, and the Phoenix Coyotes are closing up shop (kind of expected that one...it is Arizona after all).
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