(NOTE: The AAFL announced it was postponing its inaugural season shortly after this entry went up. An additional update concerning that follows this entry).
Maybe you’ve heard the news, maybe you haven’t. If not, I’ll break it to you. The All American Football League, yet to play a game, is already in danger of folding.
The six-team league essentially announced this past week that, unless an investor could be found who was willing to lend the AAFL a sizable wad of cash, the inaugural 2008 season might be postponed until 2009.
The AAFL later announced that it was making some progress with several prospective investors, as well as moving forward with TV deal talks, while adding that preseason training will be briefly delayed.
(UPDATE: A few days after writing this initial blog the AAFL announced that it was finalizing major national television and radio deals this week, adding that should be welcome news to interested financial partners. Included in the latest press release was a schedule of 21 of the season's 32 games that would appear on television, reportedly in an HD broadcast by a "well-known prestigious national network."
Televised games for Team Michigan included: 4 p.m. April 12 at Tennessee; 1 p.m. May 3 vs. Texas; 1 p.m. May 10 at Arkansas; 4 p.m. May 17 at Florida; 4 p.m. June 7 at Texas and 1 p.m. June 14 at Alabama.)
It was good to hear the promising follow-up news, but the initial hit was heavy. While the AAFL may yet stave off a fatal blow, things are not looking good for the league, which seemed to have some good things going for it before the call for financial help went out.
First and foremost, the AAFL bringing Team Michigan to town may finally have given Ford Field a successful football franchise. (Sorry for the cheap shot Lions fans, but I couldn’t avoid it.)
Next, the league’s motto of implementing a college football atmosphere in a professional setting had the potential to provide fans and players alike with some solid entertainment and excitement, especially if tickets and concessions could be kept way down below that of NFL and NCAA games.
Lastly, the AAFL’s rule of allowing players to compete only if they had received a college degree served as a great motivator in the ongoing effort to remind student-athletes that school is pretty important too.
Perhaps in folding before ever playing a single game, the AAFL will demonstrate to student- athletes just how important their education, received by many compliments of their scholarship, is in the long run.
If the NFL or NBA folded tomorrow, how many players from those leagues would be able to go out and get a decent job in corporate America? While having the ability to accurately throw a football 60 yards or leap over another human being and dunk a basketball with ease are impressive traits, they aren’t exactly the type of job skills the 9-to-5 suits are looking for.
OK, so most NFL or NBA players became financially set for life when they signed their rookie contracts and likely wouldn’t have to lift a finger to support themselves if their respective league ever folded. And I’m well aware that plenty did get their college degrees.
But what happens to the athletes in high school or college who had been eyeing a career in pro sports while neglecting their studies. Or what if a lesser luxurious sports league folds, like the Arena Football League?
What happens to those athletes without a college degree?
I don’t know. But I do know all those guys that tried out for AAFL teams, should the league indeed fold or postpone its kickoff, all have something other than sporting accomplishments to list on their resumes.
And while it’s hard to conceive the NBA or NFL, or even the Arena Football League (backed by ESPN), would fold in the near future, it’s also hard to conceive that a certain local professional football franchise would win less playoff games than the number of stadiums it's called home over the past 50 years, not to mention draft four wide receivers with its first pick in four of the last five drafts.
Finally, figuring out the logic behind the Lions organization may just require multiple college degrees.
(FINAL UPDATE: It’s official, the All American Football League has postponed its inaugural season until next year. The league sent out notification to the media March 13, in the afternoon.
The AAFL, which was recently attempting to find investors to help salvage the 2008 season, indicated in a press release that all its sponsors were committed to remaining with the league for the 2009 season. It also mentioned that fans would be fully reimbursed for all ticket purchases. The six-team league had been planning on kicking off its inagural season April 12.
Check upcoming editions of your local C&G Newspaper for more details.)
Friday, March 7, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Dunk dreams
Ahh the slam dunk.
I was in seventh-grade the first time I saw one live. I was at an inter-team Clawson High basketball scrimmage and a group of us begged Jon Jansen — now an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins — to dunk for us.
Soon after, I made a bet with my cousin, Gil — who was my age — that someday we would be the ones dunking.
After all, we were both tall for our age and could touch his neighbor Tommy’s rim at the time, which may or may not have reached 8 feet.
Fifteen years later, and I haven’t so much as nicked the rim on a regulation-size hoop — 10 feet.
Once in high school, at the height of my athleticism, I was apparently close, or so an observer said, but he could have been lying.
Gil, for his efforts, can get a few fingers around the hoop, but is also dunkless in his career.
Nowadays, I sit in gyms and watch these high schoolers throw it down with ease. It’s almost become routine, seeing them flying through the air, mocking me with every inch that they ascend.
It's not to say I can’t dunk with the best of them when a rim suits my leaping ability. In fact, I’m the “2006 Pat’s backyard Slam Dunk Champion.”
I won it with power and grace. As the sun went down and the porch lights came on, I wowed the judges — Pat’s brothers, Jimmy and Tim.
My friend and coworker, Jeremy, came in second after dunking with his shirt pulled over his head — a played-out move, in my opinion, and all the less impressive because I’m pretty sure he could see through it — but it was my off-the-backboard extravaganza (also very played out) that took the crown.
So go on — Drew Maynard of Lake Orion, Damacious White of Berkley High, Nick West of Royal Oak High and all the rest of the local dunksters — throw it down.
But know this: I own 8 feet.
I was in seventh-grade the first time I saw one live. I was at an inter-team Clawson High basketball scrimmage and a group of us begged Jon Jansen — now an offensive tackle for the Washington Redskins — to dunk for us.
Soon after, I made a bet with my cousin, Gil — who was my age — that someday we would be the ones dunking.
After all, we were both tall for our age and could touch his neighbor Tommy’s rim at the time, which may or may not have reached 8 feet.
Fifteen years later, and I haven’t so much as nicked the rim on a regulation-size hoop — 10 feet.
Once in high school, at the height of my athleticism, I was apparently close, or so an observer said, but he could have been lying.
Gil, for his efforts, can get a few fingers around the hoop, but is also dunkless in his career.
Nowadays, I sit in gyms and watch these high schoolers throw it down with ease. It’s almost become routine, seeing them flying through the air, mocking me with every inch that they ascend.
It's not to say I can’t dunk with the best of them when a rim suits my leaping ability. In fact, I’m the “2006 Pat’s backyard Slam Dunk Champion.”
I won it with power and grace. As the sun went down and the porch lights came on, I wowed the judges — Pat’s brothers, Jimmy and Tim.
My friend and coworker, Jeremy, came in second after dunking with his shirt pulled over his head — a played-out move, in my opinion, and all the less impressive because I’m pretty sure he could see through it — but it was my off-the-backboard extravaganza (also very played out) that took the crown.
So go on — Drew Maynard of Lake Orion, Damacious White of Berkley High, Nick West of Royal Oak High and all the rest of the local dunksters — throw it down.
But know this: I own 8 feet.
Frozen Madness
Well, at long last, March Madness has officially arrived.
And no, the previous statement has nothing to do with CBS airing six minutes of commercials for every three minutes of basketball, and I’m not referring to the ever-so-interesting showdowns between No. 1-seeded powerhouses and their No. 16-seeded (technically one team seeded 17th) practice dummies.
Instead, as the calendar turns from February to March, the most exciting part of the high school hockey season officially begins. In an eight-day span, the playoffs will go from regional finals (March 1), quarterfinals (March 4-5), semifinals (March 6-7), and then culminate March 8 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
Players, coaches, fans (and even media) who have, well, played, coached and witnessed the hockey playoffs understand the overall madness these eight days produce.
One lucky bounce or one key save can propel a team from the brink of elimination to center stage. Last season, for example, Grosse Pointe North watched as St. Clair Shores Unified hit the post in triple overtime in the opening round of the playoffs. Less than three weeks later, that lucky bounce partly to thank, the Norsemen were playing in the Division 1 semifinals.
A year later, the Norsemen are alive in this playoff chase, along with other local favorites (Cranbrook, St. Mary’s and De La Salle) and even some you’d be surprised at (Stoney Creek, Notre Dame Prep, Troy Athens).
As each day passes, the field will be cut in half until March 6, when the final 12 arrive at Compuware, which is the perfect culminating spot for the playoff tournament.
I understand the aura that comes with playing at Ford Field for the football state finals, but in a stadium that seats more than 60,000, excitement and atmosphere often get drowned out by the empty seats. (Compared to pro games at Ford Field where the seats are filled but there is no excitement or atmosphere).
Compuware is the perfect platform for the finals. It’s big enough to house everyone in attendance, but small enough to keep the atmosphere rocking from start to finish.
I understand and won’t deny my bias toward the hockey playoffs — it is the best sport in the world, right? — and I realize the girls basketball quarterfinals (semis and finals), the boys basketball regionals, the swimming finals and the boys individual wrestling finals are all this week as well (everyone at the MHSAA is smiling at that), but there’s something about the hockey playoffs that just has that “it” factor.
Needless to say, buckle up and let the frozen madness begin. Even if it is only a week. After all, unlike the March Madness this one actually ends … in March.
And no, the previous statement has nothing to do with CBS airing six minutes of commercials for every three minutes of basketball, and I’m not referring to the ever-so-interesting showdowns between No. 1-seeded powerhouses and their No. 16-seeded (technically one team seeded 17th) practice dummies.
Instead, as the calendar turns from February to March, the most exciting part of the high school hockey season officially begins. In an eight-day span, the playoffs will go from regional finals (March 1), quarterfinals (March 4-5), semifinals (March 6-7), and then culminate March 8 at Compuware Arena in Plymouth.
Players, coaches, fans (and even media) who have, well, played, coached and witnessed the hockey playoffs understand the overall madness these eight days produce.
One lucky bounce or one key save can propel a team from the brink of elimination to center stage. Last season, for example, Grosse Pointe North watched as St. Clair Shores Unified hit the post in triple overtime in the opening round of the playoffs. Less than three weeks later, that lucky bounce partly to thank, the Norsemen were playing in the Division 1 semifinals.
A year later, the Norsemen are alive in this playoff chase, along with other local favorites (Cranbrook, St. Mary’s and De La Salle) and even some you’d be surprised at (Stoney Creek, Notre Dame Prep, Troy Athens).
As each day passes, the field will be cut in half until March 6, when the final 12 arrive at Compuware, which is the perfect culminating spot for the playoff tournament.
I understand the aura that comes with playing at Ford Field for the football state finals, but in a stadium that seats more than 60,000, excitement and atmosphere often get drowned out by the empty seats. (Compared to pro games at Ford Field where the seats are filled but there is no excitement or atmosphere).
Compuware is the perfect platform for the finals. It’s big enough to house everyone in attendance, but small enough to keep the atmosphere rocking from start to finish.
I understand and won’t deny my bias toward the hockey playoffs — it is the best sport in the world, right? — and I realize the girls basketball quarterfinals (semis and finals), the boys basketball regionals, the swimming finals and the boys individual wrestling finals are all this week as well (everyone at the MHSAA is smiling at that), but there’s something about the hockey playoffs that just has that “it” factor.
Needless to say, buckle up and let the frozen madness begin. Even if it is only a week. After all, unlike the March Madness this one actually ends … in March.
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