A.F.L.

[caseOrange]

Anybody here into Arena football? We got an Arena team here last year and i got a job working the games. i wasn't really into Arena football, but after seeing the games in person, i'm starting to dig on it. (It looks kind of cheesy on tv).

i'm starting to learn the rules, but if anyone familiar with it can enlighten me on some of the other aspects, that'd be cool. i know that there's no punting--you either go for it or kick on 4th down. i know that if you drop kick a field goal instead of having someone hold it, it's worth 4 points instead of 3.

Anyway, if anyone else here is into Arena, or has a team nearby, post away!

[Roner]

I've been getting into Arena football a little more every year. I live near Chicago, Go Rush!!, but haven't made it to a game yet. It's a fun game, I enjoy the differences from the outdoor game and you never know when the next Kurt Warner could rise up and throw TDs like crazy. What team are you working for and what do you do Case?

[caseOrange]

Roner said:

What team are you working for and what do you do Case?

New Orleans Voodoo. i run the spotlight crew, which isn't much--just me and 3 other guys. We spotlight the team when they come out during the intro, the color guard during the National Anthem, and then, whenever they make a touchdown or a field goal, we do figure 8's with the spotlight all over the crowd (which is known as a "bally-hoo"). It's a pretty easy gig, and in-between scoring we just sit and watch the game (although sometimes it's hard to stay sitting!).
;D

It looks like the Voodoo will be visiting Chicago March 20th. If you get a chance, you should go check it out. It really is more fun live, and you get to keep any balls that fly into the stands! The NFL is too cheap to do that.


And if you get to go, look up in the ceiling when the Rush score, and you'll see what i do 8 or more games a year. i won't be there because i only do the Voodoo home games, but i'm sure Chicago has it's own spotlight crew.
;D

...And, sorry, but in the spirit of competition (just for March 20th anyway)...
Go Voodoo!

[caseOrange]

Well Roner, it looks like you and me are about the only ones on this board who have any kind of inkling towards American football. i was a huge Saints and Steelers fan as a kid. i'm still a Saints fan, although i don't keep up with the rest of the league that much.

i have Saints tribute page that i set up (only a page--i'm not gonna spend money on dedicating a whole site to those numbnuts). It's not much--just a little history and some team stats i've put together. i'm not real happy about the design (which is my own fault), and i'll probably redesign it one day, or even dedicate it to something else entirely; but for right now it's a Saints tribute page. If you want to check it out, it's at:
www.geocities.com/trussbolt2000/

i have to admit, though, that i'm a way bigger hockey fan than football. i live and die during the NHL season, and this year i'm dying because of the lock-out and cancellation. But life goes on, and there's still about two months left of the AFL season!
;D

[Roner]

Case, I actually have a little history with the Saints. When they used to work out in LaCrosse Wis. my friends and I went up a couple of times. We had a blast each time and we were sad when they anounced they weren't coming back anymore. I've also seen my beloved Bears play the Saints twice. The first time was when Ditka was coaching the "aints" and the Bears beat them with a last minute touchdown. The second time was a couple of years ago when the Bears were playing in Champaign, Illinois and the Saints came back and whooped on my cubs..er I mean Bears. Your page is pretty cool, I like the timeline. Now what is up with the stadium deal? I kind of figured the Saints would eventually relocate to L.A.

[caseOrange]

Here's the official deal: Owner Tom Benson wants either renovations to the Superdome (which is understandable), or a new stadium (which is unaffordable). Louisiana is a poor state, and IMO bordering on a banana republic, and even though the money could be gotten if our legislators would stop giving themselves raises, the biggest burden is going to be on La. taxpayers; and the rest of the state doesn't want to be burdened tax-wise with something that is going to mainly benefit one metropolitan area.

Here's the unofficial deal: Benson wants out of this state. For a while, he was a used car magnate around here; but now he's relocated most of his business to San Antonio, and the few lots remaining are run by his daughter. i even heard a few years ago that they built a brand new stadium in S.A. with a black-and-gold motif, but i can't confirm that part.

Anyhow, he's been threatening to move the team for over a decade now (almost since he bought the team in '86). At first, people were worried. Then they got aggravated listening to his whining. Now they're ready for him to either stay or leave. i'm not the only one who wishes he would just sell the team to some locals who don't do most of their business out-of-state.

He recently set his own deadline for when talks with the state would end, then cancelled it without any reason. The governor even said that the state wasn't setting a deadline. Personally, i think he cancelled it because of the success of the Voodoo (which he also owns), but state officials are starting to show signs of strain from the frustration of dealing with this man. The first owner, John Mecom, may not have been the best owner, but he loved the team and the city and never once threatened to relocate or demanded unfair burdens in order to stay.

As far as the Superdome is concerned: i work there often (i call it my dome away from home), and that building is going to be like the Roman coliseum--a couple thousand years from now there will still be parts of it standing. It's the most solid structure around (that i know of), which says a lot in a city built on marsh and well-below sea level. It could use some renovations (and a good cleaning), but it's not on the verge of being condemned by any stretch. If Benson wants an open-air stadium, take the top off of it--it's not connected: it's held there by its own weight. Bust out the concrete floor and sod it; Lord knows down here it'll grow.

In my personal opinion, Benson's just stiff-arming the state by making it jump through hurdles it can't, so that in the end he can say, "Sorry, you couldn't meet my demands, gotta leave!"

The city would miss the Saints, whether they know it or not. i hope someone else buys out Benson so he can take the business he has left here to San Antonio, or L.A., or wherever his tiny, gray heart brings him. i think that after the last decade, this city will gladly show him the door.
;D