New...but different Arena League

We are really tempted to use the quote "Rumors of the death of the Arena League have been greatly exaggerated" here, but it wouldn't really fit. However, there is a "New" version of the Arena league that has surfaced. It's called "Arena Football 1 or AF1". Supposedly, it is going to consist mainly of AF2 (real minor league Arena Ball) and a few teams from the old Arena League. And it will be based in that noted sports capital of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The story from the Tulsa World HERE.
More from KTUL-TV HERE

According to the Commish, Jerry Kurz, there has been a ton of interest. He already cites commitments from teams currently in the AF2: Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Shreveport, Spokane, Iowa, Tennessee Valley, Kentucky and Arkansas and Tri-Cities. In addition, some original Arena League teams from Orlando, Fresno, Chicago, Utah and Arizona along with newcomers in Milwaukee and Jacksonville. All interesting, the question is, how do they avoid the problems that sunk the original league; escalating salary costs and travel costs? We wish them luck...they are going to need it.

Firebirds In, Firecats Out Of af2 Playoffs

((HT: Albany Times-Union/Singelais))

The Albany Firebirds are in the playoffs because the Florida Firecats didn't make the payoffs.

Albany earned an arenafootball2 postseason bid on Monday when the league booted the Firecats "due to their failure to honor league commitments," according to a Firebirds news release.

Citing a league source, the News-Press of Fort Myers, Fla., reported Florida wasn't allowed to participate because the franchise owed af2 more than $200,000.

As a result, the Firebirds (7-9) replace the Firecats as the eighth and final seed in the American Conference.

Albany will face the No. 1 seed Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Pioneers (13-3) on Saturday night in Wilkes-Barre, Pa.

"Hey, we'll go in because of (Florida's) mistake, so we'll take it anyway it goes," Firebirds wide receiver/linebacker Alvin Ray Jackson said.

The Firebirds are in the playoffs for the first time since 2003.

Af2 spokesman Marc Lestinsky didn't return calls to his office and cell phone. A phone message to Florida's office wasn't returned.

It appeared Albany was eliminated from playoff contention Saturday when Florida (7-9) beat Kentucky in the regular-season finale.

Florida had the head-to-head tiebreaker due to its 32-27 win in Albany on April 10.

But Firebirds general manager Garen Szablewski said he told the players and coaching staff to remain in the Capital Region because he'd heard Florida might be deemed ineligible for rules violations.

"We're really excited," Szablewski said. "We really thought our record this year didn't really reflect the quality of the team."

Albany started 0-5 before winning seven of its final 11 games.

Wilkes-Barre is 3-0 against Albany this season, including a 49-40 home win over the Firebirds on July 18.

"We couldn't be happer to get in the playoffs," Firebirds quarterback Stephen Wasil said. "We played them tough last time and I don't see any reason why we shouldn't have won."

The Firebirds return to practice this morning in Halfmoon.

The statement, in full, is pretty lengthy and can be found by clicking in black...

The Firecats explanation can be found here...

It was just a Joke

It seems as though the owner of the Albany Firebirds in the AF2 (minor league arena football), didn't realize his team offered one Michael Vick, a contract. Walter Robb says "That's a joke". "Can you imagine him playing for $200 a week"? No, Mr. Robb, we couldn't. That's why in our story last night, we didn't exactly take this seriously.

Check out the story in the Albany Times-Union here

((photo courtesy: Albany Times-Union archives))

Somehow, Robb says, he never knew about the "Press Release" announcing the offer. Apparently he didn't either read the internet or any of the mulitple media outlets who picked the story up. According to the Coach, Tony Bowick, it was pretty much a publicity stunt designed to drum up interest in his otherwise bad football team. The team's Marketing Department came up with the idea and the GM signed off on it, without telling the owner, Vick, the Humane Society (who wasn't asked about the whole $100k donation part) or anyone else who could have told them it was a really bad idea.

2 For 7?

Because we care about our friend Seven (Michael Vick), we feel an obligation to both report and...well...comment about the latest adventure in his ongoing saga. It seems as though the Albany Firebirds, of the AF2 Football League (Arena ball...the minor league version), have offered our friend a job. Yes, he'll be the Quarterback and yes, he'll get paid, though we suspect that it wasn't exactly the pay scale that either he or his representatives imagined. Per league rules...AF2 players receive $200 per game, with a $50 bonus for wins. Oh...and lest we forget, they want to put a clause in Mr. Vick's deal that he make a donation to the Albany Humane Society...to the tune of $100k. Uh...somehting tells us that won't quite be enough.

Check out the story from the Albany Times-Union here

Who knows, the Firebirds...of to an 0-5 start this season could use the help or at the very least the publicity, which judging by the media action today, they certainly will get.

((michael vick photo courtesy of : AP Photos))

Also today, a second hearing in Mr. Seven's bankruptcy case took place. Mr. Vick's legal team seems to have agreed with the judge in his case and revamped his plan to pay off his debt's. The judge sent the team back to make some minor adjustments to the plan, which will probably be approved.

Here is the story from our friends at WAVY-TV in Norfolk

Hodges, Once A Fever, Had The Flavor For A Finger

"Dateline- Pasco, Washington..."

I always wanted to do that...

Former af2 player Michael Hodges has some strange eating habits- especially after charging in to secure areas of airports and being asked to cease and desist. Hodges, once a player for the Tri-Cities Fever, when he became detained allegedly bit off a piece of a finger of a corrections officer.

Which drew him a flag and a personal foul call...
Kidding... it drew an ejection...

He hasn't been officially brought up on charges because authorities feel he needs to be properly medicated to play nice in court. They haven't been able to "properly medicate him" yet.

The details below...sometimes this stuff can not be made up...

((HT: KNDO/KNDU))