Arena Football, God I missed you!
With Friday's dramatic ArenaBowl XXIII, I realized how much I missed the Arena Football League when it took off in 2009. Thank you to Jerry Kurz, who brought the game back to life this year. Watching Spokane take out Tampa Bay in a thrilling game, it reminded me how much I loved watching the ArenaBowl as a kid, and now even as an adult. Being a huge Orlando Predators fan, it was great watching Tampa Bay get their ass kicked in the big game. Well, it sucked to see former Florida State quarterback, Drew Weatherford, come up short of winning a ring. But still, the ArenaBowl is a great event. Yes, I like the Super Bowl and the NFL, but I have always had a love affair and passion with the Arena Football League.
The 50-yard indoor war is a high-scoring, big-hitting, 60 minute thrill ride where every possesion can result in a touchdown. The field is half the length and half the width. No punting, so that means every team must attempt to score on every possession. Call me a crazed mad-man, but sports gives me a huge thrill. The more hitting and action, the better! I started to watch Arena Football when I was a kid back in 1988. First game I ever saw was at a hotel between Detroit and Chicago on ESPN. I was hooked ever since. Couldn't get enough of the indoor war. Then Orlando came into existence in 1991 and I had a team to root for. Been a Predators fan since I first saw their first game back in Summer of 1991.
However, one of my favorite Arena Football memories came on August 23, 1998. The Orlando Predators traveled to Tampa Bay to take on their hated rivals. It was ArenaBowl 12, and the excitement was electric. Sold out Ice Palace, and ABC was in the building. Tampa Bay was a huge favorite to beat Orlando. Well, you know what they say - upsets happen. By the time the game ended, Orlando beat the ever living crap out of Tampa Bay to hand them their first ever title game loss. 62-31! To tell you the truth, I think I was more shocked than the Storm fans and players that the game was so lopsided in Orlando's favor. But the party after the game was even better. Forget which bar I invaded in Tampa, but it was a hell of a lot of drinking and hollering.
The only game that came close was ArenaBowl 22 in New Orleans. The defending champion San Jose Sabercats faced the Philadelphia Soul. The fights on Bourbon Street the night before the game were epic. The beer, beads, and boobs made the night even better. The game the next day appeared to a be a blowout until San Jose scored 18 points in the final minute. Lost by 3, 59-56, but it was a thrilling last minute to watch. But after that game, the AFL suspended operations for a year. Sucks it had to happen, but it maybe for the best now. The league is back and better than ever and it appears the excitement of indoor football will be around for many more years to come.