The Arena Football League, AFL is back. Did you notice they were gone? Well many fans did and are happy to see the league worked out it's issues and finally dumped the AF1 moniker. It took a stalking horse or something to do it, but they did it and this week the games begin again.
I had been covering the AFL Arizona Rattlers since 2001. During that time I was able to see some of the greatest players and coaches in AFL history. The Rattlers had their share including Danny White, Doug Plank, Sed Bonner, Hunkie Cooper, Mark Tucker to name only a few.
I also watched in dismay as the NFL turned the league into it's player developmental toy. Sure seeing Elway, Ditka roaming the halls and fields was a treat. But it changed the game, the rules, the marketing, the pace and the purpose of the AFL.
The AFL was, at one time the only sport of it's kind. A unique, patented original game that belonged to itself, the players and the fans. Now, it is still fun, but it is different.
If you are a Rattlers fan, then I will be sharing some photos and coverage that I was part of before, during and after the change and demise. Including stories, quotes, photos and video of regular season, playoff and Arena Bowl contests.
The place to go to follow the Rattlers, these "Blast from the Past" Snakepit stories is the RattlerReport.com or: http://rattlerreport.com. A link to it is on the right.
This story is a playoff pregame story and is about an upcoming game with rival the San Jose Sabercats. http://www.azfl.com/Rattlers/rattlersplayoffs2006R1preLies.html
Join me as I cover the 2010 Rattlers and tell, in pieces, the story of who the Rattlers were and the part they played in helping to shape AFL history.
CU on the Radio! ;-! Host/Producer of the ASPN Radio show, Arizona Sports Network Kevin Pakos. Show airs Saturday's 8-Midnight (PT) in Phoenix on KXXT 1010 AM and streams live online at: http://www.aspnradio.com
ASPN Radio takes calls from all over the country and sports talk from high school to the pros is always on the table. Call in, go to the web page, get the number and listen online.
Kevin Pakos is a writer, photographer, radio host/producer, cable tv host/producer and has been involved in journalism since 1972. He founded the Sports and Entertainment Newspaper a tabloid in Arizona, produced weekly cable tv shows and is now producing two radio shows.
He and his staff cover sports on the field and off all over Arizona and beyond. Kevin also founded the Arizona Football League AzFL in 1995. The AzFL is a Club league and has had over 200 players return to college. Some played pro including for the Rattlers and many other indoor pro leagues.
More links that follow Arena Football
http://www.rattlerreport.com
http://www.aspnradio.com
http://www.azfl.com
http://www.azfl.com/azflaflSiahaBurley.html
I had been covering the AFL Arizona Rattlers since 2001. During that time I was able to see some of the greatest players and coaches in AFL history. The Rattlers had their share including Danny White, Doug Plank, Sed Bonner, Hunkie Cooper, Mark Tucker to name only a few.
I also watched in dismay as the NFL turned the league into it's player developmental toy. Sure seeing Elway, Ditka roaming the halls and fields was a treat. But it changed the game, the rules, the marketing, the pace and the purpose of the AFL.
The AFL was, at one time the only sport of it's kind. A unique, patented original game that belonged to itself, the players and the fans. Now, it is still fun, but it is different.
If you are a Rattlers fan, then I will be sharing some photos and coverage that I was part of before, during and after the change and demise. Including stories, quotes, photos and video of regular season, playoff and Arena Bowl contests.
The place to go to follow the Rattlers, these "Blast from the Past" Snakepit stories is the RattlerReport.com or: http://rattlerreport.com. A link to it is on the right.
This story is a playoff pregame story and is about an upcoming game with rival the San Jose Sabercats. http://www.azfl.com/Rattlers/rattlersplayoffs2006R1preLies.html
Join me as I cover the 2010 Rattlers and tell, in pieces, the story of who the Rattlers were and the part they played in helping to shape AFL history.
CU on the Radio! ;-! Host/Producer of the ASPN Radio show, Arizona Sports Network Kevin Pakos. Show airs Saturday's 8-Midnight (PT) in Phoenix on KXXT 1010 AM and streams live online at: http://www.aspnradio.com
ASPN Radio takes calls from all over the country and sports talk from high school to the pros is always on the table. Call in, go to the web page, get the number and listen online.
Kevin Pakos is a writer, photographer, radio host/producer, cable tv host/producer and has been involved in journalism since 1972. He founded the Sports and Entertainment Newspaper a tabloid in Arizona, produced weekly cable tv shows and is now producing two radio shows.
He and his staff cover sports on the field and off all over Arizona and beyond. Kevin also founded the Arizona Football League AzFL in 1995. The AzFL is a Club league and has had over 200 players return to college. Some played pro including for the Rattlers and many other indoor pro leagues.
More links that follow Arena Football
http://www.rattlerreport.com
http://www.aspnradio.com
http://www.azfl.com
http://www.azfl.com/azflaflSiahaBurley.html