Dilbert

45 minutes ago, Frylock said:

That’s incorrect about Oregon. They did have rebound nets and goalposts. They just weren’t the standard model that we all are used to. They used black steel pipes instead of aluminum, presumably because they had to be fabricated for the venue (low ceiling) and it was cheaper. I hate that they couldn’t at least rattle can them with yellow paint.

Well that explains why they were invisible in the photo.

All four games were played today and some teams are more professional than others. 

While Albany and Nashville looked like a normal AFL setup

Oregon and Louisiana not so much. Oregon still doesnt have a field goal post or nets

While Louisianas field goal post and nets look put together from parts from a hardware store and are crooked.. The pads on the boards dont look great either.

Apparently Detroit and Tampa Bay are in discussion too.

Id love for these cities to be in MLS but they need to be the USL clubs promoted to MLS like Orlando and Cincinnati, not new separate clubs killing the current USL clubs like St Louis and San Diego.

I mean this isnt the first time we've had an inactive NHL franchise. The Quakers, Maroons and Americans were inactive franchises for several years, before the NHL pulled the plug on all of them. I suppose after 5 years if the Coyotes arent back, then either the NHL cancels the franchise, or the league takes over and sells it to someone else..

1 hour ago, GDAWG said:

The AFL's Iowa Rampage hosted a pre-season game against the Omaha Stockmen:

 

 

Looks better than Oregons operation but not up to par with others.

46 minutes ago, Frylock said:

I was at that game, and you have quoted my Facebook post nearly verbatim Let’s not copy and paste, please and thank you.

 

OITGDAFL, am I right, arena ball fans?

Ha! Didnt realize that was you. Small world.  No ill intent here. Just posting what I saw on Facebook and thought it was worthy of a share. Seriously though I knew from the start that this league wasnt  going to be a "professional" league. Some teams are operating like a professional team, others like Oregon here are merely posing as professional but are no better than a YMCA rec team.

The Oregon Blackbears held an exhibition match last night against the Washington Wolfpack and oof. No goalposts for this game, at least not this week. The boards seem to be merely fencing used for ag and animal pens during the state fair. There was no visible game or play clock. The Blackbear uniforms were what they have been using for practice, which were hand me down uniforms from the Oregon High Desert Storm and were being passed off as "a tribute to Oregons previous team". Finally, the roof. 5 out of 8 kickoffs hit the beams. It was described as intrusive as cars when playing street hockey. I know this was just an exhibition, but good god thats not good. Thats worse than what I thought it was going to be.

53 minutes ago, Sykotyk said:

Lake Charles Landsharks would like a word with you. 

 

Wonder if Carolyn Shiver was shopping for a team. 

Im well aware of Lake Charles past teams. But this is the AFL. A league that wants to be the top indoor league. A league banking of the league names history with teams in Albany, Orlando and Nashville, but then placing teams in Salem, Dodge City, Salina, and Lake Charles.

3 hours ago, GDAWG said:

 

They said that the owner is a celebrity when the team was first announced.  If that was the case, why have the AFL been so secretive about it?  Why haven't they revealed the owners of Georgia, Wichita or SW Kansas either?

And what celebrity would put their Louisiana based team in Lake Charles?  I mean New Orleans sure, Baton Rouge... maybe, Monroe if its one of the Duck Dynasty hillbillies, but Lake Charles? At least the VooDoo name makes more sense in Lafayette than Lake Charles.

Now about a week before the season starts, the Louisiana VooDoo have moved from Lake Charles to Lafayette.

The Coyotes owner has said that the Yotes AHL club the Tucson Roadrunners (who he also owns) will be moved to Tempe for next season. Tucson city officials have said they have yet to be contacted by the Coyotes about this and that they want the Roadrunners to stay in Tucson and complete the two years left on their lease.

So the Coyotes appear bound for Salt Lake, their farm club Tucson Roadrunners appear bound for Tempe. Anyone hear anything on the Utah Grizzlies? I know they are in a different arena in the suburbs but I cant imagine them staying to compete with the NHL. Should they go to Tucson to complete the circle of life?

5 hours ago, tigerslionspistonshabs said:

The Delta Center looks atrocious for hockey, but at least it'll be temporary.

I mean the Coyotes first home in Phoenix was atrocious for hockey too

New name and look for MLS Next Pros FC Cincinnati 2 may have just leaked. The team plays in Highland Heights, KY on the campus of Northern Kentucky University. Kentucky is one of four states that are known as commonwealths. MLS is encouraging its 2/B teams to rebrand or relocate. LA Galaxy II and San Jose Earthquakes II rebranded just days before the start of the 2024 season as Ventura County FC and The Town FC

ECHL has terminated the membership of the Newfoundland Growlers effective immediately.  The owner of the Growlers and the Trois Rivieres Lions was in severe debt and on the verge of bankruptcy. The Lions appear to be safe for now as a new ownership group may be coming forward to keep them alive. This comes  with just 6 games remaining on the Growlers schedule with and tied for third with Trois Riviere and Worcester in the North division. Sad that the league chose not to prop them up to finish the season.

35 minutes ago, Walk-Off said:

ESPN: Oakland to present Athletics ownership with lease extension

 

"In addition, the city is asking for a commitment from Major League Baseball on one of three options: (1) a one-year exclusive right to solicit ownership of a future expansion team; (2) vote to leave the A's colors and name in Oakland, or; (3) facilitate the sale of the A's to a local ownership group."

 

As noble as the Oakland government's intentions are, I am concerned that a demand that any of those three things happen will be a deal breaker for MLB.

we really bout to put these guys in Mullett Arena for three seasons arent we ?

11 hours ago, GDAWG said:

With the USL Championship and USL Super League (the Women's League), is the USL dealing with delusions of grandeur? 

The USL diehards want the USL Championship to compete against the MLS and are upset that the USSF have sanctioned them as Division II.  There's also some in the USL Championship who also believe that they should compete with the MLS.  This isn't happening for two reasons:

1. In order to compete with MLS, they have to go toe-to-toe with them for talent.  It is unlikely that they have the finances to compete for Neymar should Neymar want to play in the US.  
2. USL Championship teams folding doesn't help their cause.  Rio Grande Valley FC and San Diego Loyal folded.  If they wanted to compete with MLS, at least consider relocation.

As for USL Super League?  Well....the best US player not in NWSL is Catarina Macario. If she wants to play in the US, does she go NWSL or USL Super League.  If she goes USL Super League, it would be their biggest signing ever.  If she goes to the NWSL, what chances does the Super League have?  Also, two of the teams in the NWSL are owned by USL teams, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the North Carolina Courage and Racing Louisville.

NASL visions have infiltrated the minds of the USL

24 minutes ago, Sport said:

 

What was the initial incident that caused them to pull her credential? I can't actually find the inciting issue and can only find the after-the-fact back and forth. 

Neither side has actually said themselves, but others are pointing to  the team didnt like her sources from some recent players transfers, notably Barreal.

6 hours ago, MJWalker45 said:

I think this works for some teams, but Crew2 are in a good location for them at HCS, so moving elsewhere doesn't make sense to me. 

I think MLS is trying to get to markets with MLS Next Pro before USL gets them, as is the case with Huntsville.

It appears MLS is in the beginning stages of killing off the "2, II, B" names in MLS Next Pro. I heard a few months ago that they were encouraging MLS clubs to move their Next Pro clubs outside of the MLS cities and stadiums.  Effective immediately, LA Galaxy II has been rebranded to Ventura County FC and will move to Thousand Oaks playing at California Lutheran University.  San Jose Earthquakes II have been rebranded to The Town FC and will  move to Moraga at Saint Marys College

It appears MLS is in the beginning stages of killing off the "2, II, B" names in MLS Next Pro. I heard a few months ago that they were encouraging MLS clubs to move their Next Pro clubs outside of the MLS cities and stadiums.  Effective immediately, LA Galaxy II has been rebranded to Ventura County FC and will move to Thousand Oaks playing at California Lutheran University.  San Jose Earthquakes II have been rebranded to The Town FC and will  move to Moraga at Saint Marys College

We have some drama brewing between FC Cincinnati, independent reporter Laurel Pfahler and FCC fans. Laurel is one of two local independent reporters who cover the team. She is one of the best in the industry.

Last week FC Cincinnati temporarily revoked Laurels press credentials for two weeks. Since then fans have been spamming FC Cincinnatis social media with the hashtag #FreeLaurel.  Many fans believe she has done nothing wrong. For days it had been nothing but silence regarding the matter from FCC, but as people kept spamming FreeLaurel, they finally released a statement just hours before tonights CONCACAF match at Monterrey.

The statement from FC Cincinnati:

Schedule and bracket for Leagues Cup was announced today. I wont be watching or supporting due to schedule congestion.

1 hour ago, Sport said:

Saw DC United and FC Cincinnati kick it around yesterday. My thoughts:

 

1. Cold. 40 degrees in March is colder than a 20 degree Bengals game in January. I don't know why. 

2. FCC has to work so much harder than they did last year. They miss Vazquez. 

3. My first time seeing D.C. United since going to this game as an 8 year old in the first season of MLS. That game was in a mostly empty Ohio Stadium. Yesterday's was in a filled soccer specific stadium. We've come a long way.  

Cold in December and January is much different from cold in March. The windchill in the 30s didnt help either. FCC is off to a sluggish start. CONCACAF rotation doesnt help with that either. Vazquez has looked amazing with Monterrey. While its hard to fill his shoes, i have hope that Boupendza and Baird will start to wake up. We need better strikers coming from the bench. Santos aint it, Quimi is too inexperienced.

Looks like the Clippers may be headed back to San Diego, or at least their G League team is heading there.

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/sports/g-league-hoops-in-oceanside-announcement-planned-for-monday-fuels-speculation/3457206/