Kansas City Wins #2, Iowa and Chicago Lose

I don't know what has changed in Kansas City, but the Command looked good against Georgia on Saturday night.  I managed to catch the game on Ustream, and while Arenafan is reporting that there were 5,079 fans in attendance, the arena looked empty.  Kansas City either played a second good game or Georgia shot itself in the foot.  Watching the game, I would be inclined to say that both teams played well, just that Kansas City made fewer mistakes and managed to come out on top at the end of the game.  So, now the question is, can Kansas City keep the momentum going, can they make it three games as they take on the Utah Blaze (three game losing streak) next weekend at home at the Sprint Center?  I'm still having a hard time imagining the Command making that strong of a turn around, and with the better record overall, I would be inclined to go with Utah.

There was a moment that I thought that Chicago was going to beat San Jose.  Leading the game at half-time, it looked like Chicago had things going well.  However, San Jose came out on top at the final buzzer.  As for Iowa, I guess I should have gone with the stats and not my desires.  I had Iowa taking the match against Spokane, but Spokane managed to get ahead before the half, and Iowa simply couldn't catch up to take the game.

Week 13:  First up is the Cleveland Gladiators (6-4) at Iowa on Friday, June 1.  I hate to say this, but Cleveland has the stronger record in this confrontation, so I'm gonna go with the Gladiators.  Iowa has not been a superpower at home.

Next up is Utah Blaze at Kansas City.  Utah has the stronger record, but Kansas City seems to have found what was missing from their game, and they could prove to be the stronger team here.  They managed to take out Georgia in a low scoring game, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt against Utah, who comes to KC on a three game losing streak, but having scored a lot higher than Kansas City's last two wins.

Wrapping it up will be the Spokane Shock (6-4) against the Rush (6-4) in Chicago.  Chicago comes into this home game on a two game losing streak.  Spokane is riding a three game winning streak, but that momentum may not be enough to break Chicago's perfect season at home.  All of Chicago's losses have been on the road, they are 5-0 at home, and Spokane is only 3-2 on the road.  Two of the three wins that Spokane is bringing into this match up were at home, one against Philadelphia, but the other against 4-6 New Orleans.  The third in the series was against 4-7 Iowa, and after looking at everything, I will go with Chicago to win this one.

So, here are my predictions:  Cleveland over Iowa, Kansas City over Utah, and Chicago over Spokane.

Kansas City Tease - Close the Book?

It seems like forever since I started tracking the development of a female arena football team for the Kansas City sports market.  At first it was going to be the Sugar and Spice League, then later it was the development of a new league called the Ladies Arena Football League.  But the LAFL season schedule is up and there are only four teams on the schedule, none of which are from Kansas City.

I've caught a lot of flack about the the promise of the Kansas City Tease.  I have looked at the available information and quickly found myself thinking that this team would not come together.  Club appearances, the photographs were more a "sex sells" approach and "wanna be celebrity" presentation than that of a group of women who were serious about playing football.  I have no doubt that there were a few ladies involved in the Tease that wanted to play football, but most of them looked like they should be dancing at one of the top level strip clubs here in KC.  In fact, the people behind the team were coming back as having a past in the entertainment business not the sports business.

Well, its likely over.  Check their website and there is no indication that the team is any closer to competing than they were a year ago.  Their calendar ends with one practice entry in June, and then nothing.  Facebook, no posts since January.  All indications are that the Kansas City Tease have fallen apart.

Now, I would love to see a respectable Ladies Arena Football Team come to Kansas City.  The problem is that whoever leads this endeavor has to be serious about Arena Football, not using the ladies to draw men, and  certain ladies, into a group of clubs that the promoters and owners are connected with.  The Lingerie Football League has gained enough respect to get themselves broadcast on MTV2 in the past, and when I first saw the talk of a ladies team, hoped that it was a LFL team.  But there is this little problem with support for teams like this.  Kansas City just isn't an Arena Football town, especially with the history of the Kansas City Brigade, the complaints that arose when the team moved to the new Sprint Center, and now the far from impressive Kansas City Command.

So, I am closing the book on the Kansas City Tease.  It was a nice idea, but all appearances are that it's over.

Kansas City Wins, Iowa Loses ... badly.

Ouch!  The Iowa Barnstormers not only got beat, they got spanked.  I had looked at the stats and figured that the game would be close.  I was hoping that Iowa would pull out another victory, but when I got home from camping with the Boy Scouts, I looked at the scores and just hung and shook my head.  One report stated that Jacksonville was up 31-0 heading into the end of the first half when Iowa finally got themselves on the board.  So, Iowa drops to 4-6 and at this rate is pretty much taking themselves out of the play-offs picture with 8 games to go.

Well, I said that if Kansas City had a chance of winning a game this season, this was the game.  However, I figured that Kansas City was going for a perfect record of 0-18, so they would toss this one.  Really?  Honestly, I don't see Kansas City winning another game this season unless someone manages to scare the hell of of them.  As for building for the future, that doesn't wash in a league with a player turnover rate of 85%.

So, what am I looking at for Week 12?  Kansas City will drop a second one to the Georgia Force, this time at home in front of a minimal crowd of die-hard Arena Football Fans, some of which will actually be Command Fans.  It will also depend on  how many promo tickets they give away and what kind of game packages they can talk people into buying.

Iowa will be taking on the Spokane Shock, which are just ahead of them in the Conference, and this time they will be at home.  So, there is a chance, especially after getting spanked this week, that they could take the second game.

Chicago could have it's hands full this coming weekend as they take on the San Jose Sabercats in San Jose.  The Sabercats are undefeated at home this season, and are slightly ahead of the Rush in the stats.  But Chicago is coming into the game from a bye week so they've had plenty of time to prepare.  So, what do I think?  I'm need to go with the SaberCats on this one, as much as I would love to see Chicago win.

So, week 12 ... San Jose over Chicago, Iowa over Spokane, Georgia over Kansas City.

Week Eleven in the AFL

Okay, I didn't watch the games again this weekend.  You know, there is a lot going on right now and watching the lack luster Arena Football League is not high on my list of things to do.  But I'm keeping track of my team, and two others that are local favorites.

Week Ten, Chicago took on the Arizona Rattlers, and as much as I would have loved to see Chicago win, I was realistic and called the game for  Arizona.  Next week Chicago has a bye, so maybe they can figure out how NOT to shoot themselves in the foot the rest of the season and focus on making it to the playoffs and beyond.

Iowa handled Kansas City putting KC at 0-8 and taking Iowa to 4-5.  In week Eleven, KC is going to be taking on the Pittsburgh Power who are now 2-7.  This is KC's best chance of winning a game this season.  Once they get past this game, then they are looking at round two of the same teams that have beaten them so far, and home field advantage isn't going to help.  But I have faith in KC, and they are going to drop the game and enter week twelve at 0-9.

Iowa is going up against Jacksonville.  This is the only time that they are meeting this season, and looking at the records, away and home, I am going to take a chance and give this game to Iowa.

We shall see...

Rush take the Barnstormers

The Chicago Rush extend their season to 6-2 after a 61 to 50 home victory against the Iowa Barnstormers.  Yeah, I know that being a resident of Kansas City I should be cheering for the Command to pull off a handful of miracles, or for the nearby Iowa Barnstormers to start winning games, but as I have said in the past ... I was a Chicago Rush fan before there was an Arena team in KC the first time around, when the Barnstormers were an AF2 team.

So now its time to look at Week 10.  The 3-5 Iowa Barnstormers will be hosting the 0-7 Kansas City Command, and barring a meltdown at home, which the Barnstormers are capable, the perfect losing season for Kansas City should continue.  I am going to go with Iowa not losing to the likes of Kansas City and say that Iowa will make a good showing here.

Week Ten has the Chicago Rush away against the Arizona Rattlers.  Arizona hasn't been the powerhouse that some would have expected this year, and they come into this game with a record of 5-3.  This is to be the only meeting of the two teams this year, and Arizona has the potential to hand Chicago their third loss.  Arizona has a winning record at home while Chicago hasn't done as well on the road ... as of yet.  Point-wise, Arizona has the numbers in their favor.  More points scored per game and the less points allow of their opponents.  Its hard to be faithful to the Rush on this one.  The chance that Arizona could take this game is pretty good, and I am going to go with my gut feeling that Chicago is going to drop this one.

So, week Ten, I am going with Iowa over Kansas City, Arizona over Chicago.

KC Command Go 0-7 for Scout Day

In a promotion that they worked out with the Heart of America Council, Boy Scouts of America, the Kansas City Command managed to get 6,342 people into the seats at the Sprint Center.  It has been a major promotion over the past couple of months, offering the members of Scouting in the Council discounted tickets to their game against the 4-3 San Antonio Talons.  The Command at least gave the Scouts and die-hard fans something to cheer about during the first three quarters of the game, even giving them hope that this could be the team's first win of the season.  But alas, after going into the fourth quarter with a 31-27 lead, they failed to score at all in the fourth, and allowed the Talons to score twice, giving the Talons the win and the Command record falling to 0-7.

Week Ten has the Kansas City Command away against division rivals, the Iowa Barnstormers.  Iowa is coming off a loss to the Rush in Chicago.  They are only 1-3 at home, but their home losses were against Chicago, San Jose and Utah, all who are having good seasons so far.  Kansas City will be the first pitiful team that they are going to face at home, so as much as I would like to see KC get their first win, I have to go with Iowa.  I just don't see KC breaking their losing streak against Iowa.

To be honest, the only chance I see for Kansas City get a win this season would be their upcoming away game versus the Pittsburgh Power.  Pittsburgh is having a slightly better season than the Command, and they have only won one game at home so far this season.  After that, they are back against the teams that have buried them all season so far.  I fear that the final stat for the Command will be 1-15, and the owners will find themselves in a new battle ... to get dates in the Sprint Center as attendance will drop to all time lows.