|
|
Post by xmradiodave on Mar 12, 2007 5:05:18 GMT -5
we did pull out as many starters as possible and we had players playing positions they don'y even play....baltimore will be ok..they played hard, their org. was on hand and was great to work with....dont forget we also waived the 20 man roster and allowed balt. to bring all 30 of their players....but again you gotta start somewhere... Well, thank you for making me feel even more crushed by learning that you rested all of your starters!  Seriously though, I really enjoyed watching the game. I truly like the Express. They have a great organization there. Great crowd and great arena. I will gladly take that road trip every time. I especially enjoyed shootin the crap with the Express fans behind me. Sure they were loud-mouthed smack talkers, but darn it all it was fun. Kudos to a great game. If anything, at least it was good for a laugh. GO BLACKBIRDS! |
|
|
|
Post by westreading on Mar 12, 2007 9:32:41 GMT -5
In their first visit to the Sovereign Center, the Baltimore Blackbirds are easy prey for Reading.
By Jerry Reimenschneider
Reading Eagle
Reading, PA - This wasn’t a romp.
It was a war crime.
Custer fared better at Little Bighorn than the expansion Baltimore Blackbirds did before 3,400 at the Sovereign Center Saturday night, when the Reading Express welcomed their guests to the American Indoor Football Association with a 78-6 wipeout.
 78-6!!!  I love Reimenschneider's comment about it being a "war crime". I really was hoping that B-More would be a little stronger, would have made for a better regional rivarly. Hang in there Blackbirds fans, it's always darkest before dawn. |
|
|
|
Post by johnw on Mar 12, 2007 10:38:41 GMT -5
Thanks to the Express for being great hosts -- especially Bernie for taking care of us. Also was very impressed with your Arena -- perfect for indoor football. Of course, wish the game would have turned out different, but as Bernie said you need to start somewhere. We'll see you in May.
Thanks,
John Wolfe
General Manager
Baltimore Blackbirds
|
|
|
|
Post by loco on Mar 12, 2007 10:48:56 GMT -5
John-
Make sure you have plenty of merchandise so your fans can advertise for you by wearing the gear before the home opener! You have a great logo and nice looking uniform!
The Balto fans were fun to work with.... take it from this blue-hued gelding!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by Coach Bernie on Mar 12, 2007 15:18:08 GMT -5
hey t,
the roster wasn't arbitrarily waived ..it was discussed by both teams and approved by the lg....it was an idea of mine that i hoped would help balt. get started and we had some guys that had fun getting to dress at in front of a home crowd....
|
|
|
|
Post by Tatonka on Mar 12, 2007 16:41:42 GMT -5
hey t, the roster wasn't arbitrarily waived ..it was discussed by both teams and approved by the lg....it was an idea of mine that i hoped would help balt. get started and we had some guys that had fun getting to dress at in front of a home crowd.... Just seems like an odd thing to do in the middle of the season... at that point you didn't know if Baltimore was going to be a pushover or a powerhouse. This is a professional league... shouldn't it's rules be treated as such? |
|
|
|
Post by exit322 on Mar 12, 2007 18:39:31 GMT -5
No different from Port Huron - NY/NJ last year.
|
|
|
|
Post by Coach Bernie on Mar 12, 2007 18:47:41 GMT -5
i guess we'll agree to disagree...everything was done extremly professionally and again it was a group decision...you don't have to like it or agree with it...but it was still a decision that was made with good intentions ...put all the recent puzzel pieces together that balt. had to stumble over to get on the field sat. night and with that i believe it was a good decision for all.....again there s no problem in disagreeing with that...
|
|
|
|
Post by xmradiodave on Mar 12, 2007 20:05:57 GMT -5
My opinion may be biased, but due to the hospitality of the Express management everyone on both sides of the ball got a piece of the action. How is it any different than in the NFL when there is a huge blowout? The starters usually sit it out and let the rookies get a piece of the action.
A lot of you look at the negatives of the league. I see this as a league trying to succeed. Sure, on the field the teams are rivals, but in the league, they are all family. Reading Express is a class act from the players all the way up to management. Sure they obliterated the Blackbirds. It was hideous and embarrassing. But all the fans sitting around me and some of the players I had a brief encounter with were nothing shy of fantastic. It is this type of activity that people criticize that makes this league something special.
Cry shenanigans all you want, but I have a deep respect for the Express, the Blackbirds, and the respective teams management. Not to mention the respect of the AIFA. Working together will keep this league alive... not make it the laughing stock that some people are chalking it up to be.
|
|
