Post by Sykotyk on Apr 4, 2008 8:26:54 GMT -5
Sykotyk, I first question the accuracy of several parts of the story, and second, I question the journalistic value/quality of the story..
I said it was an op-ed piece. Based off of preexisting stories already out there.
There were several parts that I have to questions about.
1) The AIFA had the PERCEPTION of helping out troubled teams?
Isnt that what they did? If your going to accuse them of not helping out troubled teams last year, then you need to be a reporter and list your source.
1) The AIFA had the PERCEPTION of helping out troubled teams?
Isnt that what they did? If your going to accuse them of not helping out troubled teams last year, then you need to be a reporter and list your source.
How many of the teams they 'helped' were simply to get through the season? The teams weren't helped. They were limped through the season only to fold. That's not helping. Sure, it's saving face for the season (something the CIFL failed to, but still something you expect).
2) 8 teams folded
Did they really? Or were the ownership of 8 teams sold or transferred? And if so, why is that negative if the previous teams needed a helping hand, (or even worse, just the PERCEPTION of a helping hand)
Did they really? Or were the ownership of 8 teams sold or transferred? And if so, why is that negative if the previous teams needed a helping hand, (or even worse, just the PERCEPTION of a helping hand)
Lakeland, league champions, FOLDED. Johnstown FOLDED. Baltimore FOLDED. Danville FOLDED, Tallahassee FOLDED, Montgomery FOLDED, Erie FOLDED. Only one team moved, and that was Pittsburgh to Erie. Eight teams, over half the league, did not return this season in one form or another in their original city or went defunct entirely.
3) Why did a bunch of money go floating a team?
(as a reporter, that was his job to find out, he didnt, he simply went onto the next attack sentence)
4) Or did the money go into floating them?
(Again, if he wants to be a reporter, its his job to verify this question, not just dangle it out there as if its a lie)
(as a reporter, that was his job to find out, he didnt, he simply went onto the next attack sentence)
4) Or did the money go into floating them?
(Again, if he wants to be a reporter, its his job to verify this question, not just dangle it out there as if its a lie)
Again, it's op-ed. A fans perspective. I've written several times and had my stories posted on OSC. Doesn't mean I'm a journalist. Just like that you once owned the Ghostchasers doesn't make you an owner.
5) Simply Me does not make a team successful..
Beginning part is true.. but who said it did? If the AIFA relied on Simply Me Tv for teams to be successful, and then relied on the income from Simply Me Tv, to fund their teams, why the need to replace the ownership groups? To me it was just another business deal, that if all panned out great, if not, there really wasnt any harm done.
Beginning part is true.. but who said it did? If the AIFA relied on Simply Me Tv for teams to be successful, and then relied on the income from Simply Me Tv, to fund their teams, why the need to replace the ownership groups? To me it was just another business deal, that if all panned out great, if not, there really wasnt any harm done.
But, the problem is that everybody holds the $2.5million as actual money changing hands. You mean SimplyMe could pay out $2.5 million but can't afford the bandwidth to put on the 'national television broadcast' they reported, let alone a simple live video feed? Either SimplyMe just blew $2.5 million, the $2.5 million is in perceived value of the broadcast and not the actually monetary value changing hands, or the AIFA just wanted to feel important. Either way, it doesn't look good for the league.
Because, if you figure the numbers, $2.5 million for three years and even if 20 games a year are shown, is over $40k a game for the rights. Most teams probably don't clear $40k a game in tickets, and somehow we're to believe this TV network paid $2.5 million for the rights to games?
The NIFL used the 'we have a TV deal' mantra many years to con unsuspecting owners into either purchasing an NIFL team, or staying in the league after realizing what a joke it was. Even the AF2 did it last year in convincing the Fort Wayne arena to go with the AF2 group as opposed to the UIF-backed group.
6) Six teams survived last year,
(did he need to mention this incorrect statement yet again)? Teams moved, ownerships changed, but I believe more then 6 teams survived. I know the Pittsburgh team survived, its just moved, and unless the Pittsburgh corporation went bankruped, it survived, but not listed as one of the 6..
(did he need to mention this incorrect statement yet again)? Teams moved, ownerships changed, but I believe more then 6 teams survived. I know the Pittsburgh team survived, its just moved, and unless the Pittsburgh corporation went bankruped, it survived, but not listed as one of the 6..
The "Pittsburgh RiverRats" didn't survive. Any fan who lived there will argue your point is semantics. Reading, Canton, Huntington, Carolina, Florence, and Mississippi survived from last year to this year. Baltimore didn't survive. I don't recall being a fan of a team one year, and a whole new ownership, organization, name, colors, etc being the same team.
7) The focus should be on making sure the teams are well financed.
Let me get this straight.. First he criticizes the league for brining in newer, stronger team owners, and then he criticized them for making sure they are well financed.. Regardless, if he wants to be a reporter, he needs to verify facts..
Let me get this straight.. First he criticizes the league for brining in newer, stronger team owners, and then he criticized them for making sure they are well financed.. Regardless, if he wants to be a reporter, he needs to verify facts..
Who here keeps saying he's a reporter? You. Because you'd rather attack somebody for having an opinion than argue his points.
are the new teams financed or not? I havent heard of any bills going unpaid so far.. If he's going to accuse them of not being financed, then its his job to list why he feels that way, not just provide another hit and run.
First off, most teams don't start 'not paying' their bills until their money runs out. If the teams don't even have enough to make it a couple of games, there is major issues. I'd like to think the AIFA, CIFL, IFL, UIF, etc are better than that. Maybe the income projections don't pan out and they run out late in the season, but under even so-so circumstances, there should be enough cash available for a few weeks.
8) his job with the CIFL was mentioned.. totally useless to the AIFA story.. this would be like comparing an individual like Bill Gates, to a company, Apple.. One has nothing to do with the other
He said it to qualify his statements on how the AIFA is running compared to how the CIFL was being run (almost similar) in its first season. Luckily damage control was rather strong in the first year there, unlike the second year (coincidentally, the year he was no longer a free employee of the league).
9) A house is not built from the attic..
meaning you start from the bottom.. in this industry it starts with strong ownerships, but didnt he just criticize the league for getting stronger owners?
meaning you start from the bottom.. in this industry it starts with strong ownerships, but didnt he just criticize the league for getting stronger owners?
It's what the owners do, through the league. Nobody cares about doing the little things right. They care about net revenue, net expenses, etc. But not realizing how you boost revenue.
You know how many CIFL and AIFA/L games I've been to where the atmosphere at the game is non-existent. Either due to little-to-no advertising, no pre/post and in-game entertainment (other than blaring muzak) to make the average spectator who just wants a fun night out go home disappointed, win or lose.
Look at attendances across all the leagues. Perfect example, when Carolyn Shivers owned the Lake Charles LandSharks, attendance was abysmal. Late in the NIFL they're finally sold off and a new group buys them, rebrands them and suddenly they nearly sell out the arena in Lake Charles. Now, there was a league owner who couldn't even make her own team successful.
Ring a bell with Montgomery? And we expect the AIFA to help other teams in the league the way they 'helped themselves'. No regard for Montgomery fans. No team for them, because even the AIFA doesn't know what it takes to make a team successful. Same reason all those teams that were 'helped' last year are no more.
Little things. Same reason the west will fail as long as a semi-pro slapped together Utah team with no advertising and less than a few hundred fans for their first ever game make up 25% of it.
Sykotyk
