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Jun 27, 2012 11:53:36 GMT -5
Post by busta2600 on Jun 27, 2012 11:53:36 GMT -5
I recently posted something on the UIFL board, which quickly got me red flagged and am unable to post. Copied and pasted: As I have watched the season progress, I still have a ton of questions concerning the league. Bear in mind, I get that indoor football is often an odd place and that some dirt gets on you, no matter what team. That said: Was there any sign before the 1st season schedule came out that over 1/2 the teams would fold or have serious financial issues? Why did the "Hammer" suddenly disappear days before their first game? Couldn't this have been resolved before the season? Was EKY's decision to give up their playoff game not due to alleged player misconduct but purely a financial decision? If there's a new team in MO, how does that help? The closest team would be Cincy or Marion. A 8/9 hour drive. How does that team fit into the Ohio/PA area or the deep south? Just doesn't make sense. Is it true that the "Rome Rampage" team had their jerseys and gear taken from them just after their last game? How many teams are considering a move to a different league for 2013? I do understand that the restructuring caused a terrible scheduling issue, but how does 1 team only play 1 away game further than 2 hours from their own arena? Why were wins against semi-pro teams counted as wins? They were all glorified scrimmages. To go off this question, why did the league OK a final J-Town/Sting game when both teams were allegedly filled with replacement players? Did the league tell one team that they (the league) could try to find a replacement team or they could just send the jerseys so the home team could find people to fill them? Will this league be around in 2013? My guess is no. I see several northern teams leaving/folding and that leaves EKY, FLA, LKL and the new MO team as the UIFL. If anyone believes that it's a good idea to admit teams that are blown out by 10+ TDs, great, but as a paying customer it does nothing to the credibility of the league.
IMO, many of these questions are easily answered by either saying it's bogus or not the whole story. In a banned follow-up, I gave several rational explainations but it didn't matter. I even said that all indoor leagues have issues, Ice vs. Storm (IFL), the AIF, etc. Banana Cat is 100% correct about the UIFL. I thank him for being so adamant about distrusting AGH and co. Not angry, just amused more than anything. Guess there was fire behind the smoke (and mirrors).
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sonicrules831
Starter
Commandos and Rivermonsters forever!
Posts: 96
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Gagged
Jun 27, 2012 13:05:38 GMT -5
Post by sonicrules831 on Jun 27, 2012 13:05:38 GMT -5
This league is so screwed up. I'm not sure right now if the league can get back on thier feet. I was at the Commandos game back on Saturday and I was sitting next to the Evansville Rage coach, a friend, and his kids. He told me that the Commandos, Explosion, and Blue Racers are going to the CIFL. That is what he was told, I don't know if it's true. But I don't want to cause havoc over there.
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Jun 27, 2012 13:14:33 GMT -5
Post by Banana Cat on Jun 27, 2012 13:14:33 GMT -5
Glad you were able to see through his bs.
After he played in the game against the Palm Beach Phantoms I also had a post removed (I posted about the game and added tags BUFFOONERY, SHAM, SCAM, and others ... I think it was the tags that irritated him).
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Jun 27, 2012 13:16:17 GMT -5
Post by Banana Cat on Jun 27, 2012 13:16:17 GMT -5
The UIFL will be back next year, but likely without Erie, Cincy, and Marion (I hope so at least). The league will be even worse next year, mark my words.
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Jun 27, 2012 13:23:36 GMT -5
Post by busta2600 on Jun 27, 2012 13:23:36 GMT -5
I let a member or 2 know of my issue and they both said it wasn't right. While hilarious and true, yeah, I can see why that would irritate, but my questions are in my opinion valid and do call into question the legitimacy of the competition. What boggles my mind is someone gave a reasonable excuse why the "Rampage" had their gear taken. If they were replacements, taking it back is just protecting your assets. I get that, but I guess in admitting that, you also admit that they were not the Rampage, as advertised. I simply replied that what he said makes sense and I can see that happening. Blocked. I have a lot of time on my hands, so I hope anyone won't mind me posting certain things I dig up.
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Jun 27, 2012 14:15:55 GMT -5
Post by Banana Cat on Jun 27, 2012 14:15:55 GMT -5
Haines took the Rampage uni's and gear earlier in the season when the team stopped playing and he's been giving it to semi-pro players to play as them the final part of the season.
I'm not blocked, but I haven't posted again since my post was deleted (probably won't post there anymore).
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Jun 27, 2012 15:28:43 GMT -5
Post by busta2600 on Jun 27, 2012 15:28:43 GMT -5
That's where an issue lies, then. If the team folds, it's assets were the owner's, correct? Meaning he's stuck with the balls, gloves, tape, coolers, etc. Unless the owners sold the unis to the league to defray costs, but Van Dyke and someone else were the owners. So the league owned the Tarpons, Huntington Hammer, Mississippi, and Rome? Because at the start of the season, when the great collapse happened, it was stated that the league ownership group got all the league's assets from CVD. Haines is also listed as partner of Conquest Mgmt., owners of the MO Monsters. Essentially a lie from day one. It was reported that all teams have independent ownership in this artice www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/?id=4344514Point is this, dude owned half the league. Literally. Only one team made it all season, but he's sure he can carry Missouri? Sorry, just began disliking this guy recently when piecing together things online. I'm not going to use the F word, no not that one, but this is so Fishulent that it's amazing me. Maybe some of the incoming teams should look into this. I may be way off base, though. Feel free to poke holes in this.
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Jun 27, 2012 15:54:56 GMT -5
Post by Banana Cat on Jun 27, 2012 15:54:56 GMT -5
You are not off base.
Haines bought back most of the assets of the Ultimate IFL from Van Dyke, renamed the league to the United IFL and jettisoned some of the teams. He kept Huntsville, Mississippi, Rome, Huntington, and Western Pennsylvania (WPA) Sting around even though they were not financially sound (the article you linked to about who owned which team was semi-true, but Haines took over those teams when they faltered). When Mississippi went under the league took control back of the team, they also took Rome's gear and filled them with local semi-pro teams. Huntington never took off and the Western Pennsylvania Wildcatz (not to be confused with the WPA Sting) played in their place (they didn't even use Huntington uni's). Bollinger owned Johnstown and WPA Sting and he didn't have enough money for either. WPA Sting was a travel-only team (same as Huntington and Rome) and mid-way through the season Bollinger took their best players and added them to Johnstown when many of their players bolted due to not getting paid. He used replacement players for the Sting after that. Even later he lost the Johnstown Coaching staff, front office, and remaining players. Despite that, he put on a game between the two with both sides filled with replacement players. Haines has added an expansion team in Saint Louis that he owns despite saying he wouldn't add any more teams without individual ownership, but his modus operandi (along with others of his ilk) is to set up shells of teams and sell them to unsuspecting suckers for a profit (many of those suckers are semi-pro types like Bollinger who have no clue what they're getting into, but have dreams of entering the big time). When he loses Cincy, Marion, and Erie, Haines will just add more ridiculous teams and the league will be very much like what the AIF was this year (a few real teams and a slew of semi-pro teams masquerading as pro teams). As far as making people aware, don't bother. There are so many clueless suckers out there looking to own teams, they will still think they can succeed despite what they learn about league owners like Haines (but after they fail they'll cry foul, because they're idiots as well).
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Jun 27, 2012 16:08:14 GMT -5
Post by busta2600 on Jun 27, 2012 16:08:14 GMT -5
But it's year after year with him. That's what gets me. Nearly 10 years of this sham and no one picks up on it? I do like the fact he's Gornall's agent. So he gets to negotiate deals with himself. I wonder if he switches chairs during this. But then he owns the league and gives his kicker awards (probably actually well earned but I'm sure favored) and promotes it on his agency's website. It's like the Seinfeld with the Mandelbaums, when Lloyd Bridges wore the "World's Greatest Dad" shirt.
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Jun 27, 2012 16:13:28 GMT -5
Post by Banana Cat on Jun 27, 2012 16:13:28 GMT -5
Yep, and it will continue to happen each year.
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Jun 27, 2012 16:37:51 GMT -5
Post by Roll Commandos on Jun 27, 2012 16:37:51 GMT -5
I heard at a Dayton game that the Commandos and Marion were interested in the CIFL. I just took it as jealous Dayton fans at the time. Amazing what a couple of months can do for your perception. Now I am jealous of the CIFL "stability" compared to the UIFL. LOL
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sonicrules831
Starter
Commandos and Rivermonsters forever!
Posts: 96
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Gagged
Jun 27, 2012 19:33:01 GMT -5
Post by sonicrules831 on Jun 27, 2012 19:33:01 GMT -5
Well, to Cincy, Marion, and Erie, they say:
CIFL, here we come.
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Jun 27, 2012 21:35:34 GMT -5
Post by sonofanump on Jun 27, 2012 21:35:34 GMT -5
Why would Pikeville stay and not join in with whatever league Cincy, Marion & Erie will be in?
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Jun 27, 2012 22:42:06 GMT -5
Post by Banana Cat on Jun 27, 2012 22:42:06 GMT -5
Good question. If they can get their financials in order (current CIFL doesn't require much in financials), then they could be a possible defector as well.
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Jun 28, 2012 10:52:35 GMT -5
Post by busta2600 on Jun 28, 2012 10:52:35 GMT -5
To his credit, he did respond and allow comments I posted to be put back on. BUT, I believe he flat out lies. I am posting my response here also, because I'm sure it won't pass the mods.
Thanks for responding. While I disagree with some points based on articles I've read and people I have spoken with, mainly the Hammer situation and part of Rome, I'm glad that you took the time to respond and many answers cleared up some things. I'm a fan, first and foremost, and just want things to succeed. I know that indoor football isn't very lucrative and things change over the course of a season. Look, this season has been full of issues and problems, but I defy you to bring up a league without drama. As a fan driven industry, an openness with your customers makes a great impression in the long run. But, there were 2 schedules that were made at the start of the year, at least I remember there were, and that was my point. I know no teams folded and no games were cancelled in 2011. With the Hammer, I just have one question. If what you said was true, why are they listed on the UIFL website regular season schedule as playing Cincy on 3/24, Marion on 4/21, Erie 5/6, and Johnstown 5/26? I believe this schedule came out after the restructuring. Also, there's a picture from the Cincinnati game with a player in a jersey that clearly says Wildcatz on it and the story attached never refers to them as WPA Wildcatz.
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