Post by sportznut on Oct 20, 2012 18:42:49 GMT -5
My, a lot has changed since my last blog. That is ok, the more things change the more they stay the same, right.. Yes and no in this case.
I personally needed to step away from the madness that we all enjoy for some time. Sour taste, been done wrong, eating at me to where I lost the love of the sport completely. Yes, but that was all put into perspective this past March. I lost the one person that would love you more than anyone else in this place we call life, my mom.
When I first started working in indoor football, my parents were the most supportive. I worked for our families business since 1985, and they allowed me the freedom to pursue the dream of working in professional sports while continuing to work my main job. My mom would want to hear about all the trips and people I met along the way, players, coaches, owners, fans, media, and whomever. She told me she was proud that she raised me with the integrity that I showed to be impartial. When my issues arose with the last league I worked, she told me to let it go. That it was not worth the pain and stress it was putting me through. Did I listen, of course not. The 2011 season, across the board, bitterness arose. That surely wasn’t me, so I stepped away.
I was somewhat excited for the 2012 seasons, because I had some calls asking me my interest in being involved in the new leagues. I respectfully declined, I wasn’t ready. We lost my mom right as the start of the seasons would have kicked off and I would have been in absolutely no frame of mind to have been worrying about football. I took **** near a month off of work dealing with my own grief and helping take care of my dad. But something happened along the way, I made a trip to Austin to see a friend of mine who had been a cheerleader for the Austin Turfcats, and now on the outdoor team Austin Vipers. I went to a Houston Stallions game on my way home. I knew they were having troubles, that would lead to their folding, business as usual, but I had such a great time. I know that my mom would not have wanted me to lose my love of this sport, that she knew I was so passionate about. I regained the feeling I had from after the first game I ever attended.
I made it to a couple of more Stallion games before they folded, and then over to Lake Charles for a game again the Columbus Lions. It was at this game where I was able to run into a ton of old friends I met from both the Lions, Swashbuckler’s and league/ ref personnel. Then I had kept in contact the Albany Panthers Head Coach, and followed their path to the 1st PIFL championship and congratulated him right after the game. I realized I still have the passion and need of this sport, just going to channel it to where it fits for me.
So I start looking into the upcoming season, across the board. What do I see? I see leagues moving to regional play. WHAT…. NO WAY…. That was the entire basis of the SIFL, we wanted to create a regional league to help out the fans to go see their team play more of its games, home and road. Which benefits the other teams also… right? We were looked down on because at that time, Bigger was supposed to be better. Looking at things now, where has the Bigger gone? Now the SIFL is gone, truly sad about this because of the time and effort and heart I personally put into making it something special, you just can only pull uphill for so long when someone is pulling downhill. But now there seems to be 2 solid leagues that arose from the ashes, and yes… Regional Footprint. I am pulling for them both to succeed! The so called big boy, well they are no better than a regional league now also, and it makes sense for them to be.
I guess what I am saying, The fog has lifted. Yall are stuck with me yet again. And I am sure that somewhere up above, my mom is reading this and telling someone, that’s my boy!
Until next time, If life makes you crazy, come join me in the nuthouse! laters
I personally needed to step away from the madness that we all enjoy for some time. Sour taste, been done wrong, eating at me to where I lost the love of the sport completely. Yes, but that was all put into perspective this past March. I lost the one person that would love you more than anyone else in this place we call life, my mom.
When I first started working in indoor football, my parents were the most supportive. I worked for our families business since 1985, and they allowed me the freedom to pursue the dream of working in professional sports while continuing to work my main job. My mom would want to hear about all the trips and people I met along the way, players, coaches, owners, fans, media, and whomever. She told me she was proud that she raised me with the integrity that I showed to be impartial. When my issues arose with the last league I worked, she told me to let it go. That it was not worth the pain and stress it was putting me through. Did I listen, of course not. The 2011 season, across the board, bitterness arose. That surely wasn’t me, so I stepped away.
I was somewhat excited for the 2012 seasons, because I had some calls asking me my interest in being involved in the new leagues. I respectfully declined, I wasn’t ready. We lost my mom right as the start of the seasons would have kicked off and I would have been in absolutely no frame of mind to have been worrying about football. I took **** near a month off of work dealing with my own grief and helping take care of my dad. But something happened along the way, I made a trip to Austin to see a friend of mine who had been a cheerleader for the Austin Turfcats, and now on the outdoor team Austin Vipers. I went to a Houston Stallions game on my way home. I knew they were having troubles, that would lead to their folding, business as usual, but I had such a great time. I know that my mom would not have wanted me to lose my love of this sport, that she knew I was so passionate about. I regained the feeling I had from after the first game I ever attended.
I made it to a couple of more Stallion games before they folded, and then over to Lake Charles for a game again the Columbus Lions. It was at this game where I was able to run into a ton of old friends I met from both the Lions, Swashbuckler’s and league/ ref personnel. Then I had kept in contact the Albany Panthers Head Coach, and followed their path to the 1st PIFL championship and congratulated him right after the game. I realized I still have the passion and need of this sport, just going to channel it to where it fits for me.
So I start looking into the upcoming season, across the board. What do I see? I see leagues moving to regional play. WHAT…. NO WAY…. That was the entire basis of the SIFL, we wanted to create a regional league to help out the fans to go see their team play more of its games, home and road. Which benefits the other teams also… right? We were looked down on because at that time, Bigger was supposed to be better. Looking at things now, where has the Bigger gone? Now the SIFL is gone, truly sad about this because of the time and effort and heart I personally put into making it something special, you just can only pull uphill for so long when someone is pulling downhill. But now there seems to be 2 solid leagues that arose from the ashes, and yes… Regional Footprint. I am pulling for them both to succeed! The so called big boy, well they are no better than a regional league now also, and it makes sense for them to be.
I guess what I am saying, The fog has lifted. Yall are stuck with me yet again. And I am sure that somewhere up above, my mom is reading this and telling someone, that’s my boy!
Until next time, If life makes you crazy, come join me in the nuthouse! laters