Labor troubles

Well it seems the Arena League has truely joined the big leagues. Last month an organized group of players threatened to file an Anti-Trust Suit against the league unless it meets their demands. The league owners retaliated by saying that they would be glad to sit down and talk to the players but not if the suit is filed. The Commissioner said that a strike or a law suit would be a death-blow to the 14 year old league.

Personally, I think that the players are entitled to some of the money from the new TV deal and the NFL money. The days of a player in this league making $600 a game are over. However, only a few of the leagues owners are making any money at all. Many have yet to see a dime from their investment and still more have lost a conciderable amount. Would it be a death blow to the league? I doubt it, but it could be a death blow to some teams and owners. Now, is not the time to get greedy, some lawyer or lawyers, are jumping on a chance at a quick buck at the expense of the players and the league. The league has set a deadline of the middle of February to resolve the issue or the 2000 season will be scrapped. The expansion draft scheduled to take place this month has been postponed pending a resolution to this controversy.

On the brighter side, ex-Barnstormer head signal-caller Kurt Warner is going to the Super Bowl! I'm sure that I speak for all of the Arena Football League faithfull when I say GO WARNER and GO RAMS! Hopefully, the league will get some exposure. If you're watching the pre-game and anyone says that Dick Vermeil is a coaching genious for placing Warner there and for taking his team to the big game don't you believe a word of it! Kurt Warner was left un-protected in the NFL's free agency just prior to the season and any team could have taken him and the Rams Superbowl chances away. In addition had Trent Green, their original starting QB, not gotten hurt, the Rams would have started him every game and would be watching this game on TV and probably have watched the playoffs too.

Coming soon are the links to the sites of the expansion teams.

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