The War on I-4, the most famous rivalry in Arena Football history. I was invited back for a very exciting night with the Tampa Bay Storm as they took on the Orlando Predators for the American Conference Championship. If they came out with the victory at the end off the night as the clock hit zero, they would be heading to Arena Bowl XXIII.

I thought my last seized opportunity as a Storm Chaser was amazing, but this night topped it. It started with the sound of pyrotechnics booming through the stadium, easily met with the sounds of a roaring Tampa Bay Storm crowd. Having a phenomenal view from the press box, I watched as the kick-off started the game. The first team to score may have been the Predators, but the Storm answered back with a touchdown from both Terrence Royal and DeAndrew Rubin to finish off the first quarter with a Storm leading score of 14-7.

The Predators managed to tie the score 14-14 with the first score in the second quarter, but Brett Dietz wouldn''t let it last, he got the ball to where it needed to go as he always does finding Rubin once again to take the lead back from Orlando. Bobby Sippio, being allowed to play after his last altercation in the Tampa Bay Storm game two weeks earlier tied the score back up for the Predators only for Orlando to lose the tie due to another Storm touchdown made by Ty Timmons. Orlando attempted an on-side kick in hopes of controlling the ball and catching back up when Tampa Bay's Drew Weatherford recovered the ball, and Brett Dietz found Hank Edwards in the end zone for Edward's 80th career touchdown, and a 35-21 lead at the end of the half.

As the half time show ended, and the teams came back out, the Storm made a promising increase to their score as Dietz threw to Timmons in the end zone, but the numbers wouldn't stop climbing there. Robbie Powell made a fumble recovery on a ball meant for Kalieta and ran it in bringing the score to 49-28. The crowd filled up the sound meters as a win became more eminent for the Storm. The Predators made one last score ending the third quarter, trailing the Storm 49-35.

Early in the fourth quarter, the Predators started to close the gap as they brought the ball in, and their score up to 42. The Storm fight back as Terrance Royal makes his way into the end zone to take the score to 55-42. Sippio is regrettably seen once again in the Predators end zone as Orlando continues to claw their way back up on the score board with the score reading 55-49. With hope of the win still in sight, the Storm press on, but Dietz is picked off by Byrum, and Orlando seizes the opportunity and scores, taking the lead by one point, 56-55. Orlando, feeling lucky, go for another on-side kick, but Tampa Bay recovers, and takes control once again raising the score 63-56. Tolliver puts hope in scoring for Orlando, but PAT is no good, and Tampa Bay hold the lead 63-62. With one point standing between the two teams, both crowds were off their feet, and tensions were high. Dietz threw for another touchdown to seal the deal, but it was intercepted in the end zone by Kenny McEntyre. With 2.9 seconds left on the clock, Carlos Martinez made the kick for Orlando from one side of the field to their goal.

The kick was "strait as an arrow" Dietz said, and it sailed through the air at what felt like slow motion. It came down perfectly center, but just short of the crossbar, and the crowd exploded as the Storm celebrated with their 63-62 American Conference Championship victory. With yet another spot in the Arena Bowl, Coach Tim Marcum and his team were headed to Arena Bowl XXIII.

The 2010 season began with many questions and unforeseen challenges as the AFL re-launched after a one-year hiatus.  There were new teams and new markets creating new rivalries.  For the Tampa Bay Storm the season was met with high expectations and the team did not fail to deliver, winning the American Conference championship and a League record ninth ArenaBowl berth.  While the team did not bring the Jim Foster Trophy home, there are many reasons to call the 2010 season a success.

Tampa Bay Storm Head Coach Tim Marcum recorded his 200th career victory, the offense was the most prolific in team history, five players earned All-Arena honors and the best fans in Arena Football provided tremendous support as the team led the league in attendance throughout the season.

The season began back in March with a pre-season contest against the Orlando Predators and it was at half-time that the Tampa Bay community was introduced to the Storm’s new ownership group led by Todd Boren.  The group led by Boren, along with the leadership of the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Times Forum, helped to keep the Storm playing in Tampa Bay as the Storm completed its League-leading 23rd season.

 The team overcame a slow start, 2-3, to finish the season at 11-5 and in the process reeled off eight consecutive victories, the third longest single-season streak of victories in franchise history.  The streak included a thrilling victory on the road over the Predators and what may have been the best game of the entire AFL season, a 68-60 victory over the Chicago Rush at home in the St. Pete Times Forum.

 On May 1, the Tampa Bay Storm defeated the Arizona Rattlers, 62-61, as the Rattlers failed to convert a two-point conversion at the end of the game.  The win over Arizona gave Marcum his 200th career victory, the most in Arena Football.  Only five coaches in the NFL and two coaches in the CFL have more career victories than the Ole’ Ball Coach.

 Offensively Tampa Bay has never seen a season like 2010.  The Storm set numerous team and individual records.  The offense averaged a franchise high 57.8 points per game scoring a total of 926 points including a single-season high 131 touchdowns and 5,190 yards of offense.  The catalyst for Tampa Bay’s offense was quarterback Brett Dietz.

 Dietz, who earned All-Arena second team honors, finished third in the AFL with 107 touchdowns and 5,054 yards, each of which shattered franchise single-season records.  However he could not have accomplished those feats without the play of the offensive line or wide receivers. The line of Tom Kaleita, Robbie Powell and Manny Akah finished tied for the fifth fewest sacks.  Kaleita received All-Arena second team honors after allowing only one sack the entire season while Akah did not allow a sack until Week 17.

 The receivers had banner years as well as Hank Edwards, DeAndrew Rubin and Tyrone Timmons all left a mark in the franchise record books.  June 19 at Utah Edwards had a 195 yard 14 reception performance that led to the best three-game stretch in team history.  Over the course of the next two games he became the first receiver in franchise history to record 200 receiving yards in a game and culminated the three-game stretch with 32 receptions for 576 yards and 12 touchdowns.

 However, Edwards would not remain alone in the class of 200-yard reception games as DeAndrew Rubin had the best single-game by a receiver in team history against the Predators July 31 as he set single-game records with 17 receptions and 245 yards receiving.  Meanwhile Timmons quietly went about his business to lead the team in receptions (118) and touchdowns receptions (36) surpassing the single-season record of 35 set by George LaFrance in 1998.  They three became only the second trio of receivers in franchise history to all surpass 1,000 yards receiving as they accounted for 4,245 yards.

 Defensively, the team had three players earn All-Arena honors with Tim McGill receiving first team honors while Cliff Dukes and Jermaine Smith received second team honors. 

 The defense held its opponent to less than 50 points nine times this season.  Only one other team accomplished that feat, as the Storm defense finished second in the AFL allowing only 50.8 points per game. 

 The defensive front finished with 30 sacks, the most in team history.  Dukes led the team with nine sacks, tied for third in the AFL, and teamed up with Tim McGill to create one of the best pushes in the league.  Smith and Kinney joined in as well as Smith finished in the top ten with seven sacks and Kinney set or tied career highs with 19.5 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and four blocked kicks.

 On the back end of the defense Brandon Hefflin led the team with 100 tackles and four interceptions while newcomer Michael Hawthorne scored three defensive touchdowns, forced three fumbles and recovered four fumbles.

 However none of this is worth mentioning if it were not for the tremendous fan support throughout the entire season from the Tampa Bay community.  The Storm not only led the AFL in attendance averaging 15,237 fans, Tampa Bay also had seven of the top 10 attendances including a season high of 17,302 at the regular season finale against Orlando. 

 With 2011 on the horizon the team and staff are back at work to maintain the level of success and provide Tampa Bay with a consistent winner on and off the field.

TULSA- The 2011 Arena Football League regular season has been extended from 16 games to 18, Commissioner Jerry Kurz announced today. The league will consist of 19 teams and each will play 18 regular season games, with the option of two preseason games (one home and one away). The change was passed in an ownership vote last week during the league’s Board of Directors meeting in Phoenix, AZ.

“There has never been a better time for the Arena Football League,” said Commissioner Jerry Kurz. “The product is exciting, our economic model is sound and fans are demanding affordable family entertainment. Extending our season is a great decision, both from a business and fan perspective,”

The AFL has officially grown from 15 teams in 2010 to 19 by adding teams in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, San Jose and Kansas City. The Philadelphia Soul were the league champions in 2008 just prior to a dark year where the AFL made strong adjustments to its economic model. The league bounced back in 2010 with a very successful season in which the Spokane Shock beat the Tampa Bay Storm in Arena Bowl XXIII on August 20th.

“The new 2011 franchises are in key markets with dynamic ownership,” added Kurz.

The 2011 season will be the longest in league history. In its 23 years of existence, teams have played as many as 16 games in a season. The league had observed a 16 game schedule since 2003.

There comes a time in a person’s life in which a career decision must be made. Whether it’s for love or money, a talent or a passion, one must choose their fate. Many may try to juggle separate activities, but when it is all said and done there can only be one. That time is here for Tampa Bay Storm wide receiver Tyrone Timmons.

This season, wide receiver Tyrone Timmons, who was an electronics major at Mississippi Valley State, embarked into his new, elaborate career with CAE. CAE is “a world leader in providing simulation and modeling technologies and integrated training solutions for the civil aviation industry and defense forces around the globe.” With revenues exceeding $1.5 billion, the company produces civil and military full-flight simulators and training devices.

“I was fascinated with electronics and electricity since I was a child. I learned how to build circuits in high school. Whether it was a closed circuit or an open circuit, from a light switch to everything else,” Timmons said.

His father Tyrone Timmons Sr., who also works for the company, introduced Timmons to CAE at a young age. On a frequent basis, his father brought his son into the office.

“When I started seeing the flight simulators, I wanted to do that. My dad said that I had to be good in math and science. Those are my best two subjects in school anyway. I knew that I could do it,” Timmons said.

After interning with the company for four years, Timmons was finally ready to make the full commitment.

“My job would be the visual systems,” he explained. “Everything that you see inside the flight simulator, the actual visual picture, is what I will be creating. If they go up, you see the sky. If they go down, you see the ground. I’m in charge of making sure the visual is picture-perfect. There are mirrors all around, inside the flight simulator. It creates this big, open view of about 180 degrees. You can’t see anything behind you, but you can see in front and all around you.”

Making that commitment, however, wasn’t easy for Timmons. At the time he began the new job he was Storm’s leading receiver with 66 receptions for 783 yards and 19 touchdowns.  Timmons interned with the company in the summers of 2003-05 and again in 2009. He was lucky to get another opportunity.

“Football was always first,” Timmons, 25, said. “It has been something that I have always been able to do and I have always been pretty good at it.”

After posting 148 career receptions, 2,285 yards and 17 touchdowns and finishing second all-time to Jerry Rice in receptions and yards at Mississippi Valley State, he joined the Storm’s practice squad in 2007. After the season ended he was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs. Still working as an intern at CAE, Timmons informed the company of his departure.

“They said, ‘Cool! Go ahead and don’t worry about it. When you are done playing football, you can always come back,’” Timmons said.

Not to long into the fall, Timmons was released from the Chiefs and rejoined the Storm. He decided not to go back to CAE.

After biding his time to get onto the field in 2008, Timmons posted impressive numbers and became only the sixth receiver in AFL history to catch three or more touchdown passes in his first three games.

“At the end of the 2008 season, I got back with the company. I was thinking in the offseason, I would just play for the Storm and just rotate. They were fine with that. Well, the economy got really bad and the league went into hiatus. The company asked me to stay,” Timmons said.

Timmons, however, was still eager to play football.

“I got a call to join the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the CFL and the coach knew someone with the St. Louis Rams. He told me he could get me in there and I told him I would play. At the time, I found out I was going to have my daughter. I didn’t know what I was going to do when the league stopped. I thought that I could get back into the NFL real quick after I played a couple games in the CFL and boom, I went. That fell threw,” Timmons said. “The coach ended up not being so honest. I had just left that job again too.”

Confused, disheartened and now with a daughter to support, Timmons moved back to Tampa. He interviewed with CAE three times, but didn’t get a job. Word spread that the Arena Football League would be back for the 2010 season and Timmons, again, rejoined the Storm. He also began working for a company called AC4S Telecommunications and tested electronics to make sure they were functioning correctly.

He went back to posting impressive numbers with the Storm and was finally offered a full-time job at CAE. His first day was halfway through the 2010 season.

“Now, I’m not going to leave my job for football. At first, my mindset was if I got the call, I’m gone; I’m out of here. Now, I’m not going to do that. I’m looking for stability in my life. Now that I have a little one, it’s not just me anymore. If it was just me, I would say, ‘I’ll leave this job, all I have to take care of is myself.’ I can’t be so happy-go-lucky,” he said.

With new goals and a career, Timmons must make a hard decision that troubles most. Will it be his passion for football or stability and his career in technology?

“When next season comes along, am I going to be able to do it?” Timmons said, “Am I going to be able to still work and play for the Storm? Am I going to have to focus just on my career, get in good with the salary and let football go? I don’t know. At this point, I can’t say that. I thought about this too, what happens that after this season I get a look from the UFL or the Buccaneers or whoever? I would have to say, are they really serious about me or is this just a camp? I’m not going to be a camp body. I can’t do that. I have to know something. I would have to know I had a good shot of making the team. If I didn’t know, I couldn’t afford to do it.”

For now, however with the season over, Timmons presence will be felt in the workplace. And his presence at wide receiver, well he has an entire offseason to determine how strong that passion burns.

TAMPA BAY– Tampa Bay Storm players Emmanuel Akah and Lawrence Samuels will participate in Huntington Learning Center’s Back to School Kickoff at Alexander Park in Tampa Saturday, August 28, 2010 at 1:00 PM. 

The Back to School Kickoff is a free football clinic that is open to all school-aged kids and their families.  The event features current and former pro and college football players, working with kids in a one day football skills clinic.  Scheduled to appear with the Storm players are former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Shaun King and Ryan Nece, former South Florida Bulls and Florida Gators. 

There is also a free BBQ lunch from South Florida Catering, prizes and autographs for the kids, plus the players speak to the group about the value of education. 

Who:         Tampa Bay Storm OL Emmanuel Akah
                  Tampa Bay Storm WR Lawrence Samuels

What:        Players will instruct school-aged kids in a football clinic.

When:       Saturday, August 28 – 1:00 PM

Where:      Alexander Park
                  5602 N. Lois Ave
                  Tampa, FL 33614
                  Phone: (813) 908-1000 – Huntington Learning Center
                  Contact: Chris Garrido

By Jason Dixon

What’s next for the AFL…

The league has its relaunch season in the books. I think everyone agrees that it was an almost impossible feat that the AFL accomplished by getting a product back on the field for the 2010 season. For that alone, the commissioner and the league’s owners, coaches and players deserve praise.

Now it is time to analyze what needs to be improved on, and where the league is going moving forward. The AFL owners are meeting in Arizona presently to do just that.

I think we have learned that there were a few small markets in the league that will not be viable long term. We know now that the Alabama Vipers will be headed to Atlanta to become the Georgia Force. There are rumored relocations for a couple of other small market teams, Bossier-Shreveport to New Orleans and Oklahoma City to Seattle. It remains to be seen if those rumors come to fruition. That leaves Spokane, Tulsa and Milwaukee from the former af2 markets. I think Spokane is going to be around for awhile. They are destined to be the Grand Rapids of AFL 2.0. Milwaukee is a good market, that team just needs solid ownership. Tulsa’s long term viability is still a question mark. It had its best year at the turnstile in 2010. I am just not sure if that franchise can remain there beyond the 2011 season.

One of the glaring on field deficiencies in 2010 was the use of “home town officials.” The cost saving system in which one officiating crew was assigned to officiate all of a team’s home games. Dallas Vigilantes owner Woody Kern told me on the Tim Marcum Show this week that the league is abandoning this policy and will move towards a system in which crews will cover games regionally. For example there may be three crews in Florida that rotate between Tampa Bay, Orlando and Jacksonville games.

Kern mentioned that the league will look at some different proposals for player compensation. Right now, three “marketing players” are making $1,000 per game, while the other players make $400 per game. Player compensation will probably not increase dramatically next season, but the league is looking at some options that will allow teams some flexibility in how they dole out the money allowed for salary. He also mentioned a proposal for a tiered system that would see some players make $1,000, some would make $700, some would make $500, etc.

The league should receive a boost from the returning and expansion teams joining in 2011. The San Jose Sabrecats, Kansas City Brigade and Philadelphia Soul will all be returning to the league next season. The Pittsburgh Power will join as an expansion team. The steel city has not had Arena Football since the Pittsburgh Gladiators left town to become the Tampa Bay Storm.

There should also be the announcement that ArenaBowl XXIV will be held in Orlando. I mentioned in this space earlier this week that I believe that a predetermined site for the game is probably the best way to go.

No matter what happens with all of the stuff mentioned above, the AFL’s continued growth is good news for the fans. I think the AFL’s return last season was a success and things will be even better next year.

Thank yous…

I am wrapping up my 12^th full season as one of the radio announcers for the most storied franchise in AFL history. There is the possibility that I have called my last Storm game. There are a few career opportunities on the horizon that might send me to some outposts that might make it a little difficult to get to the Forum on Saturday nights. Hopefully things will work out and I will be back in the booth next year, but just in case, there are a few people that I wanted to thank.

We will start with Coach Marcum. I consider the coach a friend and a mentor. The first time that I was behind the mic for a Storm game was 1997. The Storm were headed to Phoenix to take on the Rattlers. I was filling in for Rock Riley who’s wife was having a baby. I buried myself in the rule book to brush up on the nuances of the game. I read both team’s media guides. I was ready for this game baby. I forgot one small thing. To talk to the head ball coach. I heard through the grapevine that coach was not happy. How could I announce as Storm game without talking to the head coach? Rocko needed to spend another week on maternity leave. I was called to duty again. This time the coach could not get rid of me. I was at every practice and asked every question. In the process I learned to love the game. Coach took me under his wing and allowed me tremendous access. Our dinners the night before road games, some of the “only in Arena Ball” moments, enjoying the victories, and drowning our sorrows after losses where all under the category of what coach called “building memories through Arena Football.” Thanks Coach.

My partner Jack is not only an icon in Tampa Bay, but I am proud to call him one of my best friends. We are the Harry Caray and Steve Stone of the Arena Football League, and I say that will the utmost reverence for Jack. Jack’s presence on the Storm broadcast immediately brings the team, the league and the sport instant credibility. We are a bit of an odd couple off the air. Sometimes our wives just shake their collective heads at how well we get along. Our adventures on the road have provided me with a lifetime of stories.

I understand all of this may not be great reading for you, I’ll try to keep the rest short.

Dave Ewart...One of the best personnel guys in the game. A good guy and good friend. Someone who has poured his soul into the Arena Football League. I love watching the good cop/bad cop dynamic with Dave and Marcum.

The rest of the folks in the Storm office. Michelle Anderson, my friend and fellow New Orleans tippler. Our equipment manager Juan Valdez, a good guy and friend. He has the toughest job in the building and always got it done with a smile. A big plus, he never forgot to bring the radio gear on the road. Chrissy Deeb, who had the most important job in the place, making sure the food and drink was ready when needed, and she never disappointed. The new guys Evan Vladem and Monte Bussey, each hard workers with great careers ahead of them. The players, coach Marcum has said it over and over again. This is the best group of guys that we have ever had, and the coach is rarely wrong. We had a locker room full of professionals with high character. They were good guys off the field and skilled gladiators on it. Of course I have to throw in the cover my butt, “Thank you to anyone else that I may have forgotten.”

When the Arena Football League relaunched, I had a bit of a rude awakening. As part of the economic cutbacks, most of the league had determined that a full time public relations person was a luxury. The person who’s job it was to supply me with information for my broadcasts was now also selling tickets, doing game operations, or even wearing the mascot costume. That meant the quality of information was…um…Well lets just say it the league has some room to grow in this area. The Tampa Bay Storm was the exception. Jim Robinson was the guy who set the bar for what the rest of the league should strive for. Jim is the best PR guy in the league. He made my job easier and hopefully made the broadcast more entertaining to the listeners. This guy worked his [tail] off all season long and for that I am extremely grateful.

Thanks to the Storm ownership. Thanks to Bill Wickett, Sean Henry and Matt Sammon at the Forum. Those guys have allowed me to actually get paid for doing something I love through the years. Thanks to the best engineer on the planet Ralph Beaver and his apprentice Molly Donsky.

Most of all thanks to the fans. I never cease to be amazed by the passion of Storm fans. The way you all turned out at the Forum after the year off was something to behold. I love talking with you before and after the games. I love answering the e-mails and the questions at the coach’s show. You guys are what it is all about. We do what we do for you, and without you we would not be able to do what we love. Thanks.

Again…My apologies for any mushiness. Normally that is not my style. If logistics can be worked out and the folks with the Storm and Forum will have me, I would love to be back next year. But just in case, it was important to me to make sure the people that I have worked with know the respect that I have for them.

This column will be the last regular one for the 2010 season. Thanks for taking the time read what I had to say. I will check in throughout the off season when events warrant. Also don’t forget to become a fan of the Storm’s Face Book page where you may see some musings from me during the off season.

By Jason Dixon

Throughout the 2010 season we saw two different versions of the Tampa Bay Storm. For most of the year we saw a dominate team with a fierce pass rush, a physical secondary, an accurate, efficient quarterback, and big wide outs that went up and got the football. There were times during the season where the team just appeared to be off kilter making mistakes on both sides of the football. Unfortunately for Tampa Bay, on the league’s biggest stage the wrong team showed up.

Things looked good out of the gate. The Storm lost the toss and got the ball first. They moved down the field with a slow, methodical drive. In the process the Shock lost two defensive starters. They finished the drive with a touchdown. The Shock then scored on their first possession, but Storm linebacker Cliff Dukes blocked the extra point. Storm fans had to be feeling pretty good.

The game turned on the next two Tampa Bay possessions Both ended with turnovers. Quarterback Brett Dietz was sacked and he fumbled. That turned into a 13-7 Shock lead. The next series resulted in an interception, and just like that Spokane led by two scores.

The Storm had hoped to take the rowdy Spokane crowd out of the game early. Instead, Tampa Bay’s early mistakes fueled the Spokane record crowd of 11,017.

The Spokane offense led by quarterback Kyle Rowley sliced and diced the Storm secondary. The only time the Storm were able to muster a stop was when kicker Garret Rivas recovered an onside kick. The lone stop allowed the Storm to temporarily take the lead. Even the go ahead score came back to bite the team from Tampa Bay. The Shock defense appeared to allow Royal to score. If Royal had fallen down on the one yard line, Tampa Bay could have milked some additional time off the clock. Instead, the Shock got the ball back and one play later scored to take a 34-28 halftime lead.

The Shock had the possession coming out of the half and leap-frogged the Storm as they put up a touchdown to open the second half. The Storm were unable to answer. Dietz tried to force the ball down field to Hank Edwards, the route was jumped and the Storm’s hopes of winning the ArenaBowl were officially toast.

The Storm were never able to come close to stopping the Shock. The Storm secondary looked lost. There were busted coverages and desperation pass interference infractions. All-in-all things did not go well for the guys in the defensive backfield.

The Storm’s mantra all season long was that “no other team in this league could beat them. The only team that could beat them was themselves.” That theory was busted in ArenaBowl XXIII. The reality of the situation was that even though the Storm doled out some self-inflicted wounds, the Spokane Shock thoroughly beat the them in all aspects of the game.

The Spokane Shock denied Tampa Bay its sixth ArenaBowl title. In the process Spokane added its first ArenaBowl title to its two ArenaCup championships.

What’s next…

The 2010 version of the Tampa Bay Storm were designed to win now. The team was made up of veteran AFL players who came back to the relaunched version of the Arena Football League with the intention of winning a championship this season. The end result was the empty feeling of being so close to a title, but coming home empty handed.

When you have been around pro sports as long as I have, you learn to take statements made after an emotional loss with a grain of salt. That being said a number of those veteran players may choose to hang it up. I won’t name names here, because I believe that those guys have earned the right to go out on their own terms.

There is also another set of players who still have years left in their playing career who have decided that for whatever reason, the relaunched version of the Arena Football league is not for them.

What this means for Tim Marcum and his staff is probably a rebuilding effort for next year. Mind you, I don’t believe that Tampa Bay will be all alone in that boat. That second group of players that I mentioned above are not exclusive to the Storm. League wide there will be a number of players that might decide that the AFL is not for them.

ArenaBowl review…

Hard core fans of the Arena Football League have debated the merits of having the ArenaBowl at the site of the highest seeded team, or having the game hosted at a neutral site.

I have attended three ArenaBowls that were hosted by a home team, and one neutral site game. Both have their pluses and the crowd in Spokane was electric. Having the game in Spokane was a great reward for great fans that have supported the Shock all season long. Shock fans that were in the building got to witness the home team winning a championship. It was something that they will never forget.

The down side to the game being played in Spokane, was that the game was being played in Spokane. Spokane, Washington is a hard city to get to. There are not a lot of options for flying into Spokane and just about all of those options are real expensive. That meant the team’s travel costs for the game were exorbitant It also meant that fans of the league that wanted to attend the game likely had to pass because of the hefty air fare.

This year’s game did not have much of an “ArenaBowl feel” to it. This was mostly due to the downsizing of the league office. The league apparently did not have the personnel or the funds to put on an “event.” Walking around downtown Spokane, there was no hint that a championship game was being played in the city. The only ArenaBowl signage that I saw was a cardboard sign on an easel in the hotel lobby. If not for the ownership of the Storm and Shock opening their collective wallets, there would not have been the traditional banquet for the players, coaches and staff the night before the game.

Media day had a sparse turnout. There were local Spokane media, the guys from www.ArenaFan.com, and me.

The game itself was a Shock home game. The ArenaBowl field which included neutral end zones remained sitting in a warehouse somewhere. Instead the Shock’s orange end zones were laying over the concrete. The Storm provided graphics for the Spokane video board, the best I could tell they were never used.

In contrast, the game between Orlando and Chicago that I attended in Las Vegas featured a big event feel to it. There was signage in the airport and around the city. There were big events leading up to the game including concerts by REO Speedwagon and Maroon 5. The game itself featured equal representation for each team. ArenaBowl turned into a convention for the league’s players, staff and fans. It was an impressive, first class event. It was also a classic example of the reckless, irresponsible spending by former commissioner David Baker.

In Spokane we had no event. In Vegas we had an extravagant event. The correct answer for the ArenaBowl is somewhere in the middle. I think a neutral site is the way to go. While I enjoy the aspect of the league’s best team getting rewarded for a great season by hosting the championship game. The reality is that the ArenaBowl is a better showcase for the league and an event for the fans when it is played at a neutral site. Rumors floating around the hotel lobby in Spokane indicated that Orlando is making a bid to host the game in it’s brand new arena that opens up next year. Even though it may not end up being a true neutral site game, Orlando is a great location for the ArenaBowl. It is a destination city that provides something to do beyond the game itself. Fans can plan to make ArenaBowl week their family vacation. It also won’t be too difficult to lure league sponsors and partners to Central Florida in late August.

On the air…

We will wrap the season up with one last Tim Marcum Show Monday night at 6 on 1250 WHNZ. We will be live at Rock N Sports Bar N Bistro in Centro Ybor. Stop by to say hello to the coach and take advantage of some great specials on food and drink.

by Connor Penn

Just minutes before the opening kickoff on Saturday night, the Tampa Bay Storm stepped out of the locker room as one team. On any other night, standout players would be greeted with individual introductions as they entered the playing field. This night, however, was the American Conference Championship game. If the Storm were to defeat the Orlando Predators, the only team standing in their way for a spot in the ArenaBowl, they would have to face their in-state rivals together.

The Storm and Predators had met just two weeks prior in the final game of the regular season. Looking back on that game in which the Predators took an early lead, offensive lineman Tom Kaleita acknowledged that once the Storm had realized that playoff home field advantage was unattainable with either a win or loss, “we didn’t come out intense because we had a few things that didn’t happen that we were hoping would happen.” The following week when postseason play began, the Storm routed the Tulsa Talons in Oklahoma and the Predators squeaked by the top-seeded Jacksonville Sharks with a 4 point win, setting the stage for the fourth installment of this season’s “War on I-4.”

On the Storm’s opening drive, a fourth down attempt fell short as quarterback Brett Dietz could not connect with 6’4” receiver Tyrone Timmons. Orlando took advantage by completing three consecutive passes on the ensuing drive, ending with Antoine Toliver’s touchdown reception.

Down an early seven points, DeAndrew Rubin out of the University of South Florida came up with two big catches for the Storm on the following drive, finding the end zone to tie the game. Later, a bad snap turnover from the Predators allowed fullback Terrence Royal to pound in a touchdown from 1 yard out and give the Storm the lead.

The two teams continued to swap scores throughout the game, but the difference came in who scored for their teams. Only two Orlando players combined for the team’s nine touchdowns, while the Storm had five different players break the plane of the end zone, including center Robert Powell. Credited for being in the right place at the right time, his fumble recovery for a touchdown marked the first of his career. After the game, Powell joked that “when a lineman scores, it’s one for the big boys.”

Though the Storm held a 14 point lead at halftime, the game’s momentum swung back and forth throughout the second half with both teams attempting numerous onside kicks to try to gain an edge. With 49 seconds remaining in the game, Orlando’s Nick Hill found Antoine Toliver in the end zone for the 7^th time in the game, drawing the Predators within one point of the Storm with the extra point still to be attempted. Two consecutive false start penalties, however, pushed the point-after attempt so far back that kicker Carlos Martinez hit the right netting.

Although the Predators onside attempt failed when rookie Michael Hawthorne held on to the kick, Orlando would have one final shot to win the game after 12-year pro Kenny McEntyre intercepted Brett Dietz in the end zone on fourth down. Still down just one point, Carlos Martinez lined up for a 54 yard attempt with 2.9 seconds remaining, and the over 10,000 fans in attendance held their breath. In a post-game press conference, Brett Dietz talked about Martinez’s game-ending field goal attempt. “When he kicked it, I looked up and saw it and I thought it was actually a little left. When it landed, I didn’t know if it was good or not good. I couldn’t tell. I saw Sedrick (Robinson) start to celebrate and they waved no good.”

The ball fell short, and the celebration began.

After most of the team came back from the cancelled 2009 season, Coach Tim Marcum earns his 200^th coaching victory, and players Brett Dietz and Hank Edwards earn spots in the team’s record book, The Storm couldn’t have asked for a better way to earn revenge for two weeks ago during this playoff installment of the War on I-4.

The big question mark going into this game was Bobby Sippio, playmaking wide receiver for Orlando.  After getting in an altercation with a Storm fan only two weeks ago in Tampa, he padded up again with only one game spared for his suspension.  He would end up having several touchdown passes for the night.  Hank Edwards of Tampa Bay was also not out of the picture either with a potentially sidelining knee injury.  He too earned several touchdowns.

The main focuses for the Storm to advance to the ArenaBowl, though, were thoroughly exercised.  Constant pressure on the offense, along with early momentum, helped the team avoid mistakes made during the last regular season home game.

The game started out with deep visions for both play callers.  Brett Dietz tried to get deep looks to his wide receivers but they came up short.  The Predators capitalized on there mistakes first on there second drive to get a west coast drive touchdown.

“It was adrenaline, I guess”, Brett explained to me.

After seeing Orlando grasp onto one of the only leads in the game, the Storm gathered to make a big play and allow DeAndrew Rubin to grasp a touchdown pass while going over the wall.  After finding the ignition for momentum, they turned to pressuring the offensive with two fumbles for changes in possession.  With the scene set for highlight reels to roll, it became a back and fourth scoring battle until 4 minutes left in the first half.  It wouldn’t be a War on I-4 without a plethora of penalties.  A total of four were called on the away team in two minutes, which lead to lost momentum and a missed field goal.  Tampa Bay took advantage of this final opportunity to go into the locker rooms with an extra score by having Hank Edwards close out the half.

The second half reset the end zone drives for both sides of I-4.  Orlando was finding T.T Toliver going long three consecutive times while Tampa was able to be dynamic with they way they can attack.  Brett found Tyrone Timmons on a long end zone pass, Robert Powell found teammate Tom Kaleita’s fumble for a touchdown, and Terrance Royal pounded the line to run it in.  The stakes couldn’t have been any higher in the final minutes before declaring an American Conference Champion.

It started with Dion Byrum intercepting the Storm play caller’s rushed pass after both linebackers made for the quarterback.  This key defensive stop turned into the second lead that Orlando could gather on the night.  The stakes were raised and each team found the paint before Michael Hawthorne allowed the team to kill time after he caught the onside kick.  Time didn’t run down until Predator kicker Carlos Martinez missed the potentially game winning kick.  At the post game press conference, Hall of Fame coach Tim Marcum commented on the potentially championship stealing kick.

“When we played him (Carlos Martinez) in the other two games, he has not missed a kick.  I thought it was dead on, it was just short.  I think he is the best kicker in the league.  I voted him for all-league. He’s got the talent.”

Added history between not only the rivalry, but the Storm organization, was recorded tonight.  I talked to play caller Brett Dietz about the statement that they are making winning this game while continuing the winning tradition of the Storm and ACC even after a cancelled year.

“This is huge.  This is all what we came back for.  Some of the arena football two teams are just as good as the arena one teams now.  Spokane has proved that.  This defiantly puts us back on the map.  This is what we dream for.  Some people never play for a championship ever in there lives, and we have the chance to do it this week.  This is defiantly special and I’m going to cherish every second of it.”