Author: Scott Adamson

Alliance of American Football beats new XFL to the punch

About a month ago I checked on the status of Pacific Pro Football, a new Southern California-based league that was set to start play this summer and one in which I have (had?) high hopes.

Out of Left Field is written by Scott Adamson. It appears weekly and sometimes more frequently if he gets up in the middle of the night and can’t go back to sleep. Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

What makes it different from most alternative pro football leagues, according to its website, is this:

 “Pac Pro will be the first league to professionalize players who are less than 4 years removed from their high school graduation. Players will receive a salary, benefits, and even paid tuition and books for one year at community college. Players also will be able to market themselves for compensation, and begin creating a financial retirement plan if they so choose.”

That’s a novel idea. But the site hadn’t been updated in months and I assumed it would not be kicking off in 2018 since it still has no teams, coaches or players.

I assumed correctly.

On Feb. 28, Pac Pro sent out a release stating that adidas is a founding member of the league, which will “start play in 2019.”

That detail about the launch date was saved for the last line of the release, which is a textbook case of burying the lede.

But, if you’re one of those people like me whose ears always perk up at the sound of “new” football, allow me to introduce you to another circuit vowing to start in 2019 – the Alliance of American Football.

I knew Vince McMahon was planning an XFL reboot (or perhaps reimagining) in 2020, but I had no idea the AAF was coming.

Obviously, though, there has been some serious behind the scenes work.

While franchises won’t be announced until next month, the plan is to have eight teams playing a spring schedule as part of a single entity structure.

Some early major rule tweaks include no kickoffs and no PAT kicks after touchdowns; teams will be required to go for a 2-point conversion.

And on Monday, Alex Marvez of Sporting News reported that big names such as Steve Spurrier, Mike Singletary and Jeff Fisher were being targeted as potential coaches.

But beyond that, here are the two things that stand out to me.

One, the AAF already has a TV deal with CBS, which will show a game on opening day (Saturday, February 9) as well as the championship game at the end of April.

The rest of the contests can be seen on CBS Sports Network or a free “Alliance App.”

And two, aside from former Buffalo Bills GM Bill Polian, the league is co-founded by TV and film producer Charlie Ebersol – son of Dick Ebersol, who happened to run the old XFL along with McMahon. The younger Ebersol actually did the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary about that failed venture, “This Was The XFL.”

Beating Vince to his second football punch should make for some spirited conversation the next time the Ebersols and McMahons have a play date.

According to the AAF website:

 “Players will have state-of-the-art protection on the field and ample opportunities off it. The Alliance will provide players a comprehensive bonus system, post-football career planning as well as counseling and scholarship support for postsecondary education.”

That’s great, but it doesn’t matter to fans if all the AAF alums go on to get doctorates and gain acceptance into Mensa International. The key for ticket buyers and viewers is whether or not it’ll be fun to watch.

As is the case with every proposed spring circuit since the United States Football League, players targeted will be those who can’t find work with NFL teams. And after listening to Polian do the media rounds, it’s obvious this will be the proverbial “second chance league.” For those who can parlay an AAF gig into another NFL shot, more power to them.

So what are its odds of success?

Quite long.

Spring is a season of growth, but it has proven to be mostly barren for pro football apart from the USFL (1983-85).

It threw big money at big names, and was carving out a decent niche until New Jersey Generals owner Donald Trump convinced the rest of the owners to move to the fall and file an antitrust suit against the NFL in hopes of snagging a financial windfall.

We all know how that turned out, and there hasn’t been an NFL spring league “challenger” since that has even sniffed at stability.*

*The World League of American Football/NFL Europe/NFL Europa was a spring league that lasted from 1991 to 2007, except for a break in 1993-94, but had teams in North America for just its first two seasons. It received funding from the NFL and served as a developmental league.

Now to be fair, you don’t need the best talent in the world to have a viable product.

Great high school teams aren’t on the same level as good college squads, and college players aren’t as skilled as professionals.

That doesn’t mean a game can’t be wildly entertaining, regardless of whether you watch it on Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

But there are certain expectations when it comes to pro football, and when it’s considered “minor league,” it carries a stigma – fairly or not. Plus, I’m not sure there’s a real appetite for football from February through June anymore; perhaps fans aren’t in love with the game as much as they used to be. So aside from a few rule changes, this latest entry in offseason football really isn’t breaking ground that hasn’t already been broken time and time again.

Still, when it comes to the AAF, I wish it well, just as I give my well wishes to Pac Pro Football and all upstart leagues.

They provide more jobs for more people, and that’s a good thing.

And if, in fact, the league debuts as scheduled, I’ll watch it as long as I’m entertained.

There’s no harm in giving it a chance, even if I think its chances of survival are slim.

Cleaning house can be a daunting task

Now that I’ve retired from the newspaper business and transitioned to the role of Trophy Husband, I’ve taken a much more active role in cleaning house.

Brain Farce is an alleged humor column written by Scott Adamson. It comes out basically whenever he feels like writing it. Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

Since my wife heads to the office every day and makes money, I figure the least I can do is try to make our domicile nice and clean when she gets home.

To that end, I’ve made out a schedule that includes vacuuming (twice a week), dusting (once a week), mopping (twice a week), cleaning the upstairs bathroom (occasionally) and cleaning the downstairs bathroom (every day … sometimes more than once).

I won’t say I’ve got it down to a science, but I have developed a pretty solid system.

As for the first item on the list, I could vacuum constantly and it still probably wouldn’t be enough. When you have four animals that live indoors, there will be shedding.

And when one of those animals is a giant, long-haired gray and white cat, fur will float and fly. I have never in my life seen a critter shed like Bane.

Plus, his fur tends to gather in specific places, as though there are various hair hubs situated throughout the house.

We have a coat rack in the corner of the dining room and on any given day you can look behind it and find what appears to be the head of Bea Arthur.

Sadly, minutes after you’ve vacuumed the entire house you’ll find fresh evidence of shedding, so there’s no point in fighting a losing battle.

So, I vacuum on Tuesday and Friday and just try not to notice all the extraneous fur the other days of the week.

Dusting can also be a challenge.

When the sun shines through the windows at a certain angle, it exposes all the dust that collects – and it covers everything from your stove to your television.

When you stop to think about all the stuff you’re constantly breathing in, it can be scary.

The Batroom requires minimal cleaning because it is rarely used.

I’ve learned the best thing to do is to keep your curtains closed, Miss Havisham-style. It doesn’t decrease the dust, but out of sight, out of mind, you know?

As for mopping, it’s another task that should probably be done daily.

Sometimes you’ll track in dirt from outside, and occasionally when cooking soup, a renegade tomato will decide to make a run for it and hit the floor.

And of course, there’s the animal factor.

Cats tend to barf.

And our oldest dog Charlie, likes to drink a lot of water and then yak half of it up.

To people without animals, it sounds gross.

To people with animals, it is gross.

But it’s all part of the experience, and that’s why mopping is necessary.

Cleaning the upstairs bathroom (or Batroom) is easy because it’s barely used and reserved for the rare times when “company” comes to stay with us. And the reason it’s called the Batroom is due to its décor, which is completely Batman-themed.

Normally all that’s required here is a light feather dusting; no need to even open the “Batcave.”

But the downstairs bathroom … well, that’s another story.

I’ve always admired those who clean for a living, whether it be businesses or homes. Aside from doing hard but necessary work, they often have to deal with inconsiderate people.

I’ve been to public restrooms and witnessed unspeakable horrors.

There are toilets that look like crime scenes – ones in which the perpetrators have no regard for those who might follow them.

I have seen urinals used as trash receptacles. I once ventured into a gas station restroom and saw that someone had deposited half a Twinkie on top of a urinal cake.

I mean, what the hell? Who eats a Twinkie while peeing?

Perhaps the bigger question is, why eat only half a Twinkie?

I have opened doors to restrooms and been driven back by foulness so profound I still have nightmares about it.

So in order to avoid such evil, each and every day I tackle the toilet, sink and shower with brushes, cleaners, paper towels and, if need be, incantations so that they remain as clean as is humanly possible.

The idea is that if you ever have to use the downstairs restroom at my house, you will never see what cannot be unseen.

In just the few weeks I’ve taken on housecleaning full time, I’ve developed a great appreciation for the skill involved in doing it right. And I still have much to learn.

So the next time you run into the person who does the cleaning where you work or where you live, give them a thumbs up and a sincere thank you.

They deserve it.

And when you use the bathroom – mine or anyone else’s –  act like you’ve done it before.

And finish eating your damn Twinkie first.

Asheville City SC gears up for second season in NPSL

By Scott Adamson
Adamsonmedia.com

The inaugural season of the Asheville City Soccer Club was solid on and off the pitch.

Averaging nearly 2,000 fans at Memorial Stadium – led by the South Slope Blues supporters group – ACSC finished 3-6-3 and reached the National Premier Soccer League playoffs.

Not bad for a first-year club.

It was community soccer done well, and ultimately a NPSL success story.

Now under the guidance of Coach Mick Giordano, Asheville City looks for even better results as the 2018 campaign draws near.

“I think most people would say I’m a players’ coach,” said Giordano, a UNC Asheville alum who is also assistant men’s soccer coach at Wofford College. “I care about the guys on the team and want them to be successful. While I’m easy to talk to, I’m also intense during training and show my emotions. I hold our group to an extremely high standard and won’t settle for anything less. I want things done a certain way and I care about winning more than breathing. I know what the guys can achieve and want to be instrumental in helping them reach their goals as well as our standards.”

Back in the fold are last year’s leading goal scorer, Elma N’For, and assists leader Tom Deely. Once the full roster is set ahead of a May start, Giordano will decide what style best fits his team’s personality. He isn’t going into the season with a preconceived notion.

“In terms of a formation, I think it is completely based on personnel,” he said. “Too many people want to force a 4-3-3/3-5-2/4-4-2 down a team’s throat when they aren’t built for it. It’s mine and my staff’s job to make sure we put the boys in a formation they can find the most success. At the end of the day, it’s a players’ game and the players are the ones that count. It’s my responsibility to help them find ways to be successful. When we win games it will be because the players did the work and played for the badge.

“If we lose, it’s because I’ve made a mistake in our preparation and didn’t do what I needed to for the group to find success.”

ACSC learned Memorial Stadium provided a decided home field advantage a year ago, and Giordano says the bond between the city and its fans is a strong one.

“I’d say our supporters represent the city of Asheville,” he said. “The South Slopes Blues, our supporter group, is wonderful. They truly represent what we stand for as a club. That being said, we have numerous fans from out of town and watch our live stream every chance they can.”

And while Major League Soccer and the United Soccer League have established themselves as the darlings of the country’s soccer establishment, NPSL teams – like the one nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains – are carving out their own niche.

The mission statement of the league (which unofficially functions as a fourth division circuit) is, “to grow the sport of soccer in the United States of America by providing our members with a sustainable business model and professionally managed soccer platform, and by serving as an inspiration to players and soccer fans in our members’ communities.”

That philosophy is ideal for ACSC and keeps it a community-driven club.

“The NPSL is the perfect fit because it allows our club to grow, learn how to compete at a high level, build our brand, and bring in homegrown (youth players) from our local community along with some of the most talented players in the college game that come from all over the world,” Giordano explains. “The NPSL gives us a platform to understand how we need to operate, from ticket sales to recruiting and scouting without jumping straight into, say, a Division III or Division II level within U.S. Soccer and having to take our lumps.

“I think it’s a massive risk to jump straight to that level as a new club. You have no basis and no foundation. The NPSL allows us to build a foundation for our club in a regionalized league. I’d say our conference is one of the toughest in the entire league. So we’re battle tested every time we put on the City badge. We need to find success here and focus on the present before thinking of playing at a different level.”

On Friday, May 4, Asheville City hosts the Myrtle Beach Mutiny of the Premier Development League and begins NPSL regular season competition on May 8 when the Georgia Revolution comes to Memorial Stadium.

Both matches will give Giordano’s club a chance to build some early momentum in front of a partisan crowd. And it’ll establish even deeper ties between ACSC and its supporters.

“I think having a close bond with the team gives our community another opportunity to believe in something,” he said. “It gives them another reason to celebrate, hopefully. Or when we stumble, it ruins their day just as it does for the staff and players. I think it also brings the knowledge and love of the game to more people. Our country is behind the world in a lot of ways when thinking about football. Some of this has been seen with our failure to qualify for the World Cup. I think having a community club helps grow the game and will continue to inspire players to achieve more. It will raise the overall knowledge of the game.

“While there are more issues to fix in this country, improving the overall passion and interest in our game are two things that will help push us forward.”

For ticket information, go to ashevillecitysc.com.