Category: History and More

 

As you know I have an obsession with alternative football leagues, and I’ll gladly own up to it. If I hear about a fledgling gridiron circuit, my Spidey senses start to tingle and I want to learn all I can about it.

But really, my love for outside the box sports goes beyond football; I laud most all attempts to present common events in uncommon ways.

That being said, World Team Tennis is one of my all-time favorite alternative to the ordinary. The league was a great idea when it was formed on March 14, 1973, and it’s still a great idea today.

“The concept is solid for a number of reasons,” Philadelphia franchise owner Dick Butera told Associated Press during a 1973 interview. “Tennis is the only sport where people of all age groups can really identify with the game because everyone can play it.

“In 1965, there were five million people playing tennis. In 1972, there were 12 million.”

First, some background.

As a tweenager in the early 1970s I played quite a bit of tennis. I was never great at it, but I was adequate – and being adequate was enough to convince me to play as often as I could and get a bit more serious when I hit my teens.

By 1974 I was already a big fan of Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King, but if there was any tennis match on TV I was down for watching it.

Enter World Team Tennis (co-founded by King and her husband at the time, Larry) which began play in the summer of 1974 with 16 franchises.

The Baltimore Banners, Boston Lobsters, New York Sets and Philadelphia Freedoms comprised the Atlantic Section; the Cleveland Nets, Detroit Loves, Pittsburgh Triangles and Toronto-Buffalo Royals were in the Central Section; the Minnesota Buckskins, Chicago Aces, Florida Flamingos and Houston EZ Riders populated the Gulf Plains Section; and the Denver Racquets, Golden Gaters, Hawaii Leis and Los Angeles Strings made up the Pacific Section.

Connors played for Baltimore and King starred for Philadelphia, but there were plenty of other big names who signed up for the league like Evonne Goolagong, Ken Rosewall, Rosemary Casals and John Newcomb.

The format of the competition – whose regular season extended over a three month period – was quite simple but revolutionary in that men and women were equal partners on a team. At the start of the inaugural season a game featured two sets of men’s singles, two sets of women’s singles, and two sets of mixed doubles. Scoring was cumulative and each set had to be won by a two-game margin but there was no advantage point.

(Since matches were running too long the format was soon changed to one set each of men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles and mixed doubles).

Individual stars had a chance to shine in a mixed-gender team setting, which I really enjoyed. Throw in some cool, multi-colored courts and I thought World Team Tennis was a can’t-miss proposition. I was even hoping it would become so elaborate that in coming years it would expand internationally, possibly featuring a French team with a clay home court and a British squad that played on grass.

However, by 1978 it had undergone several franchise shifts, had trouble hiring and keeping top players, and interest among fans was waning, so it closed up shop.

But …

It returned in 1981 as Team Tennis and reverted back to the original World Team Tennis brand in 1992.

The color-coded courts and novelty of the league are both gone, but I’m glad to see the league play on. Over the years participants have included Andre Agassi, Lindsay Davenport, Chris Evert, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova, Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, Maria Sharapova and Venus and Serena Williams.

Although a WTT “season” is now basically a three-week tournament each year, it’s something I always look forward to watching.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2020 home of all nine WTT franchises will be The Greenbrier at White Sulfur Springs, West Virginia. Play begins on July 12 and runs through August 2, and state health guidelines dictate that up to 500 fans can attend each match.

This year’s lineup features the Chicago Smash, New York Empire, Orange County Breakers, Orlando Storm, Philadelphia Freedoms, San Diego Aviators, Springfield Lasers, Vegas Rollers and Washington Kastles.

“Our player rosters are the strongest we’ve ever fielded for a WTT season and include players with multiple Grand Slam titles,” WTT CEO Carlos Silva said in a statement. “We have a sampling of current stars like Sloane Stephens, Sofia Kenin, Vegas Rollers teammates Sam Querrey and Mike and Bob Bryan, as well as a look at tennis’ future impact players with Brandon Nakashima and Caty McNally as well as tennis greats like Kim Clijsters and Mardy Fish.

“Tennis fans are starving to see some great action on the courts and that’s what we plan to deliver all season.”

Kenin is the defending Australian Open champion, while the Bryans are the sport’s all-time winningest doubles team. Although the one-site format will make for a different experience, I welcome the return of World Team Tennis.

It’s nice to know that after all these years a terrific alternative sports league is still giving me a summer viewing alternative.

I became a fan of the New York Yankees because my dad grew up following them and they were once the parent club of my hometown team, the Birmingham Barons.

I started cheering for the Chicago Cubs because I loved their logo and thought Ernie Banks hung the moon.

And today, I’m all in with a Korea Baseball Organization team based in Seoul because, well, now is the time for heroes.

Specifically, now is the time for the Kiwoom Heroes.

Fans starved for live action sports finally got a taste early Tuesday morning when ESPN began broadcasting KBO League baseball. The network recently struck a deal to televise six live games per week.

With other sports still sidelined by the COVID-19 pandemic, KBO is back in action with safety precautions that include no fans in the stands, umpires wearing masks, and as much social distancing as possible among the players.

“During this unprecedented and difficult time, I hope the KBO League can bring consolation to the communities and provide guidelines to the world of sports,” Un-Chan Chung, Commissioner of the Korea Baseball Organization, said in a statement. “I am pleased that the KBO League can be introduced globally and hope this can be an opportunity for the development of our league and the sport.”

The circuit – founded in 1982 – features 10 clubs. Aside from the Heroes, there are the Doosan Bears, Hanwha Eagles, KIA Tigers, KT Wiz, LG Twins, Lotte Giants, NC Dinos, Samsung Lions and SK Wyverns.

Truthfully, I never gave the KBO a passing thought until I learned that – for the foreseeable future – it would be the only game in town. Apart from Major League Baseball and minor leagues across the country, the lone international league I paid any attention to was Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan.

And really, baseball had started to slip down my personal sports hierarchy the last couple of years anyway; I mostly ignored big league games last year and college ball has never particularly interested me.

But around January that ol’ tingle returned. I decided I was going to fall back in love with the game, and couldn’t wait for opening day.

Turns out I had to wait – and still am when it comes to the big leagues.

But the KBO is filling the void, while also introducing me to an alternative league. It’s pro baseball, and a different kind than I’m used to.

When it came down to choosing my side I picked the Heroes over the Wyverns and Dinos. Dragons and dinosaurs are two of my favorite things, but the world can always use a few Heroes and I figure it can use at least one more Heroes fan.

It’ll take a while to familiarize myself with the players, but first baseman and DH Byung-ho Park (who played 62 games with the Minnesota Twins back in 2016) got my attention with a three-hit, 2 RBI performance in an 11-2, season-opening victory over KIA. He also blasted a home run in the rout.

Six pitchers combined for the win, which is a stat a little too much like midweek college baseball for my taste but something I can learn to live with.

This morning former Cubs pitcher Eric Jokisch went five innings for the Heroes in a 3-2 win over the Tigers.

And what have I learned about the league?

The most interesting thing is that unlike American baseball, games can end in ties.

If, for example, the Heroes and Bears are deadlocked at 6-6 after 12 innings, that’s the final score. (In the postseason, games last no longer than 15 innings).

Also, the designated hitter rule is always in play, so you’ll never get to see a pitcher take three awkward cuts before sitting down.

Of course if Major League Baseball gets up and running and salvages at least some of the 2020 season, many of the KBO’s new American fans will quickly forget about their summer romance. It would be silly to think otherwise.

But for someone like me who didn’t know how much he’d miss baseball until it was gone, the KBO – and Kiwoom Heroes – will always hold a special place in my heart.

And I want to publicly thank them for stepping up to the plate.

With no live sports taking place due to the pandemic, all we can do is eye a future when they return and relive great moments from their past.

ESPN has reminded us how cathartic looking back can be thanks to its “The Last Dance” mini-series documentary. And aside from that, I haven’t been shy about jumping on YouTube and finding old clashes from the North American Soccer League and United States Football League.

Sometimes when you watch these events, you realize just how many details you’ve forgotten over time.

Anyway, all this has prompted me to do a lot of thinking (and a little research) and recall the first times I saw sporting events live. Turns out it was a fun mental exercise, and I highly recommend it.

Obviously there are some that I can’t pinpoint; the first times I saw college baseball and college soccer were when I was a student at UAB, but I don’t remember specific dates. However, there are other firsts that really stand out.

So even though I don’t expect you to care about my fan milestones, maybe this will at least inspire you to take a stroll down your own lane of memories.

Here are mine – presented in chronological order:

College Football

Virginia Tech vs. Alabama (September 19, 1970, at Legion Field).

When I woke up that morning I thought my dad was taking me to see Jacksonville State vs. Samford at Seibert Stadium, which was very exciting for me since I’d never been to a college football game. In fact, the only live football games I’d seen were the ones I played in as a member of the L.M. Smith elementary school YMCA league team.

You can imagine my disappointment when he came to my room about an hour before we were supposed to leave and told me we weren’t going.

Ah, but it was a trick play.

Before I could reach the eye watering, lip trembling stage, he produced tickets to the Alabama-Virginia Tech game, set for that night at Legion Field.

Alabama won, 51-18, but I don’t remember details – just feelings. And sitting in a football cathedral with my dad made me feel like I was the luckiest kid who ever lived.

Pro football

Southern California Sun at Birmingham Americans (July 10, 1974, at Legion Field).

I was a big pro football fan and the New York Jets were my favorite team. That all changed on a hot night in Birmingham when the World Football League debuted.

Sitting between my dad and brother, I watched the Americans take an 11-7 victory over the visitors and could finally brag that I had seen a professional football game live and in person.

It also led to an obsession with the WFL that remains today.

Pro Baseball

Oakland A’s at Birmingham A’s (March 15, 1975, at Rickwood Field).

OK, I’m cheating a bit here. The American League team and defending World champions were slated to play their Southern League farm club on this night, which was to be the first time I had ever watched a live game involving a major or minor league team. But lightning knocked out a bank of lights at the stadium, and inclement weather prevented the game from being played.

But, I got second baseman Phil Garner’s autograph, watched Reggie Jackson and Billy Williams take BP, and saw Vida Blue throw some pitches, so I’m counting it.

*Technically the first pro baseball game I saw was on April 14, 1981, when the Birmingham Barons defeated the Jacksonville Suns, 6-5, at Rickwood Field.

Pro Hockey

Atlanta Flames at Birmingham Bulls (September 21, 1976, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum).

Once I found out the World Hockey Association’s Toronto franchise was relocating to Birmingham, I read anything and everything I could about ice hockey. And my, oh, my, did this game get me hooked.

Taking on the National Hockey League Flames at the brand new Civic Center, the Bulls’ Mark Napier (already a star at age 19) scored a hat trick – his last goal coming with 46 seconds left in sudden death – to give Birmingham a 7-6 victory.

It was just an exhibition game but it made me realize what a glorious sport this was.

College Basketball

Western Michigan vs. Alabama (December 28, 1976, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum).

I first got interested in college hoops when Pete Maravich played at LSU, but my exposure to the game was confined to watching it on TV.

But my brother gave me an early birthday present and took me to see undefeated and No. 4-ranked Alabama play Western Michigan in the first basketball game ever staged at the Civic Center.

I was part of a sellout crowd that watched the Crimson Tide take an 83-74 victory.

Pro Basketball

Stroh’s Roundball Classic (July 9, 1983, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center Coliseum).

Here’s another case where I’m blurring the lines. The Stroh’s Roundball Classic was basically just a summer tour of NBA players who played defense-free exhibition games across the country. The stop they made in Birmingham featured stars like Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas and Dominique Wilkins.

The cool part for me is that I was covering the game for my college newspaper (the Kaleidoscope) and got to interview Johnson.

I can’t recall who won (not that it mattered), but the winning team scored 182 points and Wilkins had at least 20 thunderous dunks.

Pro Soccer

New Orleans Riverboat Gamblers at Birmingham Grasshoppers SC (June 6, 1993, at Birmingham-Southern College).

Birmingham fielded a team in the United States Interregional Soccer League (which evolved into what is now known as the United Soccer League) in the early 1990s, and that gave me a chance to support my hometown club.

It was composed mostly of Birmingham-Southern players and it really wasn’t professional, but since it grew into a league that is, I decided to grandfather it in and define it as “pro” soccer. In an effort to spark my nephew’s interest in the Beautiful Game, I took him to see the Gamblers and Grasshoppers mix it up on a brutally hot Sunday afternoon.

New Orleans scored a 2-1 victory.

Welp, that’s all I got. Now it’s your turn …