Wednesday, June 01, 2011
Team Move: Atlanta Thrashers to Winnipeg
The Atlanta Thrashers of the NHL are moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba. Winnipeg previously was home to an NHL team, the Jets.
The Atlanta Thrashers began play in the 1999-2000 season. The 2010-2011 season was its last in Atlanta. The Thrashers name most likely will not be used in Winnipeg. Atlanta also hosted the Atlanta Flames of the NHL from the 1972-1973 season through the 1979-1980 season. The Flames then moved to Calgary, Alberta and became the Calgary Flames.
Winnipeg was home to the Winnipeg Jets professional hockey team. The Jets began play in the 1972-1973 season with the World Hockey Association. In 1979 they began play in the NHL. After the 1995-1996 season the team moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. Winnipeg is currently the home of the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, the league one level below the NHL. What is to become of the Moose is not yet known.
The Atlanta Thrashers began play in the 1999-2000 season. The 2010-2011 season was its last in Atlanta. The Thrashers name most likely will not be used in Winnipeg. Atlanta also hosted the Atlanta Flames of the NHL from the 1972-1973 season through the 1979-1980 season. The Flames then moved to Calgary, Alberta and became the Calgary Flames.
Winnipeg was home to the Winnipeg Jets professional hockey team. The Jets began play in the 1972-1973 season with the World Hockey Association. In 1979 they began play in the NHL. After the 1995-1996 season the team moved to Phoenix, Arizona and became the Phoenix Coyotes. Winnipeg is currently the home of the Manitoba Moose of the American Hockey League, the league one level below the NHL. What is to become of the Moose is not yet known.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Soccernomics
Why England Loses, Why Germany and Brazil Win, and Why the US, Japan, Australia, Turkey - and Even Iraq - are Destined to Become the Kings of the World's Most Popular Sport. So goes the subtitle of the recent book Soccernomics by Simon Kuper (a journalist) and Stefan Szymanski (a economist). With chapters on transfer market mistakes, why clubs do not make money, and city sizes and prizes the authors give an informed and entertaining analysis of the sport.
The World Cup and The MLS
Major League Soccer has suspended play for the World Cup and hopes to see an attendance increase when play resumes because of the exposure the tourny gives to the sport of soccer. Yahoo has a good article on the league and its future.
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Arena Football returns in 2010
After the dissolution of the Arena Football League, the sport of Arena Football returns as Arena Football 1. Some teams from the old league are back (Cleveland Gladiators) while others (Columbus Destroyers) are not. Play begins this April.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Arena Football League Rides Pine in 2009
A report in Monday's Cleveland Plain Dealer states the Arena Football League will suspend operations and not contest the 2009 season. The league plans to return for 2010.
Friday, December 12, 2008
New Pro Football League to Start
A new football league called United Football League is to start next fall with six teams. Orlando, Hartford, New York, Salt Lake City, Monterrey, Mexico, San Francisco, Las Vegas and Los Angeles are the cities from which the six teams will be chosen. The league "is targeting major U.S. markets currently underserved in professional football as well as some markets that make fiscal sense."
The UFL will play its games during the traditional fall football season on Thursday and Friday nights. Avoiding scheduling games against the NFL's Sunday games, the UFL will instead schedule against high school games. The league will be a viable minor league that currently is missing. The Canadian Football League has different rules and field dimensions which make the game different and the Arena Football League plays in the off season with much different field dimensions.
Michael Huyghue is the commissioner of the league. He has executive experience in pro football, previously working in the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The NFL could avoid this competition by running its own minor league as this blog suggested back in 2006. My proposal for a NFL division II includes eight teams, with two teams in Los Angeles and a team in Salt Lake City. The other five cities I propose do not overlap with the UFL's proposed locations. The choice of Monterrey, Mexico is daring and could prove progressive, or fail.
The UFL will play its games during the traditional fall football season on Thursday and Friday nights. Avoiding scheduling games against the NFL's Sunday games, the UFL will instead schedule against high school games. The league will be a viable minor league that currently is missing. The Canadian Football League has different rules and field dimensions which make the game different and the Arena Football League plays in the off season with much different field dimensions.
Michael Huyghue is the commissioner of the league. He has executive experience in pro football, previously working in the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The NFL could avoid this competition by running its own minor league as this blog suggested back in 2006. My proposal for a NFL division II includes eight teams, with two teams in Los Angeles and a team in Salt Lake City. The other five cities I propose do not overlap with the UFL's proposed locations. The choice of Monterrey, Mexico is daring and could prove progressive, or fail.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Blindsided by KC Joyner
KC Joyner, ESPN's Football Scientist, has a new book out titled Blindsided: Why the Left Tackle is Overrated and Other Contrarian Football Thoughts. Two chapters in the book deal with the NFL's business practices and Joyner makes several good points. Joyner warns that the NFL's "mutation from a pure sports entity to a combined sports/media outlet" is a warning sign for the league. He also makes good arguments for the elimination of the draft and the blackout rule. Recommended reading!
Monday, November 24, 2008
International Club Tournaments
The sports of basketball and ice hockey have both spread beyond their origins in North America to the point that countries from other continents are able to win major world tournaments. Individual players from Europe (in hockey & basketball), Asia and South America (in basketball) are common in the NBA and NHL.
Both the NBA and NHL should start participating in international club tournaments similar to the international tournaments for soccer, such as the Champions League. The tournaments should include several teams from various national leagues and be held during the regular season. MLS teams play in a US (& Canada) versus Mexico tournament called SuperLiga every year. Seeing NBA and NHL teams take on the top clubs from other countries would be great entertainment and great for each league and its sport.
Both the NBA and NHL should start participating in international club tournaments similar to the international tournaments for soccer, such as the Champions League. The tournaments should include several teams from various national leagues and be held during the regular season. MLS teams play in a US (& Canada) versus Mexico tournament called SuperLiga every year. Seeing NBA and NHL teams take on the top clubs from other countries would be great entertainment and great for each league and its sport.
