Winless In Seattle
Steve Sauro
Elliott SmithSpokane Shock- New League, Same Results
July 29th 2010 00:47
So, there's one more week to go in the regular season of the previously bankrupt, and now going strong once again Arena Football League. The Spokane Shock are on top of the overall standings in this league, just as they were in the AF2.
The Shock have been in existence since 2006. They went 14-2 in their inaugural season in the AF2, had the top offense in the league, and cruised all the way to winning the AF2 Championship. The team became an instant hit in Spokane, and the fans started traditions almost immediately.
With a rabid fan base now behind them, they went into their second season as big favorites to go all the way once again. The season turned out being much bumpier than the first, but nevertheless, they still managed to clinch the division title at 12-4. Unfortunately, that success was short lived this time and they lost big in the opening round of the playoffs.
Here comes the third season for the Shock, now they're being surrounded by other new expansion teams, right here in the NW, that have seen what a success the Shock have been, and want to create some competition. This results in the division growing by two teams, the Tri-Cities Fever, and the Boise Burn. Rivalries are instantly born between those teams and the Shock. Once again the favorites to win the title, the Shock go a stunning 15-1, dismantling nearly every team they encounter. The new guys on the block are no match for the talent that has developed in Spokane. The Shock fly through the playoffs with ease, but lose a heartbreaker in the championship game on a last play 2 pt conversion by the opposing QB. I happened to be at that game, and when that QB walked in the end zone to end the game, you could hear a pin drop in the sold out arena.
On comes the fourth season for the Shock, and same as the last few years, they are the favorites in the entire league. How they maintain the level of talent they have is a mystery not only to the Spokane fan base, but also to the rest of the league. The Shock blaze through this season as they have the rest of them, once again going 15-1. This time, there would be no stopping them getting their 2nd championship in just 4 short years of existence.
The AF2 is clearly no match for the Shock's level of talent, but they find nowhere to go initially after their championship win. The AFL was falling like a house of cards, and finally shut down operations. Would the Shock really be "doomed" to win a mediocre league again? No way, they decided to talk with other teams, some former AFL teams, and some current AF2 teams. The AFL needed to be restarted, and the level of competition had to be raised. Soon after, all teams were in agreement, and the AFL was re-opened for business.
This season, the Shock's first in the more talented AFL, was expected to be a rough time in the teams' short history. Their current coach, who led them to a championship in their last season in the AF2, was fired at the end of that season due to the team needing to go in a different direction in the AFL. The firing of the coach that had been with the team all but the first year, and ran such high powered offenses, and stifling defenses angered the loyal fans of Spokane. I myself was wondering why the team would fire a coach that had just led the best Shock team in history. Their new hire was even more surprising. In comes a familiar face to the fans, Rob Keefe, former all-star defensive back from the first championship team. Would he have fresh ideas, or would he be a failure like many young coaches are in most sports? They get off to a slightly rocky start, going 2-2, barely squeaking out those wins. This was to be expected with a new coach and a new league with better teams. What wasn't expected is that they would be sitting at 13-2 with one week to go in the season, already clinching homefield advantage throughout the playoffs (which includes the championship game in AFL).
The question I have is this. Where do the Shock attract all this talent from? I mean, what football player out there goes; "Wow, Spokane seems like a great place, screw Philadelphia or Chicago, or Jacksonville." I find it hard to believe that players from all over the country would choose Spokane over those more established, former/current AFL teams.
So again, here they are, the league leading Spokane Shock, pulling off what no one thought would happen this soon. Sounds a lot like their inaugural year as a team. Will anyone be able to stop them in this league? Or will they just continue to rack up the wins and championships as long as they exist? All I know is those other teams need to really step up their game, or they'll be perennial doormats for the Shock to walk all over, year in and year out.
And everyone thought there wasn't a success story to be told about NW sports!
The Shock have been in existence since 2006. They went 14-2 in their inaugural season in the AF2, had the top offense in the league, and cruised all the way to winning the AF2 Championship. The team became an instant hit in Spokane, and the fans started traditions almost immediately.
With a rabid fan base now behind them, they went into their second season as big favorites to go all the way once again. The season turned out being much bumpier than the first, but nevertheless, they still managed to clinch the division title at 12-4. Unfortunately, that success was short lived this time and they lost big in the opening round of the playoffs.
Here comes the third season for the Shock, now they're being surrounded by other new expansion teams, right here in the NW, that have seen what a success the Shock have been, and want to create some competition. This results in the division growing by two teams, the Tri-Cities Fever, and the Boise Burn. Rivalries are instantly born between those teams and the Shock. Once again the favorites to win the title, the Shock go a stunning 15-1, dismantling nearly every team they encounter. The new guys on the block are no match for the talent that has developed in Spokane. The Shock fly through the playoffs with ease, but lose a heartbreaker in the championship game on a last play 2 pt conversion by the opposing QB. I happened to be at that game, and when that QB walked in the end zone to end the game, you could hear a pin drop in the sold out arena.
On comes the fourth season for the Shock, and same as the last few years, they are the favorites in the entire league. How they maintain the level of talent they have is a mystery not only to the Spokane fan base, but also to the rest of the league. The Shock blaze through this season as they have the rest of them, once again going 15-1. This time, there would be no stopping them getting their 2nd championship in just 4 short years of existence.
The AF2 is clearly no match for the Shock's level of talent, but they find nowhere to go initially after their championship win. The AFL was falling like a house of cards, and finally shut down operations. Would the Shock really be "doomed" to win a mediocre league again? No way, they decided to talk with other teams, some former AFL teams, and some current AF2 teams. The AFL needed to be restarted, and the level of competition had to be raised. Soon after, all teams were in agreement, and the AFL was re-opened for business.
This season, the Shock's first in the more talented AFL, was expected to be a rough time in the teams' short history. Their current coach, who led them to a championship in their last season in the AF2, was fired at the end of that season due to the team needing to go in a different direction in the AFL. The firing of the coach that had been with the team all but the first year, and ran such high powered offenses, and stifling defenses angered the loyal fans of Spokane. I myself was wondering why the team would fire a coach that had just led the best Shock team in history. Their new hire was even more surprising. In comes a familiar face to the fans, Rob Keefe, former all-star defensive back from the first championship team. Would he have fresh ideas, or would he be a failure like many young coaches are in most sports? They get off to a slightly rocky start, going 2-2, barely squeaking out those wins. This was to be expected with a new coach and a new league with better teams. What wasn't expected is that they would be sitting at 13-2 with one week to go in the season, already clinching homefield advantage throughout the playoffs (which includes the championship game in AFL).
The question I have is this. Where do the Shock attract all this talent from? I mean, what football player out there goes; "Wow, Spokane seems like a great place, screw Philadelphia or Chicago, or Jacksonville." I find it hard to believe that players from all over the country would choose Spokane over those more established, former/current AFL teams.
So again, here they are, the league leading Spokane Shock, pulling off what no one thought would happen this soon. Sounds a lot like their inaugural year as a team. Will anyone be able to stop them in this league? Or will they just continue to rack up the wins and championships as long as they exist? All I know is those other teams need to really step up their game, or they'll be perennial doormats for the Shock to walk all over, year in and year out.
And everyone thought there wasn't a success story to be told about NW sports!
| 60 |
| Vote |
Add To: 
subscribe to this blog
Comment by jesse-podoll
UnSportsman
Comment by Anonymous
Comment by Turk