FanHouse

Michael,

You write this as if you've interviewed John Elway, Commissioner David Baker and the NFL. You have not.

You are simply creating a watered-down version of a rumor started on Pro Football Talk, which is nothing more than a rumor Web site, that has no basis in fact. The story, including its speculation, is completely absurd.

Chris McCloskey
Executive Vice President
Arena Football League

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Heh, heh, heh.

You just got schooled Michael David Smith. Welcome to FanHouse, Mr. McCloskey. Here, you can write anything.

This is a ridiculous story. The AFL game is not the same as the NFL game.

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This is the second time now in three weeks I've read a story by this guy (Michael David Smith), and he attempts to carry the tone of reputable "reporter," interjecting opinion with "from the horses mouth" fact. Unfortunately, as Chris McCloskey notes, Smith has not talked with anyone, the NFL, the AFL nor John Elway.

Mr. Smith, you can of course write anything you like, however, I would suggest you change your approach from your tone of authority, to one purely based on opinion. If you can piss off the McCloskey, imagine the hundreds of other readers here that think you're a sham.

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Sandy shows how naive a lot of people are.
The AFL wasn't the same game as the NFL but
Elway and Co. are slowly changing it to APPEAR
that it is.

There are so many other indoor leagues popping
up now, and at a more AFFORDABLE cost than the AFL,
that the AFL needs to do something as their
walls start crumbling down (did I mention their exclusive game system patent is expired in Sept 2007 or that they cant get anymore suckers to buy an AFL franchise for $20mil or that their Austin club has decided to jump to the less costly AF2, the AFL's developmental league?)

Elway is simply trying to save face because he dragged the Bronco's into this when it looked like the NFL might purchase a stake in the AFL a few years ago (they passed) and convinced Pat Bowlen to dump millions into this flailing league by buying the Colorado Crush.

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I hate to say this but this story has a lot of truth to it. Every indication is that the NFL people who have a stake in the AFL want this to happen. Every move Elway has made and every interview he has done indicates his intention to make the AFL a farm system. As far as David Baker is concerned I am not sure he wants to oust him but there is no doubt Elway and others want the AFL to become NFL Lite. If this happens I for one will no longer be an AFL fan or sponsor.

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Never thought the AFL would get so worked up about something like this that they would send the Executive Vice President over here. Must be a touchy subject, no?

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Arena ball is just fine as it is.Elway should use the new AAFL's spring league as a minor league

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LOL Chris getting all hostile! Maybe you should be worrying about the teams losing all that money instead of some wannabe states writing here. Losing Baker may not be a bad thing after the latest "internal" audit.

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http://www.arenafan.com/news/?page=origcol&writer=62&article=2659

Read this new article over at Arenafan.com. Though this guy Ball is a fan of Baker, he definately took a stand that many will be talking about over the next few weeks. I'm thinking there's no way that Ball will let the arena game be considered a minor league.

I'm gunna email him through his article and see.

Don

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McCloskey. YO WHAT UP HOMES. THIS BE REAL MY MAIN MAN. HOW IT DO?

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