Kurz and Ditka point the way
Tim Ball
Monday February 22, 2010
Success and concern part of the package
If the AFL becomes a traded company, buy the stock. Things look that promising.
Looking beyond instant gratification is now the new America dream.
As we head into the “re-launched” season of Arena Football and anxiety turns to excitement and expectation, all eyes are on the rosters.
And on those rosters are players, but there is a bottom line even beyond that. No matter the debate of fans and pundits on the who’s the what’s, and the why’s, the game is dependent on players.
We are all on our way now. We have the league back and the energy is building fast. But, we cannot overlook that only some things have changed but the game remains that same.
What goes on down on the field is what “it” is all about.
As some head honchos gathered for a press conference last week and fielded questions from the Associated Press, newspaper reporter and important online outlets, AFL Commissioner Jerry Kurz and Chicago Rush Co-Owner Mike Ditka - two men whose comeback into the league was as much a labor of love as anything to do with business - dealt with the questions on the long term outlook of the league and its players.
Not only was the Rush the AFL’s most successful franchise before economic concerns caused the break in 2008, Ditka, was known for his concern about players overall health and welfare through their careers and beyond. As a member of the Board of Directors for Gridiron Greats. (See: Gridiron Greats, http://www.gridirongreats.org/board/ ) Ditka brings a caring for the athletes not matched easily in any other sport.
And Kurz has unquestioned roots that go back to the very invention of Arena Football.
What’s planned for the future is just as important as the first kickoff of the first season.
Looking forward includes the past
Being laid off can be a life altering experience, but being laid out on a football field can be life threatening. Ditka’s perspective cannot be overlooked in a brand of football more intense than anything ever devised.
Although there can be no denying the amount of care and concern that the new ownership group has in bringing Arena Football back so quickly from the edge of oblivion, still the athletes that play the game are the only “most important” aspect of the AFL.
So as a former player, coach and owner, Ditka was asked the all-important question about the welfare of the players. He didn’t take much time to answer:
“I believe something has to be put in place . . ., I just know from my past experience (in the NFL) that these kids make a commitment. We tell them when they come into the league that their part of a family. And being part of a family you take care of that family. There has to be something structured where they are taken care of,” said Ditka.
Who ever thought all that much of Ditka’s involvement in the league a year ago? But his returning when he didn’t have to, says more than meets the eye. It speaks to - what above all is the AFL - heart.
The players are involved in restrictive economic conditions this season, but their actions on and off the field are the same as always.
“The game of football, whether you play it in the National Football League or College, or Arena Football or High School, it’s a collision sport,” said Ditka.
“So we have to have mechanisms in place (and Commissioner Kurz can speak better on this), where we don’t forget about the players that helped make this league what it is.”
Big picture
Asked about the appearance of quick success in the “re-branding” effort from AF1 back to the AFL, Commissioner Kurz put it in the perspective that is simply, the underlying restart of Arena Football.
“We want to be careful. We want to make sure that we’re around another 23-plus years. We want to make sure that we do it the right way. That we don’t run before we walk,” said Kurz.
“What induced me to get back into this wonderful business,” continued Kurz, “and to work for the group, for these owners, for the fans, for our players and coaches, is the dedication that our owners have for the future.”
“They’re looking at what’s best for the league. We have to do multiple things at one time. That’s why the importance of the ownership committee is so crucial. We’ll grow . . ., but it has to be good measured growth.”
Connected for growth
While Commissioner Jerry Kurz and Rush owner Mike Ditka work on their end to make things right for the league, there are still bridges to be mended and hurt fans that lost more than just money when the AFL suffered its financial drama.
Will season ticket holders from the downed season be shy about committing quickly to the re-launched AFL? Let’s hope not.
Season ticket holders are the royalty of any professional league.
If the hardcore fan can find it within them to forgive and forget, then the AFL will be back in stride much faster than it will without them. And in Arena Football, things happen very fast.
Perspective
No TV contract, no ex-NFL star lending their name to the AFL or anything else can replace the importance of a ticket bought. But that ticket represents the players and the game first.
And on this Commissioner Kurz has assembled a team that seems adamant on that.
Taking things one step at a time will insure that mistakes are not built back into the AFL version 10.0 as it was the last edition.
Arena Football is too good a game to be handled like a Hollywood party.
Owners, players and fans - and in that order - focusing on the game of Arena Football instead of the instant flash of excitement and hype that comes along with sports in America, will be the key to Arena Football staying in the athletic lexicon it so deserves for all time.
