Fans Learning the Game on Long Island
Marc Viquez
Wednesday July 4, 2001
Transplanting league powerhouse Iowa Barnstormers to the Nassau Coliseum, creating a flashy logo, and making some free agent signings may help out. The Dragons are no expansion team, unlike their predecessors New York Knights and New York Cityhawks.
The Knights debuted 14-years-ago at Madison Square Garden and shuffled to a 2-10 record before calling quits after the 1988 season. In 1997 the Cityhawks called New York home but found wins hard to come by, settling to a 5-23 mark in two seasons. They would later relocate to New England (Hartford, CT), before crossing the border this year as the Toronto Phantoms.
These two teams didn’t play at the Nassau Coliseum on Long Island, however.
The fans of Long Island received a proven winner from the Midwest in an Iowa team that finished strong last season at 9-6. The Barnstormers also have appeared in two ArenaBowls, made the playoffs every year of their existence, and had a strong following in Des Moines. Their allegiance was so strong that an AF2 team placed in Iowa as the Barnstormers for the 2001 season seems to be doing well fan-wise, despite the demotion in leagues.
You then bring over last year stars: QB Aaron Garcia, OS Kevin Swayne, DS Shea Showers, and free agent Robert Stewart. Now, you have reason for excitement this season on Long Island.
“Carolina is coming into town next week and we’re going to play them for first place, so hopefully that will get some people out. I really think they enjoy the game, so we’re going to keep performing and win a championship there,” said Garcia after leading New York to their first road win this season.
A championship sounds pretty cocky, being that the playoffs are not guaranteed yet. “We’re going to get into the playoffs, we’re going to be a real tough team to reckon with,” said Dragons’ coach John Gregory. The team will have to win at least two of their next three meetings against Carolina, Florida, and Arizona, all tough contenders.
The Long Island fans decked out in orange, red, yellow, and black Saturday night. They could be found tailgating and cheering on their team in groups scattered around the Continental Airlines Arena. Gladiator fans, which have been here since the Red Dogs days, see it as a good rivalry.
“They’ve been bringing a lot of people here. I’ve been here since about 4:30 and I’ve been seeing New York plates, fans with jerseys and helmets. They have a nice crowd coming here,” said New Jersey native and member of the New Jersey’s fan club, Ike’s Army, Tom Portor.
Another member of Ike’s Army, Steve Cafone, who traveled to Long Island earlier in the season when the two teams met for the first time, said, “They were still learning the game, it was still new to them.”
If the Dragons do indeed make the playoffs, the Coliseum may be rocking like it did during the Islanders’ glory days in the 1980s.
A few off-season moves saw the Dragons stock up on some defensive help. Robert Stewart from New Jersey, OL Sean Tremblay from Albany, and Marvin Brown who last played in New England in 1999 joined the roster. Welcoming back WR Kevin Swayne and a host of others and you have your not so ordinary first year team. A market like Long Island, NY wants a winner and the Dragons are trying to finish first in the eastern division.
A fan of the sport since 1990 Marc has covered both the New Jersey Gladiators and Cincinnati Swarm (Af2) for Arenafan Online. Marc now resides in Indianapolis after graduating with a Masters in Sports Management from Indiana State University in Terre Haute, Ind. When not at a Firebirds game Marc can be found traveling the Midwest covering sports for various Internet and print publications.
