Fast Guns Meet for a Showdown in the West
Tim Ball
Saturday May 25, 2002
Led by the fugitive from Tennessee, Andy “season killer” Kelly and his new gang from Texas, look to stop the undefeated Grieb and his posse dead in their tracks. San Jose’s been beaten to the draw by Kelly the last two years. This time they’re ready and waiting, with a fist full of plays in one hand and vengeance in the other…
Learnin’ from history
“It’s the fight in the dog, not the dog in the fight.” The Dallas Desperados are an expansion team with a history. Owned by Jerry Jones, this man has shown he will stick to his guns and ride out the storm. Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys came from a first season of winning just one game to building an unbeatable Superbowl team. DON’T FORGET THIS.
At two wins and three losses, the Desperados and head coach Joe Avezzano have the confidence in knowing they have a man like Jones behind them. Success comes from building a strong foundation and management is where it starts. The ownership of most professional teams expects instant success and doesn’t have the vision to see what it takes to achieve the ultimate goal. Not so in Dallas. They’re in this all the way… A trip to the team’s website shows an impressive array of professional presentations… Not bad for an “expansion team.”
Arena Football is a league of men who won’t quit. Jerry Jones as an owner is a welcome member to that fraternity.
San Jose’s management also knows success comes from dedication and has shown a willingness to keep players and coaches over the last three seasons and bravery to make moves to compliment the team’s future. The respect the SaberCats organization has shown to its players is evident in the effort the players have given in return... 12-2 in 2000, 10-4 in 2001 and 5-0 so far this season. San Jose may have learned a thing or two from Jones.
Game strategy
Close games in Arena Football are 30 points either way with three minutes remaining. Scoring happens so quickly and momentum swings so often that this game my have to be a blowout for either team to let down for an instant. Quarterbacks Grieb and Kelly aren’t shaken easily so “Don’t Blink” is sound advice for fans.
This game may very well be a scoring fest with the final point deciding it. Neither team is going to be conservative and they shouldn’t be. Dallas has only suffered one bad defeat. The other two were by one point. San Jose has won three of their five victories in very close games and should expect Dallas to be well-prepared. Though smart bets are on the SaberCats to win, they’re at even odds.
Both teams have a lot on the line as Dallas can get to 3-3 and hold ground in the Western Division. San Jose cannot afford a loss to a division rival, as this would allow Arizona and Los Angeles to gain ground.
“A must win,” is not cliché for this game. When it comes down to divisional wins and losses, it’s a call to arms… Pardner. This might not be the final showdown in the west, but it’s ground that must be gained and a fight that must be won…
Throwdown is at the SJ Corral (Compaq Center) at 7:30 pm pst Saturday May 25th.
Tim Ball is a writer in the Chicagoland area. Married and father of three, his opinions on Arena Football reflects the positive aspect of the game as a family event second to none in pro sports.
