Two Career Paths, One Common Goal
Joe Kauffman
Sunday June 22, 2003
John Kaleo has been a journeyman quarterback in his ten years in the Arena Football League. Before finding a home with the Tampa Bay Storm in 2000, he had played for six different teams in seven seasons. Kaleo began his career in 1993 with the Albany Firebirds, and later spent time with the Cleveland Thunderbolts (1994), St. Louis Stampede (1995-1996), Anaheim Piranhas (1997), San Jose SaberCats (1997) and New England Sea Wolves (1999). He sat out the 1998 season with an arm injury. Kaleo has played in over 100 games in his AFL career, but ArenaBowl XVII marks the first time he will ever play for a championship.
“I’ve never been to an ArenaBowl,” remarked Kaleo after the semifinal win over the Orlando Predators. “I’ve never been to a high school championship or peewee championship. I’m happy to go to the Super Bowl of our league.”
Including the post-season, Antoine “T.T.” Toliver has only played in a dozen or so AFL games, all with the Tampa Bay Storm. He has spent more of his football-playing career on NFL practice squad rosters than in the NFL. He was with the St. Louis Rams in 2000 and 2001 and the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2002, imitating All-Pro receivers like Terrell Owens and Tim Brown while helping the team prepare for their Super Bowl run on the practice field.
Toliver was released by the Buccaneers in early 2003, and he was eager to play more football. It was Toliver’s idea to return to the AFL, not Storm Coach Tim Marcum’s.
“To be honest with you, I called [Marcum], because I knew that he coached me last year,” said Toliver. “I thought maybe that was one of the things that I needed to do, was contact him and hopefully he could get me in a Tampa Bay Storm uniform which he did.”
Coming back to the AFL was not a step down for him, although returning to the NFL is in his plans.
“It’s a goal, but I love this game of football. Whether it’s Arena or NFL, I’m going to do what it takes to come out here and [win]. In the Arena League, you play both ways; that’s something that I’m capable of doing, but in the NFL, it’s rare that you find a player that’s playing both ways, and I think Arena really fits a lot of what I can do.”
There are other players like Toliver who have participated in both the AFL and NFL and helped their teams win championships, but that kind of experience is not necessary to lead a team to a championship. Some of the best in the history of the AFL have no NFL experience, but have the same love of the game to keep trying to win that elusive championship any way they can. Kaleo is one of those players.
“I actually think [Kaleo]`s played for seven teams or something like that,” said Baker. “That`s the guy who makes our league - who strives that much to be a champion.”
A Rattling Experience
Omarr Smith has played the Arizona Rattlers in the ArenaBowl before. One year ago in ArenaBowl XVI, he was a member of the San Jose SaberCats championship team that embarrassed their division rivals to earn the Foster Trophy.
Being familiar with the Rattlers, Smith knows what needs to be done for the Storm to win the title.
“We have to put some pressure on Sherdrick Bonner. When Sherdrick Bonner gets back there and gets time … he can take any defense apart in this league. You’ve got to protect your quarterback and get to theirs. If we can give our quarterback time and get to Bonner a little bit, we should win, but you never know.”
His win last year was a cakewalk, but he doesn’t expect Arizona to roll over this year. Smith’s Sabercats won 52-14. The 38-point victory was the largest margin in an ArenaBowl.
“I’ll be surprised if it’s like the last ArenaBowl. A score like that is rare.”
Smith doesn’t wear his championship ring from last year’s game.
“I don’t wear [the SaberCats ring]. I want to get this one and then I’ll probably wear the Tampa Bay Storm one more. But we’ve got to win this one first.”
Joe Kauffman is President and Editor in Chief of Arenafan Online, having joined the staff in 2000. He graduated from Florida State University in 1998 with a degree in communications andbuilds ecommerce sites for a day job. Joe has enjoyed Arena Football since 1991 and has been a member of the Arena Football Internet community since 1995. Prior to Joining Arenafan, he was a co-founder and Technical Editor of the Storm Shelter, which covered the Tampa Bay Storm from 1996-99. Joe and his wife Erika live in Hackettstown, New Jersey with their two daughters.
