Week 8 ArenaFan Dubious Distinctions of the Week
Adam Markowitz
Thursday May 27, 2010
Every week in the Arena Football League, there are plenty of moments that just make you go, "Whaaaaaat?" Here at ArenaFan, we are continuing our new weekly column in which we hand out our ever-so-precious "Dubious Distinctions" of the week.
The Sparky McEwen Bonehead Coaching Move of the Week: Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz Head Coach Sparky McEwen successfully ran the Grand Rampage into the ground for three seasons, finishing 13-35 and drawing the ire of many across the state of Michigan. This award will be handed out to the head coach who displayed the most ineptitude for the week. And the award goes to...
Rich Ingold, Unemployment Line: When you arguably have the most talented team in the AFL and you're only 1-5, you're bound to get fired. Owner Woody Kern finally pulled the plug on the Ingold experiment and canned his coach for the first eight weeks of the season. Even though we can't really put a finger on any one thing that Ingold did wrong in the Dallas Vigilantes most recent setback to the Chicago Rush, we still felt the need to honor him in some way. Congrats, Coach Ingold. We're renaming you Rich Outgold now. Even though you may not have a job anymore, know that you'll always have a Sparky McEwen Award for your mantle.
The John Dutton Interception of the Week: Having thrown 92 interceptions from 2003-2008, the most by any player in the AFL, John Dutton can throw interceptions like none other. His timing for INTs is usually impeccable, as it often puts his team into a hole that it can no longer dig out of. This award will be given to the quarterback that makes the most costly interception of the week. And the award goes to...
Collin Drafts, Dallas Vigilantes: We can also effectively call this interception, "The Let's Get Rich Ingold Fired Pick." At the outset of the second half, Dallas had a chance to take a slim lead over the Chicago Rush. However, after a seven play drive that got all the way down to the one yard line, Drafts reared his ugly head, throwing a pick to Josh Ferguson to crush the drive. The Vigilantes never had a chance to take the game back again, dropping them to 1-5. Congrats, kid. Welcome to the John Dutton Award club!
The Choke Job of the Week, presented by the Dallas Desperados: No team in AFL history successfully figured out how to choke more often down the stretch when it counted most than the Dallas Desperados. In spite of the fact that they arguably had some of the most talented teams that ever played indoor football, they never even advanced to an ArenaBowl thanks to countless choke jobs. This award on their behalf is given to the team that does the best job of putting its own hands around its throat at an inopportune time. And the award goes to...
Milwaukee Iron: Now, Milwaukee... I know I've got a bit of a sore spot after I picked you to win by 31 points and you lost in Orlando last Friday night, but let's be realistic here. After completing a 35 yard touchdown pass to WR Tiger Jones with 13 seconds remaining, there really shouldn't have been a way that this team should've blown it. However, as the biggest favorites on the board of the week, the Iron, with three deep safeties, gave up a 40 yard touchdown pass to the newly acquired WR Bobby Sippio that sealed their fate in a 58-54 defeat at Amway Arena. Take your hands away from your throats, gentlemen. Your trip to "Big D" this week won't be very fun this week if you don't.
The Bill LeMonnier Blown Call of the Week, sponsored by ArenaBowl XXII: ArenaBowl XXII had some of the most questionable officiating in it that anyone has ever seen. The number of times that Bill LeMonnier announced a penalty or a call against the San Jose SaberCats was uncountable. In LeMonnier's honor, we call out the official that made the worst call of the week. And the award goes to...
Adam Markowitz, ArenaFan.com: Ok, I know that this is typically an award handed out to an official, but no one made a worse call all last week than I did when I said that WR Bobby Sippio wasn't the answer to the problems that the Orlando Predators had. Yeah, about that... Oops. All Sippio did was haul in six passes for 88 yards and two touchdowns, and that tiny little grab over a pair of defenders to, you know, just win the game. No, my bad call certainly didn't change the outcome of any game, but it sure was about as awful as some of these officiating blunders that we have seen this year. So I present to myself, the Bill LeMonnier Blown Call of the Week.
Tim Marcum Presents the ArenaFan Second Guessin' Award: In a quote several seasons ago, Tampa Bay Storm Head Coach Tim Marcum said, "We leave the second guessin' up to those guys over at ArenaFan." With that being said, second guess we will! This award goes to the player or coach who deserves to be second guessed the most for a decision that he made that cost his team a game. And the award goes to...
Jon Norris, Bossier-Shreveport Battle Wings: Ever think about a backup quarterback, coach? QB Raymond Philyaw left Saturday's game against the Alabama Vipers early with a knee injury. Reserve QB Kinsmon Lancaster didn't travel with the team, so WR Randy Hymes had to take over the duties under center. He went 20/39 for 221 yards with three TDs and three picks. No wonder why the Wings were clipped by a team with a backup quarterback 56-19... No Ray Ray this week either for Bossier... Please don't tell me that this team won't have two quarterbacks when it gets ready to play Tulsa... Don't make us second guess you again, Coach Norris!
