Los Angeles Avengers

I follow many teams in this area. Any time you have a team that represents a town that demands results, you get behind it all the way to the end.

Today, I am here to provide a eulogy on two teams that I followed: the Los Angeles Avengers and the Los Angeles Riptide.

I first want to say a few words about the Riptide. They were a team that caused opponents trouble in Major League Lacrosse. For two seasons, the Riptide entertained fans with their style of play: fast paced, with fluid passing and sharp, talented players at each position.

For me, the Riptide were the darlings of Major League Lacrosse. I was never able to witness their games live at the Home Depot Center's Track and Field complex. Not even once.

But I watched one of their matches, and I remember the 2007 season, where they lost a heartbreaker to the Philadelphia Barrage, 16-13.

No one ever thought that their 13-12 semifinal defeat to the Denver Outlaws in 2008 would be the last game the Riptide would ever play. I just found out on the site that they had folded.

It devastated me because they showed that the West Coast can play lacrosse. Even more ironic, is that the Outlaws survive to play another season in the MLL.

The Riptide are consigned to the history books.

While I was at the Home Depot Center writing my story on the Sol's success in the WPS, I found out that the Avengers had folded.

I could not believe that my good day had been severely marred by this news. I was shocked and appaled that it had to come to this.

I've always liked watching Arena Football. The first-ever team I seriously followed were the Arizona Rattlers during their last ArenaBowl win. I owe the Rattlers my gratitude for helping me take this unique game seriously.

A high-scoring affair, unique nets and offensive shootouts are the norm in the Arena Football League, as well as its subsidiary, arenafootball2.

I remembered when I watched what would be the only time I ever saw a match. I was in high school, and I got free tickets to watch the Avengers take on this team called the Florida Bobcats.

The Avengers won that game, but my voice was spent. It was a fun game to watch.

It was a great game to watch.

I still have a few photos of watching a touchdown pass, and the celebrations that followed, in the large photo archives of my older sister's study.

And I didn't know it then, but that would be the only time I would be able to watch arena football live inside an actual arena.

Years passed. Seasons passed. 

We mourned the death of Al Lucas and lamented the mediocrity of the sad story that was Todd Marinovich.

We cheered the successes of the Avengers making the playoffs for five of those nine magical seasons.

We internalized that the mediocrity under then-head coach Ed Hodgkiss would see him fired, with Pat O'Hara taking his place.

There is a local shopping mall in nearby Lakewood, the Lakewood Center Mall. Every now and then, there would be kiosks selling Avengers season tickets. I couldn't afford watching one game, let alone a season, so all I could do was ignore them.

It wasn't out of spite for our lack of firepower—I just didn't have the means to watch the action again.

In January, I found out that the Arena Football League would terminate operations for one year. And I waited, in the hopes that the Avengers would be back in 2010, ready to entertain those in the City of Angels who follow the AFL.

It was never realized.

O'Hara's dream of coaching in the AFL in his hometown was cruelly taken away. And my hopes of seeing what still would have been the only professional American football team (arena football is a variety of it) was taken away as well.

With the economic crisis still not resolved, I can only wonder how many more teams in Los Angeles will be folding.

I do not want teams like the Galaxy, or Chivas USA, or the Sol, to fold because of this.

These two clubs fought bravely, but were stopped by that cancer that is the recession.

It metastasized into something unmanageable.

With the only professional football teams in Los Angeles playing different codes (association and rugby [if you count Belmont Shore RFC]), as a local sports fan writing on b/r, I carry on.

But I will never forget the memories and successes both the Los Angeles Avengers and Los Angeles Riptide had.

They made my city proud, and they made me proud. If I had the power to have it all happen again, there would be no point in doing so.

Their legacy was forged by the games they placed, and the memories they shared with the fans, and all of Los Angeles.

Farewell, my dear sweet Avengers and Riptide. I salute you.

Here is my Week 5 Power Poll and Preview of games

This week there are some key games to watch out for in Week 5.

You have the final two undefeated teams playing this weekend and looking to stay perfect on the year.

The Philadelphia Soul (4-0), #1 in the Power Poll, hosts #5 Tampa Bay Storm (2-1), on Saturday, March 29 at 2p.m. ET (ESPN2 HD, ESPN360.com).

The Soul's offense did not look like it missed injured QB Tony Graziani at all last week against Los Angeles. Backup QB Matt D'Orazio stepped in and was 28 of 42 for 338 yards and eight touchdowns. 

The Dallas Desperados (4-0), #2, travels to the Nassau Coliseum to take on #15 New York Dragons (1-3) on Sunday, March 30 at 3 p.m. ET in a Eastern Division matchup.

Desperdos QB Chris Sanders was 20-of-28 for 276 yards and six touchdowns last week as the Desperados ended the SaberCats 15-game home winning streak 

The Desperados are looking to go 5-0 for the second consecutive season with a win. Dallas is 32-4 in their last 36 regular-season contests, including 12 in a row and six straight on the road. 

The Chicago Rush (3-1), #3, welcomes the Arizona Rattlers (2-2), #9, to the Allstate Arena on Friday, March 28 at 8:30 p.m. ET (AFL NET, FSN Arizona - Delay, at 9:30 p.m. PT, CSN Chicago - Delay, 3/29 at 4 p.m. CT, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

This game marks the first time Rush QB Sherdrick Bonner will face his former team of the past 14 seasons.

Bonner, left Arizona as the team's all-time leader in passing yards (40,979), attempts (5,268), completions (3,261) and touchdown passes (829).

Bonner also led the Rattlers to five ArenaBowl appearances and two championships in ArenaBowls VIII and XI.

This weeks other games include:

Saturday

#8 San Jose (2-2) at #16 Kansas City (0-3), 6:00 P.M. ET, (FSN Bay Area/NBC Local - Live, KSMO Local - Live)

#7 Orlando (2-2) at #13 Columbus (1-3), 7:00 P.M. ET, (AFL NET, WRDQ TV - Live, Columbus Sports Net - Live, CSS - Delay, 3/30 at 5:30 p.m. ET, SIRIUS Radio - Channel 130).

#14 Georgia (1-3) at #17 Utah (0-4), 9:00 P.M. ET, (CSS - Live, KJZZ - Live)

Sunday

#10 Los Angeles (2-2) at #12 Grand Rapids (1-2), 2:00 P.M. ET

#4 New Orleans VooDoo (3-1) at #11 Colorado (1-2), 4:00 P.M. ET (FSN Rocky Mountain Local - Live).

Bye Week: #6 Cleveland (3-1)

Power Poll Rankings:

 1) Philadelphia Soul (4-0, LW: 1) Beat Los Angeles 71-34 on 3/20

 2) Dallas Desperados (4-0, LW: 2) Beat San Jose 59-56 on 3/22

 3) Chicago Rush (3-1, LW: 4) Beat Colorado 70-35 on 3/22

 4) New Orleans VooDoo (3-1, LW: 6) Beat Cleveland 63-24 on 3/21

 5) Tampa Bay Storm (2-1, LW: 8) BYE WEEK

 6) Cleveland Gladiators (3-1, LW: 3) Lost to New Orleans 24-63 on 3/21

 7) Orlando Predators (2-2. LW: 11) Beat Georgia 50-45 on 3/22

 8) San Jose SaberCats (2-2, LW: 5) Lost to Dallas 59-56 on 3/22

 9) Arizona Rattlers (2-2, LW: 13) Beat New York 62-33 on 3/21

10) Los Angeles Avengers (2-2, LW: 7) Lost to Philadelphia 71-34 on 3/20

11) Colorado Crush (1-2, LW: 9) Lost to Chicago 35-70 on 3/22

12) Grand Rapids Rampage (1-2, LW: 15) Beat Kansas City 92-52 on 3/24

13) Columbus Destroyers (1-3, LW: 17) Beat Utah 52-49 on 3/21

14) Georgia Force (1-3, LW: 10) Lost to Orlando 50-45 on 3/22

15) New York Dragons (1-3, LW: 12) Lost to Arizona 33-62 on 3/21

16) Kansas City Brigade (0-3, LW: 14) Lost to Grand Rapids 52-92 on 3/24

17) Utah Blaze (0-4, LW: 16) Lost to Columbus 49-52 on 3/21

WEEK 4 HONORS

CO-OFFENSIVE PLAYERS: Grand Rapids Rampage QB James MacPherson and Philadelphia Soul WR Chris Jackson

ADT DEFENSIVE PLAYER: New Orleans VooDoo DB Calvin Spears

IRONMAN PLAYER: Chicago Rush WR/LB DeJuan Alfonzo

The Arena Football League 2008 regular season commenced on Friday, February 29, 2008.  But as the curtain opened an the much anticipated season, there were big wins and losses, upset and regrets.  The opening game was played in the city of angels, with the Los Angeles Avengers taking on the New Orleans voodoo.   This match up proved successful for Avengers who edged the Voodoo to start the season 1-0.  As was expected their defense played a major part in the win, but he Avengers rallied around offensive weapon Kevin Ingram and former Grand Rapids wide receiver Timon Marshall.   Playing in front of their home fans, Avenger's quarterback Sonnie Cumbie completed 23-of-38 for 268 yards and seven touchdowns, tossing three touchdowns to Marshall who finished with 180 all purpose yards.  Voodoo quarterback Steve Bellisari  came out slinging.  He completed his first six passes on a 45 yard drive with a touchdown pass to Zach Hilton, before leaving the game with an injury in the second half.  The Voodoo rallied after Bellisari's exit, when New Orleans wide receiver Wendell Williams returned the opening kickoff 54 yards for a touchdown. The Avengers capitalized on the loss of Bellisari and they put together a comeback which the Voodoo was not able to match.  Final Score: 59-42 What is touted to be the biggest rivalry in the AFL lived up to the billing, when Dallas Desperados traveled to Georgia to play the Force in what is always known  as a heated battle.   The Desperados' defense made six stops, but Georgia managed to stay in the Game with two fourth quarter touchdowns by Georgia's quarterback Chris Griesen.  The Desperados had spread the love on offense with Will Pettis, Marcus and second year receiver Anthony Armstong.  Armstrong who lead the team with 11 catches for 135 years and two touchdowns was forced to pick up the slack after Andrea Thurman suffered a broken hand on a pass interference call.  But the biggest blow came for Dallas when 13-year veteran quarterback Clint Dolezel was blind-sided by Georgia's defensive lineman Jermaine Smith, Dolezel landed awkwardly on his shoulder resulting in inury.  The injury is serious enough have him out for about a month, but did not stop this tenacious signal caller from finishing the game. He was seen begging the coaches to stay in.  Like Dallas, Georgia suffered a blow on defense, losing defensive back David Crocker with a back injury. Final Score: 51-41