The Good, The Bad, and well...The Really Ugly, and Lots of It!
by MJ Niemann The BlitzKrieg WebHost Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Okay, I have to say I was pumped up saturday night. I couldn't be at the game in San Diego, but KERN 1410AM was covering the game live. So I tuned in the radio, and was met with warm voices, one of them the Blitz' own Brad Hoffman, GM for the Blitz. The warm feelings went away really quick after the first few plays.
I heard the Blitz in trouble really early. At one point being down by 15 points just in the first quarter. However, this is arena and things can change quickly. They always seem to do that. Finally, when the Blitz scored it seem to quiet the roaring Riptide crowd I heard over the radio.
However, my excitement seem to stay there. I heard over and over, "Oh, that pass hit him in the chest, but he dropped it." and "I can't believe he dropped that pass it was right in the numbers." or "and Elliot goes down again." Yes! I said again. NO LINE PROTECTION! Crucial in arena football, is protecting the Quarterback. Then when defense was on they just never seem to cover the offense, the secondary couldn't wrap up the Riptide to provide a proper tackle, and Special Teams weren't there. Special Teams on the Kick Return allowed not 1 but 2 touchdowns run back.
Now, these were just minor mistakes made by the Blitz, I give this up to first game jitters. And have decided to move on, and know that the Blitz will chalk this up as a learning expierence. Because their all great players, that make up a great team.
But what I won't excuse is the Refs. These men I really believe have a tough job. But with only 16 players on the field to watch, and 50 yards plus 20 yards of endzone to watch. The refs really made the game homefield advantage. Constantly I heard of recievers being mauled by the defense of the Riptide, and nothing ever being called. There also were an awful lot of unsportsmanlike calls going against the Blitz for pushing and shoving, but nothing called against the Riptide. And you all know it takes two to tango. So where were the calls against the Riptide. NOT THERE! At one point during a crucial play in the 4th quater, a Blitz reciever was manhandled by a defensive back, the flag was thrown , and then picked up by a ref and said there was no foul on the play.
I couldn't believe my ears, sure our Blitz made a few mistakes, but so did the Riptide and they were hardly penalized. However, the Refs of the game made the most and so did the af2, by hiring a bunch of guys that don't know the game. I look forward to week 3 when we meet Memphis. I really hope we have a new set of Refs, because if this behavior continues, the Blitz season is in the toliet. *
The Blitz Season Starts Now! by MJ Niemann
The BlitzKrieg WebHost
Saturday, March 29, 2003 Time: 7:00 pm PST
Place: San Diego Sports Arena
Who: BLITZ vs. Riptide
After starting off the season with a close win against the riptide last year, but an early exit from the playoff at the hand of the Riptide. The Blitz lead by QB Chad Elliot, Coach Fuller and the rest of the Blitz Squad, it comes to payback time. Th Blitz captured the Western Division National Conference Title in their first year, and aim to repeat agian this year. With over half the team returning, it's core members are here to stablize the team, while fresh faces look to blow the competition away.
All Blitz fans can catch the game on KERN 1410 AM with Blitz anchors and add on comentary by Blitz's very own GM Brad Hoffman. Or you can go to www.sandiegoriptide.com to listen to a live webcast. This is the only way Blitz fans will be able to catch the game, short of actually going to San Diego and attending the game.
The Bakersfield Blitz and the San Diego Riptide have met a total of 4 times in regular season and post-season play. The Blitz and Riptide are all tied up in the series.
2002:
Blitz, 49-43 (SDG)
Blitz, 43-33 (SDG)
Riptide, 46-43 (BAK)
* Riptide, 40-27 (BAK)
*denotes playoff game
So cheer for our boys to run over the competition saturday night. Lets start the season off right.
The Season Is Upon Us! by MJ Niemann
The BlitzKrieg WebHost
Tuesday, March 25, 2003 With the 2003 season upon us, the fans are looking forward to catching their 2002 Western Divsion National Champions in Action. Fuller and the rest of the boys looked primed and pumped to repeat and go further. With a full weeks worth of activities planned, this years Blitz Week will be better than ever.
With practices being held at the Centennial Garden for the Blitz Bowl II (where Bakersfield's High School All-Stars Square off),along with practices for the Blitz and The Hot Squad. Season ticket holders get to see the Practice on Wednesday for TAG YOUR SEAT NIGHT at 6pm. As they get to receive their tickets and find their seats for this years action packed sesaon. This will also give non-season ticket holders to purchase their season tickets. After the practice, fans will get to interact with the Players and Staff for autographs and pictures.
The week ends on Saturday in San Diego, as your Blitz get to get a little revenge on the Riptide for knocking them out of the playoffs so early. This looks to be an exciting game full of hard hits and high scores as these two divsion rivals go at each other. Look for the live webcast at http://www.sandiegoriptide.com or possibly at http://www.bakersfieldblitz.com for information.
Schedule of events are listed below.
Heres a look at the schedule of events for Blitz Week 2003!
Monday, March 24
Time Event Location
12:00pm Media All-Star game Garden
4:00pm East All-Stars practice Garden
6:00pm Blitz practice Garden
8:00pm West All-Stars practice Garden
Tuesday, March 25
Time Event Location
4:00pm West All-Stars practice Garden
6:00pm Blitz practice Garden
8:00pm East All-Stars practice Garden
Wednesday, March 26
Time Event Location
4:00pm High School cheer practice Garden
6:00pm Tag a Seat Night Garden
6:00pm Blitz practice Garden
8:00pm East/West practice Garden
Thursday, March 27
Time Event Location
7:00pm BlitzBowl II Garden
About af2
Entering its fourth season, af2 serves as a grassroots, developmental indoor football league for players, coaches and officials with teams in small- to mid-size markets throughout the United States. af2 operates under the same Mission Statement and Fans' Bill of Rights as the AFL, which is currently in its 17th season and first with NBC. NBC is providing the AFL with unprecedented exposure by televising up to 70 games, including all playoff contests and ArenaBowl XVII on June 22. The af2 season kicks off in late March.
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