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Iowa Youth Sports

Hi Sports Nutz!

I'm in the process of building a companion website to IowProSports.com!

Iowa Youth Sports will be a new aggregation site compiling news and information about Iowa pee wee to high school sports.  Not only will I try to bring you news about the sports and the participants, but coaching information as well.  Most of youth sports is made possible by volunteers and I know, as a little league coach myself, any training, help, or ideas I could get my hands on was always welcomed.

Based on the Des Moines south side, you may notice many of the live Tweeting events come from Lincoln High School, but I'll also be sharing from little league, AAU, USSSA, and any other action I may happen to be following.

I've been coaching little league baseball the past few years, and I have a love for youth sports.  But as my kids get older and move into high school sports, I will likely no longer be coaching so this new website is just my teeny tiny little contribution to the genre.

Here is the current address: www.leaguelineup.com/iowayouthsports

And make sure to follow Iowa Youth Sports on Twitter! :  https://twitter.com/IowaYouthSports


Stay tuned!

Bad Week to be a Hawkeye in the NFL, Champions!, State of Hockey gets a Little Bigger

It was a rough week for former Hawkeyes in the NFL, especially if they also happen to be a Kansas

City Chief......or used to be.   Hawkeye fan favorite and great American Ricky Stanzi was cut from the Chiefs roster after 2 years with the team.  Hawkeye fans and Chiefs fans took to the battlefield known as Twitter to voice their objections, whether sincere or in jest, but the basic sentiment fell in to the category that Stanzi never really got a good shot to play.  This idea was magnified last season when the Chiefs had the worst quarterback play in the history of sports yet Stanzi could not even get on the field.  This year, with a new coaching and front office regime bringing in 3 new quarterbacks of their own, Stanzi would have needed super powers in order to remain a Chief.  I predict he'll be starting for the New York Jets by week one.

Another Chief/Hawkeye, Tony Moeaki, fractured his shoulder during a preseason game.  His status as to if and when he'll be able to play again is still not yet known.  This obviously does nothing to help him shake the reputation of being injury-prone.

Also, the Minnesota Vikings cut quarterback James Vandenberg, but nobody really cared.

The Midwest Football Alliance crowned a new champion.  Well, actually, it was the same old champion.  The Des Moines Blaze became three-peaters winning the MFA championship game over the Sioux Falls Stallions 42-27.

Also in the championship spirit, the Knoxville Raceway Season Championship was decided last Saturday night.  Bronson Maeschen became a first-time champ in the 410 class at the historic track.  Danny "the Dude" Lasoski won the evening's event, marking his 100th 410 win at Knoxville.

The Minnesota Wild, NHL affiliates of the newly relocated American Hockey League team the Iowa Wild, announced an affiliation agreement with the Quad City Mallards of the Central Hockey League, expanding further their "state of hockey" empire into Iowa and the upper mid-west. 

Stormers fizzle, Knoxville sizzles, Wild fo shizzle

Hey sports nutz!  It's been a little while so I thought it was about time to mention a few things happening in the Iowa sports scene.

After a strong start to the 2013 season, the Iowa Barnstormers went out like a lamb with a 84-45 loss to the Arizona Rattlers.  At one point, early in the season, the Barnstormers were battling for first place in their division, but ultimately, the struggles reminiscent of the past couple of seasons, plus mounting injuries, took their toll.  The Barnstormers, unable to keep pace with the league leaders, finished the season with a disappointing 6-12 record, missing the playoffs again.  Being the optimist that I am, I know the Stormers will be great again.  There is too much tradition with this team for them to be bottom dwellers for long.  Here's to looking forward to 2014!  Go Stormers!

The best week of racing in ALL of racing, (except for maybe Daytona speed weeks), began this past weekend with the 360 Nationals at Knoxville Raceway.  Shane Stewart won his fifth 360 Nationals title Saturday night to kick off what will be another amazing week of dirt racing at Knoxville Raceway.  The racing action continues with the Osky Challenges at Southern Iowa Speedway on Monday and Tuesday nights followed by four more nights of action-packed, 410 sprint car racing at Knoxville.  It's a week long party with people from all over the world......and racing.  Think of it kind of like RAGRAI, but it never leaves town.

Speaking of RAGBRAI.....the 2013 RAGBRAI is in the books.  Make sure to head over to their website to check out all the photos, videos, and blogs from this years ride.

The scheduler at Wells Fargo Arena is going to be earning his money this year, having to juggle the Iowa Barnstormers, Iowa Energy, Bon Jovi concerts, state wrestling and basketball, and the brand new Iowa Wild hockey team. We are absolutely stoked about getting professional hockey back in Des Moines.   Don't get me wrong.  We love our Des Moines Buccaneers, too, but AHL level hockey is just a different animal.  I hope it gets a fair shake this time around.  From everything I've heard from the ownership and management, this time WILL be done the right way.  We are already planning our huge tailgating event for the home opener on October 12.  Yeah, we'll be there early.  ;)  Make sure to stop by and say "Go Wild!"

P.S. Twinkies are BACK baby!!

The Iowa Wild Rocks!

If you know me, you know that I'm as super excited about the Iowa Wild coming to Des Moines as I was when the Iowa Barnstormers returned.  I loved the pro hockey of the Iowa Stars and Iowa Chops and I can not wait for the AHL season to start this fall.

But before we can properly begin a new season with a new team, there are some incredibly important questions that need to be answered. 

What should be the theme song for the Iowa Wild?  What song do you want to hear at every game?  Here are a few ideas:


The obvious:
1. Born to Be Wild by Steppenwolf

2. Walk on the Wild Side by Lou Reed
    The title alone would be a great fit but the rest of the song probably isn't the best material for family consumption.  If only nobody in the universe knew what this song was about.....

3. Wild Boys by Duran Duran
    Getting warmer.....

4. Wild Night by John Mellencamp
    (or if you prefer the Van Morrison version )  I totally dig the bass in JCM's versions though.

5. Wild Thing by the Troggs
    Another somewhat obvious choice, but does it rock hard enough for hockey?  Maybe the Sam Kinison version?

6. Wild Wild Life by Talking Heads
    Maybe they can play this when the game is in hand and things are going well....

7. Call of the Wild by Eclipse
    Probably not known by most folks, at least in America, but may be my personal favorite.  The band, and the song, rocks....HARD

I know there are many many more possibilities, but these are just a few of the highlights.  Such an important issue needs to be dealt with with much diligence.  So make sure to listen to all the songs before you vote .

P.S.  This is for entertainment purposes only.  This poll will have pretty much no impact on how the Iowa Wild will run their game time music.
    

#StanziTime

I was born a Kansas City Chiefs fan.  It's in my genes, which kind of makes the Chiefs part of my family.  However the 2012 version of this team has pushed disappointment and frustration to new levels.  Not only do the Chiefs not win games, but they look like they don't know what they are doing in the process.  The blowouts keep piling up, and with no improvement in sight the tensions between angry fans and front office are about to lead to a full-scale civil war.  They are completely hapless on the field, and we fans, (family), are saddened by it all.  It's like watching a close family member get overtaken by alcohol, become addicted to meth or crack, or vote democrat.  It hurts us.  It hurts us because we can't do a thing to fix it, and we want them to be successful and happy.

Now I totally understand that the problems with the 2012 Chiefs are vast.  From the front office all the way down to the beer vendors, there are issues contributing to the epic fail we see on the field each week.  They are like a car with multiple mechanical problems, from a slipping transmission and leaky brake lines, to the cracked windshield and broken steering wheel, and pieces keep falling off along the way.  (However, the radio works. Gotta have tunes!)  But perhaps instead of replacing one broken piece with another broken piece, why not try the shiny new piece that's sitting in storage?  I know it's not a name brand, but maybe it could work if given a chance.  It might even be enough to get your jalopy to the shop for an overhaul.

As of this moment, Matt Cassel has only thrown 6 touchdown passes but has thrown 12 interceptions.  He currently has a rating of 66.7.  Brady Quinn has thrown 0 touchdowns and 3 interceptions and carries a rating of 52.9.  The Chiefs are -21 in turnover ratio.  -21!  And the vast majority of ALL the Chief's turnovers this season can be attributed to Matt Cassel, who leads the universe in turnovers this year.  And let's not forget last season's superstar Tyler Palko, who managed to get all the playing time while Cassel was injured.  It's no secret that the quarterback play has been less than stellar.  But the Chiefs continuing to alternate between a dumpster fire and a train wreck at the quarterback position make the coaching staff look stupid.  What is preventing them from trying the perfectly good "rookie" sitting on the sidelines?

Ricky Stanzi

I'm talking, of course, of Ricky Stanzi, who the Chiefs drafted in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL draft.  The former Hawkeye has never been flashy, or even thought of as an elite quarterback, even in college, but all he did was win games.  The improvement in his play from his junior year to his senior year was so dramatic, it had to play a  roll in the Chiefs' decision to take him in the draft.  No one expected him to be the franchise quarterback for the Chiefs,  but I was absolutely thrilled he was drafted by Kansas City,  but for whatever reason, he hasn't been
able to crack that number 2 spot on the depth chart and couldn't even get on the field last season even though Tyler Palko was serving up interceptions like deep fried Twinkies on a stick while filling in for Matt Cassel.

What I want to know is.....why?  There is no possible way, scientifically, mathematically, alphabetically, or numerically he could do ANY worse than the current one-two punch of Cassel and Quinn.  If he is not good enough to play in the NFL, why keep him on the roster?  Cut him and let him go play somewhere else.  By playing Stanzi, the worst that could happen would be........pretty much what has already been happening week after week.  Maybe it could light a spark.  Who knows?  He has great familiarity with Tony Moeaki, who was also drafted out of Iowa by the Chiefs, (and is also criminally underutilized in the offense.)  Big targets in Bowe and Baldwin.  (who are both injured right now) . And still a pretty good running attack with Jamal Charles and company.  He doesn't need to be John Elway.  He could be Steve Deberg and that could be enough to get the offense clicking.  Maybe they're afraid Stanzi could have a little success, which would also make the staff look stupid for keeping him on the bench all season. 

Look, I'm not a football genius.  And there is a fair amount of homerism in me wanting to see Stanzi get some playing time.  (Go Hawkeyes!)  But you haven't tried everything until you've actually tried everything and by not putting Stanzi in the game, you're spinning your wheels.  Maybe instead of flying the "Fire Pioli" signs at the games, fans should be waving the "#StanziTime" signs.  I like Matt Cassel and Brady Quinn.  I want them to do well.  But they aren't and haven't been for some time now.  Give Stanzi a shot with the number 1 offense and see if there is anything that can be salvaged from this season.  Then maybe you can temporarily appease some of the fans.........like me.

Oh, and Stanzi's favorite target in college, Marvin McNutt, is on the Eagles' practice squad.  Might want to check him out.

P.S.  PAY BOWE!!!!!

Team of the Week: Mid Iowa Rollers

The Iowa Pro Sports featured sports organization this week is the Mid Iowa Rollers!

About

Strength…. Strategy… Sweat. Sisterhood.
The Mid Iowa Rollers originated roller derby in the state of Iowa. And when it comes to sheer athleticism, determination and drive, MIR continues to blaze the way. A handful of enterprising women with a true passion for the sport  launched Mid Iowa Rollers in 2006. Since then, the team has grown exponentially – not only in fan and player numbers, but also in competitive performance, civic reputation and mentoring newer derby teams.

On and off the track, MIR is a blue-streak of positive force.
In 2010, MIR was physically unstoppable with an impressive 8-0 record – the state’s only undefeated derby team. With its acceptance as an apprentice league of the sport’s international governing body, WFTDA, and through its partnership with the Iowa Events Center, the Mid Iowa Rollers are always reaching for the next level… but they are focused on what they do best. And that’s playing women’s flat track roller derby.

In 2011, MIR went through a coaching change and began training under Hall of Fame Coach Mark Muse. Although the season started out slow, with the inception of new players and strategies, they finished stronger than ever! In the fall of 2011 MIR was accepted into the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) as a full Class B member of the South Central Region and have been working towards gaining momentum in the rankings ever since.

In 2012, MIR took on their inter-city rivals, the Des Moines Derby Dames in a much anticipated “Derby Supremacy” bout. Finally putting the speculations as to who was the better team to rest, MIR dominated the bout with a final score of 206-99.  MIR also won the rematch in September.  August 3rd, WFTDA released their Quarter 2 rankings and MIR debuted at an impressive #11, just a single step away from qualifying for Regionals. An honorable entrance for such a young team.

Keep up with the Mid Iowa Rollers at their website: http://www.midiowarollers.com/

On their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MidIowaRollers1?ref=ts

And on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MidIowaRollers1

Team of the Week: Dubuque Fighting Saints

This week's featured Iowa sports organization is the Dubuque Fighting Saints hockey team!

The Dubuque Fighting Saints are a Tier 1 junior ice hockey team that began play in the United States Hockey League (USHL) during the 2010 season. Home games are played at the Mystique Ice Center. The new team was named to honor the original Fighting Saints which played in the USHL from 1980 until 2001. Jim Montgomery serves as the team's head coach and general manager. Games are aired on KIYX, with Zack Fisch handling play-by-play. The Fighting Saints won the 2011 USHL Clark Cup after defeating the Green Bay Gamblers three games to one in the best-of-five finals.

Here's something fun!  They aren't call the Fighting Saints for nothing!  Here is their first trip to Des Moines to play the Des Moines Buccaneers back in 2010!   Welcome to the USHL!

You can learn more about the Fighting Saints at their website: http://www.dubuquefightingsaints.com/

Or follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fightingsaints

or Twitter: https://twitter.com/Fighting_Saints

Hawks 'n' Chiefs

If you're a fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Kansas City Chiefs like I am, your head is flat on one side from beating it on the wall every week and you're running towards downtown Des Moines, hoping for a fortuitous DART bus accident to put you out of your misery, but being the level-headed (pun intended) Hawk and Chief fan that I am I may have a solution to appease both fan bases.

Kirk Ferentz really is a good coach, despite the 2012 Iowa season.  More often than not, he is able to get the Hawkeyes to overachieve, but this season, the injuries, defections, and lack of overall talent is proving too much to overcome.  Fans seem more restless than usual and their patience has grown thin.  The calls to "fire Ferentz" are louder and more frequent this season than any other.  Perhaps it IS time for him to move on.  But to where?

Perhaps he would be a nice fit in Kansas City.  His style of play could make pretty much any team competitive, occasionally even the competition, which has been a large part of the criticism of the Ferentz-led Hawkeyes.  With the disparity of talent in college football, it drives most of fans crazy when Iowa beats a top-10 team by a touchdown and then squirts by an FCS team by a field goal or even a blocked field goal,.........or lose to them.  "Why not just crush the 'cream puffs' and play the good teams tough?"  It has been the definition of "playing down to your competition".  Either way, it has "worked" for the most part and over the years has resulted in wins by the Hawkeyes that were not expected but also some losses and close-calls that should not have been.

If you were to transplant this to the NFL, where there is much more parody and evenness of talent, add a stout defense, you could win a lot of games.  Winning games 7-6, 17-14, 24-21, or even 77-76 is perfectly acceptable in the NFL.  It's all about winning.  When the Hawkeyes eek out a win against a much inferior opponent, it feels like a loss to fans.  When the Chiefs eek out a win over anybody, even the no-good-stinkin'-lousy Raiders, it's a good day.

 The Chiefs are loaded with talent, but it does not seem that anyone on the coaching staff knows how to make it work.  Bad quarterback play, questionable to ridiculous play calling, plus a severe lack of discipline are all throwing gasoline on the dumpster fire that is the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs.  Kirk Ferentz's specialty is offensive line, which has been a weakness for the Chiefs for several years now.  His Iowa teams generally are well-disciplined, regardless of the opponent.  They historically don't turn the ball over very often and they don't get penalized a lot.  They're usually pretty solid in playing fundamental football and, more times than not, they win.   I am not on the "fire Ferentz" bandwagon yet, but if he had to go, I would like to see what he could do for the Chiefs.  I know a lot of fans are also calling for Pioli to be fired in KC, but maybe with the right coaching staff he could be salvaged.  The Chiefs defense has actually been pretty solid much of this season, but they need the offense to score points or at least hold on to the ball longer than a three and out.......or less.

Also, right now the Chiefs have more turnovers than touchdowns for the season and, at 1-7, are completely out of any chances to make the playoffs.  Why not give Stanzi a shot?  What could he possibly do that every other quarterback on the roster hasn't already done........except maybe win a game.  Tony Moeaki is already there.  Sign Marvin McNutt from the Philadelphia Eagles' practice squad, (pay Bowe), start Stanzi.

It's practically a foregone conclusion that this Chiefs coaching staff will be history soon.  The Chiefs have become the laughing stock of all sports in this side of the Klingon Home World.  Might as well bring in a younger coach with some proven success and make two fan bases happy.....for a little while at least. 

Perhaps this whole blog can be summed up with a few hashtags for Twitter.  Just as long as we don't #Suck4Vandenberg

#FireFerentz #FireRomeo #HireFerentz #StanziTime #PayBowe

Team of the Week: Des Moines Blaze

Staying with the local champions theme I've kind of started the past couple of weeks, this week's Team of the Week is the Des Moines Blaze football club, 2011 and 2012 MFA champs!

The Des Moines Blaze is a founding member of the Midwest Football Alliance and is the 2-time winner of the MFA championship.  They also finished the 2012 season ranked #1 in the Semi-Pro BCS poll.

From desmoinesblaze.com:

The Des Moines Blaze was established to bring a permanent,  501(c)(4) non-profit, semi-professional adult men's football entity in the greater Des Moines area. Our focus is to create a stable, professionally maintained organization, positively interacting and affecting our community while putting a top notch, nationally recognized competitive team on the field.

We strive to give players a forum in which to develop, refine, and display their talents whether it be in hopes of advancement to the next level or simply to continue to pursue their passion for the game. We encourage our athletes to continue their personal development as well as pursuing their aspirations on the field, generating positive interpersonal relationships within the organization and the community.


Find out more about the Des Moines Blaze at www.desmoinesblaze.com

Follow them on Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DesMoinesBlaze

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/DesMoinesBlaze  

You can also check out video of the team in action on their Youtube channel:  Blaze Youtube

There is also an app to follow the MFA!  Check it out!
The official Midwest Football Alliance App is available

QUAD CITY RAIDERS HOST FIRST ANNUAL COMBINE

QUAD CITY RAIDERS HOST FIRST ANNUAL COMBINE

Rock Island, IL – October 23, 2011: The Quad City Raiders will host their first ever football combine from 3:00pm to 6:00pm on October 27th at the Rivers Edge sports complex in Davenport. This event is designed to mirror the NFL Scouting Combine that measures potential NFL players with six basic but critical workouts. Along with the professional staff from QC Barbell, the Raiders will measure athletes in the following workouts: 40 yard dash, 225 pound bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3 cone drill, and the shuttle run. Each of these workouts is specifically designed to measure strength, endurance, movement, speed and acceleration. For those that are looking to improve their combine results we will have staff from QC Barbell to discuss strength training, Apex Elite Fitness to discuss speed and cardiovascular training, and representatives from Take Shape For Life to discuss a weight loss solution.


Immediately following the combine, the Quad City Raiders will evaluate the athletes that are interested in joining the roster for the 2013 season. This will be an informal position review with new and returning players to see where they are with overall knowledge of their position as well as how they perform in a group setting.


The cost for new athletes is $45 at the event and $35 with preregistration at http://combine.qcraiders.com and $20.00 for returning players. Interested athletes can get more information at http://www.qcraiders.com or on our Facebook page.


The Quad City Raiders are a second year minor league football team that completed their first season by reaching the second round of the Midwest Football Alliance playoffs. Comprised of local players and coaches, the Raiders are member of the QCA community and participate in a schedule of events throughout the year.

Contact: James Tinney Tel: 563-940-0841
Website: Http://www.qcraiders.com
Email: jamestinney@qcraiders.com


If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview with James Tinney, please e-mail at contact@qcraiders.com

Team of the Week: Your Mom Men's Roller Derby

This week's featured team is Your Mom Men's Roller Derby!

Many of you may be aware that there are several women's roller derby leagues around Iowa, but did you know there is also men's teams in Iowa?  Central Iowa's own Your Mom Men's Roller Derby is one of them!

Your Mom Men's Roller Derby recently won the MRDA - Gateway to the Best 2012 Championship!  You can read more about it here:   MRDA Championship: #1 Your Mom Edges #2 St. Louis, 136-135, for 2012 MRDA Title

Abput Your Mom:
YOUR MOM Men’s Roller Derby is an organization with a singular focus: Being the best and proving it. Please join us in 2012 as we embark on a journey to bring a Men’s Roller Derby Championship to Central Iowa! Our team includes skaters of all skill levels, from extremely dedicated beginners, to World Champion speed skaters. This year marks our second season as a member of the Men’s Roller Derby Association, the governing body for US Men’s Roller Derby.


 You can find out more about Your Mom Men's Roller Derby by visiting their website:  http://yourmommensderby.com/

And follow them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/YourMomMensRollerDerby

and Twitter at https://twitter.com/YourMomMRD

Congratulations to Your Mom on winning the 2012 MRDA championship!

Team of the Week: Des Moines Roosters

This week's featured organization is the Des Moines Roosters, Australian Football Club.

The Des Moines Roosters is Iowa's only Australian Football club! The team was formed in March of 2009, by 2 brothers and a native Australian who were not willing to let go of the sport they'd grown to love. As a relatively new team and sport to the area, the Roosters are always seeking new recruits, fans and volunteers to become a part of their community.

The Roosters have become more than just a team and are building the Australian Football culture here in Des Moines. The sport - difficult to compare to American sport, is governed by the USAFL - www.usafl.com and partners with its professional affiliate the AFL - www.afl.com.au. The Roosters compete against other midwest teams including the Minnesota Freeze, the Kansas City Power and the Milwaukee Bombers and will be competing in tournaments in Kansas City, and Madison.

Also, The Des Moines Roosters recently finished off their 2012 season by winning the USAFL Nationals Title Division IV with a tournament win-loss record  of 3-0!

Find out more about the Rooster and follow them at their website:  http://www.desmoinesroosters.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Des-Moines-Roosters/212343665459348

Twitter: https://twitter.com/DMRoosters

Team of the Week: Iowa Crush

This week's featured Iowa sports team is the Iowa Crush, women's football team!  Check them out!  Maybe YOU could be a member of the Iowa Crush organization!

The purpose of the Iowa Crush women's football team is to provide an opportunity for women to participate in predominantly male sport at a high level of competition nationally through the IWFL. Through sports, women are able to learn multiple life skills to not only apply on the field of play, but also in real life.  The Crush strive to give an example to our community as well as all Crush team members.

 In the 2013 season, the team will be looking to continue on their success in the 2012 season.  After a 4-4 regular season, the team lost in the first round of playoffs and look to improve on that in 2013. The team comes in with a strong group of veterans and a group of young, exciting rookies.

Also, the Iowa Crush are looking for more coaches for next season.  Contact them if you are interested in trying out for the team, or being part of the organization in any other capacity. 

Iowa Crush Looking for More Coaches


You can find out more about the Iowa Crush by visiting their website:  http://www.theiowacrush.com

Their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/IowaCrushFootball

Or follow them on Twitter:  https://twitter.com/theiowacrush

American Gridiron Association Established

American Gridiron Association established

AGA League Staff - 10/3/2012

Football season:  a season that has some of the loudest and most boisterous followers.  Today, fans, participants, and local fanatics of the sport in the region should be excited to have football available to them on a near year round basis. Over the past few weeks, various entrepreneurs have met and discussed a venture to help perpetuate the excitement at the local level and have come up with what they feel is a real opportunity for communities across the Midwest to enjoy the sport outside of its traditional season. The solution is a new venture into the semi-pro level of football in the Midwest, and the creation of the American Gridiron Association.

The American Gridiron Association is a minor league football organization that provides its various members and individual franchises an opportunity for advancement and competition within their individual communities and the football world.  It is our ever striving goal to assist in the development of the franchise and player in accomplishing their own goals within the community as well the refinement of their own skills on the gridiron.  With several connections to various arena/indoor teams, agents, and other professional organizations, we believe this venture is a real opportunity for players to move from their small communities into the realm of professional football.

In the inaugural season of the AGA, it is the goal to have eight to twelve franchises throughout the state of Iowa and Nebraska with hopes of expanding throughout the Midwest into states such as Illinois, Minnesota, and Missouri. The Executive Committee of the AGA has been hard at work to incorporate a mixture of new and existing franchises for the first year, with intent of making it the most competitive minor league football league in the country. Several franchises have been voted in as the original charter members of the AGA, and all current and future members will announce their involvement on their own terms.

The AGA will follow the most current NFL rules and regulations as well as hold regular league meetings and continue oversight of the development of this venture. The first official meeting between owners and league executives will take place in mid-October with a mandatory owner’s meeting following soon after.
For any further information, check the AGA out online at www.americangridiron.org and like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmericanGridiron.

Team of the Week: North Iowa Bulls

Spotlight this week is on the North Iowa Bulls of the North American 3 Hockey League!

The North Iowa Bulls are a junior league hockey team based in Mason City, Iowa.  They just opened up their second season in the NA3HL in 2012.

From the Bulls' Facebook page:

The Bulls are a new member of the North Iowa Community. The Bulls plan to provide fans with good, wholesome family entertainment at affordable prices. Players are not paid and area host families are relied upon to provide a home for them while they are in town. In this way, the Bulls are truly a community team. The support we receive locally is vital to our existence, and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with community businesses, families and fans during the 2011-2012 season.

You can find out more about the Bulls at their website:  http://www.northiowabulls.com

Go and "like" their Facebook page! : https://www.facebook.com/northiowabulls

Follow them on Twitter!:  https://twitter.com/@NorthIowaBulls

Did the Refs make the right call on Monday Night Football? Perhaps

I don't have a dog in this hunt.

I know most people think the Packers were robbed of a win by the replacement refs, especially Packer fans, but I think it's possible that the officials made the correct call, and I'll tell you why.

For a little background, you may remember a little officiating controversy revolving around a "non-catch" that Calvin Johnson of the Detroit Lions made a couple of years ago.  Here it is:

To nearly everyone on the planet, this looked like a catch.  But according to NFL rules, Johnson did not "complete the process" of making the catch when he let go of the ball and ran out of bounds.  This became known as the "Calvin Johnson rule".  Apparently the guy who nick names rules was on vacation that week.

Flash forward to now.  Monday Night Football.  Seahawks vs. Packers.  Last play of the game.  Hail Mary! 

This was called simultaneous possession which is rewarded to the offense resulting in a game deciding touchdown for Seattle.  Oops?   Maybe not.  Let's look a little closer.

At this point, Jennings has his hands on the ball, but there can be no catch yet because he hasn't come down inbounds with both feet.  He's still up in the air.

Another view.

Only one foot down.  Still not a catch but both offensive and defensive players have hands on the ball.  You might even say Tate is the only one with possession at this point.

Another view.

Here you see both players with possession with the act of making the catch being complete.

Another view of both players on the ground with possession with the process of making a catch completed.

A lot of things can happen from the time the ball is first contacted to the time it is considered "caught".  I'm sure there is plenty of wrestling going on in the pile, but I cannot see anything that makes me think that the replacement referees made the wrong call on this play.  AND the NFL has come out in support of the call, mostly because of the inconclusive replay.  But at any rate, the game is official.  Seachickens win!

New Feature: Team of the Week!

Many of you may remember in the not so long ago that Iowa Pro Sports had a little talk show on the internet that was actually doing pretty well until a lack of funding forced the platform to reformat and after it came back, we were unable to continue.  On the show we would have a different guest each week, usually someone or a few someones from one of the local sports teams or organizations.

In that same spirit, Iowa Pro Sports is adding a new feature: Team of the Week.  We don't have the show anymore, but we still want to do what we set out to do and bring attention to the pro, semi-pro, and minor league sports scene that Iowa has to offer.  Each week we will pick a sports team, organization, athlete, whatever, and put the spotlight on them for the week, bringing you information, news, schedules, links, whatever.

So watch for it starting as early as next week!  Follow IowaProSports.com on the website, blog, Facebook, and Twitter!

As probably nobody knows, IowaProSports.com is a one-man operation.  I rely heavily on social media activity and rss feeds from the various sports teams, leagues, organizations to discover news and information daily, and even run across new teams, sports, leagues, and organizations once in a while in the process.  Never hesitate to post your stories, announcements, etc. to our Facebook page, and feel free to send me links to your websites and/or rss feeds.  You can even send your press releases directly to my inbox at iowaprosports@live.com .

Iowa Crush Looking for More Coaches

The Iowa Crush, Des Moines' original women's tackle football team, is looking for more coaches for the 2013 season.  If you or someone you know would like to be involved with this fantastic sports club as a coach or in any other capacity, please contact the Iowa Crush.  You can contact them via their website, http://www.theiowacrush.com/  .