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Re your Ballard/Bills trash talk, it'll be interesting to see if this time next year, you'll be making the same fuss over Fisher and the Dullfins ( assuming he's the regular over Barr)!

Until the future and status of the WLAF is secure then this kind of thing will happen every season irrespective of the NFL team. ( Personally I'm delighted that I have a chance of cheering a former Claymores star in a Bills uniform - even if he has previously played for the Dullfins! - I'm a forgiving sort, you see! :-)

Instead of letting your blinkered and unfortunate AFC East affiliations spoil an otherwise very good web site, why not address a more important roster issue, namely shouldn't the national players be all Scots instead of the current motley bunch that includes a Finn, a Japanese etc etc?!

Hope this season is another success and allows you to fill up your site with positive upbeat stuff - leave off the Bills!!!! If you're looking for a target, there's London remember!

Regards,

Leave off the Bills ? Are you MAD ? Why that's one of the few things that keeps us going in the WLAF off season !
(Seriously folks for the record we dislike the Bills we really do... but we do admire them it takes a lot of guts to determination to manage to LOSE FOUR SUPERBOWLS IN A ROW ! Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.... Okay the Dolphins didn't get there but that's not the point ! - Really serious here all the Anti-Bills stuff is light hearted (except when they nick our players) we don't want to start a slagging match. It's bad enough Doug's [The Editor] Brother Neil is a Bills fan, their house has a great atmosphere twice a year !).

As to the real point of your letter (other to lay off the poor Bills). Spence Fischer is Allocated by the Dolphins so we know in advance that he might not be back. It was the WAY Ballard ended up with the Bills that wasn't on. Why couldn't they have signed him much earlier and then Allocated him back to us ? Not to worry we're sure Spence or Dave or Mark will get the job done.

As to not enough Scottish Nationals. Well sure we'd love to have them but we are the smallest nation in the WLAF with about 4.5 million people most of which had never even thought about American Football until 1995 it's tough to find Quality players. But mark our words if things continue as they seem to be expect more and more Scots to make the Squad give the influence time to spread - perhaps a couple of years.

Oh and Okay we'll lay off the Bills until the end of the Season. Your are right time to Focus on London ! (And Frankfurt and everyone else).

"Why a spoon cousin, why not an axe or..."

"Because it's BLUNT you twit, it'll hurt more!"

Being one of the few remaining regulars at the C4 site, I feel I have sufficient qualifications to make some kind of response.

Memory failed to supply instances of when Ron argued "long and hard" for WLAF, so I checked some old topics. Unfortunately, I was only able to find a few of Ron's posts, none of which were particularly pro WLAF. Earlier topics have been deleted, so I can't really vouch for Ron's efforts to promote the League, or whom he argued with. However, having never gone to a World League game myself, I imagine that at some point I would have expressed doubts as to the quality of play. I have always viewed the WLAF as a poor cousin to the NFL, based on the opinions of fellow football players, friends who had attended Monarchs games and the little I'd seen on TV. Other regulars on C4, GCD and Dave Darroch, (I trust you haven't forgotten his name yet!) have recently assured me that I'm missing some serious quality football.

So who knows, maybe I'll catch a game or two. The point is, there will always be people who will disregard the World League without prior knowledge simply because they've seen the NFL, become enchanted with it, and be so close-minded as to consider that there cannot possibly be anything as good. If something isn't as good, then why watch it? Why watch a Division 2 game when you can watch a Premiership match?

Andy Phillips

Go Falcs?

And then this arrived

From: Andy Phillips - SMS4M041@sms.port.ac.uk
Subject: Oops!

Maybe I should've read that Armchair Manager No.8 thingy first! Okay, okay, so going to the game is supposed to be the thing? So what about UK NFL fans before WLAF came along? Are they snobs? Think about it - how did American footie start up over here without all those 'fans' who wanted to play the game they'd been watching? Hmm? I don't see why people who don't/can't go to WLAF games have to get labelled snobs, they're as much fans of the game as those who go. The people you really tick me off are those nice young gentlemen sporting Raiders gear because they consider it to be a fashion thing - they don't know anything about the game whatsoever. They're the snobs.

Andy

So much to say so much to reply to... First off good to see you're checking in with us now as well as Ch4. We don't seem to delete mail ! (even if my account is filling up !)
Why watch a 2nd Division Match when you can watch the Premiership ? Good question but there's a simple answer. The WLAF is your LOCAL team. That's the point. And you know what ? Just maybe someday there will be promotion to the Premiership (at least in Standard).

As to the pre-WLAF days. Well there is a huge difference. I don't understand your point as to calling those guys snobs. They weren't, Britball and the NFL are miles and miles apart. Sadly Britball is in decline something which must be sorted (Didn't we cover that in ArmChair GM somewhere ?). The snobs are the people who ONLY want the NFL nothing else will do. Heck I would dearly love to play Britball but with my back and busy work schedule I can't spare the time. And if you can't go to a WLAF for some reason that's different. If you won't because 'it's not as good as the NFL' - Then you are a snob.

As to the Raiders thing do what I do. Walk up to them and ask if they saw the game. 8/10 times they'll answer no don't watch it. Then give them a funny look as if they are mad and wander off. I've found this a very effect way to annoy them to the point either they do watch the games or stop wearing the logos (Don't try this a home kids just in case it 's a nutter you are talking to).

I have argued long and hard on C4 NFL web site that as a lover of this great game I consider attending every Claymore game a MUST! I attended Glasgow Lions games and followed them to London and other foreign spots.

All in all having watched American Football for many years now, I consider the standard of the WFL was above anything I ever expected to see this side of the Atlantic.

Going to live games at Murryfield beats the hell out of TV coverage!

I have seen La Chapelle and wondered at the magnificence of it all!!

This year I will watch Smith and Royston, Fischer and Barr, and urge on Dr Coup to score more TD's.

So to have 'snobs' (I agree with this term) tell me that the WFL is rubbish, is to hear people who know little about the game mouth off about an 'experience' that they refuse to attend, leaves me getting quite pissed off!!

Love the game? Go see it live!!

Ronald Claymore

Glad you found a home for your views here at Blunt Views. Perhaps we should invite those who you have been arguing with over in CH4 to give their excuse.. because that's all it will be - an excuse. Then again perhaps they daren't leave the house incase they miss an advert.

TO THE PLAYERS AND COACHES OF THE CLAYMORES, GOOD LUCK IN THE COMING SEASON. TO DAVE BARR, PLAY LIKE A BEAR.

FROM YOUR FANS IN CLOVERDALE, CA. LISA, HEATHER, SHAWNA, NOLAN, AND ROY

Great to hear from you guys. Keep in touch with us here at Blunt Views it's good to hear from our many friends from the USA

Thanks for the comments you made on my earlier e-mail.

I agree with the sentiment that the fans and teams of the WLAF can get a raw deal, but that has nothing to do with the NFL teams. There is, presumably, some form of contract between the NFL and WLAF that lays down the ground-rules for player allocation, etc., etc. You can't blame a team for taking advantage of that contract to suit themselves, every team in every sport would act in the same manner. You look for any advantages you can get. So rather than target the Bills or whoever, why not highlight the real culprits, i.e. the officials in the NFL and the WLAF. And the rights of the fans aren't limited to voting with their feet. If they're unhappy with any aspect of the WLAF or its relationship with the NFL they have the right to voice their complaint to the WLAF. I'm sure the Claymores won't whine about Ballard in their first program. They're more likely to accept that it's happened, lodge a complaint with the WLAF and get on with it. It's the WLAF who has an obligation to their teams and fans, not the NFL. The WLAF need to look at how their teams are being used or abused by the NFL and take action to help them. If they have the opinions of the teams and the fans behind them, they're more likely to fight their corner. If the people who feel as strongly as you obviously do don't take direct action then nothing will change. The WLAF will continue as it is at present and teams will suffer the same setbacks year in, year out.

I am in no position to criticise your site and would not want to appear to be telling you how to run it as I have no knowledge of what is involved. However, I hope you do not mind observations on possible paths it might take. I feel, for example, Blunt Views might be a useful medium for organising some form of concerted action by the fans to support the team. Your armchair GM article could have been a useful tool for organising a petition to the WLAF officials on the Ballard situation; or during the season we could have a petition to the Claymores asking them to turn down the volume on the "kwik-fit fitter" adverts and not play them as often. But seriously, I'm not suggesting turning it into some sort of militant rag or anything, just give the fans encouragement to express their desires/complaints and improve their lots. You seem able to inspire emotion in people, why not try to put the emotion you generate to use?

I hope you take this in the spirit it is intended. I do enjoy browsing through Blunt Views and think it has potential to be used as a means of improving the enjoyment of the fans. Will you be getting the site advertised in any of the game day programs?

All the best

Dave Darroch

Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.... You got to laugh... Us advertise in the Claymores Game Day Program ? After what happened last time my work was published there (grumble grumble one of these days.....).

If want a more in-line with you view I point you to Arm Chair GM #5 by Ron E. Hatstand .

As to concerted action by Fans as organised by Blunt Views... Lovely Idea... perhaps you could help by Voting Blunt . But seriously the amount of time and effort something like that would take is frankly way beyond our means.

We at Blunt Views have a hard enough time keeping up to date with the e-mail and news that comes in (that's BEFORE the season starts). With a small writing team who are busy trying to get degrees it's a nightmare. Mind you that Militant Rag idea does seem interesting. Should by any miracle we get our act together for next season hopefully BV will become a fully fledged fanzine for sale ! In the meantime we are here to vent out views on the Claymores World League and anything else.
On that point how many of you would be willing to sign up to a hard copy monthly fanzine on Football in general ? Perhaps paying 1-2 pounds an issue ? If you are get in touch .

Thanks for the comment on Emotion we're glad we can generate it in other Fans.

I agree with the other people about the need for more teams in the WLAF. I have been a fan of this league since its inception in 91. I really loved the Montreal Machine when it was still alive. I loved their logo, as well as the logo of the Frankfurt Galaxy. What I do not agree with the league is its lack of continuity, and its small number of teams.

I do not like the fact that many of the world league stars are only there for a year, and possibly off to the NFL the next year. To keep a fan base, the WLAF needs to be able to hold on to some of its stars. If the NFL takes a star from a WLAF team, then it should be stipulated that the NFL that does so, must compensate the WLAF with two or three players for the upcoming season. No team that does not allocate any players to the league should be allowed to take players from the league!

The WLAF also needs more American fans. The way to promote this is for the World league to promote itself as the "2nd best league in the world." People in the US need to have players in the world league that they can remember seeing in the national spotlight in college. Therefore, I propose that college stars, especially quarterbacks, should be signed to two to three year deals by the WLAF, so they can get experience playing at this heightened level of competition, and if they do eventually get good enough for the NFL, they will already have a name for themselves in the US, they will have more experience, and they will be paid more of what they are worth, instead of being paid less for being drafted low in later draft rounds, or high just because they are first round picks. This helps both the NFL and the WLAF. The NFL will be getting better quarterbacks, and the WLAF will have superstars for more than one year, or they will get two to three players of good skill to replace their superstar. QB's like Tommie Frazier of Nebraska, Jake PLummer of Arizona State, and especially more black qb's from the lesser known SWAC schools, should be able to benefit from such a strong push in advertising that this league can hold on to a star for more than a year.

This league not only needs more teams, but it also needs a better way to get to the World Bowl. I hate the format that currently exists. I think that there should be some World league teams on the Pacific Coast as well. It would be an Atlantic Coast/Pacific Coast World Bowl, like the NFC/AFC SuperBowl. We could have teams in Japan, Hawaii (Which needs a professional team badly), Montreal(Bring back the machine), and Mexico. The Pacific Teams would play one another twice a season, and play two of the Atlantic Teams once a season. This could really work in some Pacific/Atlantic rivalries as well. For example Mexico vs. Spain would be awesome. Montreal vs England, or a new France team too. The addition of a Pacific league would promote more drama into the world bowl, as both sides of the world fight for the title. Also, there is not such a drain on the issue of travel, if you limit the number of times these teams have to meet. Mexico vs. Spain could occur before or after a one week bye that is in the middle of the season. It can work, and it should work if the WLAF realises that there is a potential market in the Pacific, and is just careful in realising that the best US team to have in the world league is in Hawaii, who is itching for a pro team. Who would not want to play in Hawaii?

Well good to see another voice echo what is the firm belief here at Blunt Views. Expand and let us keep our stars. As to the Hawaii bit.. well Perhaps you should wait until the NFL start up the proposed Pacific League which would be a sister league to the WLAF.

To put it Bluntly (which is the whole point of these pages).. , the purpose of the WLAF is to promote american football in Europe and to provide a feeder league for the NFL teams. Buffalo are under no obligation to compensate a WLAF team for signing a player (have the Claymores been compensated for losing James Fuller?) Neither are they under any obligation to allocate players to the WLAF (Are Buffalo the only team who dont allocate players?). The Buffalo Bills, like every other team in the NFL, is a business organisation and will therefore try to be successful by taking the actions they feel most appropriate. Im sure coach Criner would be only too happy to do the same if the roles had been reversed. And in a similar situation last year, Siran Stacy announced he was quitting the Claymores to further his chances of joining an NFL team. Did he compensate the Claymores? Was he vilified in Blunt Views? Or was he wished success and then welcomed back with open arms because he didnt quite make it in the NFL?

The WLAF exists not to please us, but to benefit the whole NFL organisation. It gives the teams the opportunity to both blood their young and inexperienced players and to pick up players who make the grade; it benefits the players by giving them the chance to show their worth or re-launch an NFL. It also benefits us by providing some off-season entertainment, and that is the extent of our stake in the WLAF. The NFL are doing something to provide a game to watch for the fans by the very existance of the WLAF. We have no right to it and it will be axed damn quick if it doesnt sufficiently benefit the NFL.

Also, you felt the need to have a go at the NFL because its the game that matters NOT the money. Im sorry to spoil your perfect world, but the money DOES matter. The players have to be paid, stadia financed and success achieved. This takes cash, and the owners have to invest their own money into the team. They may do this because they love the team, but even then theyll be expecting some reward for their efforts, just as the players and coaches do. Nothing is free.

Finally, incase you think Im a disgruntled Bills fan, Im not. Im a Redskins fan (as anyone at the C4 site will confirm) and have a grudge against the Bills for last seasons result. But I do think that they deserve as much respect as any other NFL team and shouldnt be singled out because they had the audacity to sign a good QB.

Dave Darroch

Oh.... no there's nothing like getting an Editor wound up is there....
I'll tackle this one point by point (where I think something should be said). Sure the NFL have every right to do what they want but that's only legally. What rights do we the fans have ? Nothing other than voting with our feet. And the moment that happens.... Well the league will collapse and we don't want that do we ?

As to sour grapes ? Well it should do, we aren't happy. As to being the opinion of EVERY Claymores fan ? Well I honestly do not think that ANY article written in any fan publication (except perhaps where there's only two fans in the whole world and they both happen to agree) could ever claim to be the opinion of EVERY fan. However there are a number of people who happen to be fans who are NOT happy with the Ballard situation. So we represent our views that of the readers and the editors.

The purpose of the WLAF was to globalise the game. Bring more people into just that a GAME. That the NFL owners decided to run it to make money is their choice. They do not own the GAME any more than FIFA own soccer.
And sure the Bills are under no obligation to allocate players... but why not ? Jim Ballard was a reserved player for the Claymores, why should Buffalo profit from us when we get nothing in return ? If this had been the NFL there would have been a trade. On matters like these there should be an obligation to return players to the talent pool in the WLAF if you remove them.
As to Siran well Siran quit the team. He left he wasn't associated with them. Ballard however had been kept on and used by the Claymores to promote the game and be a returning STAR. Then at the 11th hour Buffalo wreak months of hard work by the Claymores PR office.

And sure the WLAF is there to benefit the NFL..... but who supports the WLAF ? We do. The moment that the fans stop going the WLAF will disappear faster than it did last time. And no we don't have a right to it.... but then again they don't have a right to our money. If they expect us to play fair and pay to see games then we expect to be treated well not patted on the head and told 'thanks for the money now run along and wait till the REAL game starts in the Fall'.

Oh and we know the money does matter... but more than the GAME ? As to all the owners loving their teams..... Bwah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha.... There are some who desperately love their teams and there are others who are in it for the money and the prestige.

As to us picking on Buffalo (nearly finished folks just hang in there) well... gezzz It's Buffalo ! :)

Is there any truth in the rumour that the WLAF sponsors Reebok & Budweisser have dropped out this season.

A friend in London said he spotted it in a newspaper last weekend, but so far you haven't mentioned it in Blunt Views.

Reebok's omission could mean that the new uniforms won't happen - big deal - but the loss of Budweisser is a major problem.

More seriously, if this means less money in the game, it could lead to real problems.

Brian Mathieson.

Well Brian we would have commented in BV but we've been busy. Actually it is a question here of is it something you the fans want to talk about ? Anyway on the matter at hand last I heard was that the two companies you mention have pulled out of sponsoring the Claymores and the WL in general. However I may yet be proved wrong. The new uniforms are because of Reebok pulling out (well that and London's looking a mess).
As to less money in the game not to worry TEX-MEX restaurant, Skoda Cars etc are picking up the slack...... Actually my pet theory is that in 1998 a new set of sponsors will be announced with the new expansion teams.

To order Merchandise try the official Claymores web page which is listed in our WLAF links
As to how many fans ? Well it's a tough call. I'd put you in touch with other fans in the US but you didn't give a returnable e-mail. But there is an idea for a pen-pals section.. what do the rest of you lot think ?