LAS VEGAS, Nev. (March 23, 2005) – Now that the season has reached halftime, it's time to use the intermission and size up the races that have taken shape.

The new playoff format that has created intriguing conference and divisional races It's a long overdue step for the league because the previous seeding system took away the importance of even having divisions, much less conferences.

The National Conference clearly is the strongest this season, with the potential of some quality teams being left out of the postseason.

So let's start with the National's Eastern Division:

Dallas Desperados (6-2): Dallas has two almost sure victories against Nashville and Columbus, but the rest of the remaining schedule is a bear. Colorado, San Jose, New York, Las Vegas, Georgia and an improving Philadelphia team make the Desperados' playoff bid a difficult one.

New York Dragons (5-2): Two games against Columbus help, but the rest of the schedule isn't the easiest. An April 29 trip to Dallas will help shape the division.

Divisional winner: New York.

National's Southern Division:

Georgia Force (6-2): The Force is tied with New Orleans in the league's toughest division, and the teams meet this weekend in Louisiana. Though Georgia plays Austin and Grand Rapids, the rest of the schedule is tough, with games against San Jose, Tampa Bay (twice), Orlando and Dallas.

New Orleans VooDoo (6-2): Unlike the other teams previously mentioned, New Orleans' schedule should not be a problem. The VooDoo plays Austin (twice), Columbus and Grand Rapids, and there is no excuse not to win all four games. Steal another game or two, and the division should belong to the VooDoo.

Orlando Predators (5-3): The inconsistent Predators play Austin twice, but face a slate that includes Los Angeles, Tampa Bay, New York, Georgia, Philadelphia and New Orleans. Not exactly a stroll.

Tampa Bay Storm (4-3): What is about the Florida teams and inconsistency? Tampa Bay will have to overcome that problem with a second half that includes Los Angeles, Georgia (twice), Orlando, New Orleans and New York. The Storm, fired up by the league's punishment this week, will make a run.

Divisional winner: New Orleans.
Wild-card teams: Tampa Bay, Georgia.
Divisional round: New Orleans defeats Georgia; Tampa Bay defeats New York.
Conference championship: New Orleans defeats Tampa Bay.

American's Central Division:

Colorado Crush (5-2): This clearly is Colorado's division to lose. Games against Grand Rapids and Nashville will get the Crush two more victories, but the remaining field of Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Jose and New York is far from a cakewalk.

Chicago Rush (4-4): Chicago also plays Grand Rapids and Nashville, and has what looks like should be a victory over Arizona. However, the Rattlers are better than their 1-7 record, and could give the Rush problems. Other problems are games against New York, San Jose, Colorado, Los Angeles and Las Vegas.

Divisional winner: Colorado.

American's Western Division:

Las Vegas Gladiators (5-3): Having quarterback Clint Dolezel back has made all the difference for the Gladiators, who have scored 129 points in their past two games. Their home game Monday against San Jose will tell where this division is headed. A Gladiators victory will provide some distance.

Los Angeles Avengers (4-3): This is a shaky team that isn't as good as its record. They will have trouble in games against Tampa Bay, Orlando, New York, Chicago, San Jose and Las Vegas.

San Jose SaberCats (4-3): After a slow start, the SaberCats are starting to move. They could start to take control of the division with a victory Monday at Las Vegas, but even with a loss, San Jose has plenty of time to be a factor in a conference that is thin.

Divisional winner: San Jose.
Wild-card teams: Las Vegas, Chicago.
Playoff race: Colorado defeats Chicago; San Jose defeats Las Vegas.
Conference championship: San Jose defeats Colorado.
ArenaBowl XXIX: San Jose defeats New Orleans.

QUICK THOUGHTS

• The Storm and coach Tim Marcum were hit hard in the pocketbook by the league this week, but the real damage is to the club's future. Tampa Bay will not be allowed to immediately sign free agents in 2006 and 2007 when the period begins, costing the team valuable time.

No question the AFL did not hold back in hitting Tampa Bay with a $150,000 fine, of which Marcum must pay $25,000, for what the league said were salary-cap violations in 2003 and 2004. Those violations, the league said, were for unreported payments to players.
Marcum said the AFL came down too hard, but what the league did was send a signal that only a level playing field will be tolerated. If that meant too harsh a punishment in this case, so be it.

• Battling inconsistency, the Predators decided to do something about it. They shipped fullback/linebacker Rupert Grant to Nashville and released defensive specialist Damon Mason.

That cleared salary-cap room to bring in defensive specialist Johnnie Harris, the AFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 1998. Orlando beat out, among others, Tampa Bay and San Jose for Harris, who spent the past five years in the NFL.

It's a bold move for Orlando, one that could pay off in June.

Mark Anderson is the AFLWA executive director. He also covers the Gladiators for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.