Mark Anderson

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S COLUMN:
MAGAZINE CAN GIVE AFLWA SOMETHING TO GROW ON

You can dispute whether the Heisman Trophy truly goes to college football's best player every year, but what you can't deny is how effective the hype is for the award.

I envision a similar scenario for the Arena Football League Writers Association and our Player of the Year award, and thanks to the new magazine, Inside the AFL, we will launch next January, creating some drama could become a reality.

Of course, we will never match the publicity the Heisman generates, but because of Inside the AFL - a magazine which will be announced to the general public in the coming weeks - we could introduce a little hype that would get the AFLWA some attention.

Here's how.

The AFLWA board selects the top three players after the season, and the general membership votes on the finalists. All three players are invited to a special dinner at the ArenaBowl site that is attended by the league commissioner and other officials. Also, the general public is able to buy tickets.

There is a guest emcee, and highlights are shown of the finalists. Then the evening concludes with the announcement, and print and television reporters are invited to cover the event. Maybe even NBC does something as part of its ArenaBowl coverage.

Plus, the evening could be about more just than just the Player of the Year award. We could create other awards, such as off-field contributions, that would be handed out before the main event.

By relying strictly on membership dues, such a night would not be possible.

That is what is so exciting about starting Inside the AFL. We could have the proceeds to put together such a special night.

But it's about more than just one night.

The revenues could go toward better meeting our members' needs, such as a handbook that would be sent in preseason. We also would have the funds to make what is already a really good website even better. And we could have an annual meeting that would further address how to make the AFLWA the association we all hope it can be.

This is an exciting time. The subscription drive will be under way soon, and NBC has said it will mention the magazine on air.

I can't imagine a much better start for an association that isn't even 6 months old.

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