Richard Obert

PRESIDENT'S COLUMN:
AFTER 17 SEASONS, WE ARE UNDER WAY

Welcome to the Arena Football League Writers Association.

The Arena League is entering its 18th season, which is longer than even Jim Foster, the league's creator, could have dreamed. It's the oldest pro football league, outside the NFL, and it's time for us to move in a more unified direction, as the league continues to expand with NBC providing more national exposure.

Together, we can have a unified voice on whatever issues arise, and give us leverage in dealing with potential problems. The league, I sense, is excited about us bonding, which only helps its credibility.

So far, for me, it has been a mostly positive experience covering the Arizona Rattlers, a team that provides easy access and with players whom, for the most part, are not spoiled.

As you know, this is still – especially in the bigger-market cities – considered a second-tier sports beat. It is not covered on a daily basis at most newspapers, but we should be prepared to take it seriously. That is not to say to cover the teams as if you are working for them, but to cover them the way you would if it were an NFL team, with objectivity, providing news and trends and enterprise to a readership that is definitely out there.

With the league getting more national exposure than ever before, it is time for us to secure our place so that we're not left in the dust.

A notes network, I think, is a good way for us to start. This will keep everybody in tune each week to each of the teams in the league, whether it's personnel moves or human interest topics. If we all contribute to that each week, it can enlighten us and make it easier for us to come up with good stories.

To make this association work, we need your input. Keep us informed with your concerns and how you think we could make it better.

Have a great season.

Richard Obert is the AFLWA's first president. He also covers the Rattlers for the Arizona Republic.

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