Transcript

3RD & 99 Episode 13 · TDUK

0:00
[music]
0:44
>> Three more games.
0:45
Another week has passed.
0:47
And we are back.
0:49
Welcome back, boys, for another week of
0:51
third and 99. This one's a little bit
0:54
different this time round. We've got one
0:56
league, the AFLE, and our very special
0:59
guest right over there. Go ahead and
1:01
introduce yourself, the one and only.
1:04
>> Hey, it's Andreas Naumannsson. I'm the
1:07
commissioner of the AFLE, but
1:08
everybody's calling me Nami. That's my
1:10
big nickname. And so,
1:12
hey, thanks for having me in your show,
1:14
man.
1:16
>> Honestly, it's a pleasure to have you.
1:17
We cannot wait to get started. Talk
1:19
about yourselves, talk about the league,
1:21
all things happening. We've got
1:23
a lot of stuff to get through. So, first
1:26
of all, Lee, how are you doing?
1:27
>> Oh, I'm doing really well. Um
1:30
thankfully, it's nearly Friday. Uh it's
1:31
been a long week, so uh I've got a week
1:33
off next week, so I'm definitely looking
1:35
forward to uh getting tomorrow out of
1:36
the way with an enjoying the week off
1:37
next week.
1:39
>> Lovely week off to enjoy. Lovely week of
1:41
football as well to enjoy.
1:42
>> [laughter]
1:44
>> So, first and foremost, we get started.
1:46
So, Nomi, tell us a bit about yourself,
1:48
what you do,
1:49
how you got involved with the league,
1:52
where you're from.
1:53
>> Hey, man. I'm a just the average guy out
1:55
of Hamburg, Germany, and then who fell
1:57
in love with football many, many years
1:59
ago. I was a former player as a tight
2:01
end, even right now if I'm looking like
2:03
an offensive line guy, but you know, age
2:06
puts [laughter] the weight on it.
2:08
Um
2:09
but ended up, like I said, I was a
2:11
former player,
2:13
went into coaching afterwards. I
2:16
would say I have a successful
2:18
years behind me as a coach.
2:21
And to the end of the day, when the
2:23
whole European League football things
2:25
starts like 5 years ago,
2:27
uh I was the head coach of the Hamburg
2:29
Sea Devils in the first year.
2:32
After that, I I switched to the league
2:34
side, been a director of sports for the
2:38
past 4 years.
2:40
And then obviously over the off season,
2:42
out of that one league, you know, we
2:44
came up with two versions of it. And for
2:48
me was was clear to which side I have to
2:50
to to go on a
2:52
I work with the ELF. And then they asked
2:55
me, you know, to to do the commissioner
2:58
because out of my background. And I have
3:00
great guys around me,
3:02
great, you know,
3:04
4 years right now, guys working with me
3:06
or been around me, so it was was an easy
3:09
decision for myself.
3:10
And hey, all we going to
3:13
hope and and and all we working for is
3:15
to grow the game of football in in
3:17
Europe.
3:18
>> Yeah, sounds amazing. Obviously we've
3:20
got a got a question here. What NFL team
3:23
does Nomi support?
3:24
>> Raiders but
3:25
>> Ah, you know, this is a tough one. I'm
3:28
not like a team guy, to be honest, but
3:31
the Jets, because the New York Jets are
3:34
the was my first game I saw live many,
3:37
many years ago, and
3:39
you know, I was there. I was obviously
3:41
for the home team, Jets against the
3:43
Patriots. And so I said, "Hey, Jets is a
3:45
great great thing." You you know what,
3:47
the home crowd is it's easy to join, you
3:49
know, like
3:50
>> Oh, yeah.
3:51
>> And
3:52
yeah, we we had some some years with the
3:55
Rex Ryan and the the stuff that was kind
3:57
of fun.
3:58
But,
3:58
>> Those years were good.
4:00
>> So far, yeah.
4:02
>> I'm not talking about recent history
4:03
really.
4:04
>> [laughter]
4:04
>> I'm not that loud to talk about the
4:06
Jets, to be honest.
4:09
>> [laughter]
4:10
>> But, I enjoy every football game. I have
4:12
it's not like that I have to say if this
4:14
team is going to play, I'm not going to
4:16
watch it. If I have a chance to watch a
4:18
game,
4:20
like football and basketball, these are
4:21
my two sports and and
4:24
I can, you know, love football forever.
4:27
>> So, are you more of a basketball team
4:30
player or a basketball player person? Do
4:32
you support the team or a player?
4:34
>> Uh, you know what? Basketball was my
4:36
first game. I played on a high level in
4:40
my hometown in Hamburg.
4:42
And I was always a little bit bigger and
4:45
taller like everybody else, but I played
4:48
shooting and point guard.
4:50
It's it's was kind of funny. Every time
4:52
when I came into the gym and the the
4:54
other team they thought I'm a power
4:55
forward or the center guy.
4:57
And then they found me outside, you
4:59
know, shooting the threes and stuff like
5:01
this. And I had an American basketball
5:04
coach back in the years and then he told
5:06
me, "Hey, a guy like you with your
5:07
size." And he always said, the first
5:09
time I heard something about hand-eye
5:12
coordination. He said, "Hey, you would
5:14
be a perfect football guy."
5:16
And so,
5:18
then
5:20
2 years later he start to coaching a
5:22
football team in Germany. And guess
5:24
what? He called me up. I said, "I
5:25
coach."
5:26
And so, I ended up being a tight end in
5:28
the in the game of football. So,
5:30
>> Wow.
5:31
>> But, what I did, I always played in the
5:33
summer football and the winter time
5:36
basketball.
5:37
>> Wow.
5:37
>> But,
5:38
when I start to playing on the highest
5:40
level in in Germany, it was like a power
5:44
league back in the days, the GFL.
5:47
Um we we you know, I played in front of
5:51
20, 30,000. That was great in my
5:53
hometown.
5:55
But that
5:55
>> Big numbers.
5:56
>> so to say, they asking for do more, you
5:59
know, lifting weights and all that kind
6:00
of stuff as a
6:02
football guy.
6:03
But you know, lifting weights and then
6:06
get that touch from the free it's like
6:08
difficult.
6:09
So I was trying to sneak in the get gray
6:12
area and then I might have made a
6:14
decision, okay,
6:15
I'm a football guy. Let's Let's go for
6:17
it. But I'm still playing basketball.
6:19
Once a year with my old teammates, we we
6:22
we travel around Europe for some
6:24
international tournaments.
6:27
Kind of funny right now I can play the
6:29
plus 40 uh plus 50
6:31
>> [laughter]
6:34
>> And then
6:34
>> But there comes a time where you have to
6:36
choose between one or the other. You're
6:37
doing both, you're balancing the two,
6:39
but they're so different, you know.
6:41
You get that in quite a few sports.
6:42
Quite a few young kids are doing
6:44
multiple sports and when they get to a
6:46
certain level, they've got to give up
6:47
the other ones and take on maybe
6:49
football or basketball or American
6:52
football or track and field, whatever it
6:53
is, they take on that sport more
6:55
seriously and they become more serious
6:57
with it, but there's always that
6:58
decision and it's always a tough
6:59
decision. So
7:01
how was that decision for you to make
7:02
that decision and say, "I'm going into
7:04
football. I'm going to have to drop
7:05
basketball for now."
7:07
Yeah, you know,
7:09
that's serious.
7:10
I really the decision was more like
7:13
get away from the higher level of
7:15
basketball. I just jumped down two,
7:18
three leagues, but I was still fall in
7:20
love and then I'm still true. The only
7:23
bad thing in in basketball I had always
7:25
had that. I don't know how you guys call
7:26
it, the Achilles
7:28
>> [snorts]
7:28
>> thing.
7:29
Um
7:31
um
7:32
what's the right Achilles, right?
7:34
>> Yeah.
7:35
>> Um that was a weak point and then you
7:37
know, the doctors they say, "Oh, the
7:38
movement in basketball, the quick ones
7:40
with my weight
7:42
they said, hey, it's not good for you So
7:44
on then you know was more football.
7:47
Obviously my my body told me
7:49
kind of fun that somebody the body told
7:52
me hey play football it's better for
7:53
your body.
7:54
>> [laughter]
7:57
>> So but yeah, that's is like my my past.
7:59
So I'm a team guy. I like team sports. I
8:02
always have guys around me and then
8:05
This is so great and now again right now
8:07
with football. I think it's the ultimate
8:09
team sport on
8:11
every level you can get.
8:14
>> So we've got another question here from
8:16
one of our viewers. Does normally see
8:18
football becoming one of the biggest
8:20
sports in Europe in the future?
8:22
And if so, how many years will it take?
8:26
>> I think first of all, you never kick out
8:30
soccer.
8:31
>> I mean I don't think it ever will.
8:32
>> No.
8:33
>> No, not in 100 years.
8:34
>> Irreplaceable as the as the top sport I
8:37
reckon. Yeah.
8:38
>> Yeah, it's like even as like a political
8:40
thing. I don't know. I mean first of all
8:42
you in the UK as well in Germany it's
8:44
like
8:45
it's it's [clears throat] it's
8:46
unbelievable. How how much power they
8:49
have. But I think Ben and if I can take
8:53
a look over here in Germany, you got
8:55
some basketball pro basketball.
8:58
But football have a chance. I mean we we
9:00
we prove it like the last couple of
9:02
years.
9:03
When we start the European thing.
9:06
We had like the the bowl games to the
9:08
end. We have plus 40,000
9:11
in the stands. So we are on a good way.
9:14
But here and there you know that
9:16
that sucks a little bit.
9:17
Football always find a way to destroy
9:20
himself after a couple of years and then
9:22
it's a rebuild.
9:23
>> Yeah.
9:24
>> But I think we learned our lesson and
9:26
and and when we do we have the right
9:28
people on board right now.
9:30
And and there's a vision of 10 years and
9:33
I think in 10 years we have a chance
9:35
maybe to
9:37
not be number two, but maybe number
9:38
three sport
9:40
in Europe, we have a chance.
9:42
>> Yeah. I think that's that's that's
9:44
reasonable.
9:45
I just want to piggyback on that as
9:47
well, actually. Um
9:48
so, in terms of you said previously
9:51
well, in Germany you have like ball
9:52
games where you have maybe 30,000,
9:53
40,000 attending. And obviously
9:55
previously when you played basketball,
9:57
you had some high numbers as well.
9:59
What do you think Europe needs, aside
10:01
from Germany, what do you think the rest
10:03
of Europe needs to catch up with those
10:04
numbers? Because we see a lot of the
10:06
time
10:07
other teams
10:09
whether it's their domestic league or
10:10
other teams playing in Europe, where you
10:13
know, the German teams
10:15
pull good numbers. The Austrian teams
10:17
tend to be fairly okay, not too far
10:19
behind, but the rest of the leagues, the
10:21
rest of the countries
10:23
sometimes you'll go to a game and
10:24
there'll be a few hundred people in the
10:25
stands if you're lucky. So,
10:28
in terms of pulling numbers, what do
10:30
other countries and other federations
10:32
need to do essentially to get bums on
10:34
seats?
10:36
>> First of all, do some something really
10:38
crazy, talk to each other and get
10:41
connect.
10:43
You know, it's it's kind of
10:45
there's still, even like in Europe,
10:47
football-wise, talking about different
10:49
federations, different leagues, what
10:52
they all forget it's my point of view is
10:56
it's about the sport.
10:57
And first of all, no player is, you
11:00
know, belongs to a club. You have your
11:03
free choice where you want to go, for
11:06
which club you want to play.
11:08
And and and and my perspective, they
11:10
working too much against each other.
11:13
They talking all like, "Yeah, yeah,
11:14
yeah, we have to do la la la la." But to
11:16
the end of the day, if somebody turn off
11:18
the lights, they doing their own stuff.
11:21
And this is something what we trying to
11:22
create right now, at least with our
11:24
friend. So, we know
11:26
that not so many guys right now watching
11:29
in Italy or in the UK. But the good
11:31
thing is we we sit in our one table, we
11:34
bring in everybody together, said,
11:36
"Okay, what we can can we do
11:38
combine
11:40
to make sure that we have a positive
11:42
process in these kind of things. So, I
11:44
think communication is a big part. And
11:47
you really
11:49
you really need to to to to want it, so
11:52
to say, and not like to talk about it.
11:55
>> Yeah. Yeah, I think that's it's it's
11:57
something we're definitely seeing in the
11:59
the British leagues. We've got, you
12:00
know, a few very
12:03
very good teams who are doing it right,
12:05
and then we've got some teams who are
12:07
just not not communicating with those
12:09
teams who are doing it right and it's
12:12
and you can see the the massive
12:13
difference between between those clubs.
12:16
Obviously, in the UK, we've got Bristol
12:18
Aztecs and the Manchester Titans who are
12:21
you know, by far not only the best team
12:23
on the field, but, you know, sorting the
12:25
the you know, getting the crowns in and
12:27
the attention. They're doing everything
12:29
right on on social medias and and on the
12:31
>> on the field as well.
12:32
>> Yeah, on and off the field, they're just
12:34
fantastic and and you know,
12:36
other teams need to start replicating
12:38
that to get that sort of success. Yes,
12:40
you know,
12:41
>> Yeah, and I I think, you know, like
12:44
it's just like putting your own ego in
12:45
your back pocket.
12:47
>> Yes.
12:47
>> If I if I look at my stance and 10
12:49
people are there and I'm looking at your
12:51
stance, for example, you are like 2,000.
12:54
Why I can ask?
12:56
Said, why I can't say, "Hey,
12:57
can you share your secret with or
13:00
whatever or because to the end of the
13:02
day, if I have 2,000 as well, it's good
13:05
for the sports. Good for for every team
13:08
and so and and same with coaching, you
13:11
know, I I grew up I had
13:13
big opportunities to work with great
13:15
coaches together
13:16
and I learned a lot and then I invested
13:18
a lot of time in it.
13:20
But the main points were always like
13:22
sharing.
13:23
>> Mhm.
13:24
>> You know, and and and sometimes in in
13:26
different leagues or they they keep
13:29
their things together and and I always
13:31
said, "Hey, look,
13:33
there's a slant arrow combination. It's
13:35
it's the simplest thing and and you're
13:37
it is nothing new.
13:39
It's not from me. It's not from
13:41
somebody.
13:42
And if I see a great play and you can
13:44
can coach the play, it's great. But
13:47
why not sharing knowledge? It's so easy
13:50
because to the end of the day it's good
13:52
for us. It's the same with your show,
13:54
you know, like
13:55
I'm I'm a big supporter. I If you talk
13:58
about different leagues in Europe or in
13:59
the UK, but you are
14:02
you know, you show the game, you spread
14:04
the game
14:07
to the world and this is like so great
14:09
for me because it's great for the game
14:11
to the end of the day.
14:14
>> I think what you see as well is quite a
14:15
lot of tribalism in the domestic league.
14:18
Definitely in in Britball, you have
14:20
quite a bit of tribalism within local
14:22
rivals and they say, "Why would we want
14:23
to cooperate with
14:25
you know, those guys? They're our
14:26
biggest rivals. We love playing against
14:28
them." Which is which is great, you
14:30
know, for those games. It's great for
14:31
them. But when it comes to growing
14:34
the overall talent around the area,
14:37
sometimes these teams are in a better
14:39
position by share a one, sharing more
14:41
film, collaborating with each other,
14:43
two, potentially if one team becomes a
14:44
feeder team to the other team. You know,
14:46
all of these things are potentials that
14:49
you can ask yourself. But I definitely
14:51
think there's a lot of tribalism and a
14:53
lot of that happening in our sport and
14:56
that's one of the things that are
14:57
holding us back as well.
15:00
>> Yeah, for for for for 100% and and this
15:03
wife for example in our league,
15:05
you know, we put some things on top of
15:08
everything and one thing was like, "Hey,
15:10
bring all the teams together." Said,
15:13
"From Monday to Friday we're working
15:15
together."
15:17
And we try to to work together in all
15:19
our phases of of everything.
15:20
Organization,
15:22
you know, social media and stuff like
15:24
this. Oh, I'm sorry.
15:28
>> [snorts]
15:29
>> I'm back. Oh, sorry. Somebody called me.
15:34
Oh, [ __ ] He's calling. You know who's
15:36
calling me? Jim Thompson.
15:38
>> [laughter]
15:38
>> Really?
15:40
Oh, bring him on. Bring him on.
15:42
Tell him to come along.
15:44
>> And
15:45
so I said, "From Monday to Friday we're
15:48
working together. On the weekend hey, we
15:51
need to fight each other on the field."
15:53
You know, this is something I I I truly
15:55
believe. On the weekend, as you said,
15:57
especially rival games, one city, you
16:00
need to to bring the heat up. But inside
16:03
of the week, organization-wise or
16:05
league-wise, whatever, try to do
16:07
whatever is necessary to to come
16:10
together and and and and
16:12
spread everything what what is good for
16:15
the football and even like for the
16:16
leagues. Because this is something I
16:18
think it's very important.
16:20
Nobody can
16:22
can't forget that to the end of the day
16:24
two teams want to win on the weekend.
16:27
But during the week let's let's make
16:28
sure that we're working together.
16:29
>> Yeah. I mean that's that's that's
16:31
amazing. Um in regards to um, you know,
16:34
sort of difficulties that, you know,
16:36
most domestic clubs are facing, what
16:37
what sort of
16:39
issues and hurdles are you facing as the
16:41
commissioner of the of the league?
16:45
>> Uh obviously the time frame was time
16:47
frame was very critical for us because,
16:50
you know, the whole situation the
16:51
off-season was just a pain in the ass. I
16:54
mean, there was right, left, up, down,
16:57
and then we came to a point that, "Hey,
16:59
we need to start it right now because
17:01
other than that
17:02
um makes no sense." So, in in this case
17:05
two or three teams they just have a
17:06
couple of weeks to put a team together,
17:09
get the organization right, and and we
17:11
we know it from the get-go.
17:13
This is something through our year we
17:15
always said like, "The second year will
17:17
be our first year.
17:19
So, uh and these are the kind of
17:21
problems we we face and through the
17:23
season, you know, it's more like on the
17:24
organization part.
17:26
Um what kind of players we going to
17:28
bring in, what kind of mistakes
17:30
different franchises did, how can we
17:32
help?
17:33
Uh and so on. This case, I think
17:36
this was or still is the the the biggest
17:39
thing we have to take care on to get the
17:41
organizations
17:43
in the right way for the second year.
17:46
>> I think that's one of the biggest things
17:47
as well that a lot of people have been
17:49
talking about.
17:50
Cuz some people have had concerns about
17:52
sort of the
17:54
disparity of talent, you could say, you
17:56
know, and some of the more established
17:57
teams being a lot more
17:59
talented than the newcomers. And I think
18:02
what you said there perfectly
18:03
encapsulates and perfectly explains sort
18:05
of the situation that some of these
18:07
teams have been in, where it's
18:08
essentially you're scrambling at this
18:09
moment to get everything together.
18:12
But how to judge these teams is
18:15
essentially judge them on how we are
18:17
next year rather than how we were this
18:19
year
18:20
because next year we would have had a
18:21
whole off season, a whole winter, a
18:23
whole year's worth of
18:25
film, experience, understanding on how
18:27
things work. You've got the off season
18:29
work with the community and everything
18:31
and sign the players you need to sign,
18:33
and next year come back stronger.
18:35
So, that's essentially what you're
18:36
saying to me?
18:38
>> And this is the
18:40
you hit it right.
18:41
Because like I said, the time frame was
18:43
critical and and we knew it.
18:46
Um couple of other things what came up,
18:49
it's typical I you know, I start I was
18:52
part of a league who start 5 years ago.
18:54
I know how it was in the first year. And
18:57
still we had some some some teams. Look
19:00
at Barcelona for example, the first year
19:02
that
19:03
was horrible. Second year, they ended up
19:06
being in a half final.
19:08
>> Yeah, they were amazing that year.
19:09
>> they blow up, you know, like crazy. They
19:11
then, but like I said, and then the the
19:14
first year teams, obviously, they had
19:16
all a kind of not the same, but
19:19
kind of similar
19:21
situation and problems. And we solve
19:24
them as a league, and this is part of my
19:26
job, you know, talking to everybody and
19:28
and make sure that we all
19:30
do not forget to to
19:32
work in to our second year, what will be
19:35
our first year.
19:38
>> Mhm.
19:39
>> I think it would be worse just one
19:41
thing. It would be worse if we sit in
19:43
here next year in our second year
19:46
and we still have the same problems.
19:47
Then I would say I should I messed it
19:49
up. Um but um as long as I can remember
19:53
I had in the past
19:55
we we we worked in a in a good flow, so
19:57
to say, and and I'm pretty confident
19:59
that we are
20:01
much in a much better situation um we
20:03
going to.
20:05
>> Progress is the plan.
20:07
>> Yeah.
20:08
>> Perfect.
20:10
Just to piggyback on that one. Um
20:12
in terms of sort of new teams having
20:14
struggles and stuff,
20:15
do you think there's an advantage for
20:17
some new teams who come into the league
20:19
who already previously existed, such as,
20:21
for example, when Vienna Vikings came to
20:23
Europe? They already existed in the AFL.
20:28
Uh whereas, for example,
20:30
the Paris Lights, for example, didn't
20:33
exist.
20:34
Do you think there's an advantage in the
20:35
sense that they already have the set up
20:37
and everything and there's less work to
20:39
do?
20:41
>> Yes, definitely. Um because it's it's
20:44
easy. Yes, you you have the whole
20:46
structure, you have everything, and then
20:48
and you imagine Vienna Vikings.
20:51
[ __ ] they they they been a part of
20:54
powerhouse football in Europe for the
20:55
last 10-15 years. They built something,
20:58
you know, that it's it's very tough to
21:01
find a second time in in Europe.
21:03
Um so,
21:04
definitely for these kind of teams, it's
21:07
it's much easier as to bring something
21:10
totally new. And I was part of in 2021
21:13
when we when we built that other league.
21:15
I was part of the team in Hamburg. It
21:18
was brand new, too, but we just had the
21:23
a great situation that me and
21:26
close friend of mine, who's right now
21:27
the head coach of the Munich Ravens,
21:30
Kendral Ellison,
21:32
we both put together team Hamburg and we
21:34
are well known in that area and you
21:36
know, we got all the the players behind
21:38
us and everybody was waiting to get
21:40
something together in Hamburg.
21:42
Uh so, that was a little bit easier.
21:44
But in other franchises who are starting
21:46
everything brand new,
21:48
man, there's a lot of things you have to
21:50
take care of and then so, it's totally
21:53
different as you have a running team
21:56
for for a couple of years.
21:59
>> Another question here from from one of
22:01
our guys.
22:02
Are we
22:03
are we getting another British team in
22:05
the AFL-E?
22:07
>> I love this question.
22:07
>> know.
22:09
>> [laughter]
22:09
>> You don't know. You do know. You're the
22:10
commissioner. You know everything.
22:13
>> No, it's it's not planned in the next
22:15
year.
22:16
>> Okay. So, there's nothing planned for
22:17
>> we are more than lucky. We are more than
22:19
lucky with the Warriors and and the
22:21
organization.
22:23
So, and then and when I learned
22:24
something in the past, do not move move
22:26
forward too fast.
22:28
And just, you know, we we have to
22:31
get in tighter and and better right now
22:34
concentrating this as there's no
22:37
no plan so far.
22:39
>> Yeah. I mean, it it it certainly raised
22:41
the eyebrows
22:42
of a lot of the teams in in
22:44
British American Football, you know,
22:46
when they announced that they were going
22:47
to go to Europe. Um
22:50
And I think it was it was all eyes on
22:52
Warriors this year to see how they do to
22:55
you know, cuz there is obviously the the
22:57
top teams who are
22:59
head and shoulders
23:00
above the rest. Um and you know, there's
23:02
there's speculations on
23:05
you know, our teams going to make that
23:06
leap to Europe as well.
23:08
So yeah, it'll be interesting to see.
23:10
Obviously you know a lot more about this
23:11
and what we do. We can only
23:14
wait and see what what the future
23:15
brings.
23:17
>> I personally think it's reassuring to
23:19
see that the Warriors have done well in
23:21
their first season so far. You know,
23:23
especially given how it wasn't going
23:25
particularly smoothly at the start and
23:27
they've got their marbles together.
23:28
They've got everything in line and
23:30
things are going well for them. So I
23:31
think it definitely
23:33
that's partly
23:35
probably what I think has fueled some of
23:37
the
23:38
the hope and some of the talk and stuff
23:39
for people to say, "Do you know what? We
23:41
should probably send some other teams
23:43
there. Other other guys have the
23:44
potential to go there." I think that's
23:45
where the belief is because
23:47
the Warriors have gone and done all
23:49
right, but as you said, you know, steady
23:51
growth is the most important thing. You
23:53
know, in the past
23:55
previous leagues expanded very fast to
23:57
places that we didn't expect to see
23:59
coming and things have happened that
24:01
haven't been
24:02
the greatest. So
24:05
can we expect any expansion next year
24:07
from any countries or any
24:09
cities?
24:11
>> I would lie if I would say no.
24:14
But I can't tell you in which country
24:17
>> [laughter]
24:19
>> or which city.
24:21
>> Oh, okay.
24:22
I like your answers, Nomi. I like your
24:24
answers.
24:25
>> [laughter]
24:25
>> Card's very close to his chest.
24:29
All right. Should we should we crack on
24:31
with looking at some of the results from
24:33
the weekend just gone and Nomi you can
24:35
come in and jump in and tell us what you
24:37
think of the scores. So Kwame, you want
24:38
to take it away?
24:39
>> Let's get it started. Amazing. So the
24:42
Paris Lights headed over to Frenzy
24:46
trying to stop the rot from their
24:47
previous results and they managed to get
24:49
a win against the 019 Frenzy Red Lions.
24:52
So
24:55
45 to 26 was a pretty big win. looked
24:57
pretty comfortable. I mean, the Firenze
24:59
Red Lions have a new quarterback in
25:01
their system under center,
25:03
Ace in Salem, and he did phenomenal
25:06
compared to last week. In fact, we'll
25:07
start with the Paris Lights. Evan
25:09
Héluque, 18 for 22, 322 passing yards,
25:12
four touchdowns, one interception.
25:14
Seems pretty good, all right?
25:17
But, Salem went 25 for 46, 292 passing
25:20
yards, three touchdowns, and an
25:21
interception. Also added 117 rushing
25:23
yards and a touchdown. I just wanted to
25:25
add a little note for Firenze because
25:29
the yards that they got
25:31
this weekend,
25:33
409 for the quarterback,
25:36
12 for everyone else.
25:39
>> Wow.
25:39
>> Insane domination. And by the way, last
25:42
week they got 45 yards on offense with
25:44
the previous quarterback. So, I just
25:45
want to say how much they've turned it
25:46
around. I just wanted to shout that out.
25:48
But, uh, first win in five for Paris
25:50
Lights, and uh, things are looking a
25:52
little bit on the up for them, would you
25:53
say?
25:55
>> Yes, I think they stabilize a little
25:57
bit. So, they they they they they you
26:00
know, they they they had their
26:02
they both teams have their nightmares
26:04
with injuries and and and, you know,
26:07
quarterback changes and other kind of
26:09
stuff. But, I think Paris,
26:12
when I was down there with the
26:13
facilities where that what they have and
26:16
and and then they had the problem with
26:17
the head coach as well. So, they changed
26:19
the head coach and always in the middle
26:21
of the season. That's a tough one
26:23
because when you have guy one guy who's
26:25
leading something, the same with
26:26
Firenze. So, but I think the talent what
26:30
Paris have,
26:32
they they they can be a surprise for for
26:34
the for the upcoming future.
26:39
>> Yeah.
26:40
Yeah, I did um think that Paris had the
26:42
talent as well around the field to sort
26:44
of get the job done. You know, Firenze,
26:46
you know, we've seen some of the
26:47
struggles they've had
26:49
with their skill players, but obviously
26:51
the quarterback's come in and putting a
26:53
massive shift, you know, but
26:55
I did think before the weekend that the
26:58
skill players of Paris Lights would be
26:59
the difference and I'm Mansour Ouro with
27:02
two touchdowns on 94 yards really did
27:05
make the difference in the score to be
27:06
fair and that one there just shows the
27:09
Lights I think are comfortably still
27:11
stronger than Firenze even though
27:13
they've been in freefall.
27:15
But again, two teams that will have a
27:17
lot of work to do in the off-season and
27:19
hopefully next season will be able to
27:20
compete a lot more because I don't think
27:22
this season has gone the way that either
27:24
of them would have intended.
27:26
>> Yeah, Tron, you know, both teams it's
27:28
kind of of kind of not funny or crazy to
27:31
me is like when you see the attitude.
27:34
If they score in the beginning, you see
27:37
they, you know, they acting like hey, we
27:39
we can put something together.
27:41
But once they they somebody scored on
27:44
them
27:45
two or three times, then you see the
27:48
uh
27:49
the the the
27:50
how you call kind of say it because
27:52
they're brand new teams experience of
27:54
losing or running behind the score is
27:58
different because both teams are brand
28:00
new and I saw for example, Paris I saw
28:03
them they they played against the
28:04
Wroclaw Panther, great team.
28:07
And they scored the first two touchdowns
28:09
and you saw the whole sideline was like
28:11
exciting. They had a great halftime.
28:14
So after the halftime, the first play
28:16
was a pick-six against them
28:18
and then you saw like the the the
28:21
sideline, they totally, you know, lost
28:23
the confidence and and then they they
28:26
they they lost the game to the end and
28:28
it's kind of the same on both sides and
28:30
I think it's just the output of brand
28:32
new team, they need to come together,
28:34
work and and I always said, if you want
28:38
to have success, you need to to handle
28:40
losing games
28:42
and and then work in to the future. So I
28:45
I both way both teams have the same kind
28:47
of
28:49
uh um
28:50
attitude, so to say. But Paris, I think
28:53
they have a little bit more more the
28:55
athletic guys on their side.
28:58
>> I think it's a case of, you know, learn
28:59
to lose a game without losing your head,
29:01
and you need some experienced players,
29:03
and
29:04
like you said, learning how to not lose
29:07
yourself. You know, it takes time, and
29:09
it takes leaders in the team, and you've
29:11
seen guys in the Wroclaw Panthers locker
29:15
room, they have leaders in the team
29:16
because if they're going down
29:18
two scores down at halftime, and they're
29:20
able to keep their
29:21
keep their heads together, and go, "You
29:23
know, right, let's focus."
29:24
>> and then they had they had the team
29:26
before.
29:27
Yeah, they had the team before. You saw
29:29
that, you know, like the guys coming
29:31
together. Obviously, in the halftime,
29:33
they said, "Hey, we need to suck it up
29:34
and and and go."
29:36
And and and this is something we can, I
29:38
think, expect definitely in the future,
29:41
or even like in the second year for
29:43
these teams.
29:45
>> Definitely. Right.
29:46
Shall we get to the next game?
29:48
>> Let's do the next game.
29:51
>> Our next game features the Alpine Rams
29:55
heading over to Duisburg to face the
29:57
Rhein Fire, and boy, did they get fired,
29:59
because 59 to 6 was the final score. And
30:03
one thing that really surprised me in
30:05
this game, guys, you're not going to
30:06
believe this, but the Alpine Rams had
30:10
over 30 minutes of possession.
30:13
That's the one stat of everything that
30:15
stood out to me is that
30:17
the possession was insane. It was an
30:19
even game with possession. You know,
30:20
they had the ball, they had drives down
30:23
the field. You know, they didn't have a
30:24
lot of yards. Seth Morgan, 12 of 29, 97
30:27
yards,
30:28
no picks. They had three fumbles, 103
30:32
rushing yards.
30:33
You know, but
30:37
Kenji Bahar, 10 for 50, 10 for 15, 254
30:40
yards, which was more and three
30:43
touchdowns, but
30:44
it didn't seem like
30:48
they had nothing going for them. It just
30:49
seemed like they had the possession,
30:51
they had the ball, but didn't really
30:52
gain anything with it, you know?
30:54
>> They're not finishing the game off.
30:55
They're not They're They're kind of
30:57
sustaining a drive, they're not really
30:58
finishing it with the with some points
31:00
on the board.
31:01
>> Yeah, and the three fumbles came in the
31:03
fourth quarter as well. So, it's not
31:05
like they were driving the field and
31:06
doing amazing and then
31:08
losing the ball and then the other team
31:09
would go down the field and score. It
31:11
was It was crazy. It It was an
31:12
interesting one.
31:14
>> Yeah.
31:15
Yeah, true. And then and then right now
31:16
I remind myself I'm not talking as a
31:18
commissioner as more like a football
31:20
coach on that because
31:22
it's the same I think to the middle of
31:24
the first quarter was like an even game.
31:26
They moved the ball back and forth a
31:28
little bit la la la la.
31:30
But then out of nothing, I think to the
31:32
end of the first and then, you know,
31:36
the [ __ ] starts to hit the fan and then
31:38
and then like you said it
31:40
once the fire was rolling, it was like
31:45
you know, one at one side everything
31:48
worked out in a in a perfect situation.
31:50
They had some trick plays, you know, I
31:51
think the the offensive tackle scored
31:53
and then other kind of stuff.
31:55
And on the other hand was more like
31:58
you saw on the on the faces, "Oh, [ __ ]
32:00
this is not our night here." And then
32:02
and and obviously they
32:04
they made a business decision to to
32:05
check out before the the clock was
32:08
>> Yeah.
32:10
>> But again, like even like the Rams, they
32:12
have so much
32:15
talent in their team. So, if you see
32:18
them how they look like and they they
32:20
looking like a true football game and
32:22
and
32:23
they showed it here and there that they
32:24
can play ball. I think only in this in
32:27
this game was like at one side was
32:29
everything perfect, home game, big
32:31
crowd, you know,
32:33
and they just start to rolling and
32:34
rolling and on the other side
32:37
they just forced it here and there and
32:39
then they figured out no chance today.
32:42
>> Yeah.
32:43
It's an interesting one with the Alpine
32:44
Rams because before the season
32:47
began, I think everyone had them pinned
32:49
down as the most
32:51
as the strongest of the new guys, you
32:53
know, between Paris, Firenze, even the
32:55
London Warriors. People saying they're
32:57
stronger. Then they beat the Warriors,
32:59
they had a tight game against the Lights
33:00
and then, you know, since then, since
33:02
the Warriors game
33:04
everything's been going slowly downhill,
33:06
it seems like, you know, they've
33:07
they've signed a lot of players,
33:08
released a lot of players.
33:10
But to go seven games losing in a row is
33:13
a big, big question mark. Alarm bells
33:15
are ringing for some people, for I guess
33:17
fans, players, you know, people involved
33:19
or people watching. And the biggest
33:21
question for a lot of people is
33:25
is it essentially the Guards and the
33:26
Mercs in disguise?
33:30
>> This is a true question.
33:33
>> [laughter]
33:34
>> Um
33:35
yeah, we have to see. I mean, like like
33:37
you said,
33:38
0-7 in a row, it's it's a tough one.
33:42
And all the player rotation over there
33:43
is not easy, like out of different kind
33:46
of reasons.
33:47
And and and this is something we
33:49
definitely, you know, and this is what I
33:51
meant, we going to sit together with
33:53
every team on one table, in one room and
33:55
then we figured out what we can do, how
33:58
we can do it to make sure this
34:00
is that we we have like an an upswing
34:04
so to say
34:05
uh
34:06
for the future.
34:09
>> [clears throat]
34:09
>> I think one of the key things as well in
34:11
terms of a team unit, being someone who
34:14
has played for multiple teams, is that
34:16
you need guys who have been around the
34:17
system for a long time, you know. Vienna
34:20
has it, uh Wroclaw has it. London
34:23
Warriors have it. They have guys who
34:25
have been around the team. Granted,
34:27
you're going to have it as an advantage
34:28
if you've existed in the past before
34:30
joining the European League, you know,
34:32
even Ryan Farrelly didn't have that
34:33
advantage.
34:35
But, it definitely helps with the team
34:37
cohesion to keep players around because
34:39
you have a system that already exists,
34:40
an ethos, and players buy into it, you
34:43
know. So, when players go to I've spoken
34:46
to guys who played for the London
34:48
Warriors, played against them as well
34:49
multiple times, and
34:51
guys who have played against them and
34:52
guys who played for them know that they
34:54
have a way, you know, they have the
34:55
Warriors way.
34:56
They have a certain way of doing things,
34:58
and when you join them, you buy into
35:00
their culture. It's the same with I
35:02
imagine a lot of other teams around the
35:04
country.
35:06
And I fear for teams that come up
35:10
without any previous sort of connection
35:13
to other teams because it's sort of like
35:15
where does this come from? It has to be
35:16
all built. Now, the opportunity with it
35:19
is if you have an area where there's a
35:22
lot of rivalries, like for example, the
35:23
London Warriors have had rivalries in
35:25
London,
35:27
some people if you have a new team that
35:28
pops up, then people will say, "Well,
35:30
okay, it's not the Warriors cuz I played
35:32
for their rivals or I support their
35:33
rivals, so I'm going to support these
35:35
guys."
35:36
So, you have that potential with the
35:37
Rams where people may be in Switzerland,
35:39
it's a new team, so it's not a rival of
35:42
the team they support in their league or
35:43
whatever.
35:44
People can come together, but
35:47
that connection hasn't been established
35:49
yet in my eyes because it's such a new
35:50
team.
35:51
You don't have those leaders and those
35:53
figures to look up to and those
35:54
characters, and that takes not only
35:57
time, but I think it also takes a few
35:59
wins as well, but also people to stick
36:01
together when times are tough, so
36:04
The more we
36:05
play,
36:06
>> I think
36:06
>> Winning helps definitely in any and any
36:09
uh
36:10
any direction and any situation. And um
36:15
yeah, but I think that the the guys who
36:17
run the team, they they figured out what
36:19
went wrong and why,
36:21
and they they need to fix it, and then
36:23
we all need to fix
36:24
uh some things, so then and then the
36:27
most important thing is do not have a
36:28
second year like this.
36:30
>> Yeah, that's it.
36:32
Learn from what you've done and build
36:34
from there.
36:37
And that takes us on
36:39
to the third of three games, the one
36:41
that a lot of people have been waiting
36:43
for, the interesting one
36:45
for some [laughter] of you. Now, the
36:47
London Warriors went to Berlin for the
36:49
first time, faced the Berlin Thunder,
36:51
and came away with a 40 to 29 win. It
36:53
was a big win for the London Warriors
36:55
who are now on a four-game win streak,
36:58
the first expansion team to beat an
36:59
established team, which I mentioned
37:01
previously. And fun fact for some of you
37:03
guys,
37:04
five wins for the London Warriors, all
37:06
five of them are in five different
37:07
countries. They've had one win in
37:09
London,
37:11
one in Paris,
37:13
one in Germany,
37:15
one in Italy,
37:18
and where was the other one? I've
37:18
forgotten.
37:19
>> Switzerland.
37:22
>> [laughter]
37:23
>> Five wins five different countries, so
37:25
the London Warriors
37:26
might It might be the first team to do
37:28
it, I'm not sure, but
37:30
I find that incredibly interesting. I
37:32
just wanted to put that out there.
37:33
Any thoughts on the game, guys?
37:36
>> And isn't that
37:38
this is what we talked at the beginning
37:39
beginning of a couple of months ago when
37:42
somebody told you, "Hey, there will be a
37:44
team from London who kicked, you know,
37:46
other teams from four five different
37:49
countries in Europe
37:51
in American football."
37:53
Nobody would say, "Yes, of course." They
37:55
say, "Yeah, you are out of your mind."
37:56
And right now,
37:58
as you say it, I think for me it was
38:01
like, "Shit, that is a story, man." Like
38:03
four five countries, you kicking some
38:06
some guys on the football field. And
38:09
this is this is why we doing it, you
38:11
know, even like I was so happy with the
38:13
Alan family,
38:15
um who we know for for for many many
38:18
years.
38:20
It's just great, and I was actually I
38:22
was at that game and and and the way
38:24
they they played again and Berlin they
38:26
have a good football team. I mean, they
38:29
they have some some great skilled guys,
38:32
passing game.
38:33
>> with Rhein Fire this season, so they're
38:35
they're no mean feat.
38:36
>> Yeah, and and and this was the perfect
38:39
example what we said before.
38:41
They start very strong, but then the
38:44
London guys should they manhandle the
38:46
line of scrimmage, so to say. With the
38:48
two running backs who looking like two
38:51
two two trunks, you know, like two
38:54
two tanks. They're running through the A
38:56
gap like crazy and the poor little
38:58
linebacker, I thought he was more like
39:00
he had a couple of
39:01
uh car accidents, so to say, in that
39:04
game. And and they just manhandled the
39:07
line of scrimmage and and and took care
39:09
uh took care of business. Was a great
39:11
game. Was great to watch and and so I'm
39:14
more than happy for for the Warriors.
39:17
>> You know, emphasis on manhandling the
39:20
line of scrimmage because in that first
39:22
half, the Berlin Thunder had two rushing
39:24
yards
39:25
the entire first half. They managed 75
39:28
in total for the game, but goodness me,
39:30
what a difference, you know.
39:32
In comparison, the entire game 320
39:36
rushing yards for the London Warriors
39:37
and 187 of those, plus two touchdowns,
39:41
came from Andy Owusu. What a game he
39:43
had.
39:45
>> It's like and I saw him, it looks like
39:48
a grown man run through a kindergarten.
39:51
Kind of
39:52
like [laughter]
39:53
he was he he looked like a defensive
39:55
tackle, you know, with the ball in his
39:57
hand and he ran over everybody who was
40:00
in front of him. And don't get me wrong,
40:03
the Berlin defense they are they are
40:05
they they had some guys over there as
40:07
well, but this day
40:09
everything if they put the ball in his
40:11
hand, he was like he
40:13
rolling.
40:15
>> Yeah. I've had the displeasure of trying
40:17
to tackle him before and I promise you
40:19
it's not easy. It's not an easy
40:20
>> [laughter]
40:22
>> And last week last week I found out that
40:24
man is 3 months younger than me. I
40:25
thought he was older.
40:26
>> The side
40:27
>> Like it's insane, like These guys
40:31
just animals, you know, but
40:32
>> it hurts me when when the Berlin guys
40:36
when he they when they tackled him it it
40:38
it hurts me, you know, because he was
40:40
like like oh [ __ ] they tried again and
40:43
then What kind of an
40:45
>> Yeah.
40:46
>> Yeah, absolutely. I mean the Warriors
40:49
were obviously, you know, they they they
40:50
come from the the British
40:52
American Football Association. They they
40:54
were dominant for a number of years.
40:56
Um didn't quite get the the championship
40:58
last year, but um you know, they they've
41:01
historically been at the dominant team
41:03
with with all the dominant players.
41:05
Um so you know, to see their success
41:09
uh coming to Europe, you know, is is is
41:11
good to see for for the sport, good to
41:13
see for the UK.
41:15
Um and you know, hopefully you know, we
41:17
can we can expand the the European
41:20
league and and make that stronger as
41:21
well with with more British teams.
41:24
>> Yeah, you know what? You you you never
41:26
say no and and even like with the
41:27
Warriors, what nobody really
41:30
I think checked it out, they're not
41:32
playing with the full set of imports
41:34
they're allowed to.
41:36
>> Mhm.
41:37
>> This is like you know
41:39
>> it at the start of the season,
41:39
definitely.
41:40
>> And and [clears throat]
41:41
and if you figured out just in case they
41:43
they they put some like I don't know,
41:45
seven eight other guys on the field
41:48
like, you know, or on the roster.
41:51
>> It's about to get interesting.
41:53
>> It's got and I and I really like the way
41:56
playing with the we call it the home
41:58
grown guys, you know, because this
42:00
league I I'm I'm truly believe it belong
42:03
belongs to the home grown guy. Don't get
42:05
me wrong, you know, you know, the US
42:07
guys or the other guys from from all
42:10
over the planet.
42:11
But,
42:13
I truly believe that even in London with
42:16
the Warriors, if you have
42:18
some homegrown guys on your poster, they
42:21
are the stars of your team,
42:24
the connection to the fans is always
42:26
bigger as if you have every year
42:29
different person. For example, import
42:31
quarterback or whatever.
42:32
And so, in in
42:34
in this case, I think they have so much
42:37
potential highly potential guys.
42:39
And I like the way they going to play
42:42
and they going to show and and and they
42:44
act with a great attitude. From the
42:46
beginning on, they said, "Hey, we not
42:48
coming just to be in here. We are coming
42:50
to compete."
42:52
And without knowing, you know,
42:54
what's waiting for them.
42:56
But, so it's a great team, great
42:58
coaching staff around, great community.
43:01
So, we are more than happy to have them
43:03
on board.
43:05
>> Yeah. Your point about home runs as well
43:07
is spot on, you know,
43:08
having
43:10
local home runs on like advertising
43:11
boards, for example, people know, "Oh,
43:13
that's our guy that's been playing for
43:14
the Warriors for 10 years, 15 years, or
43:17
whoever, you know."
43:18
And I do think that, and I've said this
43:19
before, I do think that the Warriors
43:21
have some of the strongest imports in
43:22
the league because some of these guys
43:24
were playing
43:26
as imports for other teams and came back
43:28
to play as home runs for the Warriors.
43:30
So, yeah. They They are a lot more
43:32
talented than people give out, you know.
43:35
And personally, I do think the season's
43:37
success success for the Warriors given
43:39
they're in the playoffs. Normally, what
43:41
are your thoughts on the Warriors this
43:43
season?
43:45
>> Oh, they're they're more than good. I
43:47
mean, you just said it, five in a row or
43:49
a four in a row there right now and uh
43:52
the way they they they coming around the
43:54
corner and I think they they going to
43:56
surprise somebody to the end as well.
43:59
Uh it's the same like when they are
44:00
rolling and then and and, you know, even
44:04
I mean, Berlin, they had a chance
44:07
because London they they did some some
44:10
stupid mistakes so to say
44:13
more to the end of the game so Berlin
44:15
got the ball back they had a chance to
44:17
score but then they they they gave it
44:19
away but
44:20
London I think the way they they played
44:23
ball in the last couple of games
44:26
they they came
44:28
into the end of the season the the the
44:30
you know brightest and and and they they
44:32
don't have to hide for anybody.
44:35
>> Yeah.
44:36
>> Yeah Berlin did put up a good they put
44:38
up a good fight to stay in the game and
44:39
keep it entertaining you know uh
44:42
Jacob Sullivan another game two games in
44:44
a row over 300 yards you know two
44:47
touchdowns today in the air one rushing
44:49
touchdown himself which was more than
44:52
Carry Laws who managed 196 passing yards
44:55
two touchdowns but didn't turn the ball
44:56
over and
44:58
again with the Warriors another point to
45:00
make or something to remember is they
45:02
still have to go
45:04
potentially to three more countries to
45:06
play so
45:08
they still have to go to Wroclaw away
45:10
they still have to go to Mallorca for
45:12
their last home game and we think most
45:16
likely that they'll go to Vienna for the
45:18
playoff game so
45:20
there's a potential
45:23
there's a potential to make it
45:26
eight different countries
45:28
which would I'm sure would definitely be
45:30
a record
45:32
if they were if they were to do it.
45:34
>> Yeah.
45:35
>> I mean it's a tough schedule. It's like
45:38
the the the the Panther
45:41
at home and they're they're they're
45:43
physical
45:45
like crazy and and they're on fire.
45:48
If you saw this team coming out of the
45:50
tunnel with that kind of confidence they
45:52
have
45:53
and
45:54
and they have the reason they have a
45:56
reason for
45:57
you you need to to survive these two
45:59
games
46:01
and then to the end of the day if you
46:03
really face in the the
46:05
Vienna,
46:06
it's going to be, you know, the
46:09
it was more the story then for them.
46:11
It's more like save the best for the
46:12
rest, you know, like
46:14
Um so, there there's some
46:17
heavyweights waiting for them in the
46:19
next games.
46:20
>> Fantastic.
46:21
>> Then I think you really figured out how
46:23
how physical you you really are.
46:28
>> Yeah. It'll be a fun ride. And I think
46:30
people are already
46:32
whilst people are already writing off
46:33
the Warriors because of the previous
46:34
result, I do think that the Warriors
46:36
themselves have turned a corner, you
46:38
know, the Vikings are the Vikings, but
46:41
I think they're a different team from
46:43
the previous game. And I do think if
46:45
they play against each other again, it
46:46
should be a much much more of a closer
46:49
game, but
46:50
coming to the
46:51
>> then And don't forget for the Warriors,
46:53
it was so close. They they jumped in
46:56
like, you know, so close before the
46:59
season starts. So,
47:01
um you Right now, if if you said
47:04
the way they they they they played
47:06
already, the way they showing up, hey,
47:09
you can just can take your hat off and
47:11
said I think nobody was expecting
47:14
this kind of of of high level of
47:16
football
47:17
in this short time, so to say, for the
47:20
season.
47:22
>> Definitely.
47:25
And that brings us on to the standings.
47:27
First of all, the Southeast Conference,
47:28
which uh
47:29
is Vienna Vikings leading the way,
47:31
comfortably at top nine and oh, scored
47:33
the most points, conceded the fewest
47:34
points by quite a margin.
47:37
Closely followed, two games behind by
47:39
the Wroclaw Panthers, who themselves
47:40
have also booked them their spot in the
47:42
playoffs. Seven and two is their current
47:44
record.
47:45
They are trailed by the Berlin Thunder
47:47
on four and five, who still have a shot
47:48
at making the playoffs, an outside shot,
47:50
but it's very very tough. They're going
47:52
to need to rely on a few other results
47:54
and a few unexpected results for
47:56
themselves. And
47:58
backing up the table is the Furness Red
47:59
Lions out of playoff contention already
48:02
looking towards next year, but with some
48:04
promising games to go, they might be
48:05
able to sneak a win in there.
48:08
Onto the other division,
48:10
which is the Northwest.
48:12
No change in position after the results
48:14
of the weekend. Ryanfire at the top of
48:16
the division at 7 and 0.
48:18
Closely followed again two games behind
48:19
by the London Warriors at 5 and 4 who
48:21
now have a winning record for the first
48:22
time in Europe. Congratulations to them.
48:26
The Paris Knights are two games behind
48:28
them on three and six and it looks like
48:31
time might be running out for them
48:32
unless a miracle happens.
48:35
However, they are still in playoff
48:36
contention
48:37
unlike the Alpine Rams who are at the
48:40
bottom of the division on the seven game
48:41
losing streak backing up the division on
48:43
one and eight.
48:45
With the fewest points scored, most
48:48
points conceded, and it looks like their
48:50
season, again same as the Furness Red
48:52
Lions, they are looking forward for next
48:54
year.
48:57
The playoff running at the moment
49:00
again looks like the
49:02
Ryanfire against the Rossendale
49:04
Panthers, two previously established
49:05
teams. We've seen them play against each
49:06
other already this season. I believe the
49:08
Ryanfire won earlier.
49:10
The Birmingham Vikings and the London
49:12
Warriors look to be having a rematch of
49:14
their game, which was the last game that
49:16
the Warriors lost.
49:18
So,
49:21
first against
49:23
fourth, second against third overall.
49:27
Any predictions or anything anything
49:29
unexpected or anything you want to talk
49:31
about, guys?
49:34
>> Uh my prediction is we're going to see
49:35
some damn good football.
49:38
>> I think you're absolutely right there.
49:40
>> [laughter]
49:41
>> I think I think
49:42
I mean it's
49:44
>> Best possible to make
49:45
>> Yeah, the Southeast is obviously I mean
49:47
that looks pretty wrapped up. You know,
49:49
with with
49:50
the Panthers and and and the Vikings
49:52
that the Warriors and the and the Paris
49:54
Lights
49:55
still a bit of, you know,
49:58
who's going to finish in that that fight
49:59
for second place and and make the
50:01
playoffs, but um
50:03
yeah, I mean it'd be great to see a
50:05
London team in there.
50:06
Um
50:08
but, you know, anything can happen any
50:10
given Sunday and all that. Um but yeah,
50:12
I I I mean this I mean this looks like,
50:14
you know,
50:15
an extremely competitive playoff
50:18
uh sort of structure.
50:20
Um and
50:21
yeah and it it is going to be one of
50:23
those things any any any one of those
50:25
teams could win the overall uh
50:28
championship. So, yeah, I'm I'm excited
50:30
to see see how this pans out in the
50:32
future.
50:38
>> Right, this brings up us up to the
50:40
predictions for next week. And the there
50:43
will be four games as the last 3 weeks.
50:46
There are no more bye weeks, no more bye
50:47
games. Everyone's in, it's all in three
50:50
games to go. And we start with the
50:51
Firenze Red Lions, currently winless,
50:54
but had a very good showing last week
50:57
with a new quarterback heading over to
50:59
Switzerland to face the Alpine Rams. And
51:01
it looks like everyone but me has gone
51:04
for the Alpine Rams.
51:05
>> [laughter]
51:07
>> Uh still to figure out who's who's tick
51:09
that was. I couldn't see the the letters
51:10
and the sizes and anything.
51:12
But you're free to make any predictions
51:13
you want to make, but um I'll go ahead
51:15
and explain myself first of all. Uh I've
51:17
gone with the Firenze Red Lions purely
51:19
because of uh their new quarterback
51:22
Sailor who just had a phenomenal game
51:23
last week. Um it just looks to me like
51:25
the Alpine Rams
51:28
Uh it seems to me like
51:31
the seven-game losing streak they didn't
51:32
seem to be any closer in the previous
51:34
few games. Now, yes, they had the ball a
51:36
lot against the Fire, but they didn't
51:37
really do much with it. And the Firenze
51:39
Red Lions did seem to put up a good
51:42
fight and have signed a couple new wide
51:43
receivers as well. So, it'd be
51:44
interesting to give that new quarterback
51:46
some weapons, so I've gone with the
51:48
shock
51:49
um
51:50
for the Red Lions cuz I feel like if
51:51
they are going to get a win this season,
51:53
it's going to have to come against these
51:55
guys. I said the same thing last week,
51:57
but I thought the Lights the Lights were
51:58
a little bit stronger.
52:01
The The Rams might be in slightly more
52:03
of a free fall than Lights, and I've
52:04
gone with the
52:06
I've gone with the shock cuz it's the
52:07
only opportunity for me that Frank will
52:09
get a win. So, uh hopefully Frank will
52:11
get a win here.
52:13
>> Yeah.
52:14
>> No major any predictions at all in this
52:16
game or
52:17
>> No, you know my my my position, I would
52:21
say the same like we're going to see
52:24
some
52:25
some good football.
52:27
>> [laughter]
52:29
>> We're going to see a good football game
52:30
and we're going to have we're going to
52:31
have some good football.
52:32
>> Yeah, that's great.
52:34
I mean, the the one that stands out to
52:36
me is is going to be the the Paris
52:37
Lights uh London Warriors game for me
52:40
out of all four four of these games.
52:42
Um
52:43
for the simple fact is that, you know,
52:44
the the Warriors win and you're in. You
52:47
know, they they they win this game,
52:48
they're in the playoffs. There is
52:50
there's that's it, you know, the the the
52:52
playoffs
52:53
uh would be
52:55
confirmed and and that would be the the
52:57
standings.
52:58
If, however, the Paris Lights win, then,
53:00
you know, we we continue that playoff
53:02
battle into into the last week of the
53:04
season
53:05
uh or last few weeks of the season. But,
53:07
um yeah, this is it. This is it for the
53:09
Warriors. So, let's uh
53:11
I think that's going to be the the game
53:12
of the week to to watch, I think, in
53:13
this one.
53:15
>> I looked at the fixture list, and it's
53:17
either the Lights or the Thunder.
53:20
They have the exact same schedule as the
53:22
Warriors coming up.
53:24
I think it was Thunder.
53:27
But,
53:28
one of them had a really similar
53:30
schedule, and I was looking at that like
53:31
that could get really interesting. Same
53:33
teams against the same teams for the
53:35
playoff race.
53:37
But, yeah, we've all gone for the
53:39
Warriors. So, I I there's a I think
53:41
there's some degree of home bias in
53:42
there, but also the fact that the
53:43
Warriors again, they they are the
53:45
hottest team in the league aside from
53:46
the Vikings who are undefeated,
53:49
um, on a four-game win streak. Things
53:51
are looking great for them.
53:53
Things are looking currently quite
53:55
shocking for the Lights at the moment.
53:57
So,
53:58
I mean, all going to Ealing, going to
54:00
London.
54:02
With everyone hopefully going to Pack 4
54:04
Ealing Trailfinders Stadium to the
54:06
absolute rafters, um,
54:08
yeah, it [snorts] should be a good game
54:09
for the Warriors. Um, I presume Tommy's
54:11
going to say he wants to see some damn
54:13
good football again.
54:14
>> [laughter]
54:17
>> So, my my my question Tommy is that are
54:18
you going to be attending any of these
54:19
games?
54:21
Do you do you sort of look at where you
54:22
go?
54:22
>> No, this weekend I'm totally off. Uh,
54:26
this is like, uh, I can't tell you that
54:28
this weekend belongs to my my little
54:30
son.
54:31
>> Okay.
54:32
>> He's 10 year old and and and once a
54:34
while a weekend I need to, you know, be
54:37
a dad and and
54:40
have the time with him together. So, we
54:41
going to be there in front of the TV.
54:44
>> Yeah.
54:45
>> And then then take a look, but, uh, I'm
54:47
not in the stadium this weekend.
54:49
>> Have you have you managed to get to many
54:50
games, uh, throughout the season?
54:52
>> Yes, so far the plan was for me in the
54:55
season to be at least one time at every
54:57
stadium.
54:59
And I need to go to to Italy, but that
55:02
was like one game I skipped because I
55:04
was getting sick.
55:06
And I will be at the the last home game
55:10
from London.
55:11
>> Oh, wow. Okay, so we might see you
55:12
there.
55:13
>> Home game in Mallorca. Yes.
55:15
>> Oh, [laughter] wow.
55:18
>> It seems weird saying a home game for
55:19
London in Mallorca, but
55:20
>> In Mallorca, yes, that makes sense.
55:22
>> Against the German team.
55:24
>> [laughter]
55:26
>> It's going to be a fight for the
55:27
sunbeds, that's what it's going to be.
55:30
>> [laughter]
55:31
>> I mean, you give them any given Sunday,
55:32
anything can happen. You know, I've not
55:34
even seen the field yet.
55:37
>> I mean, uh, even like like we can see
55:39
this this upcoming weekend, I can tell
55:41
you
55:42
this is my opinion, every team can win.
55:44
I mean, this is not like, you know, even
55:46
like you know it and then sometimes just
55:48
one injury.
55:50
Hopefully not nothing like this is going
55:52
to happen, but sometimes, you know, it
55:54
is like and the best team can be
55:57
out of the picture in in 1 second and
55:59
then
56:00
So, but I think if you see these
56:01
upcoming games, then every team have a
56:04
chance a true chance to win.
56:07
And this is for me like the most
56:09
important thing
56:10
to to, you know, get that balancing
56:13
thing
56:14
for the teams and and so. This is why
56:16
it's easy for me to say we going to see
56:18
good football.
56:20
>> That's it.
56:20
>> And I really mean it. It's just not like
56:22
a phrase, you know, it's just like I
56:24
really mean it. So,
56:26
it's easy.
56:27
>> It's just like in college as well, where
56:29
even the smaller teams can beat the big
56:31
teams, you know, even your Ohio States,
56:33
etc. etc. not immune against, yeah,
56:37
against your Jackson States and whoever,
56:39
you know, so uh
56:40
>> Yeah.
56:40
>> [snorts]
56:41
>> So, look at the other games, the other
56:43
two games that are on this weekend.
56:45
>> Yeah.
56:46
>> Let's have a look.
56:47
>> Have a look. It was uh Wroclaw Panthers
56:49
are going to the Vienna Vikings and the
56:52
Rhein Fire are going to Berlin Thunder.
56:54
It seems to be that Matteo has predicted
56:57
the Wroclaw Panthers over the Vikings.
57:00
Everyone else has gone for the Vikings
57:01
and the Thunder, so Matteo will have an
57:03
opportunity to explain himself later on.
57:06
Whilst we pelt him with tomatoes. No,
57:08
I'm joking.
57:08
>> [laughter]
57:10
>> See, I'm I'm going to go with his sort
57:12
of theory that maybe
57:15
the the Vikings will be resting a lot of
57:17
their starters
57:19
throughout the rest of the season in
57:21
preparation of of to get into the post
57:24
season.
57:25
And obviously, you know, given given
57:26
those
57:27
sort of second string play guys a chance
57:29
to run out and
57:31
and to give it a go. But that's that's
57:32
the only sort of opinion that I've got
57:34
that maybe Well, that's why Mateo has
57:36
actually gone for a
57:37
the Panthers and not the Vikings.
57:39
>> I find it an interesting one because um
57:41
I feel like most
57:43
I know me, I'm going to ask you about
57:44
this in a second, but I feel like most
57:45
coaches would start their starters in
57:47
every game and then bench them at like
57:48
halftime after a certain time, but
57:51
again, if you want to rest your players,
57:54
at what point do you take them out of
57:55
the game? Do you go into any games
57:58
without your starters at all?
58:00
>> Yeah, you know what? Good point. I had
58:02
this situation my first year with
58:04
Hamburg, and we made the playoffs, and
58:06
we had one less game.
58:09
Um
58:11
and I made my decision to save the
58:13
quarterback and some other starters from
58:14
the get-go.
58:16
And we
58:18
it was like a close game, and we we
58:20
almost lost it. And I saw the whole
58:24
you know, we we had we we we we had a
58:26
great run to the playoffs, la la la la,
58:30
and we lost the kind of the the the
58:33
attitude a little bit in that game.
58:35
And I thought by myself, ah, maybe it
58:37
was a mistake. I had to to get the
58:40
starters at least one quarter or
58:41
something, and then pull them out, but I
58:44
made a decision to to bench my
58:45
quarterback and you know, some other
58:47
guys from the get-go.
58:49
Uh but sometimes it's like this.
58:51
Sometimes like you do not have really
58:53
the the
58:55
the true answer is in the middle, I
58:57
would say. It's it's more like a feeling
58:59
of your team, of the flow you're in, of
59:02
that kind of of the wave you're on. If
59:05
you if you think you can stay on it.
59:08
Sometimes, like I said, in Hamburg, I
59:10
had that I
59:11
we took the big dump, so to say, and
59:15
cost us a lot of a lot of time during
59:17
the week to to get back on on our
59:20
our track.
59:22
So,
59:23
um I'm I'm a fan of giving the starter
59:26
out of this kind of experience, I would
59:29
say give the starter one quarter or
59:30
something then pull somebody out one by
59:32
one.
59:33
As to totally take him out.
59:36
>> That makes sense.
59:37
>> is
59:38
as a
59:39
as a ex-coach so to say.
59:42
>> [snorts]
59:42
>> That makes sense. I think the biggest
59:43
thing
59:44
the biggest thing that would allow me to
59:46
do that is if I was a head coach
59:49
is simply the fact that we have
59:50
unlimited substitutions in this sport,
59:52
you know,
59:53
in football you have your three subs or
59:55
three sub opportunities and your five
59:56
subs so you can't really do that.
59:58
>> All right.
59:58
>> But in American football you can so why
1:00:01
not?
1:00:01
>> Yeah.
1:00:02
Yeah.
1:00:03
>> Yeah, it's it's more like the other way
1:00:05
around what I can understand sometimes
1:00:07
as the football guy with you seeing that
1:00:08
your starters in the third quarter when
1:00:10
you saw the score is already you know
1:00:12
that that that the game is done and you
1:00:14
still have your guys because this is
1:00:16
something what can hurt you in the other
1:00:17
way around if somebody third quarter you
1:00:20
up by 40 points I don't know and
1:00:22
somebody stepping into your quarterback
1:00:24
knees.
1:00:25
>> Mhm.
1:00:26
>> [clears throat]
1:00:26
>> And so out of nothing you're going to
1:00:28
lose your starting quarterback in a game
1:00:29
what is already so
1:00:31
and this is more sometimes if you see in
1:00:33
other leagues what they doing and and
1:00:35
and
1:00:37
I said okay but
1:00:38
again it's like everybody every coach
1:00:40
has the same his own
1:00:43
way of of of leading his way own way of
1:00:46
coaching and I think um
1:00:49
everybody has to know what the best for
1:00:50
his team.
1:00:51
>> Yeah. Yeah, absolutely.
1:00:53
Absolutely.
1:00:58
Right.
1:01:00
Those are the games.
1:01:04
I can't wait this weekend. It's going to
1:01:05
be a fantastic set of games. It's going
1:01:07
to be some damn good football as Nomi
1:01:08
said.
1:01:10
>> [laughter]
1:01:10
>> And uh we cannot wait. We'll be there.
1:01:13
We'll be with you and same time again
1:01:15
next week we will be back. Guys it's
1:01:17
been an absolute pleasure.
1:01:18
>> Yeah.
1:01:19
Yeah. Nomi thanks.
1:01:20
>> Yeah. Nomi thanks for
1:01:22
>> Nomi, it's been an absolute pleasure
1:01:24
having you on.
1:01:24
>> Thanks for having me. It was very very
1:01:27
You see we we talking about an hour it's
1:01:29
more like for 10 minutes feeling wise.
1:01:31
So it is always [laughter]
1:01:32
Yeah.
1:01:33
>> Time flies when you having fun.
1:01:35
>> Whenever you guys we have our our ball
1:01:37
game in in in in Germany in Duisburg
1:01:39
when when you guys been around just
1:01:42
shoot us a text you more than welcome
1:01:43
and and and you are invited. And just
1:01:46
just let us know.
1:01:48
>> Fantastic. I might take you up on that.
1:01:50
>> [laughter]
1:01:50
>> Yes, you will be there. We promise.
1:01:53
>> You know Fabian, you know our head of
1:01:56
communication she's a great lady, great
1:01:59
you you got her contacts.
1:02:02
Just send a
1:02:03
email and I said hey we going to be at
1:02:05
the game two three four guys whatever
1:02:07
let us know.
1:02:08
And you're more than welcome.
1:02:10
>> Fantastic.
1:02:12
>> Cannot wait. Appreciate it so much.
1:02:14
>> Yeah, um Nomi please stick around we'll
1:02:16
let we'll have a chat after we uh we end
1:02:17
the show but thanks very much for coming
1:02:19
on. Uh thanks for everyone who uh who
1:02:21
tuned in to uh to to watch this uh this
1:02:23
interview.
1:02:25
Um but yeah, that's it for me uh
1:02:27
I've been Lee. Thanks very much.
1:02:30
>> I'm Kwame. Thank you very much. It's
1:02:31
been a pleasure.
1:02:33
>> Hey, it's Nomi. Thank you guys and uh
1:02:37
good luck for the future.
1:02:38
>> Thanks very much.
1:02:39
>> Peace out guys.
1:02:41
>> Thank you very much for watching this
1:02:42
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