04/05/2012
I was searching for articles from the first game online and stumbled across this one from 1/16/2002 that San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Nick Canepa wrote when we unveiled the team to the public...
San Diego christens its newest team the Riptide in spinoff of arena league
January 16, 2002
By Nick Canepa, San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego's latest indoor sports team, born unto arenafootball2 on Oct. 24, had a baptism yesterday and was christened the Riptide. Best of all, the new owner did not get up and say he was either going to get a new arena or move the franchise.
"I'm not going to need a new arena," Gil Saidy was telling me. "You know we came close to guaranteeing our product? We want to entertain."
Saidy also cleverly added: "I'm not going to say we're going to make the playoffs, either."
Roll 'Tide. Rip it up.
Saidy, who runs a travel business here, is ready to compete for the San Diego entertainment dollar. Fine with me. I've seen some arena football. It's been around for more than 16 years. Arenafootball2 may be the minor league offshoot of the indoor league that produced Kurt Warner, but it beats tractor pulls. It's football on amphetamines.
Roll 'Tide. Rip it up.
Thing is, can the Riptide make a go of it here? They have a three-year commitment, but we've seen a lot of teams in a lot of sports under a lot of owners come and go. We've had owners plaster their mugs on billboards and the sides of buses. We've tried a little bit of everything. The excuse always is that San Diegans have better things to do.
"People say there's too much to do in San Diego, but there isn't that much to do in San Diego," Saidy insisted. "You go to SeaWorld once a year. It kills me when people say that."
Well, I beg to differ with Saidy on that one. If you want to spend money, there's plenty to do here. There's even more to do here if you don't want to spend your money. The thing about San Diegans is, they don't want to throw away their dough.
"We'll go up against the Padres on three nights (Saturdays, when the Pads have their giveaways), but there are plenty of people here if we put together the right product," Saidy said.
Well, it won't cost a whole lot if you care to go. Regular tickets will range from $8 to $25, with front-row seats going for $50. There will be two sections of $5 seats. Every football that goes in the stands can be kept. Players are contracted to stick around and sign autographs for 20 minutes after games.
That has to be enticing to the players, who will get $200 a game -- plus $50 more if they win. It's amazing how overpaid athletes are. And, oh, the places they will go. Some of it by bus.
The 16-game season begins here April 6 and ends in Louisville on July 27. In between, there will be stops in Fresno, Bakersfield, Quad City (Iowa), Lincoln (Neb.) and Little Rock (Ark.). There are, however, two trips to Hawaii.
With 10 expansion teams added this year, including the Rips, there now are 35 arenafootball2 franchises. There are plans to make it 72 by 2004, and -- hold on to your nachos -- 150 by 2010. They aren't saying, but I understand that by 2050 there will be an arenafootball2 club in every medium-to small-market city in the world. Or, one for every president of Argentina, whichever comes first.
Have you heard of the Bossier City Battle Wings? Birmingham Steeldogs? Richmond Speed? New Haven Ninjas? Charleston Swampfoxes? Roanoke Steam? Mohegan Wolves? All arenafootball2 teams, with plenty more to come. I can't wait for the Norfolk Folk.
This is just too good to pass up. Talk about ambition. Put 20 players on 150 teams -- they play on both sides of the ball, by the way, one of the reasons teams average 50 points a game -- and you have 3,000 people in pads. Buy stock in adhesive tape.
Anyway, the head coach of the Rips is Cree Morris, the former San Diego State quarterback who has bounced around the Arena and World leagues. But I wanted to talk to Derek Dalhen, the defensive coordinator, who played at St. Augustine High and later was a defensive back at St. Mary's. Dalhen, when he's not doing this, is VP and general manager of Bully's East, the popular Mission Valley restaurant and watering hole founded by his dad, John.
I wonder what it's like. You give up 50 points and I guess it's a good game. This is eight-man football with no punting on a 50-yard field. A video game.
"You have two linebackers and can only blitz one," Dalhen is saying. "There are tremendous limitations. You're pretty much locked up on your man. You're on your heels an awful lot. It's not easy on these guys. A lot of technique. A lot of one-on-one coverage.
"You've got to win, because teams are going to score 50. The trick is holding them to six plays, then you'll be successful."
The game is extremely fast. Warner's success has made the NFL pay attention.
But the real idea here is to entertain. There will be eight bands playing in the Sports Arena parking lot before every game. Rock 'n' roll music all night long.
"I'm a travel agent, so I understand customer service," Saidy said. "I know this town has reasons to be skeptical. It's a tough sports town. But, when you go to a game, you're going to say: 'This is different.' "
This is different. I didn't even have to go to a game to say that.
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