Destroyers in Exile

Until Arena Football returns to Columbus Ohio this blog will plead the case for a franchise to return while providing my view of the news in and around the AFL. 

For the other Destroyer fans out there please join me as I will attend as many Gladiator games as I can this season wearing Destroyer gear.

What is a Dynasty?

The word "dynasty" is starting to get thrown around a lot in this age of 24/7 sports information and I for one would like to propose a definition of a dynasty. This definition will site sources that are accepted as dynasties. This definition will offend some who have come to think of their team as having a dynasty when by this definition they do not. First of all, the examples (all of these examples come from after 1950 and site the year that the team won their championship).

NFL
Cleveland Browns 1950, 54, 55
Green Bay Packers 1961, 62, 65, 66, 67
Pittsburgh Steelers 1974, 75, 78, 79
San Francisco 49ers 1981, 84, 88, 89
Dallas Cowboys 1992, 93, 95
New England Patriots 2001, 03, 04

NBA
Los Angeles Lakers 1949, 50, 52, 53, 54
1982, 85, 87, 88
2000, 01, 02
Boston Celts 1959, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 68, 69
Chicago Bulls 1991, 92, 93, 96, 97, 98

MLB
New York Yankees 1952, 53, 56, 59
1996, 98, 99, 00

NHL
Montreal Canadiens 1956, 57, 58, 59, 60, 65, 66, 68, 69, 71, 73, 76, 77, 78, 79
Detroit Redwings 1950, 52, 54, 55
1997, 98, 02
Toronto Maple Leafs 1962, 63, 64, 67
New York Islanders 1980, 81, 82, 83
Edmonton Oilers 1984, 85, 87, 88, 90

AFL
Detroit Drive 1988, 89, 90, 92
Tampa Bay Storm 1991, 93, 95, 96
Orlando Predators 1998, 99, 00

Now you either skimmed these or looked at them meticulously. All of these "Dynasties" have one thing in common. They have more than three championships in the span of 10 years and at least two of those championships are in consecutive years. This will anger my friends in San Antionio and in San Jose as it takes the Spurs and SaberCats out of the dynasty scene. I do not mean to do this out of spite for these teams because many teams I despise make this list (Lakers, Steelers, YANKEES). But that is my view of things so without further ado here is my definition:

Dynasty- a title earned by a team who shows dominance in their particular sport by winning three or more championships in a 10 year span in which any two of the championships are consecutive*

*this definition does only apply to professional leagues as college dynasties are very different

The Greatest Destroyer Games of the Year

Before Arena Bowl XXI I think it is necessary to look back on what has easily been the greatest year in Destroyer's history, and the best way to reminisce is to rank the best games of the season and figure out what to this point has been the greatest game in Destroyer history. Granted, the top game of this list falls to #2 if the Destroyers win the Arena Bowl, but most of the fun of sports is speculation and discussion. Also by clicking on the game total it will link you to a site with highlights of the game.

To evaluate these games I'm using four different criteria are going to be used and given a ranking of 1-10 (besides the Destroyers winning):

1. The competitiveness of the game
2. The quality of the opponent
3. Importance of game to the season
4. Importance of game to the history of the franchise

Let's start the countdown.....

6. Philadelphia Soul 21 @ Columbus Destroyers 44


This game makes the list for two reasons. One it was the first national coverage for the Destroyers on ESPN, and it is what I consider the game that put the AFL on notice of the Destroyers. Before this game the Soul had just started their fall and Columbus seemed like a game that could help get them back on the right track. The Destroyers not only shocked and dominated the Soul, but their fans had one of the better showings of any team on national TV this year. The game does lose points because it wasn't competitive and in hindsight, as well as the Soul rebounded at the end of the year, Philly wasn't fielding their best team.


Competitiveness: 5
Quality of Opponent: 6
Yearly Importance: 7
Historical Importance 5
Game: 5.75

5. Columbus Destroyers 74 @ New York Dragons 43

This game was not competitive and did not happen against one of the AFL's best. The reason this game makes the list is that the Destroyers came in knowing that this win was needed to make the playoffs and because it was the first game in a great run that has taken this team all the way to the Arena Bowl. For all intents and purposes this was a playoff game for this team and they showed their mettle.

Competitiveness: 3
Quality of Opponent: 4
Yearly Importance: 10
Historical Importance: 8
Game: 6.25




4. Georgia Force 61 @ Columbus Destroyers 62

Columbus entered this game at 1-2 playing an undefeated 4-0 Force team that had looked as good as any team in the early part of the season. The next week the Destroyers were going to play the also undefeated Desperados. Losing this game would send the Destroyers spiraling downward on a losing streak that could have ended their season before it started.
The Destroyers pulled together in this game holding their own playing with guts. The attitude of this team was determined in this game as the Destroyers converted a two point converstion to take a one point lead. This game ranks high for two reasons, it was highly competitive and it was against a great opponent who only lost three games all year including the playoffs.


Competitiveness: 10
Quality of Opponent: 9

Yearly Importance: 8

Historical Importance: 6

Game: 8.25

3. Columbus Destroyers 56 @ Tampa Bay Storm 55 (playoffs)

The first playoff game since the Destroyers relocated from Buffalo this one was a classic. Tampa Bay was a team on a hot streak, after starting 0-5 they rallied to finish the season 8-8 and earned the #3 seed in the playoffs. The Destroyers made it by the skin of their teeth at 7-9 (only 2-6 on the road). It was a back and forth game that was like two boxers trading punches until the last round. The play of the game had to be B.J. Barre's interception return for a touchdown. As close as this game was played it was no shock that it came down to a last second field goal attempt by Storm kicker Seth Marler which wasn't converted. This game will remain a Destroyer classic because it was such an exciting game that kicked off a spectacular playoff run and because it was the first playoff win in franchise history.

Competitiveness: 10
Quality of Opponent: 7

Yearly Importance: 10

Historical Importance: 9

Game: 9

2. Columbus Destroyers 66 @ Georgia Force 56

The first conference championship game in franchise history is a big deal. The Destroyers entered the game as a large underdog and both teams played well and with class. This game was very competitive as Georgia did surge back from a twenty-point deficient to take a 49-48 lead in the forth. But the Destroyers played strong D and the offense raged behind the leadership of Matt Nagy to take the conference championship from the team he helped reach the Arena Bowl two years before.

Competitiveness: 9

Quality of Opponent: 9

Yearly Importance: 10

Historical Importance: 10

Game: 9.5

1. Columbus Destroyers 66 @ Dallas Desperados 59

Columbus was 0-2 against division rival Dallas in the regular season. This was the David and Goliath match-up where nobody outside of central Ohio thought David would survive. Clint Dolezel (one of the great quarterbacks in Arena Football history) was leading the most dominant team in regular season history (15-1) against the lowly Destroyers who had only won their 3rd road game of the season the previous week.

Against these odds Columbus held their own for most of the first half until thing started to fall apart in the third quarter and Columbus entered the half behind 38-28 and had to start the second half kicking to Dallas. What happened next will live in AFL lore for years to come. On back-to-back Peter Martinez kickoffs the ball struck the bars and bounced into Destroyer hands. The first time recovered by Josh Bush in the endzone and the second time by Brandon Hefflin which led to another Destroyer touchdown. Columbus stretched that into a 14 point lead and for the rest of the game Dallas couldn't get closer then seven points.

This game was competitive and against the team with the greatest regular season in AFL history. Why this game takes the title of Best Destroyer Game of the Year over the Conference title game is regardless of whether the Destroyers win or lose the Arena Bowl the upset of Dallas will be remembered by many as the greatest upset in AFL history for a long time.

Competitiveness: 9

Quality of Opponent: 10

Yearly Importance: 10

Historical Importance: 10

Game: 9.75

A very cool video recap of the game.

Simply Amazing

I'm still in the midst of my victory hangover but I thought I should link to this great video on youtube.

This is me playing the world's smallest violin

Clint Dolezel was just a great quarterback whose season ended too soon in my mind. But after this:

"The best team didn't win this past weekend and I think everybody knows that," Desperados quarterback Clint Dolezel told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. "If we go 16-0, it won't matter until we win in the playoffs.”

Saying that it doesn't matter till you win in the playoffs is fine. But to claim to be the best team when you couldn't prove it on the field you are showing an arrogance in my mind that may be indicative of why Dallas can't seem to put it together in the off-season. I live in a small town in central Ohio. There are a lot of white trash here, now before any one gets angry I don't view white trash as a racial term. Anyone can be white trash: rich, poor, black, white, anyone. Here is a good working definition of white trash:

White trash-a person of any ethnic, racial, or financial background that feels they are entitled to

some type of preferential treatment due to their own elitism

I may have made up some words for that, but how the Desperados have been acting all season makes me think that they have this problem. All season they seemed to buy into the idea that they were entitled to win the Arena Bowl by virtue that they think they are better than everyone else. I sure hope for all of the Desperados' fans sake that the leadership of this team loses this attitude.

And because I found another picture I feel it is necessary to point out

The Nagy Beard Rules !!!

Columbus 66- Dallas 59

I am not going to recap the game, if you want that go here.

These are the kinds of games that we watch for. The 7-9 Destroyers marched into Dallas already being set aside as the first win for the Desperados on their way to destiny. But Columbus would not go quietly. They played the type of game that you always hope your team can put together. A come from behind win in which they stayed aggressive.


The real importance of this game is the future of the Destroyer franchise. Now we are a team that has made a deep playoff run, who has gone toe-to-toe with some of the leagues best, and play at a high level when the pressure. This is now a team that will have some respect around the league and higher expectations. This is how traditions are built with big years and with huge wins. This is not to suggest that the Destroyers should be satisfied with where they are, but just as a reminder to the fans that win or lose Saturday against the Force this is easily the greatest year the Destroyers have ever had. My hope is that it sets a standard for them to meet for many years to come.

The Power of the Beard

The Destroyers are experiencing a completely unexpected streak of success in the playoffs. I'm breaking down what I believe to be the reason for the Destroyer's success. The Nagy beard. Since the beginning of the playoffs the Columbus quarterback has been growing a beard. During this time his performance on the field has greatly improved, his presence is stronger, and it seems his sheer will is taking him to the next level.

"I saw a different look in his eye," linebacker Leroy Thompson said. "It was more of a let's-go-get-them look in his eye as opposed to maybe being unsure about some things during the regular season. He knows it's money time. That's how he's playing, and hopefully he can continue to do the same."

This change can be attributed to Nagy drawing deeply into his genetic past of a survivalist. He is currently tapping into his ability to survive and to draw himself up to a higher level so that he can will his team to survival. I would go into this further, but there is an entire site dedicated to this phenomenon, and I don't think I can do better than it.