Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site hsi.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!hao!noao!hsi!tankus From: tankus@hsi.UUCP (Ed Tankus) Newsgroups: net.sport.football Subject: Re: USFL + CFL or The Art of Survival (long) Message-ID: <248@hsi.UUCP> Date: Fri, 16-Aug-85 12:09:40 EDT Article-I.D.: hsi.248 Posted: Fri Aug 16 12:09:40 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 21-Aug-85 07:07:50 EDT References:<1650@dciem.UUCP> Organization: Health Systems Int., New Haven, CT. Lines: 72 > > I remember something coming up back when the USFL first got going - there > > were proposals that they merge with the Canadian Football League ... > > etc., etc. > > > > But now that the USFL is going to a fall schedule - why not a merger? > > lots of etc.'s and great liberties taken with this text for brevity. I think a merger is the right idea but not with the CFL. That's the point of the above article. I think the USFL has to take a good hard look at itself. It obviously can't afford the salaries it tried to pay it's players. The NFL is trying to hold the line this year for various reasons and I believe the CFL is and has done the same thing. The USFL is gambling with a fall schedule and with a billion dollar anti-trust suit against the NFL. What it should do is merge with the NFL. (Please hold your flames 'til I finish. Thanks.) The USFL has a great talent pool. Not every player however, is NFL caliber. The USFL should sit back, take stock of all its teams, their individual attendence records, etc. Then they should put together the 4 to 6 *BEST* overall teams based on these criteria. For example, the Generals had both a winning record and good attendence figures. The merger with the Gamblers didn't hurt the team either; include them. The Baltimore Stars won the championship and had good attendence records too (yes I do know the difference between 25,000 and 70,000 people in attendence); include them. Possible divisional, conference and inter-conference rivalries with NFL teams could be part of this criteria as well. For example, the Oakland Invaders vs the LA Raiders, Baltimore Stars vs Indianapolis Colts, etc. I made this point in a previous article. The USFL could propose the following as a settlement to their anti-trust suit: The USFL would take the above teams, allow each to team to protect X number of players (20 to 25 might be reasonable) and allow the rest to be put into a supplemental draft pool. The NFL would do the same thing but would be allowed to protect more players (say 35) and ALL of their collegiate draft picks. The USFL would also be allowed to protect their college draftees as well. The remaining unprotected players would be placed in a supplemental draft pool. NFL and USFL teams would draw lots, flip coins, draw cards or whatever to establish a drafting order. This idea would benefit both leagues. The NFL teams would be allowed to preservetheir present (35 vets) and their future (ALL of their college talent). And theywould have one-up on the USFL by having more players protected. The USFL could also protect their present and future in the same way. However, now BOTH leagues have a shot at some REALLY good talent! There are a lot of players in the USFL that the NFL wants and vice-versa. This proposal would more evenly divide the talent in the expanded league without the price wars of the past. This was the same reasons given for the AFL-NFL merger. The fan loyalties, new rivalries and new players might just give the NFL a real shot in the arm. The future of a lot of PEOPLE, players, fans, vendors, etc. hang in the balance here. Witness the recent baseball strike. Sure, the owners will hurt too. Witness the recent football strike. But it's time to drop the old league vs league stuff and get down to what is best for all concerned. The NHL-WHA merger worked: the Edmonton Oilers have been champs two years in a row. How did they do it? A BLEND OF TALENT! An shared philosophy of dollars don't always make sense. Thanks more being patient with my verbiage. Now, bring on the flames!!!! -- " For every word there is a song upon which inspiration lies ..." Ed Tankus Net : {noao!ihnp4!yale!}!hsi!tankus Snail: Health Systems Int'l, 100 Broadway, New Haven, CT 06511 Bell : (203) 562-2101