Rattler Report Sponsored By >

       13 is Rattlers Lucky Number!

2004 will be the 13^th season for the Arizona Rattlers. It is also the number of their starting quarterback, Sed Bonner. For the last four years, opening day has been lost on the Rattlers. They hope to change that this season and start their run for another championship by chopping down the LA Avengers and their Hollywood golden boy, Tony Graziani.

This will be the 10^th meeting in their series and Arizona has a 7-2 lead. Ironically, the Avengers 2 wins were at AWA. Expect a venomous crowd and a punishing defense to greet LA in the Snake Pit.

This game will be on NBC at 1:00 PM, in the booth will be Eli Gold, Charles Davis and Phoenix’s own Mark Curtis. Mark is the sports anchor for NBC’s local channel 12. The coverage by TV 12 last season was spotty at best and simply insulting the rest of the time last season. The strategy is good, putting Mark on camera for the game. It will be hard for TV 12 to ignore the Rattlers this season. That’s using your Nudo, Arizona.

All the games will be on the Radio on 860 AM, and unless things change Kent Derdivanis will be joined as usual by  Ron Wolfley. YES, the same Ron Wolfley that is also a Rattlers coach. He will be talking to the fans, talking to Kent, and just because he can, talking to himself. Oh yeah, the game will be simulcast on the internet at http://www.azrattlers.com so Ron will be talking to the entire world while he is coaching and announcing.

Speaking of Talking! This game will also be the homecoming of the Rattlers original voice, Jeff Munn. Jeff was the guy from the first Rattlers game until 2000. That is when Jim Barnett stepped up to the mic and did it from 2001 until last year. Jim is now the Suns PA Voice. It just keeps getting better for Rattler fans.

133 Points, that is how many were scored in LA for the playoff game last season, a 70-63 Rattler victory. It also kept the Rattlers undefeated at their West coast home field in LA. The game was Magic for the Rattlers, and Magic, at least in my opinion, is what Hunkie Cooper performs whenever he takes the turf. Some big plays by the battered and bruised superstar of Arena Football set the stage for this win.

In the off season there was speculation that Bonner and Cooper were headed elsewhere, to finish their careers. Las Vegas wanted them and let them know it. In 2003 Bonner overcame injury and became one of the AFL’s most prolific passers ever. Hunkie was there for every game, injured or hurt, ready to do whatever it took to win.

In the off season the Rattlers organization and Hunkie and Sed came to an agreement that allowed them to finish in the Copper, Teal and Black. The players made some sacrifices so that the team could keep it’s core players together. In this day of chest pounding, selfish players, Bonner and Cooper are role models of teamwork and family. This could be the last best shot this group has to bring the Championship trophy home. Time, age, injury are all working against the men now. But if what goes around comes around is a true saying, then the payoff for the sacrifice could be big. Arena Bowl Champion sized. Yeah, I know the writers picked San Jose, but get real, that ain’t gonna happen, not in 2004.

The only fly in the ointment that I can see is the relationship on the team between coach Danny White and the players. Last season he said some things in the press that did not sit well with some of the key veterans. Yes, they used it to motivate themselves, but it also did some damage. At the press conference to sign Cooper and Bonner, Gene Nudo was there to welcome them. But what stood out was that coach White was not. May be nothing, may be everything.

Hunkie Cooper is like the dreaded unknown space aliens that keep popping up in the Star Trek and Voyager shows. You know the ones that take the photon torpedo and laser shots from the Enterprise and then consume that weapon and turn it into energy and get stronger, faster, bigger. Yeah, kinda like a death star. Late in the game when everyone else is getting beat up, tired and hoping for a break. Hunkie is just getting warmed up.

Well, that is if he is in the game. And there in lies the issue of the past few seasons. He needs to be in the game, needs the touches, that is what he does. You hit him, you energize him. Hunkie is one of the few football players at any level that will fill the hole and take on anything coming his way, and stop it, every time. While most players are turning or stalling a runner or blocker until the rest of the team arrives, he is going for their heart. To rip it out with a head on, in your face, I own this turf kind of hit.

I do hear that he has lost a step, I ain’t seen that yet. But losing a step might matter if he was trying out for the Olympics. In the 3 step to the wall Arena box, losing a step is not an issue for Hunkie Cooper. Put him on kick returns and he will score, put him at linebacker and he will get the ball back. Put him at receiver and he will get the first down and the touchdown. He will play hurt and play injured. But you gotta put him on the field. He will tell you when he can’t go. But Magic is of no use if you don’t believe.

Lucky Number 13. The team spent the entire season last year searching for the right guy to step up if Bonner went down. Yes they had Hixson and Cole, two good QB’s, but not the right ones to suit this team at this time. Finding a QB at this level that will fit in based on all the intricate variables is not easy. I do believe that the team is convinced they have the right man in Joe Geramaine. Joe is a local kid that played for Ohio State and was on the Super Bowl Champs, the Rams.

That being said, let’s look at Sed. Bonner is the league's top QB. Not because he will throw the most TD’s, or get the most yards, or throw the fewest interceptions. No, he is the top Gun in the AFL because when he steps into a huddle, the team believes they can get it done every time. They believe it because Sed has proven he will put them first and play to win no matter the conditions. Like Cooper, injured or hurt, Bonner will not quit. Sed is to his AFL team what another number 13 was to his NFL team, sort of reminds you of Dan Marino.

IRON TEAM, IRON MEN: The Rattlers set another AFL record last year by playing in 20 games. On the team only two players were in every game. Yep, one was Hunkie Cooper and the other Mark Tucker. Cooper has not missed a game since the 1999 season.

The team added another local player when they signed Siaha Burley. Siaha was last seen taking exception to Ricky Parker in last years playoff game. The two are, of course best friends now. Burley, a graduate of Westwood HS and Mesa CC played for the AFL in Orlando and LA. He was on the 2001 All-Rookie team.

Superstar, that would be Randy Gatewood. He was the AFL Ironman of the year and had 9 interceptions and 32 TD catches. He has the Rattler career mark for INT’s with 24. BO Dozer Kelly is one of the AFL’s best and has over 1,000 career rushing yards. Pretty amazing on the indoor three step field.

But the overlooked, often unseen element of the Rattlers success is the play of the line. Coach Chris Conlin finds a way to find a way each week, each season to keep the men playing at their best. Yes, Mark Tucker is a factor, a big factor. But this group of players are among the best in the Arena game. They play hard, they play hurt and they can hold with the best of them. Hey, that is important in this game.

I am going to list the lineman for the Rattlers, they deserve more, but I am running out of space. First we have Mark Tucker, a never miss a game guy. Then there is Wendall Gaines, can play O & D and can catch and score. Lindsay Hassell is a bomb waiting to go off, when he is in the game explosions can be seen in his area on a regular basis. If he stays healthy the team will be better. Bryan Henderson is big mean and will hurt people, good to have as a friend. Pity the other team.

Kelvin Ingram is a pounder and can move people. Charlie Morris, see him out of pads and you think of business man, polite, well dressed nice guy. On the field he is like a hydraulic hammer, just keeps driving, pounding getting it done, but in a polite way of course.

Pete Tramontanas, he came in a few years ago when the Rattlers were going through nasty spell with injuries and attitudes. In his first game at center, he was driving people off the ball like he owned the place. Needless to say, the gamble on the guy from Vegas has paid off. Plus he has a great name that no one can pronounce. The guy that is playing the "stealth" OL/DL position is actually Frank 32 the other FB/LB. This man is nuts and fits the lineman mold perfectly. His name is spelled right, if you read French. It is also his number. Antionne Scott is a rookie. The good news is he is on the right team at the right time. That may also be the bad news for a rookie seeking playing time.

The go to guys, the ones that handle the ball are talented, fast and dangerous. WR/DB Orshawante Bryant is going to have a breakout year. WR/LB Tom Pace will turn himself inside out to make a play. Ricky Parker is the AFL’s and the Rattlers best kept secret. Listed as WR/DB, you can line him up anywhere and he will make plays.

DS is position created by the Arena game. The Rattlers have some players that seem tailor made for the position and the team. They are, Hamin Milligan, he brings the needed height, hits and hops. Clarence Lawson, he gets better every game and should have an all star season. Kelvin Hunter, all baller and will bring it each week. The tweener is OS Siaha Burley, another player that can play any position. He can and will be called upon in many spots as the season progresses.

Missing from this years squad and not on the practice or injured list is Sebastian Barrie. He was released and Rattler fans will miss him. On the practice squad are local star Justin Taplin WR/DB, AJ Novak FB/LB and Ryan Dennard WR/DB. Ryan and Justin played at ASU. While AJ hails from William Penn. On the injured reserve are Travis Cole QB, Larry Nixon WR/LB, Terrence Davis WR/LB, Jason Anderson OL/DL and Tim Engelhardt OL/DL.

Special teams are an after thought to many in football. But in the AFL, kickers play a huge part in the rapid scoring game. Nelson Garner is among the best and we look for the new dad to have a great year. You can’t have special teams without a coach, for Arizona that would be Bob O’Connor, he is entering is 4^th Rattler season. He has over 25 years coaching experience and coached in the first Arena game in 1987. Running the defense is Doug Plank, the former Bears great.

The AFLWA, the Arena Football Writers Association has picked the Rattlers to finish 3^rd in the their pre-season poll behind San Jose and Tampa Bay. Two good teams indeed, but methinks the writers are wrong. They did pick both Bo Kelly and Randy Gatewood to the pre-season All AFL Team. The Rattlers are the only team with two players on it. That right there puts them ahead of San Jose and Tampa Bay in my book.

Anyhow the season starts this week and I can’t wait to see some real football. Can you believe it, the NFL, (Non Family League) is hosting strip shows at the Super Bowl games now. They acted surprised, but really, all season long their musical and entertainment stars are from the list of non-family acts. At least the AFL has got Soul, and maybe with a little Voodoo magic we can Wrangle up the best season the AFL has ever seen. See you in the Snake Pit.

Don't forget, the AFL is on NBC every Sunday.

The Rattlers quest for a third straight ArenaBowl begins February 8, when they take on the Los Angeles Avengers at America West Arena. For season ticket information, call 602-514-TDTD or visit  azrattlers.com
 

Sports & Entertainment News