Johnson is coming back to the Gladiators!

Rudi Johnson introduced as a Alabama Gladiator.

PRESS CONFERENCE 8:00 PM HOOVER, ALABAMA - "Good Evening everyone, today is a big day for the Alabama Gladiator Franchise and Gladiator Nation. We have been in talks with Connecticut and we have reached an agreement that will send the Season 2 MVP back to Alabama." The deal sends 2 players and Alabama's 1st Round Draft pick for the Navy's star running back. Connecticut had 2 running backs that were possibly up for sale after Ahman Green had a breakout All-Star season while Johnson was injured. Green will be bumped up to a 87 overall this season and will be the new starter. Rudi drops 1 point from his 90 overall to 89 after sitting out most of the season, he still finished in the top 3 rushing. Michael Harbison also had this to say, "We are very excited to make this deal because we have gained a offensive Superstar, we needed one since Michael Vick is now leaving for the NFL. We are going to try and play Marcus Vick at Quarterback and move Roy Upchurch over to Wide Receiver for the tournament, if they play well, we will likely trade our replacement signing for Michael Vick, if not we will sign a new QB and possibly shop Upchurch or one of our big 3 Receivers." Okay so enough talk, here is the deal broken down.

Alabama gets:
RB Rudi Johnson - 89

Connecticut gets:

RB Michael Smith - 84

DT Grady Jackson - 84

1st Round Draft Pick (8th Overall)

The Navy gain an advantage to their Defensive Line, now Aleric Mullins (84) will slide over to Left Defensive End to make room for Jackson. This is an upgrade because their starter before him was Angelo Craig who is a 74 overall. Smith will likely be a backup and could move to Receiver or Return for the Navy. This is also Rudi Johnson's 2nd turn with the Gladiators, he was a vital part to their East Champion team in Season 1 and almost helped lead them to a Championship.

Throwback

I shot you an email, your pm box was full on the boards so if you don't get the email, let me know and I'll try and pm you again if you clear your box.

Thanks, Mike.

1st Annual MLF Holiday Classic?

Okay so I think TC came up with this idea a while back, he thought it would be cool to have a Winter Tournament. So I told Mykl about it today and he made a logo for it.

Basically what I was thinking was to have either a 10 team Single or Double Elimination Bracket, I don't know really how to seed everyone. I was kind of wanting to split everyone up in regions but I don't know how that would work. For the rosters we would just have to use last season's because I'd be pushed too much to take out most of the players and try to replace them, the Gladiators may try Marcus Vick out at QB too see how that works, if I decide not too though Michael Vick will play for this tourney. Also, we don't have a identity for droozer's team, now if we know the name and colors we can just use practice styled uniforms like Lincoln did last season but droozer hasn't really said anything about his team in a couple weeks so I guess we will wait to find out. I'd like to start this in the next day or two, I'm leaving for a trip on the 26th and I'll be gone 3 or 4 days so I'd like to get about half of the tournament done by then.

Championship & All-Star Game Locations

The results are in! Looks like the 2011 All-Star game will be played in Boise, Idaho, so that means the all-star game will be played on the smurf turf. And Pasadena, California has been selected as the host for the 2011 Championship game, so that means we will have a rose bowl themed Championship. Out of 3 comments, sounds like South Africa is the favorite for the Globe Game so I'll just go ahead and announce South Africa as the coach, I'm assuming Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg would be the stadium used for this game. If you were thinking a different place, let me know. Mykl I don't know if you want to do the logos or not, but you like doing them so if you wanna make logos for all these go for it, obviously Roses should be in the logo for the Champ. And blue and orange would fit the All-Star game best since that's the true color of the field.

Boise Grizzlies Concept

Well the site has been a little dead lately, so I decided to do a Boise Grizzlies Concept, at first I was just going to move the striping from the last uniform to this new template but as I was doing that I kind of came up with a new design. It is similar to their last set but the striping is a little bit more modern, the pants stripe is supposed to match the jersey sleeves and I can actually make some like these in teambuilder. I kept the helmet the same although I could try out a different striping style if it would look better, I only did a home uniform since this is just a concept, if you like it Beast I can make a whole set and make any changes.

Home and Away Uniforms

Alternate Uniforms

Pro Combat Uniform

For the Pro Combats, I wanted to do something out there because most Pro Combats are, and so far we only have 2 really out there uniforms so I wanted to try and break the retro trend, I used TCU's template but I added a grizzly fur texture all over the uniform. For the pants I just tried something really pro combat-ish.

Happy Belated Birthday, MLF!

Two years ago last Wednesday, the first post of this blog was posted. Two years and three seasons later, we're still going strong! Congratulations, gentlemen.

Memphis Relocation Naming Contest!

Edit: I have made a choice and have PM'd elliott. The choice won't necessarily be the top vote getter and it will be announced once I've designed the uniforms. Thanks for the help.


Ok, so the team will either be relocated to Columbus, Ohio or Orlando, Florida. I'm leaning towards Orlando. I'll keep a running total of the nominations below. Post your suggestions in the comment

                      Orlando                                                                                    Columbus                               

                       Aviators (2)                                                                                 Cannons

                       Coasters

                        Juicers  (2)