During last week’s playoff game at the U.S. Cellular arena, the Commissioner of the Arena Football League, Jerry B. Kurz, took some time with the Milwaukee Sports Geeks to share some thoughts about the league, and the Milwaukee Iron.  

One thing you learn right from the start is that the commissioner is a straight shooter who is passionate about the AFL.  After taking a year off to restructure financially, the AFL returned for the 2010 season.  Though the league got off to a bit of a late start from a business standpoint, Commissioner Kurz is pleased with how the season progressed.  “A lot of planning went into how to bring the league back.  We knew we couldn’t wait a second year.  Two years out of sight, out of mind, would have been a great hurdle.”  Yet hurdles have been faced from the start.  “We didn’t announce our partnership with the National Football League, the NFL Network, until March.  Our schedule didn’t come out much before that.  There was an awful lot to do in a short time.”

Commissioner Kurz has heard some of the back-lash and complaints that derived due to the haste with which the season was put together.  With that, he is the first to tell you that this off season will be spent building upon the foundation of this season.  “Now it’s our job, with an off season, to get everything corrected.”  The first priority will be to grow the staff with the AFL.  Two years ago, the AFL employed 58 people in its league office, and another 12 employees that oversaw the former AFL 2.  This year, the AFL is being run by 6 employees.  Those six employees have done a magnificent job running the day to day business of the AFL.  As the AFL continues to grow, so will the staff, which in turn should enhance the product on the field.

As for the Iron, “The Commish” feels that “This is a fantastic market.”  He remembers the kind of support Milwaukee had for the former Mustang franchise and believes that this market will grow and support the Iron in the same fashion.  Kurz is pleased with the ownership group here in Milwaukee and shed some light with regards to them.  From a financial perspective, much was made earlier in the year with regards to the Iron becoming a publically traded entity.  The commissioner however stated that “the Arena League never recognized the public offering.  It was not authorized by the league and so it didn’t happen.”  He has had numerous meetings in person, and over the phone, with the current group of owners, which now is at 18, and feels they are solid and committed to this area.  Of the 18, a half dozen will take a leadership role as the team plans in the off season.  The commissioner also talked about long time AFL owner Drew Vallozzi’s role with the team.  “Drew who has been a long time friend is not involved anymore.”  This seems to have ended a relationship that dates back to the former Milwaukee Mustangs.

Any organization needs solid leadership to thrive.  When you listen to Commissioner Kurz, his ideas and his passion, you realize that the Arena Football League has the right man in place, and under his leadership, should take the AFL to prominent status in the world of sports and the Iron will be most deffinately riding along with in the league's future.

The Milwaukee Iron will head to Spokane, Washington to take on the Shock as they continue their quest towards ArenaBowl XXIII.  The Iron, before a crowd of 5,032 at the U.S. Cellular Arena on Saturday night defeated the Chicago Rush 64-54.  In a classic arena football style game, the Iron came up with spectacular offensive scores, coupled with a defense that put pressure on Rush quarterback J.J. Raterink all evening to come up with a win and be one of only four teams still standing in the AFL.

The offense once again was “en fuego”.  Chris Griesen threw for nine touchdowns.  Damian Harrell caught five touchdown passes that included an astonishing one handed over the wall grab with 36 seconds left in the first half.   Antoine Burns also had a big night catching four touchdown passes.  Tiger Jones had some key receptions during the game, and Tyree Young pounded the Rush defensive every time his name was called to run the football.  Mix that with an “o-line” that gave Griesen the necessary time to execute, and you ended up with an extremely solid performance on that side of the football.

Defensively, Chicago Rush quarterback J.J. Raterink was pressured all night by the Iron.  Though statistically he had a decent performance, the pressure placed on him never allowed the Rush quarterback to establish any kind of rhythm.  Carlton Brown’s interception in the end zone in the third quarter was key in not only in giving the ball back to the Iron, who eventually scored and expanded their lead, but giving the Iron the upper hand emotionally in an intensely played playoff game.

Coach Bob Landsee after the game was satisfied with the team’s performance and feels they “are prepared to make a run” at the ArenaBowl.  The Iron head coach is pleased in how his veterans and rookies are putting it all together as of late.  “We’ve come together the last four games”, which is key as the Iron head out west to take on the Spokane Shock who finished the year with the best record in all of the AFL.  There is no time to celebrate though as the Iron will play their National Conference Championship game before a nationwide audience on the NFL Network.  As Coach said; “We have to start preparing later tonight.  We have to start preparing right now.”  

What has already been an exciting year for the Iron keeps on building with this week’s upcoming game.  They are one win away from making it to the ArenaBowl.  One doesn’t want to get too far ahead of themselves, but should the Iron win, there is a good chance that ArenaBowl XXIII could be held right here in Milwaukee.

For the first time ever in this city, a meaningful football game in the month of August will be played on Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Arena as the Milwaukee Iron begin their quest to ArenaBowl XXIII when they take on our dreaded neighbors to the south the Chicago Rush.  Due to a scheduling conflict, the game is being moved across the street from the Bradley Center to the “Cell” for a 7 p.m. kick-off.

 The Iron are headed into the playoffs on a 4 game winning streak.  They will be taking on the Rush, who had a bye the last week of the season, but prior to that were stomped by the Spokane Shock, and then lost an overtime affair with the lowly Dallas Vigilantes.  Milwaukee comes into the game with the number one offense in all of Arena Football as they average over 65 points, and 349 yards per game.

 Keys to a victory on Saturday are quite cliché, but none the less true.  First, the offense has to continue to but the type of points on the board that they have been doing all year.  Defensively, the Iron has struggled at times, so the putting on an offensive barrage is a must.  Secondly, kicker Bob Forstrom has to find a way to be more consistent has the playoffs begin. Too many extra points have been missed, and has the playoffs arrive, each point is a must.   Defensively, if the Iron is able to come up with a couple of defensive stops, they should be able to end the Rush’s season.   Finally, one thing that I have noticed over the last couple of games is the ability of the other teams to draw the Iron players into situations where they get flagged for unsportsmanlike penalties.  Composure will be key.  The last thing any playoff team wants to do is give their opponent free yards.

 To borrow something I heard from their game broadcast on AM 1250, we need to “Sell out the “Cell””.  If you’re looking to escape the Favre merry-go-round, or Albert Haynesworth’s saga of whether he can unhook the trailer and run a couple of sprints, get to the “Cell” and take in some playoff football.   Win or lose, this could be our last chance to cheer on the home team during their playoff run.

The Milwaukee Iron (11-5) clinched the Midwest Division title and will be facing off against the Chicago Rush in a first-round home National Conference semifinal playoff game at 7 p.m. Saturday at the U.S. Cellular Arena.  The matchup was decided when the Iowa Barnstormers took down the Arizona Rattlers 67-47 on Friday.  With the Arizona loss, the Rattlers and the Rush have matching records at 10-6 but due to tiebreaking procedures by the league, Chicago earned the No. 3 seed in the National Conference, while leaving the Rattlers at No. 4.

As the No. 2 seed, the Iron will battle the No. 3 seed Chicago, while Arizona travels to Spokane to take on the No. 1 seeded Spokane Shock (13-3).

During the regular season, the Iron and Rush split their 2010 series, with the Iron winning 71-48 on May 7 in Milwaukee and the Rush winning the second game 63-56 in Chicago on June 19.

With the Iron taking on the Rush it will give the Iron a chance to avenge the loss to the Rush in Chicago on the last second score.

The Iron normally plays at the Bradley Center, but because of rennovations being done to replace the scoreboard, the team will be playing next door at the U.S. Cellular Arena.  With the venue change also comes ticket price changes as well. Tickets will be offered at $10, $15, $25, and $50.  Please call the Iron office at 262-523-9206, email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit the Milwaukee Theatre Box Office Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to get your tickets