“Live Life in Episodes” …. Preparing for Super Bowl Party in Zurich

I’ve always been a fan of the late country singer Jerry Jeff Walker.  He sings a

song (written by Billy Jim Baker .. a professional rodeo Clown –  in the Clown Hall of Fame by the way) called “Contrary to Ordinary.”  Most people haven’t heard the song … nor do they know who Jerry Jeff was – but nonetheless it is a good tune.

In the song there is a line “You live life in episodes.”  I think that is really a great statement.  Because as we bang around life there are segments.  This latest football (mis)adventure in Switzerland is no different.  Just another (mis)adventure or an episode.

Building a new franchise (Helvetic Guards) to compete in the European League of Football is certainly a challenging “episode.”  But, with all challenges there are going to be good times and some … well, not so good times.

So, as we work through the end of the year we have a really good handle on the roster.  We’ve lost a few coaches… but fortunately we have been able to replace them with some quality guys. So, we are feeling pretty good about the foundation of the team.  But… undoubtedly, we have some serious headwinds ahead.

Obviously, with our ownership now in a state of flux we have perhaps the biggest problem a team could face anywhere and in in any league!   Finances.

As in any business – the money is going to define what we can do.  In my opinion it seems like most of the franchises in the European League of Football (ELF) have underestimated how much money it takes to operate a team.

*** (I’m not sure any teams … well, maybe the Rhein Fire and Hamburg Sea Devils break even or are a little ahead… the other fifteen teems appear to be operating in the red…. How long can that be sustained?  ***

Plus, I think the league itself has not paid out the money that was owed to the teams.  Not sure how transparent the ELF is with their finances.  Remember Seth Blatter and the FIFA (soccer) scandals in the late 90’s into the early 2000’s

We can’t possibly play next year if we don’t get this situation corrected.

But, the show must go on until … well … until it can’t.

We continue on with our plan to have a two-day minicamp capped with a February Super Bowl party in Zurich.  One problem is still – we don’t know where we can practice … but Norm Chow and I are assured that it will be handled.

Well … we have to have some trust … or faith I guess.

Norm gets after a practice schedule and planning what is going to go on when we get to Switzerland in February.

Honestly, the Guards are lucky to have Coach Chow.  He is always working on the team.  Constantly trying to create a plan for our start up-club.  It’s hard to get organized when you are literally an ocean away .. and you aren’t sure if this operation will even get off the ground and fly.

Also, a very encouraging sign … the Guards management added Dan Frey to the staff.  Dan is a very good friend who was at one time the president of the Thun Tigers.  He had a lot to do with organizing my association with the Tigers club several years ago.

So, he has experience in two of the problem areas that the Guards would have with the six import coaches and our four American players.  We need extended visas … work permits – and that ever increasing problem of housing for ten Americans and six European imports.

Again … this was my main concern way back in June of 2022.  Here we are six months later and we are still standing on “START” waiting on “GO”!  We don’t have the visas, permits or housing.

Dan knows how to get these things done.   But whether we have the finances to get it done is going to be the issue.

But, one way or another we arrange our flights into the Alps for February and place the rest of the stuff in the hands of our fractured management team.

Later in the week the club held an introductory party in Zurich for the team.  Obviously, we weren’t there but Norm put in a zoom call with the group.

Toni Zöller (acting GM) was excited with the attendance and the interaction of the players.  It sounded like everyone had a pretty good time (not sure where the money came from to pay for this extravaganza??!!)

Now, not to seem like we felt like we were on a rollercoaster ride or maybe feeling like we were “yo-yo’s” Toni tells us Mukka is coming back on board as the chief owner.  Hmmm!  We will see about that.

What…me worry! (Alfred E. Neuman!)