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Blackbirds’ open tryout proves fruitful
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Related Topics: White Marsh, Md.
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A quarterback shows his skills as nearly 100 players turned out for the open tryout Saturday morning at Freestate Sports Arena in White Marsh.
White Marsh, Md. (Map, News) - For nearly 100 hopefuls, dreams of professional football ended Saturday at 8 a.m. sharp with the arrival of a group of pre-teen girls in soccer uniforms.
But around 30 others earned another look at the final open tryout for the Baltimore Blackbirds, a new franchise in the American Indoor Football Association. The session, held at the Freestate Sports Arena in White Marsh, drew more players than the team’s general manager, John Wolfe, expected.
“There are so many guys here, it’s hard to stick out,” Wolfe said. “It’s a mix of some guys with a little bit of pro experience, a little bit of semi-pro experience, a little bit of college experience, and then guys that haven’t played since high school.”
Wolfe said the team had about 20 players committed before Saturday, and was looking to sign that many more for next weekend’s preseason mini-camp. The Blackbirds will open their season March 10 with a 30-man roster.
Saturday’s hopefuls included a former NFL player, several ex-college athletes and one reality television contestant — Marty Wolff, of NBC’s “The Biggest Loser 3.”
Joe Maese, a long-snapper for the Baltimore Ravens from 2001 to 2004 and the Detroit Lions in 2005, was out of football this season. He contacted the Blackbirds last week to see what the team was all about.
“I’ve just been sitting around this season working out,” Maese said. “It’s not the same as playing. ... I just wanted to come check it out.”
Running back Chris Dewese never played college football. When a friend told him about the tryout, the semi-pro made his first-ever trip outside the state of Florida and was rewarded with an invitation to mini-camp.
“It’s a great opportunity,” Dewese said. “It’s up a level for me, and I’m just trying to follow through to the outcome of it.”
For some, like linebacker Josh Ehnert, Saturday was just the last shot at a lifelong dream.
“I recently tried out for the [Arena Football League’s] Georgia Force,” Ehnert said. “This is my second trip here. … I think it provides positive feedback for all these people that feel like it’s over for them.”
It was over after two hours Saturday, with the field booked for an 8 a.m. soccer game. But Blackbirds owner Alexander Austin came away with a long list of players he wants to see again.
“We signed a good number of guys today,” Austin said. “We didn’t anticipate doing that. So that tells you what kind of talent there is in Baltimore.”
Comments from Examiner Readers
6:15 AM MST on Mon., Aug. 20, 2007 re: "AIFA picks Baltimore for new franchise"
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8:14 PM MST on Wed., Aug. 15, 2007
re: "AIFA picks Baltimore for new franchise"
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1:36 PM MST on Thu., Jul. 19, 2007
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Time will tell said:
The Blackbirds are still alive and kicking. I guess time will tell how this whole thing plays out.
149 agree | 145 disagree
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Bye-bye blackbirds said:
I didn't know there was a franchise here until it folded.
151 agree | 151 disagree
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William Kennedy said:
This reminds me of the ill-fated Baltimore Blades of the old and not lamented WHA. A team comes in under financed, with little pre advertising, no hype at all and a schedule that no one knew in a league that no one cares about anad they expect to turn a profit right away. As shakespere wrote, "What fools these mortals be." Without some planning and positive publicity to generate a fan base starting NOW, this team will not see another season. Just ask the former owners of the Clippers, Skipjacks and Bandits how hard it is to make it even in a well established minor league. Good luck. I hope they can pull it off.
182 agree | 163 disagree
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