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CFL Controversy

The WLAF is doing the job okay in Europe... sure we need a few more teams (I get on to that later), but basicaly things look good. The simple fact is the WLAF doesn't need the CFL right now. In a merger of exisiting CFL teams and WLAF teams crippling travel costs will occur again. One of the reasons that the WLAF is only in europe is that costs are kept to a minimum. Heck travelling support is common. Believe me I'd like to have more WLAF teams but simply it's not viable right now to take the CFL on.

But there is an option, that is bring back a few of the OLD WLAF teams, Orlando Thunder, New York Knights and the Montreal Machine.... All of these teams are on the East coast of North America. Traveling times are shorter, travel costs should be limited. The WLAF could be the WLAF once again instead of a really European LAF. But there is a price for all this. One which I doubt the WLAF would pay. TV rights and failure. It was these two problems which doomed the orginal WLAF. I'd love to see these teams compete again in the WLAF but I'm not holding my breath.

So what of a CFL / WLAF merger ? Not a good idea. However if the CFL co-ordinated with the WLAF there is hope. Here's how it could go. CFL becomes the NALF (North American Football League) and partners with FOX (or another Channel - perhaps CBS ?) and the NFL. Rules are changed to match the WLAF standards, and NFL 'supported teams' are founded in New York, Orlando, Mexico and somewhere on the West Coast of the USA. This league would be run by the CFL on behalf of the NFL. Then following the Grey Cup and World Bowl chapions being found a Head to head : International Final of some sort could be arranged. (Perhaps rename the World Bowl to something else in memory of the orginal WLAF supporters in the NFL ?).

Which brings me neatly on to WLAF expansion. As things stand the WLAF isn't very big. Six teams simply aren't enough. Eight teams works okay (2 divisions of 4) then perhaps Ten (2 divisions of 5) and finally the magic number of Twelve European Teams (3x4 or 2x6 or 4x3). That should be the target for the WLAF 12 European treams. Meanwhile over in Asia there is scope for another expansion. The target should be of another 12 Teams (Austrailia, Korea, Japan, New Zealand, Perhaps even South Africa ?). So with the WLAF split basically in two conferences the World Bowl would be played for by the two Conference Champions. And here's the other bit of the Puzzle. This is when the newly formed NALF comes into play. 3 teams playing for the WORLD BOWL ?

But that's all a pipe dream but not impossible. Imagine the set up in perhaps 2025.... The WLAF, NALF and yes the NFL would all be of the same level of play. The SuperBowl now only for the USA and perhaps the NALF to play for. The WORLD BOWL being the pinical. But it won't happen sure it wont because of one little thing... AF in the WLAF.. American Football. The NFL owns the game and I doubt they are going to let change that much. But hey we can dream.

Anyway back to the present. With 1998 Expansion talked about in the WLAF where should the league choose ? There are a number of cities which could well support a WLAF team. And picking 2 out of them isn't really fair. Prime targets are Dublin, Paris, Milan, Berlin. But the list doesn't stop there. So I'm going to jump ahead a few years. To when we should have 12 teams in the European WLAF, and here are where I think the WLAF should be playing....