A few weeks ago, NBC did the unthinkable. It announced it was pulling Sunday's Storm-Orlando Predators game from its broadcast schedule.
Late last week, the matchup not only returned to the television schedule, it became the network's A game.
The official explanation: A scheduling conflict at the Pepsi Center forced the Philadelphia-Colorado game to be moved from Sunday to Saturday. The move was made to accommodate the NBA playoff series between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves.
But, truth be told, Orlando-Tampa Bay is the better game.
Aside from the fact one or the other has played in 10 of the past 13 ArenaBowls and they form the league's fiercest rivalry, the Storm and Predators are battling for playoff spots. Orlando (6-5) is in a four-way tie for the eighth and final berth while Tampa Bay (5-7) is two games back in the loss column.
Faced with the improbable task of winning its final six games to make the playoffs, the Storm responded with back-to-back wins for the first time this season. The Predators have been even hotter, winning three in a row and four of five.
"The last three games they looked like the best team in the league to me," Storm coach Tim Marcum said.
Don't be fooled by Tampa Bay's easy 52-41 victory Feb. 8 in Tampa. Orlando is a different team.
The offensive/defensive lines were revamped, offensive specialist Travis McGriff returned to the lineup after missing the first meeting with an injury, and defensive specialist Damon Mason was signed. After struggling early in the season, former Bucs quarterback Joe Hamilton is playing like a league veteran.
"When we played him he was a rookie," Marcum said. "Now he's played 11 games. In the old days, we played 12 games only. That was a season, so he's no longer a rookie. He's played a season."
The Storm has grown too.
After losing five of six to fall to 3-7 on April 11, Tampa Bay bounced back to beat Austin and Columbus the past two weeks. Defense and special teams keyed the turnaround, as T.T. Toliver returned three kickoffs for touchdowns, linebacker Lawrence Samuels returned a fumble for a score and lineman Kelvin Kinney intercepted a pass in the end zone.
In its final four games, the Storm plays teams it is chasing in the overall standings. In addition to Orlando, Tampa Bay has games remaining against Los Angeles (7-4), New Orleans (9-2) and Dallas (6-5).
"Certainly, the ball is in our court," Marcum said. "It's our move. It's up to us to do what we've got to do."
STAYING THE COURSE: Falling between an emotional overtime victory over Austin and the highly anticipated matchup with Orlando, Columbus (3-8) had all the makings of a trap game. The Storm trailed 22-10 in the second quarter before scoring 22 consecutive points between the second and third to seize control.
"They probably could have (been a trap), but I don't know how you approach anything any more now than to say, "We're in sudden death,' " Marcum said. "I don't see 8-8 getting in the playoffs, though the way things are going, who knows?"
QUITE A RUSH: The Storm ran the ball a season-high 15 times and had three rushing touchdowns during its 46-36 victory over Columbus. Tampa Bay found itself in more goal-line situations than usual, and Columbus' rush defense ranked 18th entering the game.
"Not to take anything away from the opponent, but we felt that when you compare them to, say, San Jose, they don't have the biggest of strong lines like San Jose did," Marcum said. "We had absolutely no success running the ball against San Jose."
STORM FLURRIES: Toliver injured his ankle and was evaluated on Monday. ... Austin signed former Storm and Bucs lineman Jorge Diaz, who was waived two weeks ago.
