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Storm: Thumbs down to film

By JOHN COTEY

© St. Petersburg Times,
published June 12, 2001

The most anticipated viewing of film this year was Monday when the Storm gathered at the Ice Palace to watch its first loss of the season, 57-45 to Orlando.

Media relations director Andy Lopusnak said he could hear hooting and hollering from behind closed doors, and his office is a good 100 yards from the film room.

But to get the best assessment of what the Storm (7-1) thought of the officiating in Sunday's game, you had to ask coach Tim Marcum.

"How can I say this without you printing this and me not getting fined?" he said. "Tell you what, I'm not going to tell you anything."

That said it all.

Clearly, Marcum remained upset about the loss, after which quarterback John Kaleo claimed there was excessive holding on offensive specialist James Bowden by the Predators' defensive backs.

Marcum said he would do what he always does with a tape that includes questionable calls: mail it to the league office.

That office is the NFL, which oversees Arena League officials this season.

"The NFL will at least review our concerns or our questions. That's a good thing about it," Marcum said. "If (officials) miss a call, they'll tell you."

Marcum said the Arena League never responded to claims of questionable officiating.

TAKE THAT: Marcum said his team was "outphysicalled" and outhit by the Predators, who once again proved to be tougher in the trenches.

YAWN: Sunday's game, broadcast on TNN, was three hours, a problem the league must correct before people start tuning out. Whether it was penalties or length of time between touchdowns and turnovers, or unsure officiating delaying calls, the televised games have had the life squeezed out of them by their lengths. That's not good for a league that prides itself on fast-paced action.

MORE RECORDS: In the league's previous 14 seasons, one player getting 300-plus total yards was rare. But Bowden (319 yards) did so for the third straight game, setting a league record.

Bowden has four 300-yard games for the season and five for his career, another league record.

And how about this statistic: The Storm has played three games in the past 14 days, and Bowden has caught 38 passes for 541 yards and 13 touchdowns in that span, totaling 930 all-purpose yards.

PIG CHECK: Lineman Pig Goff sustained a concussion in the second quarter and did not return. He is scheduled to have an MRI exam Wednesday, but Marcum said he expects Goff to play Friday against Arizona at the Ice Palace.

Goff's injury left the Storm short-handed. Because of league substitution rules, Goff could not be replaced by another lineman because it was the second time he had come out in the quarter. As a result, Andre Bowden had to play on the line and Clinton Hart, 6 feet 2, 198 pounds, had to play fullback.

CLASSY GUY: Though Arena football allows spectators to keep balls thrown into the stands, one lucky recipient decided to throw his ball back: Brett Bouchy, the Predators' league liaison and former team president.

Bouchy, brother of Orlando chief financial officer and general manager Jeff Bouchy, caught a fourth-quarter pass from Kaleo and fired it at the quarterback as he made his way back toward the huddle. The throw missed Kaleo by a few feet as Bouchy high-fived those around him.

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