European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 25, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday May 25. 1901 the stars and stripes a Page 29world league of Americast footballing n. America full in Europe commentary Rob Staggenborg in March football purists watched with tongues in Cheek As this world league of american football business opened shop. The question then was will it work in North America it did no to and wont until the Public 1. Icarus to Trust Spring football again. 2. Is reassured that Donald Trump is in no Way connected with it this time. But in Europe the answer was a resounding yes to the Tunc of an average attendance of More than 30,000 per game and the on Field dominance of its franchises in Frankfurt Barcelona and London. The Success of the european teams has put a smile in Olaf president Mike Lynn a face. Before the season the Public opinion was that Europe Wasny to ready for football. North America would support it. Never quite happened. Europe is football crazy and football hungry. London has gone undefeated in its first nine games and Barcelona and Frankfurt have been respectable at 7-2. The dragons and Galaxy battled for the Olaf wild card berth and Frankfurt won 10-3 in week 9. The league will survive in Europe for awhile or at least until one of the teams goes 2-8. Then it is in trouble. Back across the Ocean the critics treat this league As an nil Novelty the league with the helmet Cam the league with the flour scent Green jerseys the league they hid Brent Musburger in. For europeans who Arentt As concerned with the problems As with the magnificence of the games its Hollywood the big time an event and most of All a party. A 30,000-person party. Fireworks spraying into the sky. Rock music pumping from the sound system. The a role Ole Ole Vamos dragons a lets go dragons echoing through Barcelona a olympic stadium. Also cheerleaders Che girls dancers whatever you want to Call them. Europeans love them. The party concept works. In North America the Olaf is simply not working As Well As planned. Football is nothing new. If people want Rock music they hit a few buttons on the Remote control and mtg is staring them in the face. Beautiful girls in glittering spandex another mtg Staple. A Model example of a team gone bad is Raleigh Durham. The franchise Hasni to won a game and owner George Shinn is already talking about folding or relocating the 7 franchise. Since Only 4,000 people showed up for monday nights game the decision should be relatively simple. A we just failed a Shinn told the news and observer of Raleigh. A i take Pride in my ability As an individual to understand marketing. It just Hasni to  Shinn will attend the world league meetings in London on june 8 to discuss the prospects for his sky Hawks who lost nearly $1 million this Spring. He said if the league decides it would be Best to move the team from Raleigh he would do so. But he also implied the team could not then rely on his financial support. The observer reported that Shinn had not yet talked sx9 l emr Hott Lewis or Frankfurt a fireworks will spark again at 8 . Today when the Galaxy plays Host to the Sacramento surge. To his business advisers a but i know what  Tell me a a done to throw Good Money after  a to ratings have been dismal but network executives Arentt pulling a Shinn just yet. The world league came into existence Licking a Sterling spoon. It was backed by the majority of nil owners who had dished put $50,000 apiece As Start up Money and opened a line of credit Tor the fledgling league to draw upon. Abc offered the league a two year package Worth $28 million and Usa network joined in for $25 million Over two years with a two year option. Abc is averaging about a 2.1 Nielsen share for its broadcasts. Usa network is pulling in an Overall 1.2 for its saturday monday games. A the ratings Are quite frankly not As High As we would have liked a Abc spokesman Mark Mandell told the los Angeles times this week. A but we knew going in it was going to have to build and grow. When we went in there were no teams stadiums coaches. We knew it was a Good concept. We still know its a Good  for All the North american stumbling blocks and negative Public opinion Europe has been the Crown jewel with the record Gates the Tan interest and the merchandising sales which have put a Galaxy Cap on Margaux Hemingway a head and a London monarchs to shirt on the Back of English soccer sensation Paul Gascoigne. When Joe Bailey vice president for the league came to Frankfurt to announce the Galaxy name and give Oliver Luck the Frankfurt general manager Post in december he said the league will survive with Public patience with a few gimmicks a i.e., the helmet Cam a tossed in the Heap As insurance. How Long would the Olaf commit itself to this venture before giving up Bailey simply said a we have no contingency plans for it not to  from a marketing aspect a winning record and a few exciting players Are the key ingredients to a financially successful season. The european division has both elements. Its teams arc a combined 23-4 and Haven to lost a Home game to a North american team. It also has two Star players in London a Stan Gelbaugh and Frankfurt a Tony Baker plus a Star coach in Barce Lonay a Caballero Jack a a Cowboy Jack Bicknell. North America has had to compete with the Mcaa final four the nil and Aba playoffs and the beginning of the baseball season. Marketing has been a Nightmare. Europe still has openings. Does the Milan sky Hawks strike a chord. The stars and str Paa London s Gelbaugh Frankfurt s Baker All world. 1 1 _ _ a a a a is i i i a. T. I i  intr in t la it is 11 by Walt Morrissette staff writer London quarterback Stan Gelbaugh wide receiver Jon Horton and linebacker Danny Lockett Frankfurt running Back Tony Baker and Barcelona receiver Gene Taylor Lead the first All world league team. World league of american football head coaches selected the team which the Olaf announced Friday. Gelbaugh is the leagues leading passe going into the final week of the season with 2,367 Yards and 16 touchdowns. Horton is the top yardage receiver with a 22.7 Yards per catch average and seven  is the total offence Leader with 961 Yards 541 Rushing and 420 receiving. Locketti a 1315 sacks Lead the league. Fifteen of the 26 players named to the first team Are from european division clubs. London a 9-0 monarchs Lead with 10 first team selectee and six on the second Stan Gelbaugh Tony Baker squad. Frankfurt has three first Tea Mars and two seconds. Barcelona has two first team players and four on the second three members of London so Nasty Boyzs offensive line made the first team tackle Steve Gabbard guard Paul Bra Delli and Center Doug Marone. The Galaxy a Garry Frank made it at guard. Rounding out the first team of sense Are Orlando a Mike Withycombe and Byron Williams at wide receiver tight end and san Antonio running Back Rickey Blake. The first team defensive line has Frankfurt a Mark Mraz and Barcelona a Bruce Clark at the ends and London Sroy Hart at nose guard. Lockett and Montreal a Tracy Simian arc at outside linebacker and Birmingham a John Brantley and san Antonious Tim Walton Are the inside linebackers. The first team secondary has Corris Ervin of London and Anthony Parker of new York new Jersey As the cornerback Sacramento a Greg coat cute at Strong safety and Birmingham a John Miller at free safety. A la he first team punter is Chris Mohr of Montreal and the kicker is Phil Alexander of London. Alexander a London native was also named the outstanding operation discovery player. Punt returner Errol Tucker of Orlando is the first team special  and Parker were the Only unanimous selections. Second team. Of Lelm quart Orbock a Scott Emey Barcelona. Running backs Eric Wilkerson Norw York Judd Garrett London Erie Mitchel Orlando. Roco Vors a Dana Brinson London Carl Parker Sacramento Monty Gilbreath now York. Tackos too Adams London Scott Adams Barcelona. Guards Bany Voort Ioos Bor Colona Jotin Murono Orlando. Center Curtis Wilson a Tomento. Defense. Outside no backers a Marlon Brown. London Ron son cow now York. Inside to backers Ken Sujo London Ron Gooter Bor Colona pole Najarian sacral Norrita. Ends a Donnie Gardnor son Antonio stud in Knight. Sacco Monto. Noso tackle Moo Lector Iron Furt Dorr Oil Phillips Birmingham. A Strong Saleby a i Fri Broad f Frankfurt. F ree safety a Dock Dodge London. Conc rocks h thard Shofton Montreal John Holland. Birmingham. Special team punter a k Maggio . Kicker a Bjorn Pittmo Montroal. Punt returner Shipton