ZOOS ER Coiivernoii SPARKS Slll'iria'iives
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ZOOS ER COIIVERnOII SPARKS Slll'IRIA'IIVES If anyone attending this year's 11th Annual Official thought they heard more of a buzz at this year's were really clamoring for at the Miggle Convention Electric Football Super Bowl & Convention event at the Embassy Suites Hotel in Pittsburgh -a format that allowed them to play far more games than in events past, they were right! against many more opponents. According to convention coordinator Ira H. The plan that the Landsmans and a special Silverman of Silverman Media&Marketing Group, Tournament Organizing Committee comprised of about 400% more tournament games were played Ron Bell, Aaron Johnson, Frank Johnson and on the opening day of the 2005 EFL Super Bowl Mark Klingbeil came up with was instantly Convention than at any Convention beforehand applauded by all-a Round-Robin format in which thus giving rise to more buzzing, as well as more the field was seeded into four eight-coach divisions cheering, elation, excitement and disappointment that were then divided into the Dirk Thomas and than on any previous Saturday at a Miggle EFL Doc Smeby Conferences, with each coach playing Convention. every other coach in that division once. Yes, after a decade that saw the Miggle Super From there, the four division winners in each Bowl tournament grow from a four or five coach Conference met in semifinal and Conference event in its infancy to a huge single elimination Championship games, with the two Conference winners A replca of Heinz Field drew attendees' attention competition, Delayne and Michael Landsman going head to head in the Super Bowl of Electric at the Convention. decided last summer to give the coaches what they Football 11 on Sunday afternoon, Jan. 30, 2005. continued on page 4 NOl~BBR'r RB\fBLS SHOCKS BPL \\/OIU.,D INSIDE THIS ISSUE OF PLUCCED IN! \\fl'l'H 2005 SUPBR BO\\n., \\/IN 2 Letter From The Co1111dssloner Norbert Revels (Hamtramick, MI, Great Lakes phone was then turned over to the incomparable cnl "In Memory of a Good EFL), making his first-ever appearance at Miggle's "broadcasting team" of Ken "Sir Talkalot" Allen Friend" Official Super Bowl Weekend (held this year at and "Let Me Be Frank With You" Johnson, 3 Meet a Hal of Farner with a the Embassy Suites Pittsburgh/International Airport who again handled play-by-play and commentary Heart & Hot Wires Coum Hotel), powered through the most difficult, chal duties, respectively, in a flawless manner. 4 Who received MWgle's tlrst-ewr lenging and grueling tournament format yet to Good VbatiofJS Awarff earn the prestigious Miggle Trophy as champion Check here of Miggle's Super Bowl of Electric Football 11. 5 Meet the 2005 Coach of the To get to the Super Bowl game, Coach Revels, lea' & Brealdhtough Coach of a 40-year-old butcher, had to defeat seven opponents the lea' in a round-robin competition, then Brian Perry (River 6-7 2005 Convention Photo Ahln Rouge, Ml, Detroit EFL), 20-0, in his Conference semi-final; three-time Miggle Super Bowl 8 More "Greatest Electrlc Footba1 Champion Ron Bell (New Orleans, LA, New Memories" & Learn the Wlmers of the Kids Essay Contest Orleans EFL), 24-6, in his Conference title game; and finally two-time Miggle EFL Super Bowl 9-16 Mlggle Products, Order 2005 S.,,,, Bowl a.a,., Norl»rt Revels (LJ a,u/ ,._,,. Forms, Etc. defending champion Edgar Downs (Gary, IN, Edgar Dowis (RJ show off ,W. ••ssive troplies. Midwest EFL) in the title tilt. .. .cnl lots morel The festive Super Bowl Pre-Game Show began Following the coin toss by Official Super Bowl with a heartfelt rendition of The Star Spangled Referee Jim Bushofsky of the Big IO, the coaches Tudor Games, Electric Football, EFL & Electric Banner by guest vocalist Carolyn Niederlander, took over the action. Right from the first play from Football League are Registered Trademarks of followed by introductions of the opposing Coaches scrimmage-which resulted in an 80-yard TD run Miggle Toys, Inc. by Convention MC Ira H. Silverman. The micro- -Coach Revels showed a game filled with finesse, NFL and the NFL Shield are registered trademarks continued on page 4 of the National Football League. A LETTER FROM THE COMMISSIONER PLUGGED IN! Spring 2005, Volum e ll No. Published by Michael Landsman Miggle Toys, lnc. 1384 Sheridan Road Welcome 10 the Spring that begins on Page I of this newslctler! Highland Park, IL 60035 Phone: (847) 432-0140 2005 issue of PLUGGED As always. Dclayne and I had a great lime in Fax: (847) 432-3140 [N! Let me say right from Pillsburgh with our Electri c Football Family, seei ng E- Mail: [email protected] the Opening Kickoff that many old fri ends and making dozens of new ones. Publisher & Editor Delayne Landsman if you didn '1 attend the 11 lh That's why !he Annual Friday Ni ght Reception & Copywriter/Layout Ira H. Silverman & Annual Official Elect1ic Dinner. followed by the Convention, are just two Cathleen M. Coburn Football Super Bowl & ways we try lo "give back" lo the EFL community Silverman Media& Convention this past every year for all your support and patronage. Marketing Group, Inc. January, you missed the These past 12 months have been terrific in Design Joei Shavitz most ACTION PACKED, tem1s of Miggle introducing several really great new DePinto Graphic Design FUN and EXCITING products, some of which actually resulted from Subscription Information: Send check or Michael Landsman, Convention lo date! ideas offered by many of you in our EF Community. money order for $4.00 payable lo Commissioner Pittsburgh was a I am very grateful for your input, and want to Miggle Toys/PLUGGED IN!, 1384 Sheridan great city to visit, and an thank all of you who worked with us. Road, Highland Park, IL 60035 Embassy Suites hotel was again the ideal place 10 It is unfortunate, however, that because we at serve as Convention headquat1ers because it presented Miggle had a full plate this year, we sometimes failed such a lerrificfami/y-friendly ambiance. Bui what to deliver some items when promised. This scenario In the arena of "Coming Attractions:" while made the entire Convention so special was the new is not our way of doing business, and I want to Electric Football is still growing in the US and in format that Miggle added this year to the Super Bowl personally apologize to those of you who were disap many other countries around the world, we all tournament as a result of requests that came in from pointed, as well as to the coaches who are still waiting know that the word "football" means soccer so many of you, our loyal customers and friends! for some of their products 10 be shipped. As you know, everywhere around the globe except here and in You asked for more opportunities to play our policy at Miggle is that all of our new games and Canada. So in order to recognize the popularity other coaches from all over the country within the accessories are completely tested before their release of the sport, Miggle will soon be introducing a context of our Super Bowl competition. So, with and, due to pre-production difficulties and communica new International Electric Soccer Game that that charge in mind, my wife, Delayne, along tions issues (as well as holiday observances), it has will be ready to ship beginning this September. with our public relations/special events consultant just taken far longer than we ever anticipated to get Be on the lookout for it! Ira H. Silverman of Silverman Media&Marketing some of our new products to you. Before closing, I would like to take this Group and a Panel of Expert Coaches including We know many of you are waiting for our opportunity to wish all of you and all of our Ron Bell, Aaron Johnson, Frank Johnson and new #620 game board, but after releasing a few brave and vigilant troops around the world a Mark Klingbeil, developed a system that featured of them at the end of January, we discovered that safe and healthy year, and to always keep that a Round-Robin format in which each coach had we needed to make a couple of adjustments "buzz" going. an opportunity to play at least seven other coaches which have now been completed. Our new delivery See you soon over the Electric Gridiron! from around the U.S. on Day One of the Convention. date will be the end of April. We thank you for Michael Landsman Were attendees happy? Just check some of the your patience, and just know that these new #620 President, Miggle Toys, Inc. comments we received in the Convention article game boards are really awesome! Commissioner, Electric Football League ■ IN TRIBUTE TO OUR GOOD FRIEND The entire EFL EFL coaches and fans were first introduced Community lost a great to the remarkable Doc Smeby in the Spring 1997 friend, colleague, advisor, issue of PLUGGED IN!, shortly after he traveled mentor and calming and from England to Chicago to attend the 3rd Annual uniting influence recently Miggle EFL Convention. We devoted space in when news came from both the Spring and Fall 1997 issues of our overseas that Kurt "Doc" Newsletter to Doc, describing him as "a long-time Smeby had passed away Electric Football fan who currently is head coach from diabetes-related of the Irish National American Football Team." On June 23 of that year, Doc was inducted comp I ications. into the Minor Pro Football Hall of Fame in Following an e-mail Kurt "Doc' Smeby Canton, Ohio, in recognition of his "tremendous correspondence from Doc Smeby and one of his beloved Electric Foatlial Games Doc's wife with the sad news, the chatboard on work in international football over the years." the Miggle Toys website was filled with posts The next seven years saw Doc spread his Words cannot adequately express our grief from coaches all over the country who wanted to knowledge of American football to additional at the loss of this gentle and prominent man, share their memories and reflections of a man areas of Europe while, at the same time, remain a but we know that his memory and contributions who dedicated his life to sharing his love for the staunch supporter of Electric Football as both a will live on forever within all of us.