-The Newest MLB Team is officially the Washington Nationals. Here is their new logo. -Indoor FB News: AIFL:Atlantic Indoor Football League will begin play in 2005. First team announced is the Johnstown RiverHawks. Second team is the Carolina Sharks. League plans on having ten teams for their inaugural season that will begin in Spring 2005.
AFL: The Carolina Cobras, Detroit Fury and Indiana Firebirds have all folded.The Nashville Kats will return in 2005 and Salt Lake City has been given a team for 2006. Boston, Miami, Kansas City and Washington may also get teams in 2006. Columbus Destroyers have a new logo.
AF2: Tennessee Valley Vipers have left the AF2 and will play in the UIF as the Pythons. Peoria Pirates have also moved to the UIF. Amarillo Dusters havemoved from the IFL to the AF2. Cape Fear Wildcats have moved to Albany, GA and will be called the South Georgia Wildcats. Bakersfield Blitz will play in 2005. Columbus Wardogs have suspended operations. Wichita Stealth have folded. Laredo Law have folded. Hawaiian Islanders have folded. AF2 will have 20 teams in 2005. NIFL:
-The Intense Football League has merged with the NIFL beginning with the 2005 season.
-The following teams have left the NIFL for the UIF: Black Hills RedDogs, Dayton Warbirds, Evansville Bluecats, Fort Wayne Freedom, Lexington Horsemen, Ohio Valley Greyhounds, Omaha Beef, Sioux City and Sioux Falls.
-NIFL adds 6 expansion teams for 2005. Teams are: Everett Hawks, Tri-Cities Fever and in Florida: Daytona Beach Hawgs, Kissimmee Kreatures, Lakeland Thunderbolts and the Miami Morays. For those of you wondering just what the heck a Moray is, it is a type of eel.
-Also, Carolina Stingrays have moved to Fayetteville and will now be called the Fayetteville Heat, Oklahoma Crude are moving to Rome, GA and will be called the Rome Renegades. Staten Island Xtreme are moving to East Rutherford, NJ. Lake Charles Landsharks change name to Southwest Louisiana Swashbucklers.
UIF- Yet another Indoor Football League will begin play in 2005. This one is called "United Indoor Football" and will have 12 teams in their Inaugural 2005 season. 10 teams left the NIFL and two former AF2 franchises will comprise the UIF. The 12 teams are: Black Hills RedDogs, Dayton WarBirds, Evansville Bluecats, Fort Wayne Freedom, Lexington Horsemen, Ohio Valley Greyhounds, Omaha Beef, Peoria Pirates, Sioux City Bandits, Sioux Falls Storm, Tennessee Valley Pythons and the Tupelo FireAntz.
2005 Baseball News
-Anaheim Angels are looking into changing their name to the Los Angeles Angels. They have dropped "Anaheim" from their website and team issued press releases for now.
Minor Leagues
AAA -(PCL) Edmonton Trappers are moving to Round Rock, TX. Nashville Sounds have a new logo.
-(AA) Southern League- Greenville Braves are moving to Pearl, MS for the 2005 season. Team will be called the Mississippi Braves.
-(AA) Texas League- El Paso Diablos are moving to Springfield, MO and the new team will be called the Springfield Cardinals. Corpus Christi Hooks replace the Round Rock Express.
-(A) California League-Modesto is changing their nickname and logo as they are no longer affiliated with the Oakland A's. Choices are: Dusters, Nuts, Steel, Derailers, Strikes.
-(A) Carolina League-Salem Avalanche have a new logo. -(A) Midwest League-Battle Creek Yankees are now affiliated with Tampa Bay and will change their nickname.
-(A) SAL- Greensboro Bats have changed their name to the "Grasshoppers". Charleston Alley Cats have changed their name to the West Virginia Power. Capital City Bombers are likely moving to Greenville.
Independent League Baseball
-Atlantic League- Lancaster Barnstormers (PA) will begin play in 2005.
-Central League- El Paso Diablos will begin play in 2005. Amarillo Dillas have folded.
-Frontier Leagueannounces an expansion team for 2005. Traverse City Beach Bums will begin play next season. Florence Freedom are on the erge of folding as the team has sold all of their assets to pay off debts.
-Northern League announces expansion teams in Calgary and Edmonton for 2005.
-Northeast League has changed their name to the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball. CanAm League for short. Teams are the same as 2004 with the addition of one team to be named soon and the folding of the league run "Aces". -A new Independent Baseball League is scheduled to begin play in 2005. This one is called the "Golden League" and is based in California. The teams include: Chico, Fullerton, Long Beach, Mesa, San Diego, Surprise and Yuma.
-Yet another Independent Baseball League is scheduled to start up in 2005. This one is called the "South States League" and teams include the Alexandria Aces, Anderson, SC, Baton Rouge, LA, Beaumont, TX and Macon, GA.
-Summer College Baseball
-Northwoods League adds two teams for 2005. Brainerd Blue Thunder and the Eau Claire Express
NLL Lacrosse - Minnesota team will be called the "Swarm".
-Hockey News & Notes
-NHL The Lockout officially began on 9/16. Confirmed NHL skeds so far: Atlanta, Chicago, Minnesota, Nashville, NY Islanders, Ottawa, St. Louis and Tampa Bay.
-AHL Toronto Roadrunners have moved to Edmonton for the 2004/2005 season.
-New League for 2004/2005: Southern Professional Hockey League. 8 Teams will play in 2004/05: Asheville Aces, Cape Fear FireAntz, Columbus Cottonmouths, Huntsville Havoc, Jacksonville Barracudas, Knoxville IceBears, Macon Trax,Winston-Salem Polar Twins.
-UHL added three teams for 2004/05. Danbury Trashers (Danbury, CT), Motor City Mechanics (Fraser, MI) and the Kansas City Outlaws.
-CEHL has folded.
-NAHL Lone Star Calvary have moved to Santa Fe, NM. Team will be called the Roadrunners, Central Texas Marshals replace the Central Texas Blackhawks.
