Friday Flashback: Arizona Sandsharks
Team: Arizona Sandsharks
The Arizona Sandsharks played in the Continental Indoor Soccer League (CISL) which was an indoor league created to play during the summer months as opposed to other indoor leagues which played in winter. The league hoped that with most arenas being vacant that they would attract more fans which would appeal to owners from the National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Hockey League (NHL).
The Sandsharks were a founding member of the CISL by Phoenix Sun's owner Jerry Colangelo in 1992. The team was not successful on the field as they never had a winning season during their four years of play and never qualified for the playoffs. Their best season was in 1995 when they finished fourth place in the Southern Division with a 11-17 record. The team was moderately successful with fan support as they averaged 5,331 per game.
There was a strange ending to the franchise when, in 1995, a brawl broke out at a game between the Sandsharks and the Portland Pride. Arizona's Franklin McIntosh continued the brawl into the parking lot. When Colangelo attempted to break up the fight, McIntosh accidentally broke the owner’s nose. This proved to be the breaking point for Colangelo, who after years of financial losses sought to sell the team. New buyers were found but the sale was completed just before the 1996 season, so the new owners chose to suspend operations for a year. After another awful season in 1997, the Sandsharks withdrew from the league.
Fun Facts:
- Sandsharks won their first game on June 17, 1993 defeating the Los Angeles United, 6-4.
- Sandsharks played their final game on September 28, 1997 losing to the Washington Warthogs, 7-6.
- McIntosh the teams' leading scorer with 63 goals.
- In 1995, the Sandsharks 7-6 overtime victory over the Sacramento Knights also marked Newman’s 700th career victory as a coach, making him the most successful coach in American soccer history.
Comments
Post a Comment