Dreams of a SupHer Bowl
Column by Mark Dewar, Sun Sports Editor October 16, 2002

"Daddy, make me dive for it!"

The little boy looked like a guy leaving a fifth-story window Saturday at Wyandotte County Park, judging by how willing he was to give up his body. He sprawled headlong in pursuit of the football his father had flipped obediently just a few feet in front of the boy's outstretched
fingertips.

And caught it.

Catch. Thud.

Must run in the family, this football stuff. Mom's football practice was almost over on the field in front of father and son.

What a beautiful world this could be: One day when classmates at little guy's high school go into their schtick about how his mom wears football cleats, those cleats might just be fitting.

And little guy will be as proud as his friends are right. They might even want Mom's autograph.

You thought our world was a changin'. Now you're sure of it.

Behold, the advent in Kansas City of the 2-year-old National Women's Football League (NWFL). The league's rules are in precise keeping with those of the National Football League.

Translated: tackle football, for women ages 18 and up.

The 30-team NWFL awarded Kansas City a franchise as part of a recent three-team expansion. Saturday's workout in the park marked the KC team's final tryout. The local team's name - the Kansas City Krunch - was finalized Aug. 20.

Or, "Let's Krunch 'em like Nestle!" one defensive back hopeful shouted repeatedly during a four-on-four passing drill, focusing on her receiver while perhaps giving a lead on a potential team sponsor - even if the team's spelling is fudged (no pun intended) a bit.

Team colors: red and white. Game site: undecided.

An NWFL team costs from $40,000 to $65,000, according to Krunch Owner/General Manager Cheryl Fields. Fields lives in Overland Park and is presently working to finalize her coaching staff. Courtney Porter has been named the head coach.

The season will run from April through July, and tickets will range in cost from $10 to $20 per game, Fields said.

A couple more NWFL fun facts: Among the teams are the D.C. Divas, Pittsburgh Passion and New Orleans Spice. Some 5,300 fans attended the 2002 SupHer Bowl (I am not making that name up), which made a little history with the first-ever Las Vegas betting line on a women's football
game.

Certainly, the league has caught the eye of the National Football League, if only for possible litigation.

According to the NWFL's Web site (www.nwflcentral.com), the big boys aren't real happy with the "SupHer Bowl" name, two of the team's logos - or the league's name itself.

None of these peripheral headaches were enough to get a plucky Fields down on Saturday, even after the late-afternoon sun had taken a knee on what was now a poorly-lit field.

"We're going to knock off pretty soon," said Fields, who for her part loves football, holds an MBA degree from the University of Phoenix and is working toward her Ph.D.

"I've been up since 4 in the morning," she added, laughing. She'd been watching over this tryout session since 4 p.m., and it was now past 7.

"We've had about 100 out here," the GM from OP offered excitedly. "Right now, I think they are all going to make the team. We'd have about 80 each game, as 20 would likely have other engagements from week to week."

"I think the girls who stick with this will be great influences on the younger generation for sure, the same way people respect women's NBA players," said Kim Luyet, 32, who works as a financial planner for Carson Financial Planning Group in Overland Park and was among those who took part in Saturday's tryout.

Why was Overland Park's Nicole Weide, 31, subjecting her body to all of this?

Weide wasn't looking for respect. Only the pigskin.

"I just want to play," she said shruggingly. "I just want to play."