"All I know is I'm going to drink from it if we win," Kendrick Ings said.

still alive and kicking,Here's to the Tampa Bay Storm, like its Lazarus of a league. The Storm is playing in ArenaBowl XXX on Saturday in Philadelphia against the defending AFL champion Soul.

a championship is a championship," said Ings,"I don't care if it's two teams in the league, a Storm receiver with 22 touchdown catches this season.

"This team has gone through things that have reminded me of things I went through on my championship teams in college and the Bucs," Storm president Derrick Brooks said.

The AFL seemed on the brink of extinction last year as it shriveled from eight teams to three teams. From the outside, it looked like curtains.

along with Lightning and Storm owner Jeff Vinik and Cleveland Cavaliers and AFL Gladiators owner Dan Gilbert., owner of the NHL Washington Capitals and NBA Washington Wizards, created two new AFL teams,But Ted Leonsis, the Washington Valor and Baltimore Brigade. He represents solid ownership

a robust turnaround from 2016, though it would be Tampa Bay's first since 2003., when it went 2-14. Mind you,http://www.capitalshockeyshop.com/adidas-braden-holtby-jersey' title='Authentic Braden Holtby jersey' target='_blank'>Authentic Braden Holtby jersey,It went 10-4 this season, 2-14 still made the playoffs. Oh,http://www.capitalshockeyshop.com/adidas-t.j.-oshie-jersey' title='Authentic T. J. Oshie jersey' target='_blank'>Authentic T. J. Oshie jersey, that nutty league. But here is the Storm's chance to win a record sixth ArenaBowl

wears No. 12. I suggested he could maybe stir interest in this ArenaBowl if he sat at the pool at the team's Philadelphia airport hotel and told media that he "guarantees" a victory over the Soul. The full Joe Willie., a very nice man who has thrown 80 touchdowns this season,http://www.hockeyjetsshop.com/adidas-blake-wheeler-jersey' title='Authentic Blake Wheeler jersey' target='_blank'>Authentic Blake Wheeler jersey, but,I mentioned this to Storm quarterback Randy Hippeard,http://www.hockeyjetsshop.com/adidas-patrik-laine-jersey' title='Authentic Patrik Laine jersey' target='_blank'>Authentic Patrik Laine jersey, more important

" said first-year Storm coach Ron James,"These guys are putting their bodies on the line every week,http://www.hockeyjetsshop.com/adidas-dustin-byfuglien-jersey' title='adidas Dustin Byfuglien jersey' target='_blank'>adidas Dustin Byfuglien jersey, a 20-year AFL man who will work at his first ArenaBowl. "The turf is unforgiving. The walls are unforgiving."

roughly $900 per player per game,And the paychecks are unforgiving, though QBs make a little more.

Storm receiver Joe "Superman" Hills has caught 36 touchdowns this season and holds the AFL record with TD catches in 81 consecutive regular-season games and counting. In the offseason, Hills works as a trainer at a YMCA in Bradenton.

" said Hills,"Playing is a labor of love, who spent some time on the Bucs' practice squad.

There are still Storm fans. Fans like Tampa Bay Storm Surge Club president Cindy Wright. She has had Storm season tickets since the team moved here from Pittsburgh in 1990.

Wright said the club has about 35 members. It often sees the team off at the airport on road trips and meets it when it returns. She usually brings treats and over the years has made meals for players and helped them with errands. Nickname: "Storm Mom."

at 7 p.m. Saturday, around 6 p.m.. Actually, won't be televised locally. But there will be a watch party at Amalie Arena. And there is radio (WHNZ-AM 1250). You also can watch on the Storm website ( tampabaystorm.com); the AFL's app, AFLNow; or Twitter ( afl.twitter.com). And feel free to meet the Storm's charter when it lands in Tampa on Sunday,The game, American Airlines, just go to baggage claim. The Storm never charters.

middle seats, unless we get on early,"Commercial all the way," Hills said.

the Foster Trophy is named for Jim Foster,http://www.capitalshockeyshop.com/adidas-braden-holtby-jersey' title='adidas Braden Holtby jersey' target='_blank'>adidas Braden Holtby jersey, who co-founded the Arena Football League and who was its first commissioner. The trophy is 28 inches tall,By the way,http://www.capitalshockeyshop.com/adidas-t.j.-oshie-jersey' title='adidas T. J. Oshie jersey' target='_blank'>adidas T. J. Oshie jersey, weighs 40 pounds and is topped by a silver bowl. That's right: You can drink out of it.

Syria opposition asked to come to terms with Assad's political survival

and foreign states cut support for rebel forces,As Damascus reverses military losses in much of the country's strategically important west,http://www.hockeyjetsshop.com/adidas-dustin-byfuglien-jersey' title='Authentic Dustin Byfuglien jersey' target='_blank'>Authentic Dustin Byfuglien jersey, diplomats from Washington to Riyadh are asking representatives of Syria's opposition to come to terms with President Bashar Assad's political survival.

The country's civil war has crossed the halfway point of its sixth year and Mr. Assad and his allies are now in control of Syria's four largest cities and its Mediterranean coast. With the help of Russian air power and Iranian-sponsored militias, http://www.hockeyjetsshop.com/adidas-blake-wheeler-jersey' title='adidas Blake Wheeler jersey' target='_blank'>adidas Blake Wheeler jersey,pro-government forces are marching steadily across the energy-rich Homs province to reach the Euphrates River valley....