Let’s talk Des Moines Rams and the South King County Junior Football League. OK?
Fred Archie’s been just a coach in the past, usually working with the youngest Pee Wee division, but this year he’s the coach of the Rams and also the president of this Rams franchise.
So, what about this Rams program, this Bantams division team you’re coaching?
“We don’t even want you to write about this story right now, we want you to go over and talk to Derrick (King) about what Des Moines did to us,” said Archie.
OK.
So, the story is changed some. From the kids to the politics, but here we go.
No more Des Moines Rams. Well for now, anyway. This SKCJFL franchise used to practice at Zenith Park, but could only get “two days per week” this year. That according to Derrick King, who helps coach one of the five divisions: Pee Wees, 89ers, Bantams, Juniors and Seniors.
And two days per week is just not enough. It certainly was not enough for Fred Archie, the Tukwila Bulldogs’ franchise club president, nor King.
Ooh, catch that? The Rams are now the Bulldogs, disowned and, can we use the word, disenfranchised from the city of Des Moines and, namely, excommunicated from the Parks and Recreation Department chapter.
“What they did to us I’m still waiting for an answer,” said King of the department only having fields available on two days per week when it’s always been five days in the past.
Actually, it wasn’t the whole P&R dept, so, it is not really a “they did to us” accusation from King. King wanted to throw the book, so to speak, at just one name in charge of publications relations for the P&R. Well, two names, one good, one not so good.
“It seems like it was just one person. He seemed to have a personal vendetta against us,” said King. “Bob Houston, he’s the Parks & Recreation Fields Coordinator. Ralph Thompson is the rec coordinator, but he is just doing his job.”
Apparently, some miscommunication happened. A bill for paying for fields was not paid for, as some of the reason for conflict.
“They sent our bill to the wrong address. They sent the bill to the old president’s post office box,” said King. “When we got the bill (to pay for field usage), we paid it immediately. Highline says we didn’t pay, but we did pay.”
So it was miscommunication?
“It was miscommunication on their part,” said King.
Well, whatever that story is to be told, it is now time to talk a little about the teams like first year 89ers (8 and 9 year olds) coach James Gruspe, who has a good number of kids out in pre season practices, warming up for games starting up early September against teams from the South County JFL (SKCJF): Renton, Rainier Beach area, CD (central district of Seattle), Sea-Tac.
“We have out 35 kids, 28 kids are here today,” said Gruspe, speaking during a recent Bulldogs’ practice out at the Tukwila Community Center. That’s their second home in Tukwila, too. Originally, they practiced Day 1, Day 2, starting August 12, at a nearby elementary school and that did not go over so well on Day 3.
“The third day of practice we came out the police had the entrance blocked,” said King, who assists Gruspe, by the way, on the 89ers. “Fortunately, we were able to move to the community center to practice.”
Who is at fault, who is not. Obviously, there is plenty of miscommunication from all parties, so it sounds anyway.
Fair to say? Houston, we have a problem.
Anyway, this JFL is, ultimately, for the kids, and Gruspe’s 89ers look like a well-numbered bunch.
Their team’s quarterback, Charles Elleby, knows why Gruspe is pretty high on him.
“Because I’m the quarterback,” said Elleby.
Elleby has this position sense down pat, too.
“The quarterback throws the ball and hands it off to people,” he said.
So, heading this team, in that important position, what do you got to say about learning the plays, which are a lot in football, especially for the quarterback, who starts most plays.
No more video games?
“No more video games,” said Elleby, agreeing.
And time for football?
“Yeah,’ he said.
This 89ers division -- like most divisions last year -- did not win many games. Elleby said his team won one game. 
You won one game, that’s good. Better than none.
So, with all these players, how many more this year are you going to win?
How about five games?
“Yeah,” said Elleby.
Montrel Robertson is an 89er who makes his drive from Tacoma, and he started this football thing off on the wrong foot.
“He started out with a bad attitude, but has been working hard and doing great now,” said King.
Why a little “bad” in the attitude department, Montrel, at the beginning, starting on Day 1?
The first day, the second day, what was going on out there, young man?
“When I got out here, I didn’t know what to expect,” said Robertson. “I wasn’t used to it at first.”
Standing nearby, listening, King said, “Like the six inches.”
“Yeah,” said Robertson.
Which is what? Six inches?
“It’s where you put your hands behind your butt and raise your legs six inches off the ground,” said Robertson, not missing a noun, verb, or, adjective explaining that one. Pretty good answer for a 9-year-old.
Manuel Rodriguez explained the fun. He’s a player, like Elleby, on the 89ers.
“‘Cuz you get to tackle, that’s my favorite,” said Rodriguez, who along with Erik Gish were studiously taking a knee watching all the others with Gruspe, and King, do offense and defense.
“They just rotate in,” said King.
Gruspe explained that he and King will do things right.
“We get along good,” said Gruspe. “Every decision is team based. He (King) is in agreement of where we position players at, who plays more. Whatever it is, we come together.”
Good to see Archie and King could locate and leg work out a spot for the kids to play. And, thanks, too, to the city of Tukwila and Foster High School where home games are played now. Thanks, too, to the city of Des Moines, and Highline Stadium as the Rams have played home games there, too, in the past. After all, the Rams turned Bulldogs played many years in a row out at Zenith for practices. So this year, for some reason, communication just missed and that always, or, at least can cause conflict for parties involved. And, truth be told, it always takes two people to miscommunicate. So, hopefully, things get better in the future for all involved.
The youngest age group, the Pee Wees (6-7 year olds), is coached by Robert Hall. It was a pleasure to listen to these little men listen to Hall explain that the coming football league season is only a week away.
With all his players huddled around, he was speaking loudly.
“I only get you for two hours and I need you to give us your full attention,” he said. “It will make you better football players. OK?”
“Yes, sir,” said the players in unison, a good number of 20 something strong.
Yes, indeed, and, led by his son, Nathaniel, the quarterback, and, the running back, Kendrick Smith, this team will go.
The Juniors and Seniors division will be the only division that looks like it will be in a troubled state unless things can come together correctly. They only have 13 Juniors and seven seniors.
Tuani was bringing them in at the end of practice.
“Bring it in, bring it in, nice ‘n tight,” said Tuani. “We are getting ready to go....”
They are getting ready to go, but this group might be stopped if forces don’t play out agreeably.
The Juniors have enough to play, ,but many will be tired from offense and defense on both sides of the ball.
“You can combine groups,” said Charley Fale, who will co-coach this group with Joshua Tuani, who are the junior and senior head coaches but with not enough players for one group the other is unselfishly letting his players combine with the lesser group (seniors division).
“As long as the boards and the parents agree, we can combine,” said Fale.
The Bantams, with Archie, will be around 25.
“That is more than enough to run the offense, run the defense, and to run subs,” said Archie.
Archie was still stuck thinking on the other things most.
“It’s a positive outlook for us now, but it is disappointing when we get turned away,” said Archie. “We let kids play for $75 even though it is costing us more.
“Parks and Recreation, even schools, we put our names in  (for practice fields). They say they will get back to you and we never hear back.”
If you want to play football -- especially 13, 14 year olds -- for the Bulldogs, the number to call is 253-414-7599. Ask for Fred or leave a message.