The hardware arrived! Just days ago, during a ceremony hosted by Cowboys RB Deon Anderson and our own Diamonds Madness Man, the silver hunk of metal incrusted with purple and clear ice gemstones, my name, and #45 was placed in my hands. This large, beautiful piece of jewelry now rests comfortably on my finger!
As I sat and listened to the awards ceremony, I could not help but think this might be the most celebrated yet unknown group of athletes ever gathered in one room. You see, every so often, a team comes along that defines an era in time. I believe that team is the Dallas Diamonds. Winning world titles in 2004, 2005, 2006, and last year in 2008, the Diamonds created a legacy that labels them one of the best, if not the best, women’s professional tackle football franchise in history.
Just check this out: during their championship run in 2004, the Diamonds went 12-0 including 5 shutouts, scoring 478 points in the regular season and allowing 89 against. Moving to 2005, the Diamonds, again, go 12-0 with 6 shutouts, scoring 417 points during the regular season with 82 points allowed.
After back to back Championships, the girls of the gridiron did not let up. In 2006, they achieved a modern pro-football record of consecutive wins with 28 before losing to arch rival Houston Energy. Nonetheless, the Diamonds put 415 points up on the board for the season and allowed only 134.
This brings us to the 2008 championship season where we went 11-0 with five shutouts, scoring 423 points during the regular season and allowing only 33 points against us. In the title game, we battled the Chicago Force in sudden death over time, winning the game 35-29.
So, when I say the Diamonds define an era, here are the stunning numbers in total including regular season and playoffs: four championships in five years, three undefeated seasons, one loss, a 28 game consecutive win streak, 18 shutouts in 44 games, 2071 points scored, 428 points allowed, an average of 47.06 points scored per game and 9.72 points allowed per game!!
Even during this 2009 season, we finished 8-0 with four shutouts, racking up 429 points during the regular season while allowing only 41.
I doubt Diamonds owner Dawn Berndt knew when she created the Diamonds in 2002, her team would come to define women’s professional football. Clearly, however, the various athletes who have made up this team over the years and the coaches who guided us raised the bar for the sport of women’s professional tackle football. Teams across the nation changed their game in order to compete with the caliber of the Diamonds.
This is a good thing! A few weeks ago, the Boston Militia, a team smaller in stature overall, played the game of their lives and beat us, the reigning champions, in a decisive victory 34-12 in the first round of the IWFL playoffs. And capturing the IWFL title for 2009, the Kansas City Tribe, a team we shutout once and beat twice last year. Kansas City stepped up their game and came in as underdogs this year to grab their first World Championship Title.
During these past two seasons, I’ve had the honor to play along side these incredible yet unknown and undervalued athletes. Many of them have become dear friends. They hold a special and unique place in my heart due to the experiences, hard work, battles on and off the field, joys, and spiritual connections.
As I think about next season, I look forward to playing again. Will I? I don’t know. Right now, I’m enjoying the view on my finger while I contemplate my next move.
(special thanks to Robert Powell for helping me with the stats!!)
Stay inspired,
Kip #45
