It’s not the NFL, but it sure looked like fun!

Last Saturday presented a number of entertainment possibilities for an area sportswriter. The District 26F Lions were holding their annual all-star games in Maryville for recent male and female high school graduates. The St. Joseph Saints were playing ball at Phil Welch Stadium. Though both were first-rate events, neither piqued my curiosity as much as the chance to get a first taste of professional indoor football.

Part arena football, part WWF Smackdown, the indoor style of game presented by the St. Joseph Explorers at the Civic Arena, was both entertaining and impressive. I’ve watched Arena League football many times on television, and I must say that the Explorers appeared just as serious and just as polished at the level they are playing. The St. Joe based team won its ninth game in as many tries, beating the Chicago Outlaws, 70-14, in front of an announced 831 fans.

At times the game, which features teams of eight players on a 50- yard long field, reminded me of a neighborhood pickup game, but no backyard I ever played in held the likes of talented players trotted out by the Explorers. With several former Missouri Western and Northwest Missouri State players, the Explorers roster might be the only place both Griffon and Bearcat can peacefully co-exist without starting a brawl.

St. Joe features former NWMSU standout and Kansas City Chiefs practice team player Jesse Haynes, former MWSC quarterback Casey Waterman and former MWSC defensive standouts Mike Best (Cameron) and Jared Curl (Plattsburg). Anchoring the offensive line is former Penney High School all-stater Jessie Eaton at center. Eaton, who played collegiately at Highland Junior College (All-American) and Southeast Missouri State, showed he’s still got it Saturday night by providing pass protection on two early quick-striking touchdowns and getting out ahead of Explorer runningbacks on a pair of long runs.

Eaton is perhaps St. Joe’s most-experienced indoor player. He was a member of an Arena 2 League champion Quad City Steamwheelers team that won the Arena Cup and finished a perfect 19-0 season.

The Explorers play next at Civic Arena this Sunday (5 p.m.) against a team out of Omaha. So far no one has come close to stopping the Explorers, offensively or defensively.

*****

One of these days, the Kansas City Royals are going to get it right.

The Royals yesterday (Tuesday) made Donald Greinke, a high school senior from Apopka High School in Florida, their top pick in the 2002 baseball draft, also making him the team’s eighth straight pitcher taken in the amateur draft since 1997. It was rumored KC was after high school pitcher Adam Loewen from British Columbia, Canada, but he fell to the Baltimore Orioles with the 4th overall pick. Greinke is described as a gifted athlete (former shortstop) with a 93 mph fastball and variety of pitches.

Last year the Royals, with their first pick, grabbed high school phenomenon Colt Griffin, something of a legend after having reportedly thrown 100 mph off the mound. In 2000 KC selected pitcher Chris George. In 1999 they got both Kyle Snyder and Mike MacDougal in the opening round. Two first round pitchers taken in 1998 were Matt Burch and Jeff Austin. Dan Reichert, who has struggled for three seasons to pitch successfully at the major league level, was KC’s 1997 opening round pick.

Obviously, it’s too early to tell whether Greinke will be a valuable acquisitions. Likewise, the jury is still out on Griffin, who has yet to progress past Class A ball. However, it’s easy to see that the Royals have flopped with just about all their other first round pitching prospects since 1997.