Will Fame And Love Return

Elk Neck, Maryland

Friday October 19, 2007

Rick Randolph, having not heard from Bill Falstaf in a while, decided that he would give him a call. When Bill Falstaf answered his phone, Rick said, “Hello there stranger, what’s happening, I haven’t heard from you in a while, what’s up”.

Bill Falstaf responding, said, “Hello, yourself, guy, I’ve been hanging out with Mike Johnston. His Cincinnati Knights won the American Conference League Championship over the New York Majestics and the Carrington Cup Championship Series begins here tomorrow in Cincinnati against the National Conference League Champions Kansas City Pioneers”.

Rick said to Bill, “Ah, hanging out with your “old buddy”, giving him some moral support, aye, you old guys can’t get enough of one another”. “That’s right” Bill Falstaf said laughingly.

Then Bill Falstaf changed the tone of the conversation, I got some news to tell you, this on the QT, but this is suppose to happen at the conclusion of the Championship Series, word has it that the Washington Eagles are going to clean house and fire general manager Rick Douglas and the field manager Carl Roberts and bring in Chase Whetch as the new general manager and make Joe Woulf the assistant general manager and the field manager.

All Rick could say was “wow, then he added, “So is Joe Woulf going to finally announce his retirement as an active player”. “From what I have heard is that he is still considering it”, replied Bill. “Finally, Washington turned to someone connected with you and your vision for the game, and a part of the great tradition of the team”, Rick commented.

Bill Falstaf replied to what Rick Randolph was saying when he said, “I honestly do not understand how the team ownership could not find someone who was qualified to produce a winning team on the field, even a winning team for the fan base. In my 2 managerial stints of 9 years, I put together a record of 819 wins, 639 losses for a .562 winning percentage, 5 American Conference League championships and 3 Carrington Cup Championships”.

Then to go further in making his comparison, Bill Falstaf pointed out to Rick Randolph, “In the 20 years with Jerry Clyde, Mike Johnston, Raymond Dowler and Carl Roberts as the team managers the four of them had an average record of 67 wins and 95 losses for a winning percentage of .413. Mike Johnston in 5 years at Washington had an average record of 64 wins and 98 losses for a .396 winning percentage, but in 12 years in Philadelphia, Mike had an average record of 86 wins and 76 losses for a .530 winning percentage, along with 3 pennants and 2 championships. In Cincinnati so far Mike’s average record has been 90 wins and 72 losses for a .560 winning percentage. Overall, Mike has had an average record of 88 winsand 74 losses for an overall winning percentage of .546. I have always wondered and have kept asking myself, just what happened to Mike Johnston while he was in Washington, why did he do so poorly there. I have always thought that he was the second coming of me. When he was the manager in Philly and I was the manager in DC, for those 6 years either the Diamonds or the Eagles won the American Conference League Championships and won several Carrington Cup Championships, and we had quite a friendly rivalry.

Rick said to Bill, “Yeah, I knew some of that, but not as deeply as you have explained it. I also know that you and the New York Majestics manager Matt Hightower are also close friends, that he was your choice to replace you when you left for the Diamonds in Philly”.

“That’s absolutely correct and look at his record after he took over”, Bill replied. Then he said, “Well I hate to break up the conversation but Mike 

wants me to accompany him at an interview with one of the local sports news TV stations here in Cinci”.

“OK, we can catch up after the series is over”, said Rick. Bill replied, “Then that sounds like a plan”.

(C)  2021