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Come Out for the Vipers
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Ellen Mulholland
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Last Updated on May, 15 2008 at 12:56 PM
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On a balmy May Wednesday evening in West Oakland’s DeFremery Park, the
lights shine brightly, and a dozen men aged 19 to 30 -- some in shorts,
some in sweats, a few sporting helmets, one zipped up in a brightly
colored hoody – kick, toss, and tackle their way through one of the
season’s final football practices.
Don’t expect to see JaMarcus Russell or Dominic Rhodes. Never mind the
Raiders-Forty-Niners debate. We’re talking the Vipers. “The who?” you
might say. You heard, the Vipers - the Oakland Vipers - the guys who
take over DeFremery Park on Wednesday nights. |
On a balmy May Wednesday evening in West Oakland’s DeFremery Park, the lights shine brightly, and a dozen men aged 19 to 30 -- some in shorts, some in sweats, a few sporting helmets, one zipped up in a brightly colored hoody – kick, toss, and tackle their way through one of the season’s final football practices.
Don’t expect to see JaMarcus Russell or Dominic Rhodes. Never mind the Raiders-Forty-Niners debate. We’re talking the Vipers. “The who?” you might say. You heard, the Vipers - the Oakland Vipers - the guys who take over DeFremery Park on Wednesday nights. The ones who charge down Oakland Tech’s field the errant Saturday of spring. We mean the semi-pro Vipers who are about to play their final game this season out in Oakley. Will you be there?
The Oakland Vipers are one of six teams in the Golden Coast Football League’s Southern Conference; six more teams make up the Northern Conference. And though the Vipers have never won the championship, their 4-5 record this season could even out at their last game this Saturday, May 17, against the East Bay Outlaws at Freedom High School in Oakley. Kick-off time is 6 pm.
Still not convinced this is quality football? How about a little history? The Golden Coast Football League (GCFL) began in 1996 with four teams sporting powerful names: the Alameda County Lawmen, the Sacramento Stray Dogs, the Mendocino Loggers and the Rocklin Massacre. The next year, two teams dropped out, three dropped in (including the Oakland Vipers). Three years later, a total of 12 teams lined the GCFL roster, which had briefly changed its name to the Golden Coast Amateur Football League (GCAFL) in 2000. In 2002, another name change to the Golden State Amateur Football League (GSAFL) preceded the final return to the GCFL name in 2006. Regardless of the league’s name, the Vipers will finish their 13th season this Saturday.
For founder, owner, head coach, player (and league executive board member) Mark Marcantonio, it’s all about the game. This is a guy who signs his emails: Keepers of the gridiron, builders of the community. Marcantonio says his players play for the love of the game and the camaraderie.
Ron Brown, interim head coach, offensive coordinator and 2-year veteran, agrees. This year, however, Brown says, is a re-building year for the Vipers. “We got together late in the season and decided to be like a family.”
Ask him who’re the current stars on the field, and Brown will say: “This team is unique – everybody’s a standout.”
Brown’s pushing through his 40s, but most players fall in the 20- and 30-something range. Some have finished high school (Brown attended Castlemont High); some have attended college (like wide receiver Adrian Cooper who attended Tuskegee and Western New Mexico); and all have some kind of day job.
“They’re some at-risk males who love this game and are trying to focus their energy and talents,” says Brown. “These guys have jobs. Greg there fixes airplane propellers, Adrian (Cooper) coaches at Oakland Tech and Steve (Torgenson, running back) at Salesian.”
In the past, the team has tried to help raise funds for after-school programs or visit sick patients at Children’s Hospital. But, not this year. “This team itself is outreach,” says Brown, adding that some of his players use the team to keep on the straight and narrow and to give themselves direction.
Some GCFL players have moved on to Arena 2 (minor league football at a higher level). However, most will just play in this AAA league for a few years, enjoy a few cheers from loyal fans (family mostly) and the drip of sweat down their backs, and keep their day jobs.
Besides always looking for a few good players, the Vipers are working on securing their non-profit status so they can bring in more sponsors. Currently, Marcantonio’s paint business and Ricky’s Bar in San Leandro help with team expenses. In the meantime, the Vipers forge on to a final Saturday game (“we are going to crush them”) and a play-off match.
Although not in contention for league champions (that would be the Sacramento Wolverines, 9-0, and Woodside’s California Warriors, 7-2), the Vipers caught the league’s attention with a stunning win last Saturday: In a game with huge playoff ramifications, the Week 9 Game-of-the-Week, the Oakland Vipers came away with a 9-8 win over the Aptos Mariners to force a 3 way tie for the last two NFC playoff spots going into week 10.
After Saturday’s game, the Vipers take a week off then prepare for their 3rd seed play-off game against league rivals the Norcal Lawmen. The Vipers aim to settle a score this season after the Lawmen beat them 13-7. Lawmen coach Boots James and Marcantonio share their own football team years. That game should be a show-down.
Interested in watching the game or want to know more about the team?
Contact: Marc Marcantonio
925-252-0181
vipers@gcflfootball.com
www.geocities.com/oaklandviper1 |
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