He is not your ordinary Guy. In fact, if you did not know him you would have no idea how explosive the Arizona Rattlers General Manager / Head Coach Kevin Guy really is. Every now and then his true self leaks into his conversations about his Rattlers organization. Yes, it is his Island. Knuckle head players, all the flim flam and shenanigans are out of the organization. This Guy could not be happier.

2011 marks the first season that the echoes of Rattler’s past have lost their grip on the organization. Gone are the biggest names in Rattlers AFL history, Nudo, White, Bonner, Tucker, Cooper, Gatewood, Shakes, Bo.

 
Gone also are the quasi circus guest lists that kept AZ fans wondering if the last owner even knew he was not in Vegas or the Staples Center. The parade of politico’s, Vegas power brokers and such that showed up each week. Ain't going to miss it.

Fans can come home again. Back to their Snake Pit. For years Kevin Guy was a part of the Rattlers irritation in his role as DC with the San Jose Sabercats. It took some getting used to, the notion that anyone from San Jose should be allowed to find his way into the Rats top spot. I know I did not like it. Nothing personal, but the last time those green fiends showed up at AWA, Hunkie Cooper got fouled on what would have been the Arena Bowl winning drive for AZ in 2004.  Stupid cats.

My first game day contact with Coach Guy was in 2008 when he and some staff came into the press/media area to get some food before the opening game. The hostess for the lunch counter made him pay for his food. Really? He was NOT on the list. Yes, and he did pay, and he did it with a smile. A sneaky predatory smile, the kind one has when he knows how things are going to end up.

Gone is the ownership that tried to charge their new coach for a pre game meal. That smile, bigger and scarier than ever. Don’t be fooled Kevin Guy is a kul dude to be sure, and if he was not coaching he would be winning big at the poker tables or chasing bad guys in a tank.

This is now his third season, BUT, it is the first time the team is really his to mold into a smart, strategic, go for the throat team. Explosive? As a former player and Champion coach in the AFL and AF2 he is just one twitch away from putting on the pads and putting a shoulder through a foe.

A mild exaggeration perhaps. But watching him at practice, in pre game and during the games, I can see the fuse burning ever closer to the surface. This Rattler squad is a tight unit. Forget about chemistry, which is a mythical statement people use when things are going well or look like they might go well. Coach Guy is not a politician and if things are not going the way he knows they must. Someone is going to lose a roommate and team mate like, snap.

Coach likes to talk about how everyone including the new Managing Partner Mike Galloway and longtime Rattler Mom, now officially a Rattler boss JT are “roll up their sleeves and go to work” kind of people. In the real world, that is uncommon, most are more concerned about their coffee and meal breaks and getting home before traffic ties up.

Rattler Park is now ground zero for battle prep and everyone is working, hard, fast and doing four times the work that most people do. Yet, they still all remain approachable, professional and productive. KG is setting the pace and leading this race. If you can keep up with him, or at least stay close, you will find success in the Rattler family.

I attended practice on Tuesday of the week of this team’s first game for 2011. What was surprising in the activity on the field, with the coaches and players is what I did not see. I did not see any panic, or pressing or wasted effort. Nor did I see any over confidence or slack. KG ended the practice with a brief statement and it was done.

Why does this matter? In the world of pro football there are a lot of ego’s, expectations and exaggerations and posturing. Often when coach finally gets to feeling like it is finally “his” program, something changes in their manner and style, usually for the worse.  With KG “his” is ours and ours includes the staff, coaches, players, front office and fans.

You cannot talk to him without hearing about how great everyone involved is. Yes, he is clear about expectations and the corresponding results for a less than acceptable effort. Somehow he makes the point without flexing the “his” muscle.

KG is clear about the let downs in critical games last season. He addressed needs in the off season starting with a huge acquisition in Fullback #32 Odie Armstrong a proven workhorse. He led the AFL in Rushing in 2010 and scored running it and catching it. He knows that #10 Nick Davila is more than capable to lead from the QB spot. Also that the team is in good hands with #23 Trandon Harvey at WR.

The final roster as we enter KG’s first season, again is loaded with talent, desire and focus. Gone is the Shock of losing to Spokane, thrice. Back is the swagger of a team coached by Championship caliber people. His staff is good, better than good.

L to R: Siaha Burley, Kevin Guy, Kani Kauahi, Omarr Smith

Kani Kauahi is the Offensive Line and Defensive Line Coach Siaha Burley will handle the Wide Receivers while Omarr Smith is the Defensive Coordinator. All have had exceptional careers in the AFL and beyond. We are going to talk more about the staff each week. For now all I can say is wait for it, the Snake Pit is going to explode and don’t be surprised if it is Kevin Guy that is at ground zero when it does.

To hear the audio interviews with Kevin Guy and Siaha Burley go to www.aspnradio.com They will be posted soon.

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ASPN Radio, the Arizona Sports Network is on the air every Saturday night broadcasting from the towers in Phoenix, AZ from 8 to Midnight with Host/producer Kevin Pakos and his show staff Mark Driscol and Sean Enna. This season coverage will be provided from the Snake Pit by Kevin, Bob Vogel and Pat McDonnell. We will have on the spot reports during and after the game along with stories and photos. When the team is on the road we will have live interviews after the game with your AZ Rattlers players and coaches. KXXT 1010 AM is your spot on the dial and you can listen live to the show streaming at http://www.aspnradio.com as well.

ASPN radio is an affiliate of Sports and Entertainment News and works closely with our local football community in the form of the Arizona Football League www.azfl.com which is a club/amateur adult tackle league that plays around Arizona from January thru May each year. Many players and coaches have gone from the AzFL to careers in the pros. Current Rattlers WR Coach Siaha Burley played in the AzFL for the Wranglers in 1996 while new WR Justin Evans played in the AzFL in 2010 for the Warlords and Coach Steve Pappas. Others that were once the AzFL and went on to play for the Rattlers were Chad DeGrenier and Gerard Williams.

There are former AzFL players currently on rosters at nearly every level of pro football including the NFL. Hey, football is the greatest sport on the planet, while watch when you can play, get in the game. Check out some action photos of the 2011 season

Don’t forget to keep track of the scores each week on the radio and find the stories and photos of the Rattlers at: www.rattlerreport.com See You on the RADIO…………….

 CU on the Radio: I am Host Kevin Pakos and I can be found twittering about as @aspnradiocom but you knew that.

If you you know of someone that has a story worth telling please send us the information MAIL. You can also contact me via the above twitter handle. Good reading and see you on the radio.