On the Beat with Yahshi Rice and ChrisDell Harris of the Chicago Bliss

The Chicago Bliss are officially 1-0-1, while the Las Vegas Sinn are 1-1-0.  Tomorrow, these two LFL Western Division rivals will battle in Las Vegas.

In the LFL power rankings, the Bliss are still #1, while the Sin has moved up to #6.  The Bliss are averaging about 60 more yards per game, while their defenses yield about the same yardage per game.

Aside from the stats, the Bliss are on a mission to prove the Seattle tie was a fluke.  Furthermore, MVP QB Heather Furr will be out to show why she is the MVP, while the Sin's Sindy Cummings wants to prove her quick start is also no fluke.  My money is on Furr to show the 19 year old what she does best...win!

At the Bliss practice Monday, I talked to Bliss stars Yahshi Rice and ChrisDell Harris.  Harris is in a battle with Jacksonville's Saige Steinmentz for the LFL lead in rushing yards.  Rice is among the league leaders in tackles with 11.5, plus a sack.

These ladies aren't just playing for stats though.  They are playing for the win.  They wanted to go 4-0 this season, but Seattle derailed that goal a bit.  Still, 3-0-1 looks pretty good.  The next step towards that goal is a win in Las Vegas.

Harris and Rice talked about the Seattle game.  They also gave us their thoughts on the upcoming game in Vegas.  The ladies are focused and loose.

I will be with the Bliss in spirit Thursday as they face the Las Vegas Sin.  I will be cheering from afar as they grab win #2.  At practice next week, I will talk to some players about the win against the Sin and their next game against the Chill (where they will go to 3-0-1).

Chicago Bliss Week: Yahshi Runs, Catches and Sings!

Simeon Rice is one of the most successful athletes to come out of Mt. Carmel High School, my alma mater.  Rice was almost a decade after me.  I never even met him.  Years later though, I met his sister and even interviewed her a few times.

Yahshi Rice is the younger sister of Simeon and she is quite an athlete, too.  Actually, she is multi-talented.  Aside from being one of the best defensive players in the Legends Football League, Rice also is a singer signed to Simeon's Hip-Hop/R&B record label, named "Lucid Dream Entertainment."

Yahshi is a force on defense.  I have sen her destroy opposing lineman.  She is a pleasure to watch and a pleasure to know.  It might hurt her tough LFL image, but Yahshi is a real sweetheart, like all of the Bliss are.  (Am I shattering their whole tough team image?  Will Coach Hac ban me from the team?).

She is having her typically excellent season.  I look for big things from her in the upcoming game against Seattle, as the Bliss continue their path of destruction on the way to the 2014 LFL title.

Come out to the game and see Yahshi and the Bliss in action.  A Bliss game is full of action, violence and beautiful women (especially on the Bliss side).  You can't lose and neither will they!

Yahshi Rice and me in Darien, IL-February 2014.

On the Beat with the Chicago Bliss-02/10/2014

The Chicago Bliss entered their second month of practices as they prepare to defend their 2013 Legends Football League title.  Coach Keith Hac has already guaranteed a repeat and the path to the 2014 title starts with these practices.
As much as I look forward to the actual games, these practices have been very interesting.  I see veterans busting their butts as they strive to be bigger, faster, stronger (that's my recurring theme for them).  I see rookie prospects learning and pushing themselves.
Some of the coolest things are seeing the veterans helping the rookies.  I have seen many occasions where one of the vets took time to give a little one-on-one talk to a rookie.  It is all about making the team better.  I have heard many rookies say that even if they can't make the team, at least they pushed the veterans.
The good of having so many women attend the tryouts is that the Bliss will be comprised of the best of the best.  The bad part is several talented, eager, nice women will not make the cut.  Coach Hac and his staff have some tough decisions, but I know that the final roster will be the best group to chase the 2014 title.
At the 2/10 practice, we talked to veteran Yahshi Rice, along with rookie prospects Lindsey Mikulecky, Jess Price, Jeanne Knepper and Kira Brabeck.  Rice gave us her thoughts on 2013 and 2014, while we talked to the rookies about their path to the Bliss.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoy doing them.  The Chicago Bliss are a blast.  They are hard-working, tough, and entertaining.  I strongly encourage everyone to get on the Bliss bandwagon and enjoy the ride.