Wednesday, May 1, 2019

1983 Week 7 Roundup: Gotta Love Parity

To The Commissioner, there's nothing that looks quite as good as parity. The perfect league is one where there are no sure things every week, no unbeatable teams, and no weak sisters.

Take a look at the Week 7 standings. Some divisions are pretty close to perfect.

  • Midwest Division: The Detroit Wheels at 5-2 and the Michigan Panthers, Chicago Blitz, and Cleveland Thunderbolts at 4-3.
  • Atlantic Division: A four-way tie at 3-4 between the Charlotte Hornets, Washington Federals, Baltimore Stars, and Pittsburgh Maulers.
  • Pacific Division: Two teams at 4-3 (Los Angeles Express, San Jose SaberCats) and two teams at 3-4 (Honolulu Hawaiians, Southern California Sun).

Fred Murphy, QB, Cleveland
The Thunderbolts struck the biggest blow for parity in Week 7, knocking off Detroit, 37-26. Detroit had beaten Cleveland, 24-6, in Week .

Cleveland QB Fred Murphy threw TD passes of 57 and 46 yards to WR Jose Beamon in the fourth quarter as the 'Bolts rallied from a 26-23 deficit. Murphy also found Beamon for a TD from 53 yards away in the third quarter. So, Beamon ended the day with four catches for 166 yards (41 per catch) and three TDs. Nice.

In other Week 7 games:

  • The Oklahoma Outlaws pulled off the upset of the week, getting their first victory of the season by surprising the Memphis Showboats, 24-19. Oklahoma won despite being outgained 352 yards to 167. Juan Bonnett intercepted a pass and returned it to the Memphis 10, setting up the clinching TD for the Outlaws.
  • New Jersey and Denver are 7-0, but the Birmingham Stallions are right behind them at 6-1 after a 29-10 victory over the Florida Blazers. LDE Joseph Gerald had two sacks and CB Kelly Acosta recorded his fifth interception of the season (and 15th over the last two seasons). Only Jacksonville CB Gordon Wong has more pickoffs this season (6).
  • In a potential playoff preview, the New Orleans VooDoo edged the Jacksonville Bulls, 10-7. The VooDoo got the ball back with 6:23 to play and ran off a 13-play drive that left Jacksonville only 1:42 to try to force a tie. Four incomplete passes later, it was all over. CB Juan Jacobson had two interceptions for New Orleans.


Week 8 Preview

Division leaders meet when the Detroit Wheels (5-2) host the Houston Gamblers (6-1). The Pittsburgh Maulers (3-4) and Washington Federals (3-4) will stage a tie-breaker for the top of the Atlantic Division. Second place in the East Division is on the line when the New York Stars (3-4) travel to Philadelphia to face the Bell (3-3-1).

Record Book


  • Former Oklahoma Outlaws WR Dusty Heckman, now with Portland, and Arizona Wranglers WR Cory Robinzine continue to sit at No. 1 and No. 2 atop the league's all-time leader list in TD receptions. Heckman has 96, Robinzine 95. Neither has caught a TD this season.
  • Bruce Kester of the New York Stars has punted the ball more times (1,084) than any punter in league history. Kester spent his first two seasons with the Houston Gamblers. He is in his 10th season, but not contemplating retirement any time soon.
  • Denver Gold DT Nathan Branch, who spent his first eight seasons with Memphis, remains the league's all-time leader in sacks (131). New Jersey's James Lockette is second at 128 and is first in hurries (396).
  • Florida Blazers CB Shelby Kemp has three career interception returns for TDs, most among any USFL/WFL player past or present.





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