TAMPA - Following the Week 2 contest between the Nashville Kats and the Columbus Destroyers last season, two former teammates sat and talked.
They shared highlights of their 2003 ArenaBowl XVII victory and even talked of playing together again. Never did T.T. Toliver and John Kaleo expect to be together during the 2007 season as members of the Tampa Bay Storm.
"I think last year once we played each other, we sat back and talked and the thing that came out of our mouths is that we would love to play with each other again and I'll be dang it happened this year," former Nashville Kat Toliver revealed of his conversation with former Columbus Destroyer quarterback Kaleo.
The two will pair up for the Storm, and for the first time since 2003, in tonight's season opener against the Orlando Predators.
When each player departed Tampa Bay, it left an uneasy wake.
Kaleo was the first to depart, immediately after that championship season, landing with the Los Angeles Avengers for a rich contract.
Not long after receiving his championship ring from Tampa Bay, it was found the diamonds weren't diamonds. Instead the quarterback received cubic zirconia stones as did several other free agents, who left the team via free agency.
It seemed clear that Kaleo and Storm coach Tim Marcum would never share the same franchise colors again. It appears time does heal wounds.
When Tampa Bay traded for Kaleo in October, it was obvious differences between Kaleo and Marcum had been worked out.
"I decided to come back after I got my real diamonds in my ring," Kaleo said half-joking with a sly grin. "We ironed our whole situation out. Coach knows I'm an opinionated guy. He's opinionated. I figured out the reason why we're like that. He's an Aquarius and I'm an Aquarius, so I don't think that's a good mix."
Toliver's departure wasn't of his own will. Following a couple of incidences, which included a shouting match with former teammate David Saunders following the Storm's overtime road loss to the second-year New Orleans VooDoo in 2005, Toliver was sent to Nashville.
"When I think about that, I just realize that it was all my fault," Toliver said - sugarcoating nothing. "I can't blame anybody but me because, like I said, I was young and dumb and I probably did some things that I shouldn't have done. The good part about it is that they forgave me and I forgave myself."
Orlando was responsible for two of the Storm's nine losses in their 7-9 2006 campaign, which was the first time the team sat out of the playoffs in franchise history - dating to when they were the Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987-1990).
Orlando was also responsible for the Storm's need at quarterback during the offseason when Shane Stafford signed a free-agent contract with the Predators in September.
As bad as that could have turned out for the team, Marcum got back the last quarterback to lead him to a championship.
"We can win a championship with John Kaleo because we've already done it," he said. "In my opinion we could have won a championship with Shane Stafford. You just have to put the right players around both those guys."
TONIGHT'S GAME
WHO: Orlando Predators at Tampa Bay Storm
NEED TO KNOW: This is the 40th meeting between the teams and Orlando holds a 20-19 all-time advantage. ? Orlando swept Tampa Bay last season, 67-64 (OT) and 53-13. ? Shane Stafford returns to the Forum as the Predators' starting QB after five seasons with Tampa Bay. He owns Storm career marks in completions (1,361), attempts (2,147), passing yards (15,672) and touchdowns (289). ? Storm coach Tim Marcum is the AFL's winningest coach with 181 victories.
They shared highlights of their 2003 ArenaBowl XVII victory and even talked of playing together again. Never did T.T. Toliver and John Kaleo expect to be together during the 2007 season as members of the Tampa Bay Storm.
"I think last year once we played each other, we sat back and talked and the thing that came out of our mouths is that we would love to play with each other again and I'll be dang it happened this year," former Nashville Kat Toliver revealed of his conversation with former Columbus Destroyer quarterback Kaleo.
The two will pair up for the Storm, and for the first time since 2003, in tonight's season opener against the Orlando Predators.
When each player departed Tampa Bay, it left an uneasy wake.
Kaleo was the first to depart, immediately after that championship season, landing with the Los Angeles Avengers for a rich contract.
Not long after receiving his championship ring from Tampa Bay, it was found the diamonds weren't diamonds. Instead the quarterback received cubic zirconia stones as did several other free agents, who left the team via free agency.
It seemed clear that Kaleo and Storm coach Tim Marcum would never share the same franchise colors again. It appears time does heal wounds.
When Tampa Bay traded for Kaleo in October, it was obvious differences between Kaleo and Marcum had been worked out.
"I decided to come back after I got my real diamonds in my ring," Kaleo said half-joking with a sly grin. "We ironed our whole situation out. Coach knows I'm an opinionated guy. He's opinionated. I figured out the reason why we're like that. He's an Aquarius and I'm an Aquarius, so I don't think that's a good mix."
Toliver's departure wasn't of his own will. Following a couple of incidences, which included a shouting match with former teammate David Saunders following the Storm's overtime road loss to the second-year New Orleans VooDoo in 2005, Toliver was sent to Nashville.
"When I think about that, I just realize that it was all my fault," Toliver said - sugarcoating nothing. "I can't blame anybody but me because, like I said, I was young and dumb and I probably did some things that I shouldn't have done. The good part about it is that they forgave me and I forgave myself."
Orlando was responsible for two of the Storm's nine losses in their 7-9 2006 campaign, which was the first time the team sat out of the playoffs in franchise history - dating to when they were the Pittsburgh Gladiators (1987-1990).
Orlando was also responsible for the Storm's need at quarterback during the offseason when Shane Stafford signed a free-agent contract with the Predators in September.
As bad as that could have turned out for the team, Marcum got back the last quarterback to lead him to a championship.
"We can win a championship with John Kaleo because we've already done it," he said. "In my opinion we could have won a championship with Shane Stafford. You just have to put the right players around both those guys."
TONIGHT'S GAME
WHO: Orlando Predators at Tampa Bay Storm
NEED TO KNOW: This is the 40th meeting between the teams and Orlando holds a 20-19 all-time advantage. ? Orlando swept Tampa Bay last season, 67-64 (OT) and 53-13. ? Shane Stafford returns to the Forum as the Predators' starting QB after five seasons with Tampa Bay. He owns Storm career marks in completions (1,361), attempts (2,147), passing yards (15,672) and touchdowns (289). ? Storm coach Tim Marcum is the AFL's winningest coach with 181 victories.
