Alliance could jump leagues

With Austintown Fitch and Boardman about to begin their Federal League challenges, a lull has temporarily settled over the Mahoning Valley's high school athletic conferences.
How long the peace and tranquility last probably depends on how much time it takes the Northeastern Buckeye Conference to decide on adding a new member to replace Akron Springfield.
The NBC, which is based in Stark County, has been considering applications from Salem and Alliance of the Metro Athletic Conference and Canton Timken of the City Series for the opening created in the spring when Akron Springfield bolted to the Portage County League.
However, Salem is no longer pursuing a NBC berth, but might seek one later.
The NBC requires a unanimous vote by its seven remaining members (West Branch, Marlington, Minerva, Louisville, Canton South, Northwest, Carrollton) to approve a new member.
Adding Alliance, which becomes a full-time member of the MAC with the start of fall sports in August, makes the most sense. Over the next two winters, the Aviators have some lengthy trips ahead of them to Niles, Howland, Poland and Struthers.
Two-year commitment
The Aviators have a two-year commitment to the MAC, so a move to the NBC couldn't take place until at least Fall of 2005.
If Alliance is accepted and shifts, it's not a major problem because the MAC has shown it can survive as a six-team league.
But defections that could reduce the roster to four would be troublesome. Salem officials are concerned about the stability of the MAC, especially if Struthers or Niles someday decide to opt for a smaller conference.
Timken has been a member of the City Series for several years, but it's not like the Trojans have established any major rivalries with Rayen, Wilson or Chaney. In fact, if you were to ask the spring sport coaches of the Youngstown schools if the Timken games count in their standings, most would tell you they don't know. (They do.)
In two years, when Youngstown is expected to consolidate to two high schools (Chaney and a new one on the East Side), the City Series' survival is questionable without expansion.
The trimmed Steel Valley Conference, which is continuing on with Mooney, Ursuline and Warren Harding, has to be thinking expansion. You can't argue tradition, but finishing first loses a little luster when the worst a team can end up is third.
For now, all's quiet.
The NBC's selection could end the silence, especially if MAC officials are in the mood for a major overhaul. The fallout could affect just about every league in the Valley.
Pittsburgh
Talk about rolling the dice -- the Pittsburgh Penguins have tied the franchise's survival in Western Pennsylvania to gambling revenues.
Earlier this week, the Pens announced that they would kick in $107 million towards the cost of a new $278.3 million arena if a group led by Mountaineer's Edson "Ted" Arneault gets a gaming license from the Pennsylvania State Horse Racing Commission.
Arneault's group, which is one of six seeking Pennsylvania's final racing license, has promised to kick in $60 million for the arena.
Even if it's approved, Arneault's group would still need the Pennsylvania Legislature to approve a pending measure that would legalize slot machines at state racetracks.
With a plan to contribute 38 percent of the arena's cost, the Pens have put pressure on legislators, daring them to give the state's final racetrack license to someone other than Mountaineer.
It's a gamble, one the hockey team can't afford to lose.
XTom Williams is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write him at williams@vindy.com.