It was a mere three years ago, three and a day, to be precise, that the Bossier Shreveport Mudbugs, the most successful sports franchise in ArkLaTex history, won their third Central Hockey league championship, a 2 to 1 road win against the highly favored Colorado Eagles.

But the Bugs' - and the city's - celebration was short lived. It was less than two weeks later that franchise owner Tommy Scott, citing severe financial losses, announced that the Mudbugs had played their final game.

Scott, and his wife, Leslie, had purchased the team two seasons earlier from Minden construction company owner John Madden, saving the team from an even earlier demise. The Scotts were rumored to have lost in excess of 1.5 million dollars in their 24 month effort to keep the team afloat. But, in the end, with a dwindling season ticket and corporate sponsor base, they were forced to throw in the towel.

Rumors persist that the Mudbugs franchise will resurface in anothr league, But, sadly, they were another example of the poor economy trumping on-ice achievement in minor league sports; another example of a community losing a collection of players and fans who'd put so much time and effort into serving it.

More From News Radio 710 KEEL