12/21/24
October 09, 2009
United Football League Begins Play in Las Vegas: The Las Vegas Locomotives defeated the visiting California Redwoods 30-17 in the first game of the United Football League Thursday night. The pro football league, which enters a market littered with the corpses of the USFL, WLAF and XFL, has a $20 million salary cap, "almost unlimited TV access" during games, and a fall schedule designed to attract NFL vets looking for a playing opportunity. "If you're a player, what's not to like about the UFL besides the $35,000 base salary?" asks David Whitley of FanHouse. "They can stay in game shape, get exposure and sign with NFL teams after the season ends on Thanksgiving."
From the list of players, a Super Bowl MVP was surprising.
I wish Washington would have gotten a team. It sounds like fun.
posted by bperk at 08:55 AM on October 09, 2009
"almost unlimited TV access"
Well, then they might outta think about getting some of that TV access into people's homes. DirectTV doesn't carry versus and I know it's just one satellite carrier, but it happens to be the carrier which has all the sports nuts.
posted by bdaddy at 09:24 AM on October 09, 2009
I didn't know that DirecTV dropped Versus. The channel is owned by Comcast and there's a nasty battle going on between the companies over it. I think Saturday's game between the Florida Tuskers and New York Sentinels in Orlando is on HDNET.
posted by rcade at 09:32 AM on October 09, 2009
A few quality names on the list. I will have to check a game or two out I guess. Last night was to busy watching hockey.
posted by Debo270 at 10:26 AM on October 09, 2009
There were times when it seemed like Losman had a large tree running up the middle of his helmet when he played for the Bills.
posted by beaverboard at 10:41 AM on October 09, 2009
True. But I think it's a smart move for Losman to come to the UFL and get starting time instead of holding a clipboard somewhere. Quarterback is a position where you can get the NFL's attention by playing well in a different league.
posted by rcade at 11:20 AM on October 09, 2009
Among that list of names, I was happy to see Odell Thurman's. He was a hell of a player until his lack of discipline came back to haunt him, but I'd love to see his be a story of redemption. And Simeon Rice, too. Interesting.
posted by tahoemoj at 03:30 PM on October 09, 2009
Tuskers?
posted by wfrazerjr at 05:00 PM on October 09, 2009
Tuskers?
A wild boar native to Florida and an homage to the greatest cultural achievement in state history.
posted by rcade at 05:46 PM on October 09, 2009
Tuskers?
The plural of a beer brewed in Kenya. Also the plural of the nickname of the African elephant, Loxodonta Africana. Either can be hazardous to one's health.
posted by Howard_T at 05:45 PM on October 10, 2009
Also the Fonz's post-coital nickname for either Pinky or Leather Tuscadero; as in "Aaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyy, how 'bout another go 'round with little Arthur, Tuskers?"
posted by tahoemoj at 07:03 PM on October 10, 2009
caught part of tonight's game...those jerseys are the worst. Love how they have the teams name embroidered on the front.
Think there were perhaps 50 fans at the game. It was football though, and not bad.
I agree that they ought to not go head to head with college football and the NFL. I watched a couple of plays, then turned to the Florida/LSU game.
posted by dviking at 11:40 PM on October 10, 2009
I watched the first half of this game on Versus. The stands were close to empty, but the quality of play was better than I expected, and some of the athletes were NFL vets it was interesting to see again -- like quarterback J.P. Losman and defensive end Adrian Awasom of my alma mater, North Texas.
The most interesting part of the TV broadcast was when they showed coaches Jim Fassel and Dennis Green talking to players during the game. They even showed Fassel calling a play before the play occurred, and broadcaster Doug Flutie explained the call. The coaches wear bowling shirts, which makes them look like Charlie on Two and a Half Men.
One thing the league did poorly was uniform design. The four teams have the same jersey and pant design, differing only in color, and the helmets look more Arena League than NFL. The Redwoods have a giant tree running up the middle of their helmets.
My bet is that we'll get two seasons out of this league. It begins camp right after the last NFL training camp cuts, but I wonder if it would draw a bigger TV audience by playing before training camp, when college football isn't here yet and NFL fans are feeling withdrawal symptoms.
If it could survive five years, the UFL could become a development league for the NFL.