UFL is here

Not exactly the launch I hoped for, but the United Football League will begin play this October --but with only 4 franchises playing in 7 cities. You can read the full announcement HERE.

As a sort of explanation for the modest barnstorming start, those clever lads at the UFL are calling this season the "UFL Premiere Year."

In its "Premiere" year, the UFL will have four teams playing in at least seven cities. The four teams selected for the "Premiere" season are Las Vegas/Los Angeles, New York/Hartford, Orlando and San Francisco/Sacramento. During the course of the six-week season, these four teams will travel to each city for games. The season will culminate with a Championship Game tentatively scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend in Las Vegas.

Hmmmm... since the original goal was 8 teams, I guess the UFL decided they had to launch now if at all. Only 4 teams in seven cities with the hope that they'll expand to all 7 cities in the following year. But if I live in Vegas, why would I root for a team based in LA? Or vice-versa? Will they have different nicknames in each city? Or will we see the Los Angeles-Las Vegas Vagabonds against the New York-Hartford Commuters and the like?

Allegedly a TV Deal is forthcoming, and they have already hired Jim Fassel to coach Vegas, and given they plan to pay much more than the CFL, there is still some hope that the UFL folks will pull this "Thursday and Friday Night TV" league off.

Soccer Time

With the end of the NFL season and the pending onset of another boring summer of baseball, the only fun left is soccer. (The Suns and Coyotes stink right now, so the NBA and NHL playoffs don't offer much solice). MLS doesn't start until April, but the good news is that we'll have a pro game in Phoenix on March 14 -- Los Angeles Galaxy v. Chicago Fire. On paper this is an excellent matchup. Galaxy has Beckham and Fire has Blanco. But at this point it seems unlikely that Becks will even show.

Get your tickets now HERE.

Good Times

I had a great time at Super Bowl 43, even though the good guys lost. What a fun game and a pretty fun city. Tampa wasn't that impressive, but Ybor City (old section of Tampa) was very cool and we enjoyed St. Pete as well.

Go Cardinals

Hey, for a team that wasn't even supposed to be there, the Cardinals showed themselves to be championship-caliber on Sunday night. Way to go, team. I can't be too disappointed.

Maybe a little frustrated, though, at the Steelers. What a bunch of inbred, hillbilly coalminers. A dirty bunch of mother-f***ers, too. Who was that thug punching Aaron Francisco in the kidneys? I guess we should be lucky they didn't go all Deer Hunter on us, but seriously, folks, when the nastiest team wins, we can all have pride in a clean, second-place finish.