The Next XFL..., THE UFL!

It's yet another Football League destined for failure!

Though I'll agree that they've made some business oriented steps to make the league less of a money suck, I still think it's asking a lot to get Americans to watch something other than the NFL.

(Side note: Though the business steps help the league money wise, it doesn't help the league image wise, either. Also, from the looks of it, they're betting on an NFL lockout once the bargaining agreement runs up. Not the best idea, really.)

In the words of Gorilla Monsoon: "Ho! I love it!"

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I'm also cracking up at their "gear". Which has the exact same league logo on every t-shirt, with plain typed letters of "TEAM NAME". Also kinda' funny how all the team uniforms are virtually identical (aside from colors). So I'm guessing they're trying to market the league as a whole, instead of each team separately.

It sorta' looks like they're trying to become a minor league, of sorts, for the NFL. One banner on the site proclaims: "where future stars come to play".

There are a TON of semi-pro leagues out there, right now. With the abomination known as the Arena Football League drying up, at least this will give some out-of-work players a chance to do something.

But yeah, I give it four years, tops. By that time, they'll either fold or become re-branded.

The uniforms being the same brings down the cost of manufacturing them. All you have to do is switch out the colors. More profit in merchandising, less cost in fielding the teams.

Yeah, I say four years will be a miracle

Yulp! Their first game is tomorrow night (Thursday) at 9pm ET on the VERSUS network. Might be worth a DVR for curiosity's sake.

Here's their current league-wide roster of players:
http://www.ufl-football.com/players

I recognize former Donkeys Patrick Chukwurah, Simeon Rice and Tatum Bell, among others.

Versus, home of hockey and second rate football?

Si, senor. Crap coagulates.

Here's my two word review of the new league.

Bad football.

Worth digging up....

The Redwoods and Sentinels are no more. Yet the league now has added one more team (5 total) as they've added the Omaha Nighthawks, Hartford Colonials and Sacramento Mountain Lions. I'm guessing the Redwoods and Sentinels simply re-branded themselves.

Other crapworthy notes:
-They've inked a deal to use BETTY BOOP as a "fantasy cheerleader" and have a press release of it on their site.

-It looks like they're now operating in the actual towns they represent; more like a traditional pro sports team. Instead of having all the players live at a facility north of Phoenix.

-Their uniforms are more unique, this year.

-Tim Rattay, Daunte Culpepper and other guys whose football cards you wish you never had are in the league.

-If I get a Madden game this year, I'm concocting a "UFL INVASION" and creeating all five teams (along with my usual Punxatawney Groundhogs)

How'd they know I have a sick obsession for Betty Boop!?

Hey...at least you're candid about it.

Now, if they had signed, say, Smurfette, as a "Fantasy Cheerleader", then I'd be all over it.

I saw the pictures of the uniforms, and man they are sad. Although seeing Ahman Green play in a league with the "Stars of the Future" amuses me.

And is there anything Scrooge doesn't have a sick obsession for?

Wow, Omaha is filled with former NFL guys: Jeff Garcia, Robert Ferguson, Ahman Green and Cato June.

It seems like this league has caught on with players at least. I see a game here and there but don't really follow it. Seems they've really tried to do this the financially responsible way.

I'm looking over the rosters and it really is littered with a lot of guys I know. That's a big step up from last year.

I'd say it's about the same from last year, in terms of players. Buncha' failed draft picks, training camp fodder and guys who just sorta' disappeared from the NFL.

Some guys will use this as a springboard to get picked up by the NFL. Like JP Losman did last year...along with that awesome kicker whose name I forget.

The actual list of players is a little funny, though. Example: "PJ Alexander" appears as two entries: both "Alexander, P.J." and "Alexndr, PJ". I also noticed that some players are in ALL CAPS and other are not. I'm guessing all the player data was exported from an Excel workbook into the website and it wasn't 100% accurate.

I see that they have Calvin Lowry on someone's roster. He was a horrible defensive back, who is best remembered in Denver as being literally run over by the Patriots during a MNF game in 2008.

More former Donkeys I recognize for THIS year: Cecil Sapp, Tatum Bell (again), Jeb Putzier, Patrick Chukwurah (again), George Foster, Simeon Rice (again), PJ Alexander, Lowry and Patrick Carter (practice squad fodder).

The Las Vegas Locos are YOUR champions of the UFL for 2010.

"Read More About It"

I can't find a box score for the game, but from reading the article I see few names that I recognize. No names of former NFL castoffs, save for Dominic Rhodes. So I'd imagine some former NCAA or Arena players are making the best of this league.