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Jock Talk: The League of Extraordinary Scrubs

United Football League (2009)
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Where can you find a football field with players like Daunte Culpepper and Ahman Green playing with people with names like Rocky Ross, Marlon Lucky, and a linebacker named Tank Daniels? In the United Football League, or as I affectionately call it, the League of Extraordinary Scrubs.

When I first heard about the UFL, I followed it as a joke, but soon it became one of the regular things I would do. The inaugural season wasn’t nice to the few fans here as the local New York Sentinels didn’t win a game all season.

However, the New York Sentinels have moved and became the Hartford Colonials. Professional football is finally in Connecticut.

The UFL’s main purpose is to develop talent instead of showcase it, so it doesn’t sound like it would be an appealing thing to watch. On the contrary, I believe this could become the next big thing. Here are six reasons why you should start following the UFL:

1. More Local: I’d say most of the football fans at Staples are either fans of the Giants or Jets, who both play in New Jersey, or the New England Patriots, who play in Massachusetts. The Colonials play at Rentschler Field in East Hartford which is an hour and 20 minutes away with traffic. I’m more willing to drive to Hartford than to drive all the way to the other two stadiums.

2. Less Expensive: according to StubHub, a popular ticket vender for sporting events, a front row ticket at midfield for a Giants game can run at $2,000. On the other hand, that same seat at a Colonials game is $30, that can’t even get you the least expensive seat at a Giants game.

3. Big Names: Maybe you’re not going to have as many big names as you would in the NFL, but there are a fair amount of household names in the UFL this year including former NFL first round pick Daunte Culpepper; four time Pro-Bowler and Green Bay Packers All-Time leading rusher Ahman Green, and a slew of other former NFL stars and starters.

4. Longevity: Unlike other start-up leagues like the short-lived XFL (Extreme Football League), or WFL (World Football League) ,the UFL has the potential to stick around for a while because they took a smart approach. The league avoids games on Sundays, as to not compete with NFL games, and they also placed teams in markets without pro football in it already which makes it easier to fill stadiums with local fans.

5.  Lockout: With the prospect of an NFL lockout looming, the UFL could be the only pro league playing next year. Well, the only pro league that plays on grass (the Arena Football League is returning next season) and on a 100-yard field (I don’t know where Canadians got the idea for 120 yards, and the AFL plays on a 50-yard field).

6. It’s Real: Seriously, like, they wear uniforms and have end-zones and everything.

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    Brian MelekianSep 14, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    Great piece! Keep the faith…

    Brian

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