I think we have some revisionist history going on here. I was crawling around the net today looking for stories to write about and I found a story with this headline of the official UFL website, “History Lesson – UFL Succeeds in the fall, Where USFL Never Got Started.” Of course I read it because I was a big USFL fan, and remain one of a few die hard UFL fans. Of course this article is completely misleading, and borders on being a flat out lie. I hate to call out a fellow sports writing professional, but Dusty Sloan really needs to take another look at the numbers.

The UFL has had its games broadcast on Versus, NESN, and HD Net. The USFL was on ESPN. Granted the four letter network wasn’t as great as it is now in the mid 1980′s. In 1984 the USFL averaged right around 25k fans at each of their games. Through two years the UFL is averaging fewer than 10k fans per game. Granted the attendance was way up in year two compared to year one. In 2010 around 300k fans attended UFL (fall) games, in 1985 USFL year number 2 (spring) over 3 million people attended live games. I mean even the one year wonder, XFL (spring), averaged over 23k fans at each of their games.

The point here is the UFL has come no where near being what any of us would categorize as a success. They have lost millions, and no one is sure if year three will be played or not. Much like their USFL cousins they have left a long list of vendors and others to whom money is owed. The UFL has simply not succeeded in the fall, and I personally think a spring time or late summer schedule would be a far better way to go.

Yes, I understand he is trying to argue that the UFL has succeeded in the fall, where others were afraid to play there, but given these numbers I do not think anyone can effectively make that argument.

Related Links:

•The Business of the UFL
•Joshua Lobdell.com

Has the United Football League been successful? is a post from: The Inquisitr

When I first saw this story on profootballtalk.com I honestly thought I was reading the Onion. I thought it was a total joke. After doing a little research on the topic, I think these guys are brilliant. Sure we have seen a number of upstart leagues come and go here in North America, and in Europe, but now these fine folks are breaking open a huge market for football American style. This new venture is called the Elite Football League of India, and we don’t know much yet, as the league website is just a splash page, but it looks like eight teams are gearing up for a 2012 start.

The league is the brain child of such notable American football names like Ron Jaworski, Mike Ditka, and Green Bay Packer Brandon Chillar who is of Indian decent. While it still sounds a little out there, this may be marketing genius. We know the NBA is looking to break open the gigantic China market, but opening up India to the American football game could be very business savvy.

With a population of 1.2 billion people India is nearly 18% of the entire world. On top of that Soccer is of course popular there, and so is Rugby which is a sport in the same sort of vein as American Football. In fact this league is already training Rugby players in India to play the American game. As a lot of you know I am a big fan of upstart football leagues, but I have never tried to cover one so far away from the States. I hope this works, and that we have more football to talk about.

American Football in India? is a post from: The Inquisitr

Details are scant at present, but local Nashville press is reporting that Titans ex-QB Steve McNair has been killed in an apparent double homicide.

McNair was found with a fatal gunshot wound to the head alongside an unidentified woman. No further information has been released either about the crime or a possible motive.

McNair played eleven seasons for the Tennessee Titans, starting when the team was still known as the Houston Oilers. McNair played two seasons for the Baltimore Ravens before retiring after the 2007 season. He was 36.

Breaking: Titans ex-QB Steve McNair killed is a post from: The Inquisitr