Okay, I'm sure you are wondering, what does South Park have to do with the UFL? Well, the UFL aired games live on CBSSPORTS every Wednesday night. Which means that instead of watching the new season of South Park, I watched the UFL.
There was plenty of NFL caliber talent in the UFL. I say was because the league has suspended the remainder of the 2012 season, putting players, cheerleaders, food vendors all out of work, and with it, revenue for the cities that housed teams.
I also enjoyed the UFL because I haven't drank from the NFL's big bottle of kool-aid. Fact is the NFL is not a truly good league anymore. I think that a UFL or CFL team could compete with a team from the USFL. These so called other leagues are stocked with talented players, but they are viewed as being inferior because they don't play in the NFL.
Which brings me to the USFL. The USFL existed in the 1980's, and produced plenty of NFL talent, not to mention hall of fame players. From heralded players like Steve Young, Jim Kelly, and Reggie White, to players like Gary Zimmerman, and future hall of famers like Kent Hull. The USFL was undone by the greed of Donald Trump.
There has been talk of a USFL re-launch since the mid 1990's. In 2007, it looked like it was going to actually happen. On November 29th, 2010, I contacted Michael Dwyer, who was the power behind the new USFL. I had emailed him because I was going to work with city officials in regards to getting a "test" game, an exhibition if you will, played in Rochester, NewYork. I excited, because I really wanted to get this done. However, it seemed that Mr. Dwyer was more talk than action. Here is the final email that I received from Mr. Dwyer:
What is the name of the stadium in Rochester?
Michael D. Dwyer
New USFL Founder / Chairman
New USFL Founder / Chairman
CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in this e-mail may be confidential and is
intended solely for the use of the named addressee. If you are not the intended recipient,
please do not read, copy, or use this e-mail, and do not disclose it to others. Please notify
the sender of the delivery error by replying to this message, and then delete it from your
system.
intended solely for the use of the named addressee. If you are not the intended recipient,
please do not read, copy, or use this e-mail, and do not disclose it to others. Please notify
the sender of the delivery error by replying to this message, and then delete it from your
system.
From: chris murray <metalrox_2000@yahoo.com>
To: usfloffice@newusfl.com
Sent: Mon, November 29, 2010 12:41:01 PM
Subject: Exhibition game in Rochester
Your Name: chris murray
Your Email: metalrox_2000@yahoo.com
Your City & State: rochester, New York
Subject: Exhibition game in Rochester
Your Question: I was curious if the new USFL when it gets off the ground, would be interested in staging an exhibition or test game here in Rochester. The city has a rapid football fan base. The Bills training camp is located at St. John Fisher and attracts well over a million people a year. College and high school football games are always well attended and in many cases, televised live. Rochester has also support two indoor football league teams. I think Rochester is an untapped market for the outdoor game.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yep, I emailed him back a few times, but never heard anything ever again. Emails went unreplied to.
Now, you might be asking why I am sharing this. Well because I would love to see another pro football league, and I'm pretty annoyed with the talk of a "New USFL" that this has to be shared. Now, I'm not sure if this Michael Dwyer is still on board for the re-launch, or if it was nothing more than talk.
However, people, especially folks like me who loved the original USFL, shouldn't be teased like this. I have spoken to people who run USFL groups, as well as former USFL players. They are upset because these people touting a new USFL are exploiting team names like the Los Angeles Express and Birmingham Stallions, and San Antonio Gunslingers. They are exploiting the connection that fans like myself had to the original USFL.
So, as thousands of professional football players, cheerleaders, executives, scouts, and support staff are out of work, small cities ignored by the NFL once again are without football. And the folks behind the alleged new USFL are touting the leagues launch in 2013 btw, pushed back from 2009, 2010, 2011, and 2012. And I'm sure some of these now unemployed players might think the new USFL is actually going to take the field. The New USFL is a carrot on a stick, and nothing more. And I hope that those exploiting the USFL brand get exposed for being scam artist.
And let me conclude by saying that I hope the UFL does return, strong with a good backing. Maybe the NFL can take some of the 75 billion dollars it rakes in t get the UFL off life support, and on its own two leagues as a NFL developmental league. Until then, I now again will be waching South Park every Wednesday night.
No comments:
Post a Comment