Spring football

No, not the XFL....this is a picture from the United States Football League from 1983. This is Steve Young of the LA Express, playing in front of about 4 people, in the first USFL game, Los Angeles' 20-15 win over the New Jersey Generals.

I was talking to my brother in law during Easter and we both thought it would be great if football were a year round sport. If the USFL had stayed with its original plan of playing only in Spring with non super stars (well, go after two or three...) and staying under an actual salary cap, the league would have not folded in 1985 and they would still be around today.

Now there is talk (and a website) of a new USFL that is a direct successor or continution of the old one from the 80s. It was supposed to launch this year but that was postponed unti 2011. Sounds a little sketchy but maybe it will happen. The resurrected USFL is supposed to use as many of the old team names as possible. I would like to see the LA Express and Tampa Bay Bandits return.

There is room in this country for more than one football league. The NFL is the on top of the heap and the new UFL is clearly no threat. It sees itself as a compliment. I think the return of the USFL would help the older league in the long run and all three could exist easily enough.

But if you do bring back the Pittsburgh Maulers, please change that logo!