RIP Lingerie/Legends Football League…

Sadly, we learned over the weekend that the Legends Football League – born as the Lingerie Football League of the same acronym – has ceased to exist.  The simple thing to announce would have been that the league can no longer sustain operating losses and has liquidated.  In 2019, such is not the style or the vocabulary of the times.  Instead, this is what the press announcement said:

• The Legends Football League “will not be producing a 2020 season.”

Here is what the league’s founder, Michael Mortaza had to say about the demise:

“We have enjoyed an incredible journey since our debut game on September 4, 2009, which has included unprecedented television coverage for a women’s sport, sold-out arenas and stadiums around the world and the league-play in the United States, Canada and Australia.

“We want to thank everyone that has been part of this amazing ten years from our broadcast partners to our sponsors as well as our tireless behind-the-scenes support staff, our thousands of athletes, hundreds of coaches and millions of fans.  We will cherish our memories, while leaving a legacy of attaining heights that no one anticipated.  Thank you all for being part of our history.”

Instead of putting me in a somber state of mind, here is what that statement made me think:

• You had “unprecedented TV coverage” thanks to your “broadcast partners” and your “sponsors”.  You played to “sell-out crowds” for games in the “United States, Canada and Australia”.  You had “millions of fans”.
• And you went bankrupt?

Rest in peace, Lingerie/Legends Football League…

After the Skins lost to the Eagles yesterday, one of the post-game talking heads declared that the “fight” and the “grit” shown by the Skins – despite the season being a total loss – meant that this game was a “moral victory” for the Skins.  I have heard about “moral victories” many times in the past; but yesterday’s label made me wonder:

• Is there such a thing as a “moral defeat”?
• If there is such a thing, are “moral defeats” paired with “moral victories”.  Or can “moral defeats” exist on their own?
• If they are paired entities, should the Eagles chalk up yesterday’s win as a “moral defeat”?

Dwight Perry had an interesting item in the Seattle Times last week.  He suggested that certain players should consider changing their numbers to bring their numbers more in line with their names e.g.:

Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler:  18

Ravens QB: Lamar Jackson:  5

Pistons forward Louis King:  XIV

Following that lead, perhaps Missouri DB, Mason Pack should wear the number “6”?  Or should that suggestion be reserved for a player in the future named “Motel”?

People often speak of a person’s “career arc”.  If you look at Willie Taggert’s coaching career from a geographical perspective, it seems to be an expanding ellipse:

• He began his career as a head coach at Western Kentucky in Bowling Green, KY which is north of Nashville, TN.
• From there, he went to USF in Tampa FL which is southeast by about 700 miles.
• Next, he went to Oregon in Eugene, OR which is about 3,000 miles to the northeast.
• Then he went on to Florida State in Tallahassee FL which is about 2800. Miles back to the southeast.
• From there, he was just hired at Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton, FL which is about 450 miles further to the southeast.

If I had to guess where his next job might be, I would put places like Boise State, Washington State and Washington on my “watch list” …

Finally, since I cited a Dwight Perry observation above, let me close with another of his musings in the Seattle Times:

“Utah broke the NCAA record for largest winning margin in a D-I men’s basketball game when the Utes clobbered Mississippi Valley State, 143-49.

“What, the Washington Generals weren’t available?”

But don’t get me wrong, I love sports………