Football or fluff?
by Dave Gibson
Lingerie Football caught my eye in 2004 when it was offered as a Super Bowl halftime entertainment alternative. Taken as seriously as the Puppy Bowl, it nonetheless grabbed male viewers’ attention. Combining two of men’s favorite interests of scantily clad women playing football sporting lacey bras, panties, and garter belts seemed to be a can’t miss concept, and Lingerie Bowls II and III were aired the following years. Never without its critics citing blatant objectification, the third Lingerie Bowl was the last of the series.
Lingerie Football wouldn’t resurface again until 2010 with the formation of its own ten-team league. Founder and Chairman Mitchell Mortaza couldn’t help but think he was onto something and unapologetically created a 7-on-7 female tackle football format with rules similar to other indoor arena football leagues. Kick-offs begin each half consisting of two ten-minute quarters, but there are no field goals or punts. Teams are allotted four downs to gain ten yards for a first down to retain possession.
The league might have gone the way of several failed pro football leagues but decided in 2013 to re-brand its product and image. Automatically eliminating women and children as potential supporters was limiting to the bottom line. Renaming itself the Legends Football League, while still retaining its moniker of LFL, the players would no longer have to play in their underwear. Performance uniforms were adopted. Although skimpy, they are no more revealing than those worn by Olympic beach volleyball players. Shoulder, knee, elbow, and chest pads were beefed up. Extra padding was added to the chinstraps and concussion meter equipped helmets. Players provide their own medical insurance, so you know these women really want to play football. It is rumored that for the last home game of the season the athletes will don full football pants, although we’ll see how that goes over; make no mistake about it, the main draw is still sex appeal.
New to the LFL this year, at their home opener in Loveland, the Denver Dream entered the field hoping to upset 3-time Legends Cup winner and defending champion Chicago Blitz. The Dream’s task would be no small one as the Blitz scored three touchdowns in quick order. A glimmer of hope came when the home team passed the ball from the opponent’s 10-yard line to the five. Stood up by a defender at the 3-yard line, the Dream’s wide receiver powered the pigskin into the end zone for 6 points. It would be their first and last score of the evening. Denver was clearly overmatched by Chicago’s bigger, stronger, faster, and more experienced team. The snap from center in the shotgun offense sailed over the quarterback’s head on three occasions which didn’t help matters. Down by a lot, the Dream valiantly fought on. Things got heated when a Denver player pushed her foe after being scored on again. When she turned to walk away, a different Chicago player decked her in retaliation with a forearm shiver to the back of the shoulder. Anyone who thinks that the game is all fluff and isn’t real football should tell that to the ladies who take the lumps.
When the clock struck 00:00, the Denver Dream’s inaugural game ended unfavorably in a score of 91 – 6. A complete drubbing by all accounts, the women gave all they had and exited the gridiron with heads held high to sign autographs for their new fans.
To purchase tickets for the next Denver Dream game at Budweiser Events Center go to: www.lflus.com/denverdream.
Dave Gibson has been a contributor at the Weekly Register-Call for over a decade. To view past articles and pictures go to: www.DaveGibsonImages.com.