…and nothing like living in a drinking town with a football problem because why else would I spend a Saturday night glued in front of the TV watching another winter football league looking to catch on. Introducing The Alliance for American Football that didn’t feature any players with names like “He Hate Me” but what I saw was entertaining. Like some great acrobatic catches and huge hits, one a quarterback sack fumble whose helmet flew sky high and no penalty. Some rule changes include no kickoffs; everyone starts at the 25 yard line. No onside kicks but they’ve created the onside conversion which gives a team a 4th and 12 at its own 28. If they make it then they get to keep the ball and continue its drive. No kicking the extra point, you’ve got to go for two. It’s run by the NFL and features guys who were pretty good but not good enough for the big league but who knows maybe come fall we’ll be hearing about a guy who honed his skills in the Alliance of American Football during a future NFL game. Former Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward who is the leagues director of Football development seems to think so. Other big names include former College head coach Steve Spurrier running a franchise in Orlando, former Bears linebacker and Niner head coach Mike Singletary coaching a Memphis team. Then there’s Mike Martz , the guru behind the Greatest Show on Turf while with the St. Louis Rams, running the San Diego organization. The season is only 10 weeks long and will have their championship game on April 27th The league was formed by former Indianapolis Colts executive Bill Polian and pays every player the same three year non guaranteed $250.000 because like other winter and spring leagues, who knows if this will ever catch on but for a junkie like me, I like what I’ve seen so far. Even former Steelers safety Troy Palamau is head of player development for the San Diego franchise which is a good enough excuse as any for me to play Palamaloo Monday morning at 6:50 on the Pickle.