On-field product aside, UFL titanic flop

The irony should not be lost that during a conference call for the United Football League on Tuesday, amid people laughing in the background and countless beeps interrupting those speaking, came what sounded like a ship's horn whistling loudly.

The only thing missing was commissioner Michael Huyghue offering this warning: "Iceberg straight ahead!"

He came close.

Call me crazy, but it's a bad sign for the health of any league when there aren't enough helmets to go around for teams to begin practice. It would be like James Cameron about to film his next blockbuster and not having any cameras. Tough to shoot a sinking ship that way.

On the subject of things about to go under ...

A lack of available equipment is the latest and yet perhaps least important hurdle facing a UFL on financial life support, kept alive by the hopes and dreams and cavernous pockets of wealthy men who can lose more than $100 million in two seasons and still put up $50 million for a third.

It's another reason that when I grow up, I want to be Bill Hambrecht. Or at least his wallet.

Here's one truth: The football part of the UFL has been good. Very good. Better than anyone expected. Better than the XFL and World League. Better some weeks than the Carolina Panthers.

Here's another: The greatest assemblage of talent in history won't ultimately overcome pathetic TV deals and inadequate corporate sponsorship.

"It's not a surprise that we've had some tough economic times," Huyghue said. "I do think we've put a good product on the field and generated excitement and jobs in our markets. (Fans) are rooting for us because they want more football."

They don't want it bad enough to believe the UFL will see a fourth season.

The NFL lockout appears near its end, and that is a good thing for most everyone. It's not for the UFL, which had planned on beginning its season early to capitalize on what would be a fan base ravenous for football in August. Now, the UFL will begin games in mid-September, which means things are back where they always have been.

It's a league of good players, great coaches and no revenue.

With big business comes harsh reality, and the UFL has tried and failed repeatedly at teaming with the NFL in some manner. In this case, the monster doesn't feel a need for a play toy. It doesn't want a minor league program. It doesn't need one. It just signs those players it wants.

The national interest isn't there for the UFL. You're not going to survive on a TV partnership of Versus and HDNet, the latter of which a friend described Tuesday as, "That thing you get when staying in a Marriott."

I feel bad for Jim Fassel, who has run by far the league's best franchise in the Locomotives. Las Vegas has won consecutive UFL championships and will be expected to add a third this year, assuming Hambrecht and his fellow owners can stomach losing tens of millions of more dollars.

Fassel has been professional and passionate in his desire to see the league prosper, wearing more hats than Johnny Depp since arriving here. "Like any new company, I knew it would have growing pains, no question," Fassel said. "I want it to work. It is what drives me right now."

The problem is that it doesn't drive enough corporations or TV executives to write big checks. The problem is the same as always when it comes to ventures such as the UFL: Pipe dreams are nice but often don't produce payoffs. Rich and powerful people see a league such as the UFL as their way into NFL ownership one day, but things rarely go as planned.

Eventually, no return on such an investment leads to doors being locked and helmets being returned. If any helmets are left, that is.

"I know there were people who said the world was going to end a little while back," Huyghue said. "I don't know ... I can only tell you that every day, I get a commitment from ownership. They believe in the product ... I know history is not good for startup (leagues). We're going to keep moving forward trying to find long-terms answers. But over the long haul, we have to generate more revenue in order to survive."

Owners considered folding the league after last season. On Tuesday, Huyghue sounded more like a guy preparing for the inevitable than one who believes the UFL has a life span beyond this one.

And suddenly, into the telephone lines came what sounded like a ship's horn whistling a warning.

Iceberg.

Straight ahead.

Las Vegas Review-Journal sports columnist Ed Graney can be reached at egraney@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-4618. He can be heard from 3 to 5 p.m. Monday and Thursday on "Monsters of the Midday," Fox Sports Radio 920 AM. Follow him on Twitter: @edgraney.