Walking into the St. Pete Times Forum for the Lingerie Football League’s (LFL) Friday Night Football, I didn’t know what to expect from The Tampa Breeze’s season opener against the Chicago Bliss; was this a sporting event or a spectacle.
On a 50 by 30 yard field, players who looked like a mix between collegiate cheerleaders and drill team dancers tossed footballs, wearing what most men might envision as the uniform for a massive pillow fight: quarter length sweatpants, tank tops, and bandannas. However, the idea that these women were here to play a cute, fluffy version of football was soon smashed against the padded sideline's of the arena field.
As attractive as the Breeze players were wearing maroon bikinis with numbers printed on the ass, their bodies were not perfected from hours in the gym and on the field just to look pretty. These women were built to play hard-nosed football. If you doubt the physicality involved in the game, consider this: these women play full contact while wearing hockey helmets, shoulder pads that have been truncated to showcase their cleavage, and minimal elbow and knee pads. While these uniforms ensure their highly toned features are always on display, their bodies are also constantly vulnerable to hard hits and nasty turf burns, some of which were so red I could could see them from the sidelines.
The rules are a simplified version of regular football. Play is divided into two seventeen minute halves. Each team is allowed seven players on the field. Six points are awarded per touchdown, but there are no field goals or punts. Instead, teams choose between a one point conversion from the two yard line or a two point conversion from the five.
When The Breeze charged the field, fired up to take on the 2nd ranked Chicago Bliss, I expected more of a ground game. But, Breeze’s Quarterback and captain, Jenn Myers kept throwing rockets which opened up the field for a few quarterback sneaks. She connected more than a few times with fan favorite, Jennifer Langston, who gave a celebratory ass shake after a touchdown reception.
kept the game on the ground. The Breeze's defense was able to shut down the 5’10” running back, Tasha “The Tank” Pryor, but they couldn’t stop Saran Dunmore, who, at 34 was the oldest player on the field. Dunmore was responsible for three touchdowns as Chicago picked up its second win of the season, defeating the Breeze, 27-18.
Players are paid based on attendance, tickets are cheaper than the cost of parking, and tailgating is encouraged, so get your ass to the next game to support The Breeze at the St. Pete Times Forum January 15, 2010.
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This article appears in Dec 2-8, 2009.