Will Pelosi's UFL Football Team Join Other Defunct Leagues?

With Rush Limbaugh's bid to buy the St. Louis Rams so recently derailed, it would be easy for the conservative radio icon to fume with partisan indignation at a headline like "Pelosi Buys Pro Football Team." Before Rush goes all green with envy, however, we'd like to point out that the Pelosi in question is Paul Pelosi, husband of House Speaker Nancy, and the "Pro Football Team" is the California Redwoods.

If you haven't heard of the Redwoods, don't feel bad. They're part of the upstart United Football League, which just kicked off its inaugural season. The good news is, Pelosi's Redwoods beat the New York Sentinels. The bad news is, they did it in front of a crowd that barely bested your high school's production of "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Does Rush have any reason to be envious? We take a look at how previous pretenders to the NFL throne have fared, and what it means for the UFL.

American Football League
The AFL is the current gold standard for upstart football leagues. Founded in 1960 by a group of rebuffed purchasers of the Chicago Cardinals, the AFL struggled for a few years, but emerged as a genuine rival to the NFL. In 1966, the leagues agreed to merge. The AFL, essentially the 1960s wife in this marriage, took the NFL's name.

USFL
Anyone old enough to be "Blinded With Science" remembers the excitement surrounding the USFL's signing of Heisman Trophy winner Herschel Walker. Unfortunately, before we could save up enough money for New Jersey Generals season tickets, the league went bust. They lasted 3 seasons, and tried to break the NFL's monopoly in court. The Dallas Cowboys got Herschel Walker, and the USFL got $3.76.

World Football League
Not to be confused with the NFL-affiliated World League of American Football, this World League lasted for two seasons, 1974-75, and in their quest to spread gridiron glory across the globe, only got as far as Hawaii.

Arena Football League
We bet you didn't know this league was still around. Founded in 1987, this indoor football league has had a good 22-year run. Unfortunately, they haven't exactly been bleeding the NFL of fans, and recently canceled their 2009 season. While they're crossing their fingers for a 2010 season, it doesn't look good.

XFL
The X didn't stand for "eXtreme," interestingly enough. In fact, it didn't stand for anything, which befits this one-year wonder. A cross between Arena football and pro wrestling, the league never found an audience, but it did give the world the amusing spectacle of people from New York and New Jersey feigning outrage at their team's name, the "Hitmen."

UFL Prognosis:
The chances of another merger aren't so good; there are already more NFL divisions than Jon and Kate can shake a stick at. Can Americans sustain two professional football leagues? Not for long.