UFL TO KICK OFF THIS FALL WITH FOUR TEAMS, LITTLE PURPOSE

Fans of really crappy knock-off football leagues should take notice: there’s a new really crappy knock-off football league to become a fan of.

The United Football League, will launch next fall with the mission to “fulfill the unmet needs of football fans in major markets currently underserved by professional football by providing a high quality traditional football league comprised of world class professional football players.”

The UFL’s first season will feature four teams playing six games each between October and Thanksgiving. Yes, four teams and six games over two months, meaning this will rival your beer-gutted, balding neighbor Larry’s backyard flag football season.

Of course, the UFL has brought in some name power and money to make up for the fact that it’s no different than the NFL, NCAA, CFL, or about a dozen other pro football leagues.

Former NFL coaches Jim Fassel and Jim Haslett Dennis Green, Ted Cottrell will be leading the times while stars like Adam Archuleta and former South Carolina tackle George Gause will be on the field. And team owners include former Google executive Tim Armstrong and Paul Pelosi, the husband of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

So will that be enough to draw fans to the UFL? Probably not.

I say that because, if the average football fan — like me — already has enough great football to watch between the NFL and NCAA, then what on earth makes these people think this league can ever be competitive? Especially when there is absolutely no difference between it and other football leagues.

At least the extremely short-lived XFL made some attempt at being different by mixing football with ultimate fighting and professional wrestling.

Plus, they’ll have only one game a week broadcast on Versus. For all that’s worth, they might as well shoot for a contract with some local public access station in Wyoming.

Regardless, this idea is about as wise as that time I built a Ninja Warrior training course in my backyard.

Sure, it sounded like a great idea at 3 a.m. while watching G4. But for some reason — like the Octopus — I could never make it past the Butterfly Wall.

But in that situation, I only wasted a few thousand dollars… the UFL folks are looking at wasting millions.

Photo: Reuters