How I spent my New Year…
Friday, January 15, 2010 at 12:42PM 2010 is set to be the year of first time experiences for this Fizzle Pop writer. I write this while on a plane to Detroit and Baltimore for the first time (See, I told you so!). So it’s no surprise that on the first day of 2010 I was able to experience my first lingerie football game in the first year of the Seattle Mist.
Before you start casting judgment at the type of person that would go to a lingerie football game hear me out first!
I’ll admit, my initial interest in the Lingerie Football League was fueled purely by my male interests in lingerie and football. The more I thought about the pairing of the two the more I felt I owed it to my faithful Fizzle Pop readers to report on this new sports league. After all, I am the sports reporter for this outfit.
The Seattle Mist make their home in Kent at the ShoWare Center. I had never been to the arena, or a lingerie football game for that matter, so I wasn’t quite sure what to expect of the venue or the fans. The New Year’s Day game was the final match of the season and the Mist needed a win to make the playoffs. To be honest, just the thought of a Seattle playoff team was refreshing, even if it was in the LFL.
I had visions in my mind what the event would be like. I completely expected an arena full of men aged 18-35 cheering on women in clothing that covered up not much more than a bikini. I could already track the thought process of the audience…sport + lingerie = wardrobe malfunction. My theory of the common LFL fan was validated when my friends and I grabbed a beer before the game at the nearby Ram Restaurant. I took a brief scan of the room, turned to my friend and said, “Lotta dudes here.” To which he responded, “Yep.” I should also mention that all the men in the place were wearing Seahawks gear, as if the professional Seattle team was holding a scrimmage against the Mist and fans were ready to root on their favorite Seahawk.
Once in the arena and seated in our $14 seats I was astonished to see couples on dates, families with children, even senior spouses enjoying a night out with some lingerie football. The demographic inside the arena was one I never would have anticipated.
Before actually watching the game I couldn’t help but think of lingerie football as a novelty. I anticipated more of a parade of scantily clad women rather than serious football. When I first took my seat my opinion didn’t change. The girls wore boy short underwear with a bra and what looked to be kid sized shoulder pads and a hockey helmet. One player for the opposing Dallas Desire took it upon herself to turn her boy shorts into a thong, which was a heavily discussed topic from fans in the seats.
Once the action actually started any thought I had of these girls being a mere novelty had vanished. The level of athleticism alone was impressive but what really stood out was the excitement and emotion shown on the field. The players weren’t wearing lingerie, they were playing football in the uniform required by the league.
The Lingerie Football League operates similarly to the Arena Football League. Each team has eight players on the field that measures 50 yards long. The Mist ran a fast-paced offense with a full package of trick plays. The Quarterback, Natasha Lindsey could easily throw the ball 20-30 yards to her receivers down field (Which was impressive because she’s listed at 5’5” and 110 pounds). The running game was efficient and the coachers weren’t just sitting back admiring the scenery, so to speak. They were constantly coaching, striving for perfection and motivating their players. The Mist’s defense was as impressive as the offense. The team’s safety, Katie Ryckman was consistently involved in breaking up passes and delivering hard hits to unsuspecting receivers.
Shortly I had forgotten my perception of what I thought lingerie football was and found myself cheering because they were playing football, not because of their uniforms. I could sense others in the arena were doing the same as the crowd grew increasing raucous. Third downs were difficult for Dallas as fans cheered. The fans cheered louder when the Desire was penalized for a false start. There was a level of excitement at ShoWare (It might have been because the game was competitive).
In the end, the Mist won the game. Players ran around the field high-fiving fans and celebrating their playoff birth. Following the action the girls would sign autographs for those willing to stay behind. I didn’t leave with an autograph but I did leave with a sense that there is a misinformed perception of the Lingerie Football League and the Seattle Mist.
Yes, the team wears lingerie, but they don’t have a say in the matter. I feel there’s too much emphasis put on uniforms and that takes away from the game itself. Beach volleyball players wear a very similar outfit and little has been said about that. The truth is, I enjoyed myself at the Mist game for reasons other than what I initially imagined. While I don’t think I’ll be running to trade my Seahawks season tickets in for the Mist, I do know if I ever feel like attending an entertaining competitive game at a cheap price, this is at the top of my list!
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