Lingerie Football League expanding to Toronto, arena not chosen

Toronto - The Lingerie Football League (LFL) is busting into the city of Toronto for the upcoming 2011 season. Women, who are unpaid, wear lingerie and protective gear and play American football, much to the delight of men everywhere.

For several years, National Football League fans in the Greater Toronto Area have been fighting for an NFL expansion team. Although it seems any expansion plans are on the backburner due to a possible lockout this coming season, sports fans are getting a different kind of football team. The LFL announced Wednesday that it is branching out to Canada and expanding its teams from 10 to 15, according to the Toronto Sun. Toronto will be one of the five cities to get a team this autumn and will play against Eastern Conference teams Baltimore Charm, Cleveland Crush, Orlando Fantasy, Philadelphia Passion and Tampa Breeze. “It’s become the most successful women’s professional league in the U.S. in (two years),” said league founder and chairman, Mitchell S. Mortaza, reports the United Press International. “It’s really an opportunity for them to be elevated to (the level) of major sports for guys, and be on the cover of everything ranging from Playboy to ESPN to Fox News channel.” LFL players are not paid, but are remunerated for their traveling costs. Mortaza believes the league can also be a launching pad for many of the players’ potential entertainment and show business careers. Tryouts will take place Apr. 30, but a head coach for the team or an arena has not yet been picked. Mortaza is hoping a former CFL Toronto Argonauts player or coach will apply for the position. A team name has not been chosen, but the league is seeking suggestions, which can be e-mailed to lflintoronto@lflus.com, and the name that is the most popular will be chosen. The person who submitted the name will also be given free season tickets. According to CTV News, in the following season, a Canadian league will debut and will feature five more Canadian teams. Although they have not been officially selected, Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, Montreal and Vancouver (Vixens?) are in the running. Some are not pleased with this decision. The Toronto Star reports that some women were upset over the city getting a team. “What’s next, thong soccer?” said Judy Pfiefer, a Toronto resident who has a 14-year-old daughter. “I don’t think this does much for gender equality.” Mortaza defended the league and said that although having a cute smile and good body is important, officials look for athletic females similar to tennis player Anna Kournikova. “These are women who are athletic but also very beautiful and very marketable. Well, we’ve taken that concept and made an entire league of it.”