Pay attention, it matters

The UFL is in trouble.

Okay, so there aren’t any “facts” or “stats” to back that up, but attention to detail, in any business is important. Often times, a business’ success can be measured by how well it does the little things.

Things like, fact checking.

I was talking with a former colleague of mine, Brandon Williams. We were laughing about the UFL. In particular about how many former NFL “star” players were on one team – Omaha.

The Nighthawks have guys like D.J. Shockley, Jeff Garcia, Ahman Green, Morlon Greenwood, Cato June, and Demarcus Faggins.

While some of these guys weren’t “A List” guys or Pro Bowl players, they are recognizable names.

Great, right? The UFL might be making a name for it self a lot like the NBADL or the minor league system in the MLB. It gives fans a place to find players they still want to watch. Plus, it gives former NFL players a place to continue to collect a paycheck doing what they do best: Football.

The real bonus, it allows younger guys the opportunity to keep the body from accumulating the “out of football” rust.

But, UFL as a league isn’t what brought me to the point of writing. The UFL as a business is what has me scratching my head.

Yes, there are a few typos here and there on their website. But that’s no big deal in my book. Every website has typos. I’m almost certain there is at least one typo on every page of my website. And if you can’t find it, look harder.

The place where I cock my head to the side – fact checking.

Mike Hass, was left off the list above but was still a standout player in college. He was arguably the best receiver in the country from 2003 to 2006. Hass  is currently playing for the Knighthawks. He won the Fred Biletnikoff Award and was named an AP, Walter Camp and ESPN First-team All-American. He tallied three 1,000-yard receiving seasons – a Pac-10 record.

The man could flat out play. He’s got more records that I have similes.

That’s not to say he didn’t have a memorable NFL career. He was drafted by the Saints, played for the Bears and Seahawks.

There was a story out a few years back, while he was in Chicago, that he didn’t drop a single pass the entire offseason.

He’s good. Real good.

So, an important fact that shouldn’t be overlooked is the school he attended while he racked up stats and became a household name.

Mike Hass is an Oregon State Beaver. One that a lot of alumni are very proud to announce. Hass is one of the players fans still talk about and a guy that did it with a humble smile.

Hass, being a former Oregon Stater, has surely gotten the occasional, “Hey, how are your Ducks looking?”

But he deserves better. I doubt they would write that Maurice Clarett went to Michigan. Or that Robert Ferguson went to Texas.

It’s the little things that make businesses grow. It’s the little things that turn spectators into fans. It’s the little things that matter.