Get ready for the Next Thing in cultural devolution, folks. The Lingerie Football League is coming to Omaha next year. And not to a brothel, striptease joint, or peep show booth but to Ralston's 3,500-seat tax-supported arena.
Here's a bit of the Omaha World-Herald article about the matter.
Not much description is required here: leggy women in pads, bras, panties and little else strap on hockey-style helmets to duel in seven-on-seven arena football games.
The new Ralston franchise, which doesn't have a name yet, will play two home games at the $32 million Ralston Sports and Event Center, joining tenants that include the Omaha Lancers hockey team, the Omaha Beef indoor football team and the University of Nebraska at Omaha men's basketball team.
Left in the wake of Thursday's announcement were members of the Nebraska Stampede, a fully-padded — and fully clothed — women's semiprofessional team that has struggled to make ends meet playing football in the Omaha area for three seasons. The Stampede's next game is 7 p.m. Saturday at Ralston High School's Rams' Field.
“From my perspective, it's really frustrating that this is the reality in our society,” said Tina Johnson, who serves as general manager and starting fullback for the Women's Football Alliance team. “Sex sells, and it always will.”
“If they want to go out there and play in their lingerie, then by all means, that's their power,” Johnson said. “I just wish we could get that same kind of respect with our clothes on.”
Below is the letter I e-mailed to the Ralston mayor (and every single City Council member as well). I urge you to write them also.
So this is what you think morally responsible government means -- to bring to the metropolitan area a group of scantily-clad young women to play football? For crying out loud, if Ralston were to get a profitable offer to put in peep show booths, would you accept that too?
Guys, this makes Ralston city government a joke. And a dirty joke, at that. So please, for the sake of the city's reputation, for the moral health and well-being of the citizenry (especially the youth), and for a more enlightened and responsible path to financial security for the arena, turn back the Lingerie Football League.
Until you do, I will not patronize any of the events held at the arena and I will pass the word along to friends, family, church members and the general public.
Denny Hartford
Director, Vital Signs Ministries
Teaching pastor, Faith Bible Church
Contact info:
The Ralston Mayor at City Hall -- cityhall@cityofralston.com
All Ralston City Council members -- See their e-mail addresses on this web page.
