•The NCAA is set to admit its first Canadian college, soon-to-be D-II Simon Fraser University. Honestly, we can't open the door to any old school from a third-world country, or next thing you know, NJIT will be Division I.

•The Titans will honor Steve McNair with a stick-on helmet decal, because they're already wearing a jersey patch honoring 50 years of the AFL. NFL regulations prohibit more than one patch. If NFL regulations prohibited more than one significant other, we wouldn't have this conflict.

•The Arena Football League shuts down indefinitely. At least the UFL will now have access to quality players. Well, AFL-quality players.

•It was only a matter of time: odds are being set for the first player to garner a Twitter-related suspension. Someone check to see if Antonio Cromartie laid down a few hundy on himself.

•Hot off the heels of yesterday's Mark-Prior-done-for-the-millennium news, comes word that once and future Reds ace Edinson Volquez is gone for 12 months. The common thread: Dusty Baker. Somebody keep this man away from human arms.

•Bengals TE Reggie Kelly is out for the year after rupturing a tendon in a non-contact drill. HBO's Hard Knocks is going to be a train wreck, of the highly viewable type.

It's Thursday. Today's the last day to tell your boss you need a three-day weekend.

Hours after Los Angeles Avengers owner Casey Wasserman said he expected the season to be called off, the league's board of directors voted via conference call not to suspend the season "at this time." "The board will continue to meet regularly to examine any and all long-term structural improvement options for the AFL," the league said in a written statement after the vote. The season takes place from March to June.

Good news for the sport that's just like playing in your garage, only without the danger if sharp tools. The league's board of directors had said on Wednesday that cancellation of the 2009 season was imminent, due to a weakening economy and large financial losses.

Hard to picture a world with no Dallas Desperados or Arizona Rattlers. And more importantly, what would Bernie Kosar and John Elway do with their spare time?

Interestingly enough, you will be able to see the Green Bay Blizzard and Kentucky Horsemen for sure next season; Arena2 — the AFL's developmental league — is planning business as usual in 2009. The AFL has reshuffled franchises more than perhaps any pro sport — remember the Anahiem Piranhas and New Orleans Voodoo? — but up until this year looked to be in no particular danger. Founded in 1987, bringing the world wacky ideas such at the 50-yard-long field and goalside rebound nets, the league averaged 12,415 fans in 2007, and has been partnered with ESPN since 2006.

The word is that the players have been asked to take salary cuts so that the league can continue, but there has been no word so far from their union.

And this seems like an appropriate time to reflect on my favorite AFL franchise ever, the Minnesota Fighting Pike. Sadly, the did not fight hard enough.

Reports: Arena Football League To Cancel 2009 Season [Cleveland Plain Dealer]
Arena Football League Reconsiders Suspending 2009 Season [Los Angeles Times]

As to motivate non season ticket holders, who don't live in Morrisville, the team is giving discounts to people who grow "Soul" patches.

I know it's a bit of a trek, but, hell, not like you got anything better to do, Phil Jackson.

Today the owner of the Las Vegas Gladiators, Jim Ferraro, announced he is relocating the team to Cleveland - and that former Browns great Bernie Kosar will be the team president. The team will begin play next summer at Quicken Loans Arena.

Of course the inevitable last-second playoff losses to the Colorado Crush will be tough to take at first, but you'll soon get used to it, Cleveland fans, just like always.

Want season tickets? Dig in.

Cleveland Joins The Arena Football League [AFL.com]
The Colorado Crush

Oh. Of course.

"We are committed to the Arena Football League and its exciting brand of football," John Skipper, executive vice president for content at ESPN, said in a statement. "We will help grow the league across all of our multimedia platforms. As the league grows, so will our business, and we see a bright future for us both."

We're sure this is great short-term news for the AFL, and we're happy for them. But that phrase keeps sticking in our brains: "We will help grow the league across all of our multimedia platforms." Uh-oh. We're full expecting Jon Bon Jovi to become a color commentator, Ron Jaworski to coach a team and Stephen A. Smith to host the Arena Bowl XXI halftime show. Careful what you wish for, Arena League.

ESPN Acquires Minority Stake In Arena Football [ESPN]