It's true the AFL is a niche league. If the NFL canceled a season, almost everyone would notice; not so with the AFL. Which leaves room to wonder whether fans will forget the league while it is reorganizing.

Like actors and musicians, you don't want to be away long enough to become irrelevant.

But the AFL had no choice. It has never had a big profit margin. Better to reorganize than relinquish.

Because it has lasted more than two decades, the AFL has a better chance of survival than some other leagues. It has name owners like John Elway and Jon Bon Jovi, who can keep their teams in the news. It has a product that is familiar to a lot of people and has relatively low overhead.

Salt Lake City, for its part, doesn't need professional water polo, table tennis or even lacrosse, but it is better off having footballs in the air during the winter.

If the AFL does return in 2010, I plan on being there. I'll be looking forward to the next combined 135-point football game.

I may even invest in some ear plugs while I'm waiting.

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E-mail: rock@desnews.com