Paying attention at the Pittsburgh Flag Football League is hard.

I took my first trip to Cupples Stadium on Sunday to see the three fields of action. I did my best to stay focused, tried to soak up the environment and experience flag football in the Steel City, but I couldn’t.

Not because it wasn’t interesting, but because with all that was going on, it was too interesting.

I saw a defender reamed out for quitting on a receiver he had no chance of catching. There was a better chance of the NFL lockout ending tomorrow than him catching the guy, but you don’t quit in this league.
 

As a ball floated toward the back of the end zone, I saw two defenders crash in a mid-air collision that made my bones hurt. The two showed no regard for their well-being as one walked away sporting a black eye and cut on his nose. Even with no padding, you go all out in this league.

I saw players show competitive respect to one another for good plays. Great flag grabs, diving catches, side-winding runs and stellar defense frustrates opponents to no end, but you show respect in this league.

I saw a quarterback trying to get a play off before half and because of a miscommunication, it failed. He was so frustrated he walked away from his teammates at halftime, screaming at the top of his lungs just before kicking a gym bag out of aggravation. It’s meant to be a league for fun, but you care in this league.

And that’s the thing that separates this league.