Flag football in the desert

When people ask me about the heat here, I always have one decent analogy.

Hold a hairdryer a few inches from your face and that's what it feels like every time you walk outside -- morning, noon or night -- during the summer in Abu Dhabi.

So the temperatures are consistently over 100 degrees Fahrenheit? Big whoop. Instead of hunkering down in the air conditioning, why not put some flags around your waist and get out on the grid iron?

Some office mates and I formed a flag football team for a tournament last month at Zayed Sports City and we went up against five other teams full of overweight, out-of-shape weekend warriors.

Our record? A miserable 0-3.

But we did not sulk. We did not point fingers. And for the record, we had the most wives, girlfriends and female well-wishers on our sideline. We were also the first team inside the bar afterwards. A true indication of winning.

The tournament was such a success that a five-week league has been designed. The games are played at night so it provides a little relief from that blazing sun.

And since our tournament drubbing, our quarterback has taken it upon himself to draw up an offensive game plan that will make Peyton Manning's head spin. We also now have over-sized wristbands with all the plays on it so we are going no-huddle.

The best part is we now have a handful of Emiratis on the team, one of which had never tossed a pigskin before he came to the first practice.

So while the Yanks try not to pass out from heat exhaustion, the fate of the team rests on the locals. These fine gentlemen -- who probably have never heard of Peyton Manning -- have no qualms with the desert heat and because of that, they will surely lead us to glory.