I have never seen an Arena Football League game and probably never will, but I appreciate that the Los Angeles Avengers have managed to survive for eight years. I also like this list the team included in its anniversary press release, noting all the Los Angeles-area pro football teams through history. How many do you know? And did you realize the Avengers rank third in longevity?

• Los Angeles Rams, NFL -- 1946-1994 (1980-1994 in Anaheim)
• Los Angeles Raiders, NFL -- 1982-1994
• Los Angeles Avengers, Arena Football League -- 2000-present
• Los Angeles Bulldogs, PCPFL (Pacific Coast Professional Football League) -- 1940-1945
• Hollywood Bears/Wolves, PCPFL -- 1940-1942, 1944-1945
• Los Angeles Dons, AAFC (All-America Football Conference) -- 1946-1949
• Los Angeles Express, USFL -- 1983-1985
• Southern California Sun, WFL -- 1974-1975 (32 games)
• Anaheim Piranhas, Arena Football League -- 1996-1997 (28 games)
• Orange County Ramblers, ConFL (Continental Football League) -- 1967-1968 (24 games)
• Los Angeles Mustangs, PCPFL -- 1943-44 (18 games)
• Los Angeles Chargers, AFL -- 1960 (15 games, 14 in regular season)
• Los Angeles Wildcats, AFL -- 1926 (14 games)
• Los Angeles Cobras, Arena Football League -- 1988 (13 games, 12 in regular season)
• Los Angeles Xtreme, XFL -- 2001 (12 games, 10 in regular season)
• Hollywood Rangers, PCPFL -- 1944 (11 games)
• Los Angeles Buccaneers, NFL -- 1926 (10 games, road games only)
• Los Angeles Bulldogs, AFL -- 1937 (8 games)
• Los Angeles Wildcats, PCPFL -- 1944 (8 games)
• Long Beach Admirals, ConFL -- 1967 (1 game)

The Avengers will host the Las Vegas Gladiators at Staples Center on Sunday at 3:30 p.m. If they win, the Avengers clinch a playoff berth. The regular season ends with a game against the Utah Blaze on Saturday, June 23.