The Return of the XFL
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In any event, I'm starting this thread as a companion to my article published today:
https://wizardofvegas.com/articles/is-the-xfl-a-good-bet/
Detailing the revival of the XFL. Hopefully, if any of you guys heard the news or watched the original XFL, this will make for an interesting conversation. Please feel free to comment in either this thread or the comments section of the article, but I'm going to say, preferably in the thread.
My article discusses the initial national exposure of the WWF (late 70's and 80's), WWE moving into movies, cross-promotions with boxing, cross-promotions with football, the failure of the first incarnation of the XFL and what it will take for this version to succeed...which is a long shot.
I'm putting this thread in, 'Sports Betting,' for two reasons:
1.) Believe it or not, Vegas actually accepted action and booked lines for the original XFL. I can't imagine what the hell they'd have based it off of for the first few games, especially with the unusual rules, but there you go.
2.) I think 100 million dollars is a Hell of a large bet, and that's McMahon's initial outlay (without a partner, this time) in the new league.
Thanks for reading and any comments either in that page or this thread!
There is also a poll above, the question is: What is your opinion of the new XFL? You can also choose any of the silly options as this is a multi-choice poll.
The best way of doing this is undermining the NFL's draft eligibility rules. Which state you must have been out of high school for three years.
So, the XFL should offer contracts and pay to the top players out of high. All of those ESPN Top 300 recruits. Get these talented guys in, and have a league with skilled players.
There's more to it than that. But getting talent is a good first step.
Quote: SM777If XFL can get top talent, it has the chance for success.
The best way of doing this is undermining the NFL's draft eligibility rules. Which state you must have been out of high school for three years.
So, the XFL should offer contracts and pay to the top players out of high. All of those ESPN Top 300 recruits. Get these talented guys in, and have a league with skilled players.
There's more to it than that. But getting talent is a good first step.
Absolutely, definitely mentioned that towards the end of my article. That's under the, "Compete, but Not Exactly," heading.
I definitely agree with you with the only problem being the NFL may categorically decide (spoken or unspoken) that it will not take XFL players under any circumstances after the three years if they have played in the XFL. I doubt if that would be the case, as the NFL's goal should be to field the best possible product, which you do by having the best possible players, but it's a remote possibility.
Aside from that, the NFL could simply double-undermine the XFL by simply abolishing the rule and allowing players to be drafted right out of high school. It's pretty silly that they are not allowed to do that as it is. Let's face it: If you're only going to college to stay in football shape and have no intention of finishing your degree before declaring for the draft, (some players do, others don't) then there's really no reason to be there.
However, if the NFL keeps the same rule, I agree 100%. The XFL needs to be going, knocking on doors and trying to recruit players just like the colleges. They can say, "Look, we're going to get you prepared for the NFL, but the difference is you get cash money and can sign a sponsorship with anyone you like."
I think the XFL is doomed for the reasons you stated, plus those fans who remember the old XFL will be expecting it to fail.
As you mentioned, the NFL has already adopted some of the XFL's good ideas. (IIRC, didn't the XFL also pioneer the "in-game" sideline interview?) There doesn't appear to be anything novel about this incarnation of the XFL to garner interest.
I do like the idea of getting players straight from high school. I believe there is a niche there to be had for kids that can't/don't want to go to college to continue their football careers. However, the only way I see this as sustainable is if it does become either an "official" or de facto developmental league for the NFL; an idea the XFL is opposed to.
We'll see. I'll probably put on my He Hate Me jersey* and watch the first game.
Edit: Tried to get in b4 He Hate Me. 17 sec too late! Dang it, Axel! :P
I think a lot of those kids would be getting crushed, too many of them careers virtually ended at 19-20 by 25-34 yo nfl washouts many of whom were top 300 recruits. Career ending injuries happen in college too but I just feel there would be a spike with players playing against each other who are too often at different levels of physical development.
Quote: JoemanGreat article, Mission!
As you mentioned, the NFL has already adopted some of the XFL's good ideas. (IIRC, didn't the XFL also pioneer the "in-game" sideline interview?) There doesn't appear to be anything novel about this incarnation of the XFL to garner interest.
Thanks for the compliment!
I don't know that they pioneered the sideline interview, but what they did pioneer was putting a microphone on the players. The NFL has kept that for their Mic'd Up shows as well as keeping a camera on...it's either the Center or one of the Guards...so that you can hear the quarterback calling the snap. THat's why you can hear Tom Brady shouting, "Green, 19! Green, 19!" all the time whereas you would not have that prior to a certain year.
I actually mentioned that prior to proofreading myself. Believe it or not, I trimmed that article by about 2,000 words. I felt that it may well get brought up separately, and that I'd already mentioned enough of the XFL's (limited) successes.
Quote:I do like the idea of getting players straight from high school. I believe there is a niche there to be had for kids that can't/don't want to go to college to continue their football careers. However, the only way I see this as sustainable is if it does become either an "official" or de facto developmental league for the NFL; an idea the XFL is opposed to.
We'll see. I'll probably put on my He Hate Me jersey* and watch the first game.No, I don't really have a He Hate Me jersey!
Edit: Tried to get in b4 He Hate Me. 17 sec too late! Dang it, Axel! :P
They can be a de facto league regardless of who is opposed or not opposed to it. Like I mentioned in the article, if an NFL team offers a substantial amount of money for one of your player's contracts, I don't know how you say no. It would be foolish to do so in every conceivable way, not to mention seriously ticking off that player.
I like the idea because I think the three-year thing is absurd. I honestly wouldn't have as much of a problem if the colleges would let the players have sponsorships, but not for the colleges to pay them directly, of course. The schools themselves profit off of player's likenesses all the time, and they certainly have the team brand sponsored. It's effectively paying WAY less indirectly (scholarships) than the labor is worth.
Quote: mcallister3200I think players out of high school is a really bad idea. I think there’s too much physical development left and there’s a big difference in how important those 2-3 years of physical development are in a sport as physical as football vs basketball or baseball. Just my opinion.
I think that's a terrific argument and I don't disagree with you. My only counters are:
1.) If that's a risk the player wants to take, then let him.
AND
2.) You potentially have college freshmen going up against seniors, and that's not a whole lot different. You're still looking at guys who are still arguably kids against guys who are arguably fully grown and fully developed men.
Quote:I think a lot of those kids would be getting crushed, too many of them careers virtually ended at 19-20 by 25-34 yo nfl washouts many of whom were top 300 recruits. Career ending injuries happen in college too but I just feel there would be a spike with players playing against each other who are too often at different levels of physical development.
It's happened to college guys, as you mentioned, the difference being the college guys didn't get any cash money in the interim. Either way, when you have the requisite skill to make money doing something, and you're doing it for free or for indirect pay, you're taking a risk.
The only way I could side with you, and I don't fundamentally disagree with your position, is if one of two things happened:
1.) The NFL KEEPS the three-year rule, except they can sign players directly out of high school who cannot play college ball. While the NFL pays for the rights to the player, and pays a salary to retain that player, the player cannot play during the time. Naturally, the player is permitted to train during that time and can attend college without playing.
They do this in baseball and a student can attend college and play in the Minors. The main difference is the NFL has no Minors.
2.) Let the kids have paid sponsorships while in college! They're not getting paid by a team, but rather by a sponsor.
This post brought to you by Carl's Jr. (Kidding)
Quote: mcallister3200In the end, it’s probably close to irrelevant whether they can pull 19 year olds or not. They aren’t going to come into the xfl with name recognition from casual fans, and the ones that are really good and develop are going to go to the nfl anyway after 2-4 years for the most part.
Agreed, but that's where your marketing/promoting staff has to come into play.
"This kid, just so you know, was considered to be a true blue-chipper, ranked #7 among all high school prospects and expected to go to Alabama, but he's decided to come to the XFL instead. The highest-rated halfback prospect, among his many accomplishments, he racked up 310 all-purpose yards in the Oklahoma state championship last year, with over 200 of them coming on the ground and five touchdowns, three rushing, to help lead the XXXX High team to victory. We expect him to not only be a starter, but a starter that the Las Vegas Outlaws lean on heavily in their inaugural campaign. Look for him to potentially be a league-leader in rushing this season, but don't underestimate his hands, as he should pick up plenty of receiving yards, too!"
I ABSOLUTELY agree that the better ones will go to the NFL, but that should be the goal (as I mentioned in my article) if you are the XFL. Every single talent that eventually makes an NFL roster serves to legitimize you as a league. I don't think that is something that XFL, or McMahon, should disregard, diminish or try to prevent entirely. I think you want to become the league, "Where NFL stars are born and bred."
Again, he seems like he is taking a tactic of essentially pretending the NFL doesn't exist and just doing his thing, but I don't think that's the right way to go.
Quote: RSI just hope it's a medium success for sports betting reasons. If it dies out, then nothing to bet on. If it gains popularity super crazily, then sportsbooks will have sharper lines.
Great point! I think there may well be money to be made for people sharper than I with an even better understanding of the game. I rely so much on a body of work (read: stats) when making my decisions (and that's just on Picks, usually not putting actual money down) that I think someone who can just sit down and watch the game able to get a ton of insight will be able to beat the books. Matchups, stuff like that.
Quote: IndyJeffreyI will be surprised if one game is played. The NFL is stronger today than ever; meaning, holds much influence over entities/partners the XFL would cooperation from to succeed.
That's an interesting point, but I softly disagree.
For one thing, with Internet streaming, you may well not need traditional television broadcasters for a national audience. Beyond that, unlike what happened with NBC all those years ago, (who was televising it nationally) I really think the NFL would be hard-pressed to punish national stations for allowing their local syndicates to broadcast home/away games on a local level. Besides, if they did that, it makes them appear to be scared of the XFL. You definitely don't want to lend that appearance, if for no other reason, because you have no cause to be scared of them and acting scared gives them immediate legitimacy.
Aside from that, I can't imagine that any sponsors of the NFL would be sponsoring XFL. I have to believe there is a pre-existing non-compete there. Papa John's is almost a lock to sponsor XFL...lol. Aside from that, probably some of the WWE sponsors who do not currently sponsor NFL, preexisting relationships cause that to make sense. You've got local businesses for your local broadcasts as well as stadium signage, maybe even on the uniforms themselves.
I think that's just a matter of getting interested sponsors to begin with, especially given the failure that was the original XFL.
They don’t have to compete with the NFL to be successful from a financial standpoint.
As for if the football is watchable, that is a different story.
The XFL will need to have Vegas lines in order to even have a chance at success. Gambling / Fantasy / ect is one of the top reasons the NFL is as popular as it is. Other reasons being the anticipation and importance of every game just once a week, top tier talent competing at the highest level, violence of the game, pride to their home cities, and the money associate throughout. These are just a few to mention.
Im not 100% against the XFL, but it will take a lot for me to become personally vested and interested in second rate football. The opportunity of winning in the sportsbook would definitely be top on the list.
Quote: BozThere are so many providers looking for content that he will get a distribution deal. The WWE is now providing a weekly match on Facebook Live and there are rumors when their TV deal comes up next year they are going to get a huge bump in their rights fees. The recent gains in their stock reflects the anticipation of increases.
They don’t have to compete with the NFL to be successful from a financial standpoint.
As for if the football is watchable, that is a different story.
I definitely think Facebook makes a ton of sense. They’ve been aggressively pursuing live sports broadcast rights as it is. Besides, you could have it as an opt-in with the feed in the corner of the page such that a person could watch it while doing other Facebook stuff.
Quote: WatchMeWinIm sure Vince will offer new angles to the game and make it more violent and/or WWE entertainment style. Im not particularly interested in it as I have enough outstanding football from August to Feb with NFL and College FB. The 6 month build up and anticipation for NFL / NCAA FB to start is part of the allure.
I don’t know as that failed the first time, as addressed in the article. Most of those angles conflicted with gameplay or were otherwise just awful ideas. He also states he’s not going with the wrestling aspect anymore.
He says he’s going to emphasize player safety, but as has already been said and is hardly a hot take, that goal and getting a game under two hours seems to directly conflict.
Appreciate your point about the build up, but would you consider attending games if they were in your city with reasonably priced tickets?
Quote:The XFL will need to have Vegas lines in order to even have a chance at success. Gambling / Fantasy / ect is one of the top reasons the NFL is as popular as it is. Other reasons being the anticipation and importance of every game just once a week, top tier talent competing at the highest level, violence of the game, pride to their home cities, and the money associate throughout. These are just a few to mention.
Absolutely! The books did it the last time, so I don’t see why this would be different. I don’t think fantasy is going to happen in terms of traditional, but I think they could get on with DFS. I think you’d need to be around a few years for people to become familiar with players before traditional fantasy even becomes a possibility.
The fantasy is a brilliant point that I failed to even address. I think the other stuff is also going to be pretty exclusive to NFL for a few years. There’s really no way a new league can start with that built-in. You just need to get butts in seats and have them enjoy the product. IF you can accomplish that, the other stuff may follow.
Quote:Im not 100% against the XFL, but it will take a lot for me to become personally vested and interested in second rate football. The opportunity of winning in the sportsbook would definitely be top on the list.
Agreed 100%.
The result was rag tag play by teams that had barely had minimum practice time before being shoved into prime time.
Could it succeed this time? I won't bet against it. I'd attend a game or two if they come back to Vegas.
It will be interesting to see how they man the rosters this time. Do they go after NFL benchwarmers, offering starting jobs and more publicity or try to build slowly.
About five years ago, I read about a guy trying to perfect a transparent football helmet. He thought being able to see the players faces would add star power to the game. This might be just the place for such an experiment.
I think the biggest strike against the XFL is, there just isn't a market for football outside of the fall.
That being said, remember that the whole thing is under the umbrella of something called Alpha Entertainment, as opposed to Titan something-or-other, which is what I would have expected Vince McMahon to do with the XFL. Between that and the fact that Vince will own all of the teams, I wouldn't be surprised if the intent of the league is:
(a) sign college (or even high school) kids not old enough for the NFL, although this didn't work too well when the USFL tried it;
(b) use it primarily as a training ground for the NFL that pays its players;
(c) when some top talent does get signed by the NFL, point out that every XFL contract includes a clause that the player has to use Alpha Entertainment as its agent, complete with an inflated percentage of any signing bonus.
Quote: Mission146Appreciate your point about the build up, but would you consider attending games if they were in your city with reasonably priced tickets?
Most likely not, unless I was invited and a bunch of friends were making a night of it followed by steak dinner and strip club. If they have cheerleaders hanging out with the fans in the stands, this could entice me.
btw, the indoor arena league has a team in Philly. I never went to a game. However, I believe the Arean league is/was profitable for the owners somehow. Perhaps Vince knows what he is doing for his own pocket.
Quote: WatchMeWinMost likely not, unless I was invited and a bunch of friends were making a night of it followed by steak dinner and strip club. If they have cheerleaders hanging out with the fans in the stands, this could entice me.
btw, the indoor arena league has a team in Philly. I never went to a game. However, I believe the Arean league is/was profitable for the owners somehow. Perhaps Vince knows what he is doing for his own pocket.
This answers some of my Arena questions..
https://www.theodysseyonline.com/the-rise-and-decline-of-the-arena-football-league
Quote: billryanThe original XFL rollout was a disaster. The original concept changed when NBC and its big purse got involved.
The result was rag tag play by teams that had barely had minimum practice time before being shoved into prime time.
Could it succeed this time? I won't bet against it. I'd attend a game or two if they come back to Vegas.
It will be interesting to see how they man the rosters this time. Do they go after NFL benchwarmers, offering starting jobs and more publicity or try to build slowly.
I agree that a year of preparation may enable them to put together a better product on the field.
As far as benchwarmers, those players would be crazy to jump ship. Besides, I assume contracts would prevent it. Additionally, if you’re on the bench, you’re one hit away from being a starter. If a practice squad guy, one hit from being on the active roster.
More importantly, if the pay structure of the new XFL is the same as the old, you make about 10x as much money per year with NFL league minimum. IOW, you’re not getting anyone who could otherwise play NFL ball.
Quote:About five years ago, I read about a guy trying to perfect a transparent football helmet. He thought being able to see the players faces would add star power to the game. This might be just the place for such an experiment.
That’s an interesting concept. I thought first-person view could be neat if you could first implement built-in helmet cams and then protect them sufficiently.
Quote: ThatDonGuy
I think the biggest strike against the XFL is, there just isn't a market for football outside of the fall.
I almost think that’s too general a statement.
Quote:That being said, remember that the whole thing is under the umbrella of something called Alpha Entertainment, as opposed to Titan something-or-other, which is what I would have expected Vince McMahon to do with the XFL. Between that and the fact that Vince will own all of the teams, I wouldn't be surprised if the intent of the league is:
(a) sign college (or even high school) kids not old enough for the NFL, although this didn't work too well when the USFL tried it;
(b) use it primarily as a training ground for the NFL that pays its players;
(c) when some top talent does get signed by the NFL, point out that every XFL contract includes a clause that the player has to use Alpha Entertainment as its agent, complete with an inflated percentage of any signing bonus.
He’s not going to do Titan because it exposes the WWE to anything that may happen, including lawsuits. That’s why it’s not even a, “Corporate veil,” sort of deal. It’s 100% his money.
A.) I mentioned that and imagine so, unless the NFL can find a loop-around way to somehow make that undesirable to do.
B.) I think that’s what they should aspire to, though McMahon has directly stated he wants to be a competing product, not a developmental league. I think that’s a best case scenario for him, though, perhaps even with an eye towards being bought out eventually.
C.) Could that fall afoul of anti-trust? Besides, the publicity just of those players going to the NFL, in and of itself, would be great for the league.
Quote: WatchMeWinMost likely not, unless I was invited and a bunch of friends were making a night of it followed by steak dinner and strip club. If they have cheerleaders hanging out with the fans in the stands, this could entice me.
btw, the indoor arena league has a team in Philly. I never went to a game. However, I believe the Arean league is/was profitable for the owners somehow. Perhaps Vince knows what he is doing for his own pocket.
You’ll be disappointed to know he doesn’t intend to do cheerleaders at all.
Absolutely. It’s possible to perform profitably just on gate. Minor league baseball teams have the advantage of not having to pay players signed to MLB contracts, but you still have to be a profitable overall enterprise to survive.
While it may have not still be here today, many of the teams did good in the Spring. They proved there is a market for it if you put an entertaining product on the field. Many use the example of the best game no one ever saw in LA between Kelly and a Young as an example that no one wanted it. But football in LA has always had problems drawing fans. In NY on a spring Sunday the Generals outdrew the Mets on Daryl Stawberry day and the Yankees with a red hot Don Mattingly.
Stars games drew 40,000 plus for many games. But the owners fell for Trump dream and those who disagreed didn’t have the votes to stop him. Wow, the more things change...
Espn did a great documentary on it but it goes much deeper than that if you research it.
I still believe there is a market for Football in the Spring provided you put a competitive and compelling product on the field.
Ratings are down, and it's not because there's a bunch of people boycotting and waiting for an alternate product.
If I was setting the over under on XFL seasons, I'd probably set it at 2. And if I had to bet, I'd take the under.
Eventually the NFL is going to go to an 18 game season, and the Superbowl will be the day before President's Day. On an unrelated note, why isn't the Superbowl on Saturday?
Quote: AyecarumbaFootball has changed alot since the XFL experiment, but what hasn’t changed is the audience’s thirst for hard hits. Unfortunately, you can’t have the action without the injuries, and this is why the NFL (and any other league’s) days are numbered. CTE as a long term, chronic illness will kill football within the next decade.
This is why e-sports is the future. Although the biggest problem right now is carpel tunnel plagueing the creme of the crop.
Quote: AyecarumbaFootball has changed alot since the XFL experiment, but what hasn’t changed is the audience’s thirst for hard hits. Unfortunately, you can’t have the action without the injuries, and this is why the NFL (and any other league’s) days are numbered. CTE as a long term, chronic illness will kill football within the next decade.
How about if some of the hits were choreographed?
He also said that no one with a criminal record would be allowed to play, that includes a DUI.
Why no cheerleaders?
Tecmo Super Bowl was/is a good game.Quote: tringlomaneHow about "Cyberball"??
Quote: AyecarumbaFootball has changed alot since the XFL experiment, but what hasn’t changed is the audience’s thirst for hard hits. Unfortunately, you can’t have the action without the injuries, and this is why the NFL (and any other league’s) days are numbered. CTE as a long term, chronic illness will kill football within the next decade.
Do you think MMA is also on the way out? Boxing? In MMA for sure contestants receive concussions and then continue, usually to sustain another one moments or minutes later. Now legal in every state, by the way.
Amazing is that football is still ok for high school. It will be interesting to see the first locality that bans it.....
Quote: SOOPOODo you think MMA is also on the way out? Boxing? In MMA for sure contestants receive concussions and then continue, usually to sustain another one moments or minutes later. Now legal in every state, by the way.
Amazing is that football is still ok for high school. It will be interesting to see the first locality that bans it.....
I’m not certain, but over the course of a year, I suspect pro Boxing and MMA fighters actually have less contact to the head than NFL players. Football players will have 16 one hour games in a season, and may be involved in 30% of the plays on average? Of those plays maybe 25% will involve hits to the head? So over the course of a season it could be the equivalent of 30 minutes to an hour of headshots? Compare this to boxers or MMA fighters who will be in the ring or octogon maybe half an hour a year, and only take two or three really solid shots to the noggin?
It does damage, especially boxing since there is an emphasis on headshots, but not to 22 guys at a time.
I kind of wanted to let the thread go a little so that it wouldn't literally be, "Mission146," every other post. Multiple responses below:
Quote: WatchMeWinIf the NFL or any football league really wants to limit concussions / head injuries , I think the only way is to bring back the leather helmet. I guarantee you no one will run full speed and lower their head into another player's head, body, or anything! The helmet is used as a weapon and if you take the helmet away, you take away much of the violence and bang bang of the game..... translating into less interest from fans. Lets face it, we love violence... from the roman days at the Colosseum to Medieval Hangings to UFC, etc, there is an innate human desire to watch violent events.
I would stipulate that players would play more carefully, but I think a greater percentage of actual head knocks would result in concussions. Keep in mind, we really don't have much adequate concussion data from the leather helmet days because CTE really wasn't known. Beyond that, old school football, the job of the team doctors, first and foremost, was to get you back on the field as soon as possible.
I imagine it was a, "How many fingers am I holding up?," sort of thing and you sent the guy back out there if the guess was within one either way.
Quote: Boz
While it may have not still be here today, many of the teams did good in the Spring. They proved there is a market for it if you put an entertaining product on the field. Many use the example of the best game no one ever saw in LA between Kelly and a Young as an example that no one wanted it. But football in LA has always had problems drawing fans. In NY on a spring Sunday the Generals outdrew the Mets on Daryl Stawberry day and the Yankees with a red hot Don Mattingly.
I still believe there is a market for Football in the Spring provided you put a competitive and compelling product on the field.
I really don't know enough about the USFL to comment on that specifically, but what I will say is I agree there is definitely a potential market in the mid-Winter to late-Spring months. The first reason is simply because people like football and there is no meaningful saturation of the market during those months, particularly not on television. Granted, you'll need to have hardcore football fans, (almost exclusively) but that's why you have to put a watchable product on the field.
If you wanted to run concurrent with the NFL you'd fail because of course you would. Not only is that during the college football season, but you also have NFL games on the TV three-four days/nights per week. You have to be more than hardcore to actually watch every nationally televised game, borderline obsessed, or a bettor, of course.
If you look at the spring, and I think I mentioned it in the article, but you don't have too much sports competition, in general. You could start the second week of February and the only meaningful competition for eyes and ears is March Madness. The MLB games in April matter (but seem like they don't) and the NBA/NHL Playoffs haven't even gone to the Conference Finals by the time the final week of a twelve-game schedule (i.e. championship) would be played. Other than college basketball, you're only minimally competing with the playoffs of any other sport.
Yeah, I tossed in a dig at the Chargers in the article, too, speaking of the LA market...
Quote: FinsRuleThatdonguy hit it on the head. People don't want year round football. There's already year round news with the NFL. That should be good enough for fans.
Ratings are down, and it's not because there's a bunch of people boycotting and waiting for an alternate product.
If I was setting the over under on XFL seasons, I'd probably set it at 2. And if I had to bet, I'd take the under.
Eventually the NFL is going to go to an 18 game season, and the Superbowl will be the day before President's Day. On an unrelated note, why isn't the Superbowl on Saturday?
I agree with the first part, but it wouldn't be year-round. You would still have about half of April until September with no meaningful professional football. Again, the XFL is going to be looking for hardcore, rather than casual, football fans.
I do agree with your analysis, though, did so in the article. Two years and I'd also take the under.
I don't know that the 18-game season will matter, it will come by way of eliminating preseason games, so shouldn't extend the season any longer on the calendar.
Quote: onenickelmiracleDoesn't sound smart reusing the same name after the failure. The league failed once, it's like losing a child and naming the new one with the same name. I don't like all the teams being owned by the league either, don't know, maybe they hope to sell them off once a success. Easy to say the league will fail, because it probably will.
I think it's mainly because he already had the rights to the name, but I agree. He also pointed out many things ending in, 'FL,' have already been used or otherwise don't have a great ring to them.
I actually do know a couple who suffered a death during childbirth and went on to name a later child what the first would have been named. I thought that was a little bit odd, but obviously didn't say that to them.
Saying they are more likely than not to fail, I agree, is hardly a hot take. I'm more interested in what it would take for them to succeed, which I also tried to address. As far as the teams being owned by the league, they could always be sold as franchises later. I think for the XFL to succeed is such a long shot that it's a difficult sell to get anyone to buy into a franchise this early...especially since they don't even know where the teams will be yet.
Quote: AyecarumbaFootball has changed alot since the XFL experiment, but what hasn’t changed is the audience’s thirst for hard hits. Unfortunately, you can’t have the action without the injuries, and this is why the NFL (and any other league’s) days are numbered. CTE as a long term, chronic illness will kill football within the next decade.
I don't want to think about that. Although, there are some of the more violent plays that could be eliminated. I've even got a replacement for kickoffs that leave what is effectively an onside kick as an option. A friend of mine and I have discussed the matter at-length! Don't know if it's actually viable, or not, but we like our idea.
Quote: AxelWolfVince McMahon said kneeling during the national anthem will be prohibited(good for him) along with other political statements.
He also said that no one with a criminal record would be allowed to play, that includes a DUI.
Why no cheerleaders?
I mean, yeah, if you go into it with kneeling being prohibited, then you're good. The NBA has a rule that you must stand, but they've had it even prior to the C-Kaep protests. The problem the NFL had was being put in as position where, if they were going to prohibit it, they'd have to do it after the fact of it already happening.
I'm good with no criminal records, other than petty offenses, or what have you.
No cheerleaders is just McMahon doing his characteristic thing with going ALL THE WAY in the opposite direction when something doesn't work. The original XFL had a huge focus on scantily-clad cheerleaders with gimmick locker room segments and all of that crap. So, he's just saying, "No cheerleaders at all, this is the XFLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!!!!!" But, I don't know that it's an official rule rather than a de facto thing because the league owns all the teams. Should they ever sell a franchise(s), I imagine that franchise(s) could have cheerleaders if it wants to.
Quote: SOOPOO
Amazing is that football is still ok for high school. It will be interesting to see the first locality that bans it.....
Not that the schools will care, but should that ever happen, you'll have witnessed the death of the NFL. Basically all football. It'll be tough to field a quality product consisting of a bunch of people who did not play tackle football until adulthood.
Quote: AyecarumbaCompare this to boxers or MMA fighters who will be in the ring or octogon maybe half an hour a year, and only take two or three really solid shots to the noggin?
1.) Maybe if you're a top fighter, but you have to become a top fighter, first.
2.) More importantly, don't forget sparring/practice. The majority of injuries, concussion of otherwise, come while training.
No actual stripper harm was intended by my statement.
I had to look up Jobbers, that's the first time I ever heard that term.Quote: IbeatyouracesHopefully there's a team full of jobbers!
I wasn't sure if it was linked to strippers, as in, hand jobbers.
Quote: IbeatyouracesHopefully there's a team full of jobbers!
There is, but the Browns are an NFL team.
Quote: Mission146There is, but the Browns are an NFL team.
Yeah, but we have the original team in Detroit.
Quote: AxelWolfI had to look up Jobbers, that's the first time I ever heard that term.
I wasn't sure if it was linked to strippers, as in, hand jobbers.
The PC term for jobber is "Enhancement Talent."
Quote: Mission146You have to put him on a team, even if he blows. Marketing 101.
Mr T. should get some at bats and seat some asses in Vegas this spring. I think he's worth a thousand seats a game, minimum.
