0
0
The XFL
With week 2 of the XFL in the books, here’s some coverage of this highly anticipated professional football league. First, we need to remember the first iteration of the XFL
The first time around
In 2001, Vince McMahon worked a deal with NBC to air a new football league. Similar to the current XFL, the season began right after the NFL season ended. It was promoted as having fewer rules which was to encourage rougher play than other leagues. What may have lead to its failure after a single season was the attempt to make it too much like pro-wrestling. The presentation included kayfabe, scantily clad cheerleaders, and occasional WWF personalities on-air for commentary. Though the original XFL led to things we are very familiar with today, such as skycams and player’s being mic’d, viewership and the XFL’s reputation was not good.
What’s new now
The first time, I didn’t watch. I was too young and it didn’t last very long. This time, I have been watching. I think that this new football league has provided us with some of the best parts of football. By focusing more on the rules that people don’t like about the NFL, the XFL has hit on an area that may mean they can last into future seasons. I anticipate that we’ll see the NFL adopt some of their new measures as they had in the past, but so far, I think the XFL has started to carve its way into a proper professional football league. Just in the first two weeks, the kick-offs have been more exciting and the shorter half times and faster flag rulings have made the XFL very exciting to watch. Other changes to rules, including letting the clock run continuously outside of the two-minute warning and having overtimes that will actually end in a winner are things that make the XFL much better than the NFL.
It’s still very early to say, but the XFL is notching out a place in professional football and I hope it is here to stay.
