Ventura and the XFL

[Marc]

For those following the XFL, what do you think of Jesse Ventura being a commentator? Will he be good at it?

Post your thoughts about the XFL, which is only 1+ months away!

[lmanchur.]

...well, I think he will be OK... I've decided that I will try to watch it, even if their black and red football looks like a nerf-football and I absolutely DESPISE the WWF and all types of "professional" wrestling.

...and even if the XFL sucks, the good reason to watch it is their nickname, the "seXFL" (just watch the cheerleader commercials on the sport stations (TheScore, in Canada) and you will understand ;) )

Acutally mark is 1- months away (Februrary 4th it begins :) )

[Tom Baker]

I don't know if I should watch the XFL or hide my eyes...on the one hand there's my contempt for professional wrestling, but on the other I have to admit some curiosity about what they're going to do to the game. As for Ventura, the fact that he's governor of Minn. doesn't mean anything to me--the people of the state knew he was different when they elected him. I think him being an announcer is pretty funny. I'd like to see George W. Bush guest announce a few games.

[Spike]

I just heard about this. Did you guys know that they're going to put a 5-yard "halo" around the punt returner (the N.F.L. uses a 2-yard "halo") and that the linemen of the punting team can't release from the line of scrimmage until the punt is away? I'm kind of disappointed because if you're going to do that, you might as well let fair catches be legal.

[Tom Baker]

It will be interesting to see how that plays out just vs. making fair catches legal. I'll admit to being interested in some of the rules changes Ventura mentioned--I like the live mentality--if a team punts it away and the other team doesn't catch it, it's a live ball that can be recovered by anyone. What remains to be seen is how they're going to market and promote the league--will it be too campy? Some of the team names are ridiculous.

[lmanchur.]

....and if you guys don't like the XFL, buy a satellite dish and watch the Canadian Football League on CBC when it starts up again in June!!!... We don't have fair catches either, ya know!!!... a much longer and wider field than the NFL, an extra player on the field for both teams, shorter play clock -- it's all there!!! Did I mention we have a commissioner that actually knows something about football and marketing stradegies and who doesn't just run a football league on the side while writing and performing in soap oper... err... the WWF?? :)

[Marc]

Well, getting rid of the fair catch is definitely a way to "be different" than the NFL. Personally, I still like the NFL and don't have reason to look elsewhere for my football cravings, but it will still be interesting.

[SNichol]

I am looking forward to the XFL. Vince Mcmahon will give us football the way it used to be played. In this league no one wears a dress no even the cheerleaders from what I hear.
Ventura is a great color man and will bring a lot too the braodcasted. He will be much better then listening to Dennis Miller. But the first time soneone is hit over the head with a chair I will be done watching.

[wah]

I like some of the ideas of the XFL, but I'm not sure how they will be able to sustain it, as far as TV ratings go. After surfing by WWF Nitro, or whatever, I can probably guess...something along the lines of daily wet t-shirt contests for the cheerleaders.

One thing I really don't want to see, but McMahon thinks I do is the expanded celebration. Personally I think it's gone about as far as it needs to in the NFL, promoting such behaviour takes even more away from the game itself. Not providing players with medical benefits is another thing I don't like, but I guess they have to treat it like a start-up. Another thing, everything is owned by the XFL (and NBC), which is much different than the NFL where teams are owned by individuals. This means the League can control all trades, and pretty much dang near anything.

And you can probably expect (with the in-your-face camera stuff) to hear more bleeps per half-hour than Southpark, without the poor animation and good comedy.

[lmanchur.]

I am all for the XFL and will be watching this weekend when it debuts.

HOWEVER, I absolutely despise the WWF and all forms of "pro" wrestling, so if the WWF becomes too integrated with the XFL (as the XFL has become integrated into the WWF -- I hear overhear the word "XFL" every so often when my bro watches wrestling), then I will immediately stop watching it.

[FL Tiger]

I'm an Orlando Rage season ticket holder. I love football and I have no problem paying $25 per game for seats on the 50-yard line.

And as far as Ventura, I have no problem with the governor moonlighting by broadcasting XFL games. It sure is better than the junior Senator from New York being paid $8 million to write a book.