Vince McMahon Is Making Football Great Again
January 25, 2018 2:59 PM Subscribe
Rumors had been circulating for a while now, but it's now official - Vince McMahon, through his new corporation Alpha Entertainment, is relaunching the XFL in 2020. In contrast to the previous incarnation, the nuXFL seems to be built around capitalizing on gaps in the NFL's system.
There is also a good amount of pandering to the conservative set, such as mandatory standing for the national anthem:
There is also a good amount of pandering to the conservative set, such as mandatory standing for the national anthem:
Though he danced around the question when it was asked directly several times, it’s clear the XFL intends to force players to stand for the national anthem.Other oddities included announcements that the league would be safer and have simplified rules, being family friendly, and not hiring players with criminal records. The league is slated to start in January 2020.
“The national anthem is a time-honored tradition that’s played to this day—and many, many years in the past—prior to most athletic events in our country and other countries,” McMahon told reporters on a conference call following the announcement. “So whatever our rules are is what everyone will abide by. There’s plenty of opportunity and plenty of ways in which players, coaches, members of the media can express themselves… but when we come onto the field, we’re here to play football. That’s everyone’s job.”
This is going to be so awful. He's also not stepping down from any of his duties with WWE where he already works 20 hour days frequently, so I imagine the WWE will go to crap like the last time he launched the WWE. The man is insane, and people aren't going to watch crap football because MAGAs are huffy about kneeling.
posted by bootlegpop at 3:08 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by bootlegpop at 3:08 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
This may go down in history as the single most expensive endeavour undertaken just to own the libs.
posted by Space Coyote at 3:09 PM on January 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by Space Coyote at 3:09 PM on January 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
But if he kills two football leagues he'll be twice as qualified to be President as Donald Trump is.
posted by ckape at 3:10 PM on January 25, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by ckape at 3:10 PM on January 25, 2018 [35 favorites]
There probably won’t be a break for halftime. It will be played in stadiums with “simplified” rules that McMahon says will speed up the games to about two hours.
Lemme guess. The CTE Bowl teams will only be based in right-to-work states?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:13 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Lemme guess. The CTE Bowl teams will only be based in right-to-work states?
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:13 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
All players will have the moral rectitude of Tim Tebow.
That's because all players will be Tim Tebow.
The cloning project in the secret government lab underneath Virginia has finally borne fruit.
posted by delfin at 3:13 PM on January 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
That's because all players will be Tim Tebow.
The cloning project in the secret government lab underneath Virginia has finally borne fruit.
posted by delfin at 3:13 PM on January 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Also, from a wrestling board: "if Colin Kaepernick triggered Vince so hard into spending millions of his own dollars AGAIN on a football league he should go into the NFL hall of fame immediately"
posted by bootlegpop at 3:14 PM on January 25, 2018 [82 favorites]
posted by bootlegpop at 3:14 PM on January 25, 2018 [82 favorites]
Dammit, just as I was coming in with a Tebow comment. They won't clone him - he'll just be shared around the teams, a week on each roster.
posted by N-stoff at 3:15 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by N-stoff at 3:15 PM on January 25, 2018
Can we please find a way to link McMahon to the Trump-Russia probe?
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 3:17 PM on January 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 3:17 PM on January 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
The original XFL was sold on the idea that it was more violent, and less safe than the NFL.
If this ends up being the opposite of that it's sort of funny. I can imagine some players wanting to play with less chance of brain injuries.
posted by chaz at 3:19 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
If this ends up being the opposite of that it's sort of funny. I can imagine some players wanting to play with less chance of brain injuries.
posted by chaz at 3:19 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
You know what liberals really hate? Sending me lots of money. Rich conservatives who love their country take note: send me a big check and tick off the libs!
posted by Sangermaine at 3:19 PM on January 25, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by Sangermaine at 3:19 PM on January 25, 2018 [23 favorites]
Can we please find a way to link McMahon to the Trump-Russia probe?
Two words: steroid trafficking.
Something I noticed...if you watch the XFL promo trailer with the sound off it gets extra confusing:
MORE ACCESS
MORE EVERYONE
MORE EVERYTHING
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:20 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Two words: steroid trafficking.
Something I noticed...if you watch the XFL promo trailer with the sound off it gets extra confusing:
MORE ACCESS
MORE EVERYONE
MORE EVERYTHING
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 3:20 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
What does the X stand for? I don't think the linked articles mentioned it
posted by Berreggnog at 3:21 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by Berreggnog at 3:21 PM on January 25, 2018
Politics aside, isn't the low quality of product what ultimately sunk the XFL? It's hard to imagine any league prospering in the shadow of the NFL, especially with the fundamentally weird business model of starting off shortly after the Super Bowl. It's basically admitting right off that the product is only for literal football addicts who can't stomach the idea of not watching a football game every weekend of the year.
posted by skewed at 3:22 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by skewed at 3:22 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Basically, extreme, despite what they said later-a term that was already out of touch in 2001.
"Contrary to popular belief, the "X" in XFL did not stand for "extreme", as in "eXtreme Football League".[10] When the league was first organized in 1999, it was originally supposed to stand for "Xtreme Football League"; however, there was already a league in formation at the same time with that name, and so promoters wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the "X" did not actually stand for anything (though McMahon would comment that "if the NFL stood for the 'No Fun League', the XFL will stand for the 'extra fun league'"[11]). The other Xtreme Football League, which was also organized in 1999, merged with the Arena Football League's AF2 before ever fielding its first game."
posted by bootlegpop at 3:23 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
"Contrary to popular belief, the "X" in XFL did not stand for "extreme", as in "eXtreme Football League".[10] When the league was first organized in 1999, it was originally supposed to stand for "Xtreme Football League"; however, there was already a league in formation at the same time with that name, and so promoters wanted to make sure that everyone knew that the "X" did not actually stand for anything (though McMahon would comment that "if the NFL stood for the 'No Fun League', the XFL will stand for the 'extra fun league'"[11]). The other Xtreme Football League, which was also organized in 1999, merged with the Arena Football League's AF2 before ever fielding its first game."
posted by bootlegpop at 3:23 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
What does the X stand for? I don't think the linked articles mentioned it
X = 10, which is the mental age of most of the people who think the XFL is a good idea.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:23 PM on January 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
X = 10, which is the mental age of most of the people who think the XFL is a good idea.
posted by Joey Michaels at 3:23 PM on January 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Are helmet cams coming back?
posted by GuyZero at 3:24 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by GuyZero at 3:24 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Lets not be too hasty.
It opened with a rap, teasing that the game would be quicker, simpler, and safer.
I'm seeing a vision of men in tight white pants, with coloured handkerchiefs in their back pockets, square in the middle of a well-muscled buttcheek. I see these athletes diving all over the field swatting at, straining for a chance to "grab flag".
There are whole new markets here, especially with the right choice of theme music.
posted by bonehead at 3:24 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
It opened with a rap, teasing that the game would be quicker, simpler, and safer.
I'm seeing a vision of men in tight white pants, with coloured handkerchiefs in their back pockets, square in the middle of a well-muscled buttcheek. I see these athletes diving all over the field swatting at, straining for a chance to "grab flag".
There are whole new markets here, especially with the right choice of theme music.
posted by bonehead at 3:24 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Also this from the article:
He doesn’t have a TV deal and hasn’t been in any negotiations for one.
WWE is the most successful subscription-based online video streaming service after Netflix. It's no exaggeration to say that he doesn't need broadcast or cable TV at all to make this thing go.
posted by GuyZero at 3:26 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
He doesn’t have a TV deal and hasn’t been in any negotiations for one.
WWE is the most successful subscription-based online video streaming service after Netflix. It's no exaggeration to say that he doesn't need broadcast or cable TV at all to make this thing go.
posted by GuyZero at 3:26 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
__--__
/ \
| |
| |
_ ----|__________|----_
/ \______/ \
/ | HE HATE SNOWFLAKES | \
| | __ ___ | |
| | / \ / \ | |
/ | -< | | | /
\_/| \ / \ / |/
| `--' `-' |
`-__________________-'
posted by tonycpsu at 3:27 PM on January 25, 2018 [45 favorites] What
posted by Melismata at 3:28 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 3:28 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Surreal in retrospect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZKXj-ueic8
posted by bootlegpop at 3:28 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bootlegpop at 3:28 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The sigh that Vince let out when some knucklehead asked if Trump would support the league could have filled a whole fleet of Goodyear blimps. I mean, it’s the right question when this is a baldly political move, but still.
I honestly don’t think this league will ever play a single game. Vince is going to take money from some third-tier right-wing suckers and run.
posted by uncleozzy at 3:28 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
I honestly don’t think this league will ever play a single game. Vince is going to take money from some third-tier right-wing suckers and run.
posted by uncleozzy at 3:28 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
“The national anthem is a time-honored tradition that’s played to this day—and many, many years in the past—prior to most athletic events in our country and other countries”
Yeah, not so much. Most countries don't play their national anthem before sporting events, unless the competition is some sort of international event. The playing of the National Anthem / America the Beautiful is strictly a US fetish.
posted by Omon Ra at 3:34 PM on January 25, 2018 [18 favorites]
Yeah, not so much. Most countries don't play their national anthem before sporting events, unless the competition is some sort of international event. The playing of the National Anthem / America the Beautiful is strictly a US fetish.
posted by Omon Ra at 3:34 PM on January 25, 2018 [18 favorites]
I don't even think that the NFL did before 911.
"While the anthem continued to be a game-day fixture, NFL players typically stayed in the locker room for it.
There were exceptions, of course -- players observed the anthem after 9/11, and during Super Bowl games. But it wasn't until 2009 that players were mandated to be on the field for the song."
https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/25/us/nfl-national-anthem-trump-kaepernick-history-trnd/index.html
posted by bootlegpop at 3:37 PM on January 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
"While the anthem continued to be a game-day fixture, NFL players typically stayed in the locker room for it.
There were exceptions, of course -- players observed the anthem after 9/11, and during Super Bowl games. But it wasn't until 2009 that players were mandated to be on the field for the song."
https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/25/us/nfl-national-anthem-trump-kaepernick-history-trnd/index.html
posted by bootlegpop at 3:37 PM on January 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
If they had someone sing "God Save the Queen" before every Premier League match, I think the concession stands would sell a lot more pies.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 3:42 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 3:42 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Safer??? I thought Trump and his MAGAHAT brigade thought one of the problems with the NFL is the lack of on-field deaths.
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:43 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by The Card Cheat at 3:43 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Honestly, if they want the game to be faster and safer, getting rid of kickoffs would be a good idea. There are a lot of things you could do to the NFL to make it both safer and more fun to watch.
posted by klangklangston at 3:45 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by klangklangston at 3:45 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
The NFL players might not have come out until after the anthem back then, but they've been playing the anthem at NFL games as long as I've been alive. See, e.g., Whitney Houston's famous rendition from 1991, or the UCLA Choir at Super Bowl I in 1967.
It's a really dumb tradition, but it's a tradition at least.
posted by skewed at 3:46 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's a really dumb tradition, but it's a tradition at least.
posted by skewed at 3:46 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you're gonna start a sports league in 2020, you have to let robots or or gene-enhanced players play. That's the rule!
posted by FJT at 3:55 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by FJT at 3:55 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
He's going to make Mean Gene a ref isn't he.
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 3:55 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Aya Hirano on the Astral Plane at 3:55 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
If they had someone sing "God Save the Queen" before every Premier League match, I think the concession stands would sell a lot more pies.
I could get behind that!
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
HER FASCIST REGIME!
THEY MADE YOU A MORON!
A FUTURE H BOMB!
posted by Talez at 3:56 PM on January 25, 2018 [17 favorites]
I could get behind that!
GOD SAVE THE QUEEN!
HER FASCIST REGIME!
THEY MADE YOU A MORON!
A FUTURE H BOMB!
posted by Talez at 3:56 PM on January 25, 2018 [17 favorites]
I like that the savior of proper American values will be Vince McMahon, assisted by a bunch of men beating the shit out of each other and some overly sexualized cheerleaders.
posted by middleclasstool at 3:56 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by middleclasstool at 3:56 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Are foreign athletes expected to stand for the Nat Anth? Are American ballplayers expected to stand for O Canada at Blue Jays games?
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:59 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by Kirth Gerson at 3:59 PM on January 25, 2018
Are American ballplayers expected to stand for O Canada at Blue Jays games?
Yes? I mean, yes, they seem to. And everyone always seems nice when they play O Canada when the Jays play in Oakland.
Also the NHL is, like, 75% non-American and really they should be playing 2 or 3 different national anthems before each NHL game, none of which should be the Star Spangled Banner.
posted by GuyZero at 4:03 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yes? I mean, yes, they seem to. And everyone always seems nice when they play O Canada when the Jays play in Oakland.
Also the NHL is, like, 75% non-American and really they should be playing 2 or 3 different national anthems before each NHL game, none of which should be the Star Spangled Banner.
posted by GuyZero at 4:03 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
“The national anthem is a time-honored tradition that’s played to this day—and many, many years in the past—prior to most athletic events in our country and other countries,” McMahon told reporters on a conference call following the announcement.
Yeah, time honored, worthy of respect, must be honoured. Right.
Fun fact: Vince McMahon has such respect for this time honoured tradition that he's only bothered to have the proper anthem sung prior to his marquee event, Wrestlemania, twice: once in 1992 by Reba McEntyre and once in 1990...
...by Robert Goulet, singing O Canada in Toronto.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 4:04 PM on January 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Yeah, time honored, worthy of respect, must be honoured. Right.
Fun fact: Vince McMahon has such respect for this time honoured tradition that he's only bothered to have the proper anthem sung prior to his marquee event, Wrestlemania, twice: once in 1992 by Reba McEntyre and once in 1990...
...by Robert Goulet, singing O Canada in Toronto.
posted by The Notorious SRD at 4:04 PM on January 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Many years ago (and I've told this story on MeFi before), I went to a thing called the Get Motivated seminar. The Seattle Times link there gives more information, but essentially it is an extended sales pitch for day trading software wrapped in a "ra ra 'Merica, libruls r dum" flag. Half the speakers were people like just-post-9/11 Rudy Guiliani, Not-dead-yet Zi Ziggler, Christian huckster Robert Schuller, Kurt Warner, Eli Manning and several other conservative icons.
The other half were these slick salespeople who came out and did a little patriotic song. Every single one of these interstitial snake oil salesmen called on us to stand and applaud the military men being (present in the front-row and getting fleeced by the speaker with as much enthusiasm as the rest of us), made snide remarks about liberals and called us all winners (unlike those liberal losers) who were about to win it big day trading.
But the patriotism served a purpose - it got the chunk of the crowd susceptible to that nonsense enthusiastically on the side of the speaker. I suspect the mental process was something like "this dude loves America and the troops and real Americans like me and thus he would never lie to me and sell me a $5000 set of courses and software that will never recoup what I spend." The lines for this trash were around the proverbial block.
I think this is almost entirely the reason why Football/Baseball/Basketball corporations want you to associate their sport with the national anthem. Its no great love of country - its to make a certain segment of 'Merican rubes more eager to spend their dough on the sports and on the sponsors of the sports. In fact, I think anytime you hear somebody trying to get you to applaud the troops or salute the flag or do anything that smacks of patriotism in the USA, you should ask yourself "who is trying to make money right now?"
So, in this case, forcing hypothetical XFL players to stand during the anthem is specifically designed to make money for Vince McMahon.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:07 PM on January 25, 2018 [21 favorites]
The other half were these slick salespeople who came out and did a little patriotic song. Every single one of these interstitial snake oil salesmen called on us to stand and applaud the military men being (present in the front-row and getting fleeced by the speaker with as much enthusiasm as the rest of us), made snide remarks about liberals and called us all winners (unlike those liberal losers) who were about to win it big day trading.
But the patriotism served a purpose - it got the chunk of the crowd susceptible to that nonsense enthusiastically on the side of the speaker. I suspect the mental process was something like "this dude loves America and the troops and real Americans like me and thus he would never lie to me and sell me a $5000 set of courses and software that will never recoup what I spend." The lines for this trash were around the proverbial block.
I think this is almost entirely the reason why Football/Baseball/Basketball corporations want you to associate their sport with the national anthem. Its no great love of country - its to make a certain segment of 'Merican rubes more eager to spend their dough on the sports and on the sponsors of the sports. In fact, I think anytime you hear somebody trying to get you to applaud the troops or salute the flag or do anything that smacks of patriotism in the USA, you should ask yourself "who is trying to make money right now?"
So, in this case, forcing hypothetical XFL players to stand during the anthem is specifically designed to make money for Vince McMahon.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:07 PM on January 25, 2018 [21 favorites]
I just dropped by to make a loving HE HATE ME reference but I see tonycpsu is already on it, so, carry on.
posted by cortex at 4:11 PM on January 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by cortex at 4:11 PM on January 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
I enjoy watching the NFL, but I feel like the overall level of quarterback play is just too high! Will this league have a greater number of incomplete passes, for fans like me?
posted by Huffy Puffy at 4:17 PM on January 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Huffy Puffy at 4:17 PM on January 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
Oh man, the XFL is back. I need to sit down with my Surge and PalmPilot.
PS please call it the Xtra Fun League.
posted by Query at 4:21 PM on January 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
PS please call it the Xtra Fun League.
posted by Query at 4:21 PM on January 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
I predict that this will do as well as the previous XFL. And the WLAF. And the USFL. And the WFL. And the COFL.
posted by octothorpe at 4:21 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 4:21 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Maybe the league can go for a cheaper flyover than the NFL too? Like a couple Reapers?
posted by hexaflexagon at 4:25 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by hexaflexagon at 4:25 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
The timing of this league's season is smart. It starts soon after the end of the college football season so it may attract a lot of football talent that isn't quite good enough to make NFL rosters as rookies. This may be a play to create a defacto minor league to the NFL that is free from NCAA oversight. If Vince is smart, he'll put teams in locations that have large college football cultures but have no NFL teams.
posted by Groundhog Week at 4:29 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Groundhog Week at 4:29 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
67771
posted by Artw at 4:31 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Artw at 4:31 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
This is really going to help democratize brain injury.
posted by The Whelk at 4:32 PM on January 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:32 PM on January 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
I hope they add a lot teams, get popular in regional rivalries in every state, and bring down college football too.
posted by fleacircus at 4:33 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fleacircus at 4:33 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
And one last thing - when we saw a million or so white men with their boxers in a knot over players kneeling for the anthem, we thought "bigots." McMahon thought "money making opportunity." Its an American success story.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:36 PM on January 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:36 PM on January 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
That Rod Smart question in LearnedLeague this week really prepped me for these great jokes!
posted by palindromic at 4:37 PM on January 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by palindromic at 4:37 PM on January 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm still certain that Jai alai is the real sport of the future. MeMail me about investment opportunities.
posted by Laura Palmer's Cold Dead Kiss at 4:40 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Laura Palmer's Cold Dead Kiss at 4:40 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Michael Lutz [via Twitter]: in a way McMahon is a visionary, in that XFL was somehow too stupid for 2001 but it is exactly stupid enough for 2018
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:42 PM on January 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:42 PM on January 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
I am confused: is this going to be an apolitical football league or are players going to stand for the national anthem? Patriotism (or the perception thereof) is in no way apolitical.
posted by koavf at 4:56 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by koavf at 4:56 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
*Pulls out well-worn 'This Doesn't Bode Well For The CFL' sign*
Really, I don't know why I bother putting this thing away.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:00 PM on January 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Really, I don't know why I bother putting this thing away.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 5:00 PM on January 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Maybe the league can go for a cheaper flyover than the NFL too? Like a couple Reapers?
I predict go-pro holding drone with a NERF launcher in keeping with the safer image.
Otherwise if the image is Extra Fun I understood the Navy has a jet engine powered drone that has autonomous landing on a boat deck with LEDs on the underside and a camera pointing up so if you look from the ground you see the sky the underside normally blocks out. Using that and having advertising for the WWE seems like the Extra Fun he'd support at his event.
posted by rough ashlar at 5:10 PM on January 25, 2018
I predict go-pro holding drone with a NERF launcher in keeping with the safer image.
Otherwise if the image is Extra Fun I understood the Navy has a jet engine powered drone that has autonomous landing on a boat deck with LEDs on the underside and a camera pointing up so if you look from the ground you see the sky the underside normally blocks out. Using that and having advertising for the WWE seems like the Extra Fun he'd support at his event.
posted by rough ashlar at 5:10 PM on January 25, 2018
flyovers will of course be supplied by Dahir Insaat's quadcopters
posted by Countess Elena at 5:13 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by Countess Elena at 5:13 PM on January 25, 2018
The CFL picks its teeth with the bones of past alternatives to the NFL.
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:30 PM on January 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by The Card Cheat at 5:30 PM on January 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
67771
did you mean 17776 or is that the joke? (sorry)
posted by numaner at 5:34 PM on January 25, 2018
did you mean 17776 or is that the joke? (sorry)
posted by numaner at 5:34 PM on January 25, 2018
Well 17776 is a genius peice of weird football so it’s not that.
posted by Artw at 5:39 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Artw at 5:39 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
But will the Los Angeles Xtreme be able to repeat as champions?
posted by nubs at 5:48 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by nubs at 5:48 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
As David Letterman once said, “If you half close your eyes, it sort of looks like arena football.”
posted by octobersurprise at 5:55 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by octobersurprise at 5:55 PM on January 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
I went to an XFL game here in San Francisco (a friend got free tickets). All I remember about it is they did everything possible to distract you from the action on the field.
posted by DowBits at 6:09 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by DowBits at 6:09 PM on January 25, 2018
If I wanted to make football interesting there's a few changes I would make.
What if the players can't use their hands or arms to control the ball at all? Also I would do away with the start-stop-start-stop thing and just let the play flow unless, like, someone was injured or something. The whole possesion-tied-to-downs thing is kinda stifling too, so maybe sack that idea altogether which would contribute again to the freer flow of play.
Since the players wouldn't be allowed to pick up the ball anymore you'd probably need to just go ahead and make the ball round so it would be easier to control with feet only, but then they probably wouldn't be crashing in to each other nearly so much, or with as much force, so you could get rid of most of the helmets padding, except for maybe some lower leg guards or something since they'd probably kick each other a lot accidentally. I guess. It'd probably be a lot more brain-safe this way too, so that'd be good.
I wouldn't change everything though, I mean I'd have the field stay roughly the same size I reckon... but maybe we could have the size of the field just be like, a range of values and not a set static dimension so there'd be a little more variation from stadium to stadium. I would also toy with the idea of making the size of the area that counts for a touchdown a lot smaller though just to keep it interesting. I'd still have the same number of players per team though. No need to change everything, I mean it'd still be football.
Eh, who am I kidding? Nobody would watch that.
posted by glonous keming at 6:34 PM on January 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
What if the players can't use their hands or arms to control the ball at all? Also I would do away with the start-stop-start-stop thing and just let the play flow unless, like, someone was injured or something. The whole possesion-tied-to-downs thing is kinda stifling too, so maybe sack that idea altogether which would contribute again to the freer flow of play.
Since the players wouldn't be allowed to pick up the ball anymore you'd probably need to just go ahead and make the ball round so it would be easier to control with feet only, but then they probably wouldn't be crashing in to each other nearly so much, or with as much force, so you could get rid of most of the helmets padding, except for maybe some lower leg guards or something since they'd probably kick each other a lot accidentally. I guess. It'd probably be a lot more brain-safe this way too, so that'd be good.
I wouldn't change everything though, I mean I'd have the field stay roughly the same size I reckon... but maybe we could have the size of the field just be like, a range of values and not a set static dimension so there'd be a little more variation from stadium to stadium. I would also toy with the idea of making the size of the area that counts for a touchdown a lot smaller though just to keep it interesting. I'd still have the same number of players per team though. No need to change everything, I mean it'd still be football.
Eh, who am I kidding? Nobody would watch that.
posted by glonous keming at 6:34 PM on January 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
But... imagine the Heel Team. Goldust comes out of retirement to coach the San Francisco Flounce! Boo'd at every away game, Coach Dust hires a young gay statistician to scour the world of football for those marginalized players who can make a difference. Slowly, this ragtag group of talent that nobody wants comes together to form a XFL powerhouse, eventually winning the league and going up against the NFL champs, the Patriots, and beating them too! Champions! A movie!
(Of course, when the Paramount Network remakes the movie as a TV show, it will make the misfit outcasts the baddies for some reason.)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:45 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
(Of course, when the Paramount Network remakes the movie as a TV show, it will make the misfit outcasts the baddies for some reason.)
posted by robocop is bleeding at 6:45 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Didn't Disney did that like 20 years ago with the Mighty Ducks?
posted by bonehead at 7:10 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by bonehead at 7:10 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
octothorpe: "I predict that this will do as well as the previous XFL. And the WLAF. And the USFL. And the WFL. And the COFL."
In fairness, the WLAF hung around under one name or another for 16 seasons.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:33 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
In fairness, the WLAF hung around under one name or another for 16 seasons.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:33 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Oh good. I was looking for another reason to loathe football and be sure that anyone i care about never puts on pads. "You might wind up working for the McMahons" is a damn fine argument.
posted by East14thTaco at 8:06 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by East14thTaco at 8:06 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Why stop with the anthem? America is under attack and only gridiron can save us! The goal posts can fly the stars and bars and be held up by the exiled statues of Confederate generals. The missing stairs of metoo can color commentate. The field will only be lit with incandescent lights powered by coal. The sideline coolers will be filled with Bud Light. Extra yardage for helmet to helmet hits. MFGA! Watch commissioner Trump toss the ceremonial double headed coin when the season starts this fall on Fox News!
Be sure to stay tuned during the halftime for the player soap operas! Kayfabe! Kayfabe!
Seriously, fuck this shit.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:07 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Be sure to stay tuned during the halftime for the player soap operas! Kayfabe! Kayfabe!
Seriously, fuck this shit.
posted by Ogre Lawless at 9:07 PM on January 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
He's also not stepping down from any of his duties with WWE where he already works 20 hour days frequently, so I imagine the WWE will go to crap like the last time he launched the WWE.
The first XFL launched in 2001 with the prep mostly taking place in 2000. 2000-01 were creative peaks for the then-WWF. Vince has a good sense of how to make the marks pay money, always has, and can usually recognize a hot property when he sees one, but many, many people are better at actually telling stories via wrestling than him.
posted by mightygodking at 10:24 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
The first XFL launched in 2001 with the prep mostly taking place in 2000. 2000-01 were creative peaks for the then-WWF. Vince has a good sense of how to make the marks pay money, always has, and can usually recognize a hot property when he sees one, but many, many people are better at actually telling stories via wrestling than him.
posted by mightygodking at 10:24 PM on January 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Maybe this way we won't end up with stupid storylines like literal last-second game-winning touchdowns getting followed up with the team just collapsing pitifully like the NFL does.
posted by ckape at 10:35 PM on January 25, 2018
posted by ckape at 10:35 PM on January 25, 2018
The best part of the Patriots second Superbowl win, vs. Carolina, was the giddy realization our team was up against "He Hate Me."
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:51 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:51 PM on January 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
The first XFL launched in 2001 with the prep mostly taking place in 2000. 2000-01 were creative peaks for the then-WWF. Vince has a good sense of how to make the marks pay money, always has, and can usually recognize a hot property when he sees one, but many, many people are better at actually telling stories via wrestling than him.
The XFL games started on 2/3/01, and Wrestlemania was on 4/1/01. Shortly after Wrestlemania, the WCW/ECW Invasion was launched along with Austin's ill conceived heel turn. Everything was a hotshotted nonsensical mess until the Invasion ended and, while the first Invasion PPV did WM numbers, that was immediately blown because every invader was treated as a joke. The XFL ended in May 01 also, but I would posit that burnout from going immediately from the Monday Night Wars to the XFL to the Invasion was too much for Vince and the staff members he made work two jobs at once. Their ratings never recovered*, and they have been dwindling since then.
*Raw Rating by year:
1999: 6.02
2000: 5.88
2001: 4.64
2002: 4.01
2003: 3.76
2004: 3.67
2005: 3.81
2006: 3.90
2007: 3.61
2008: 3.27
2009: 3.57
2010: 3.28
2011: 3.21
2012: 3.00
2013: 3.01
2014: 2.95
2015: 2.64
2016: 2.26
posted by bootlegpop at 10:54 PM on January 25, 2018
The XFL games started on 2/3/01, and Wrestlemania was on 4/1/01. Shortly after Wrestlemania, the WCW/ECW Invasion was launched along with Austin's ill conceived heel turn. Everything was a hotshotted nonsensical mess until the Invasion ended and, while the first Invasion PPV did WM numbers, that was immediately blown because every invader was treated as a joke. The XFL ended in May 01 also, but I would posit that burnout from going immediately from the Monday Night Wars to the XFL to the Invasion was too much for Vince and the staff members he made work two jobs at once. Their ratings never recovered*, and they have been dwindling since then.
*Raw Rating by year:
1999: 6.02
2000: 5.88
2001: 4.64
2002: 4.01
2003: 3.76
2004: 3.67
2005: 3.81
2006: 3.90
2007: 3.61
2008: 3.27
2009: 3.57
2010: 3.28
2011: 3.21
2012: 3.00
2013: 3.01
2014: 2.95
2015: 2.64
2016: 2.26
posted by bootlegpop at 10:54 PM on January 25, 2018
(I would also argue that replacing Chris Kreski with Stephanie McMahon in November 2000 wasn't helpful either. That was the beginning of the move from one or two trusted writers working directly with VKM to a giant team of writers trying to get their ish in. Kreski used Hollywood things like storyboards and kept a document tracking what interactions characters had previously had with each other for the sake of continuity, but when SM took over, he got laughed at for that and they stopped doing those things.)
posted by bootlegpop at 12:16 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by bootlegpop at 12:16 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
The old XFL struggled with broadcasters while this iteration will have a significant online streaming component built on their own WWE Network streaming infrastructure. I would expect right out of the gate viewers having access to at least multiple camera angles and multiple (or no) commentators for each game.
While we're poo-poo'ing it here, at some NFL forums I've looked at they're happy to just get more football, especially in the off-season.
posted by PenDevil at 1:16 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
While we're poo-poo'ing it here, at some NFL forums I've looked at they're happy to just get more football, especially in the off-season.
posted by PenDevil at 1:16 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think everyone agrees the NFL needs a kick in the nuts to do something about their on-field product that has nothing to do with assholes having a sad, angry boner over a black dude kneeling for the US Army© presents the National Anthem™; better and more consistent officiating, a proper disciplinary committee instead of the Commish doing as the tides change, allowing more time to develop from an increasingly different college game, reducing the number of high-speed collisions, limiting the time spent on commercials instead of analysis, less (none?) BS Thursday games, etc.
Is McMahon the right person to provide that? Hahaha no.
posted by lmfsilva at 3:14 AM on January 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Is McMahon the right person to provide that? Hahaha no.
posted by lmfsilva at 3:14 AM on January 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
In my ideal world this results in the simultaneous elimination of the NFL, the XFL, McMahon himself, and hopefully a decline in American obsession with this stupid fucking wargame.
posted by aspersioncast at 4:49 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 4:49 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Here we see the mental degradation inherent in decades of heavy steroid use.
posted by Thorzdad at 5:08 AM on January 26, 2018
posted by Thorzdad at 5:08 AM on January 26, 2018
In the XFL theme song that auto plays on their website, they say that it will be safer. How they define safer though is TBD.
posted by PenDevil at 5:19 AM on January 26, 2018
posted by PenDevil at 5:19 AM on January 26, 2018
If they never end up playing a game, that's as safe as could be.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:25 AM on January 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 5:25 AM on January 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
a proper disciplinary committee instead of the Commish doing as the tides change
As a Patriots fan, I would welcome players and teams answering to Commissioner Mick Foley in an impromptu office set up in the stadium's souvenir shop over what's in place now.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:53 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
As a Patriots fan, I would welcome players and teams answering to Commissioner Mick Foley in an impromptu office set up in the stadium's souvenir shop over what's in place now.
posted by Slap*Happy at 5:53 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
If XFL (unlike the NFL) allows corporations and/or cities to have majority ownership it could make a significant difference.
posted by leotrotsky at 6:02 AM on January 26, 2018
posted by leotrotsky at 6:02 AM on January 26, 2018
Also, making XFL football "for conservatives" would likely work as well as Fox News being news "for conservatives." Just like everything is now segregated by gender (Body Wash for Men), I can easily see the same thing happening for political signaling. Hell, that's already happened for pick-up trucks, most of them have huge cabins and tiny ass beds that are 6 goddamn feet up in the air. They're practically useless for doing actual truck stuff. They're only good for pulling trailers and looking 'authentic.'
"Yo dawg, I heard you like tribalism, so we put tribalism in your tribalism so you can hate while you hate!"
posted by leotrotsky at 6:09 AM on January 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Yo dawg, I heard you like tribalism, so we put tribalism in your tribalism so you can hate while you hate!"
posted by leotrotsky at 6:09 AM on January 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
A cheap plug for my third favorite wrestling podcast, Something to Wrestle with Bruce Prichard. He covered the first iteration of the XFL in around 2 and a half hours. Scroll down to Episode 28.
posted by deezil at 6:11 AM on January 26, 2018
posted by deezil at 6:11 AM on January 26, 2018
Just looking through the Wikipedia entry for the old XFL and loving the testosterone fueled names of the teams: Thunderbolts, Enforcers, Hitmen, Rage, Outlaws, Xtreme, Maniax, Demons.
posted by octothorpe at 6:16 AM on January 26, 2018
posted by octothorpe at 6:16 AM on January 26, 2018
Honestly, cutting out all the time-outs and commercial breaks would be a huge plus to the game. Just have all the corporate sponsorships be overlays, sort of like a cross between the all-day news channel feeds and a twitch.tv stream. *BING* Cottonel just sponsored XFL for $4k *BING* TacoBell just sponsored this interception replay for $5k *BING* Joe Forsyth from Florida just sponsored this snap for $250, etc.
Mixing the twitch business model with an actual sports league and throw in corporate sponsorship and I could see this making a lot of money for the owners.
posted by Vindaloo at 6:24 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Mixing the twitch business model with an actual sports league and throw in corporate sponsorship and I could see this making a lot of money for the owners.
posted by Vindaloo at 6:24 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I predict this time there will be teams named things like Americans, Rebels (with a Confederate Flag-esque logo), Snipers, Sheriffs, Bombers (the plane), Generals, Truck Nutz, etc.
posted by Rock Steady at 6:27 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Rock Steady at 6:27 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
2020 XFL team names: Snowflakez, Cux, Pedes, Chads, and of course the heel team, the PoMo Cultural Marxists.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:29 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by uncleozzy at 6:29 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hearing about the re-rise of the XFL reminded me of this article from Everything2 in which one of the noders attended a game and wrote about the chaos.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:31 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
The first moment of excitement came when the giant TV screen caught on fire. To be honest, it wasn't actually the screen itself; it was something attached to the top of the frame. They turned off the TV while some poor soul climbed up there and beat at the flame with a rag. Eventually, it was all fixed, but our confidence was a tad unsettled. (Unbeknownst to us, at the same time an NBC truck lost its power, and the network had to switch to the Demons-Rage game for most of the first quarter.)Go read the whole piece. It's got it all: strippers, injuries, and a furious Lorne Michaels.
Nevertheless, we turned our attention to the game. The Xtreme looked as sluggish as they did in their season opener at San Francisco, which the Demons won on a last-second field goal. This was a bit of a surprise; the Xtreme had no shortage of star players, including former NFL and UCLA quarterback Tommy Maddox, who joined the Pittsburgh Steelers in the fall of 2001; former Tennessee-Knoxville wide receiver Jermaine Copeland; and former University of Washington running back Rashan Sheehee, who went by The Truth on his uniform back. Later in the season, the Xtreme would dominate the XFL and win the league title, but at this point, they hadn't come together as a team yet. They can hardly be faulted; the XFL had a ridiculously short training camp.
posted by Servo5678 at 6:31 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Can we please find a way to link McMahon to the Trump-Russia probe?
You'll know it's happening if Mueller interviews Rusev and Lana.
posted by frogstar42 at 6:47 AM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
You'll know it's happening if Mueller interviews Rusev and Lana.
posted by frogstar42 at 6:47 AM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
What does the X stand for?
The X stands for "X was a popular way to market to boys 20 years ago and Vince still isn't over it."
posted by frogstar42 at 6:50 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
The X stands for "X was a popular way to market to boys 20 years ago and Vince still isn't over it."
posted by frogstar42 at 6:50 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
In the XFL theme song that auto plays on their website, they say that it will be safer. How they define safer though is TBD.
By "safer," they mean it'll be a safe space where conservatives will never be triggered by black men kneeling in protest of police brutality.
posted by frogstar42 at 6:53 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
By "safer," they mean it'll be a safe space where conservatives will never be triggered by black men kneeling in protest of police brutality.
posted by frogstar42 at 6:53 AM on January 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Other predictions:
Shorter play clock
No stopped clock on out of bounds
No kickoffs, probably replaced with some ludicrous thing like arm wrestling for field position
No kicking for PAT, run a play from the 2 for 1 point or the 10 for 2 points
Maybe no punting? It's stupid, but I could see them doing it.
No replay
Very high bar for Offensive Pass Interference/Holding, somewhat high bar for Defensive PI/Holding
The "safer" thing will be some stupid "sensors" in the helmets that do nothing.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:22 AM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Shorter play clock
No stopped clock on out of bounds
No kickoffs, probably replaced with some ludicrous thing like arm wrestling for field position
No kicking for PAT, run a play from the 2 for 1 point or the 10 for 2 points
Maybe no punting? It's stupid, but I could see them doing it.
No replay
Very high bar for Offensive Pass Interference/Holding, somewhat high bar for Defensive PI/Holding
The "safer" thing will be some stupid "sensors" in the helmets that do nothing.
posted by Rock Steady at 7:22 AM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
It'll be interesting to see how this develops, and whether it's where ex-NFL players go to for one last year, or players on the edge of NFL rosters go to get experience for a season... especially as the Spring League has had almost no publicity as far as I can tell.
( also thank you Laura Palmer's Cold Dead Kiss, I finally know what that sport from the Miami Vice credits is )
posted by DancingYear at 8:24 AM on January 26, 2018
( also thank you Laura Palmer's Cold Dead Kiss, I finally know what that sport from the Miami Vice credits is )
posted by DancingYear at 8:24 AM on January 26, 2018
If XFL (unlike the NFL) allows corporations and/or cities to have majority ownership it could make a significant difference.
There will only be one owner - McMahon himself.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:27 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
There will only be one owner - McMahon himself.
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:27 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Brilliant move by McMahon with NFL ratings at incredible lows, stadiums not looking nearly as full these days, many fans sick of politics being brought into sports (which is supposed to be an escape from all the craziness of politics), and the NFL's Collective Bargaining Agreement ending next year.
The "No Fun League" peaked a few years ago and has been getting worse and worse. Have any of you been to a game recently and seen all the bullshit they do during the game? There are more sideshows, advertisements, performances, speeches, dances, flyovers, anthems, tributes, and other patriotic gestures than football!
It's a smart move by McMahon and another attempt at fulfilling his dream of owning a football league.
I wonder if he will have to renege on his policy of not allowing players with criminal records. It's crazy how many NFL players are arrested (NFL Arrest) and it might affect the available talent for XFL. They're going to need anyone they can get if they hope to survive this time around.
posted by beatThedealer at 9:11 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
The "No Fun League" peaked a few years ago and has been getting worse and worse. Have any of you been to a game recently and seen all the bullshit they do during the game? There are more sideshows, advertisements, performances, speeches, dances, flyovers, anthems, tributes, and other patriotic gestures than football!
It's a smart move by McMahon and another attempt at fulfilling his dream of owning a football league.
I wonder if he will have to renege on his policy of not allowing players with criminal records. It's crazy how many NFL players are arrested (NFL Arrest) and it might affect the available talent for XFL. They're going to need anyone they can get if they hope to survive this time around.
posted by beatThedealer at 9:11 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
But what will happen to Tim Tebow's blossoming minor-league baseball career? I and literally no one else will be devastated!
It'd be one of the more interesting traipses through the various professional sports leagues (NCAA football, NFL, MLB minor league, XFL) to end up as a WWE star.
posted by riverlife at 9:28 AM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
It'd be one of the more interesting traipses through the various professional sports leagues (NCAA football, NFL, MLB minor league, XFL) to end up as a WWE star.
posted by riverlife at 9:28 AM on January 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Honestly, cutting out all the time-outs and commercial breaks would be a huge plus to the game. Just have all the corporate sponsorships be overlays, sort of like a cross between the all-day news channel feeds and a twitch.tv stream. *BING* Cottonel just sponsored XFL for $4k *BING* TacoBell just sponsored this interception replay for $5k *BING* Joe Forsyth from Florida just sponsored this snap for $250, etc.
When I cared to watch Bears pre-season football, the redzone was sponsored. It was kinda silly, but I'd rather have the "Verizon Touchdown" and the "4-wheel drive summary by Ford" where Tony Romo explains how a guy trucked the entire defense in a handful of plays for 63 yards than ignore the same ads for pizza, cellphones and trucks over and over.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:43 AM on January 26, 2018
When I cared to watch Bears pre-season football, the redzone was sponsored. It was kinda silly, but I'd rather have the "Verizon Touchdown" and the "4-wheel drive summary by Ford" where Tony Romo explains how a guy trucked the entire defense in a handful of plays for 63 yards than ignore the same ads for pizza, cellphones and trucks over and over.
posted by lmfsilva at 9:43 AM on January 26, 2018
Why break for ads when you've got this big green surface you can chromakey full-motion ads onto?
posted by ckape at 11:25 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by ckape at 11:25 AM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Just looking through the Wikipedia entry for the old XFL and loving the testosterone fueled names of the teams: Thunderbolts, Enforcers, Hitmen, Rage, Outlaws, Xtreme, Maniax, Demons.
The urge to name the final team “Pink Fluffy Unicorns” is overwhelming.
Or, alternatively, “Ennui.”
posted by leotrotsky at 1:44 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
The urge to name the final team “Pink Fluffy Unicorns” is overwhelming.
Or, alternatively, “Ennui.”
posted by leotrotsky at 1:44 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Party Cannon
posted by Countess Elena at 5:28 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Countess Elena at 5:28 PM on January 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Party Cannon
I remember that metal festival ad. All these band names in ornate metal fonts - and then there's Party Cannon with their big primary colored logo.
posted by NoxAeternum at 5:31 PM on January 26, 2018
I remember that metal festival ad. All these band names in ornate metal fonts - and then there's Party Cannon with their big primary colored logo.
posted by NoxAeternum at 5:31 PM on January 26, 2018
Most countries don't play their national anthem before sporting events, unless the competition is some sort of international event.
Long ago my buddy and I flew to Scotland from San Francisco for a long weekend. We were doing a pub crawl in Edinburgh and were confused because all of the pubs were full of Welsh people playing Tom Jones on the jukebox. (We were pretty drunk, but not drunk enough to be in the wrong country.)
Turns out it was the opening weekend of the (then) Five Nations rugby tournament, and Wales was in town to play Scotland. We went to a pub to watch the match. Before it started all of the Scottish people stood up with the Welsh people when they played the Welsh national anthem, then everyone stood up when they played the Scottish national anthem. I loved the respect they showed for each other. (And discovered a great way to bond with Scottish or Welsh people is to slag the English.)
posted by kirkaracha at 11:20 PM on January 26, 2018
I, for one, welcome the MeFi XFL Fantasy league.
posted by klangklangston at 3:57 PM on January 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by klangklangston at 3:57 PM on January 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
This sounds fun, but it’s no Baseball with Handguns.
posted by bigbigdog at 7:53 PM on February 9, 2018
posted by bigbigdog at 7:53 PM on February 9, 2018
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