N/S Your take on the XFL

AsylumGuido · 03-03-2020, 05:01 PM

Originally Posted by burningmetal

I have not "backed off" in the least. You have a lack of understanding of what kind of strategy of competition is being attempted, and after further clarification on my part, you seem even further away from understanding my point.

You are apparently under the impression that it's not a competition, because the XFL started AFTER the NFL season ended. What I'm telling you, as I have already stated twice, is that it is not intended as a head to head fight to destroy the NFL. That would be entirely too ambitious of a starting plan. The idea is to compete by creating a brand that draws fans in with a more physical game that is decided by players, instead of stifling rules. And IF, down the road, they can generate the type of viewership and revenue necessary to make a play on would-be NFL caliber players, then they could be more aggressive in a more direct competition with the NFL.

It is a competition, but it's a long game. And I couldn't possibly predict how it will go. I'm not making a bold proclamation, I'm telling you, once more, that Vince McMahon is not looking to ride anyone's coattails.

It it undeniable that they benefit from fans' natural love of football, to some extent. But it can't succeed if it just allows itself to be an NFL farm system. It is also undeniable that, in the beginning, it WILL serve for players as a minor league showcase, because players will always follow the money, until such time as another league can compete financially. That's not the same thing as NFL Europe, or the AAF, which were set up to be NFL minor leagues, and testing grounds.

And all the other failed leagues who DID try to compete with the NFL never had enough money to get off the ground, aside from the USFL. But the USFL tried to compete in season with the NFL. The NFL illegally monopolized the major TV market, and nothing was done to them. So the USFL couldn't make money, and died. McMahon has a huge business empire to back his league, and he has an open season to air his games on national television. IF he plays his cards right, he can be successful.

You claimed the XFL has furthered the wussification with their kickoff and punt rules... That's either a complete lie or you haven't read the rules correctly. The XFL's rules ensure that there will be FAR more returns on both kickoffs and punts. That has been sorely missed in the NFL. It's not traditional NFL rules, but it's far more interesting to see kick returns, than touchbacks and fair catches, constantly. So how is that MORE "wussed down"?

By wussed down they have eliminated those huge hits that made the brutal game so popular. The exact popularity that you claim the XFL will provide. All the XFL has done is act as a proving ground to help make the game safer. You can be assured that any rule they applied that is different than that of the NFL was first discussed by the NFL. Do not forget that Dean Blandino is head of officiating for the XFL and was the NFL's Vice-President of Officiating and had a very active involvement in the rules making in both leagues. There is FAR more crossover between the NFL and XFL than you imply. I have no doubt those people are watching the XFL experiments closely and will seriously consider adopting the more successful rules in the days to come.

And, yes, the league does have a chance to be successful if everything falls into place. The level of that success, however, has no chance whatsoever to approach the level of the NFL. To believe that it can is foolish. Once a again, its best chance to survive and be successful is to not step on the feet of the NFL. The NFL is currently a $14.4 billion entity. That number will climb tremendously with the new CBA. McMahon will certainly be overjoyed if his fledgling league could hope to reach a fraction of that success. His WWE generates around $1 billion annually. To match that number with the XFL would take years and would be huge. But it would still be a drop in the bucket as compared to the NFL by that point.

Sorry, my friend, but once again, to dream that the XFL will ever have any competitive affect on the NFL is silly.

I honestly hope they are successful. I would love to have more pro football, albeit inevitably inferior to the NFL, to watch in the Spring.

03-03-2020, 05:01 PM	#10
AsylumGuido 10000 POST CLUB Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bossier City, LA Posts: 26,803	Re: N/S Your take on the XFL Originally Posted by burningmetal I have not "backed off" in the least. You have a lack of understanding of what kind of strategy of competition is being attempted, and after further clarification on my part, you seem even further away from understanding my point. You are apparently under the impression that it's not a competition, because the XFL started AFTER the NFL season ended. What I'm telling you, as I have already stated twice, is that it is not intended as a head to head fight to destroy the NFL. That would be entirely too ambitious of a starting plan. The idea is to compete by creating a brand that draws fans in with a more physical game that is decided by players, instead of stifling rules. And IF, down the road, they can generate the type of viewership and revenue necessary to make a play on would-be NFL caliber players, then they could be more aggressive in a more direct competition with the NFL. It is a competition, but it's a long game. And I couldn't possibly predict how it will go. I'm not making a bold proclamation, I'm telling you, once more, that Vince McMahon is not looking to ride anyone's coattails. It it undeniable that they benefit from fans' natural love of football, to some extent. But it can't succeed if it just allows itself to be an NFL farm system. It is also undeniable that, in the beginning, it WILL serve for players as a minor league showcase, because players will always follow the money, until such time as another league can compete financially. That's not the same thing as NFL Europe, or the AAF, which were set up to be NFL minor leagues, and testing grounds. And all the other failed leagues who DID try to compete with the NFL never had enough money to get off the ground, aside from the USFL. But the USFL tried to compete in season with the NFL. The NFL illegally monopolized the major TV market, and nothing was done to them. So the USFL couldn't make money, and died. McMahon has a huge business empire to back his league, and he has an open season to air his games on national television. IF he plays his cards right, he can be successful. You claimed the XFL has furthered the wussification with their kickoff and punt rules... That's either a complete lie or you haven't read the rules correctly. The XFL's rules ensure that there will be FAR more returns on both kickoffs and punts. That has been sorely missed in the NFL. It's not traditional NFL rules, but it's far more interesting to see kick returns, than touchbacks and fair catches, constantly. So how is that MORE "wussed down"? By wussed down they have eliminated those huge hits that made the brutal game so popular. The exact popularity that you claim the XFL will provide. All the XFL has done is act as a proving ground to help make the game safer. You can be assured that any rule they applied that is different than that of the NFL was first discussed by the NFL. Do not forget that Dean Blandino is head of officiating for the XFL and was the NFL's Vice-President of Officiating and had a very active involvement in the rules making in both leagues. There is FAR more crossover between the NFL and XFL than you imply. I have no doubt those people are watching the XFL experiments closely and will seriously consider adopting the more successful rules in the days to come. And, yes, the league does have a chance to be successful if everything falls into place. The level of that success, however, has no chance whatsoever to approach the level of the NFL. To believe that it can is foolish. Once a again, its best chance to survive and be successful is to not step on the feet of the NFL. The NFL is currently a $14.4 billion entity. That number will climb tremendously with the new CBA. McMahon will certainly be overjoyed if his fledgling league could hope to reach a fraction of that success. His WWE generates around $1 billion annually. To match that number with the XFL would take years and would be huge. But it would still be a drop in the bucket as compared to the NFL by that point. Sorry, my friend, but once again, to dream that the XFL will ever have any competitive affect on the NFL is silly. I honestly hope they are successful. I would love to have more pro football, albeit inevitably inferior to the NFL, to watch in the Spring.
	“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill