The XFL - The League You Didn't Know You Needed
The only five things you need to know about the newest kid on the block and their rebel ways to make the game more entertaining.
What if we told you there’s a new league out that make games faster, more fun and give you, the fan, a behind the scenes look? Well that’s exactly what the XFL is doing for football.
Giving you what you didn’t know you needed,
The Last Night’s Game Team
1. You’re thinking “haven’t I seen this before?” and the answer is yes. Vince McMahon (WWE – World Wrestling Entertainment) founded the XFL in 2001 and the league only played one season. The focus wasn’t football but entertainment, violence and cheerleaders. McMahon is fronting the cash for the league himself and he’s expecting to lose $375 million over the first three seasons to get the league back off the ground. (In case you're wondering, according to Forbes he is worth $2.1 billion). WHAT COULD GO WRONG?
FYI - The ‘X’ in XFL doesn’t actually stand for anything.
2. Now the league, which features former NFL (National Football League) and college football players, is back and the focus is on giving fans unprecedented access to the game during the broadcast. You'll see on the field interviews with players during the game (who are usually out of breath and known to drop f-bombs). On the broadcast you can listen in to the plays being called down to the players on the field. You can also spy on the referees and their communication with their replay team on questioned calls which is interesting and sometimes hilarious. INVESTING FOR YOUR ENTERTAINMENT
3. They’ve embraced their ability to think outside the box on the field, but also to the benefit of their sponsors. The players celebrate their wins by chugging Bud Light Seltzer. GATORADE SHOWERS ARE FOR BABIES
4. Did you know in the NFL (National Football League) the only offensive player with communication in their helmet is the quarterback? (One defensive player also receives coach communication). In an effort to speed up the game, the majority of the players on the field in the XFL can hear the plays being relayed from their coaches. CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?
5. And if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em. That’s what the XFL says about betting on their games. Even though they’ve benefitted from fantasy sports, other professional sports leagues have fought the expansion of betting. The XFL is encouraging it, even asking their broadcasters to bring it up during the game. They consulted bookmakers on the new rules and are “leaning in” to sports betting to give the fans what they want. (For our sports betting 101, click here). GIVE THE PEOPLE WHAT THEY WANT
Note - We’re two weeks into the season and all the signs say the league will be around for a while, unlike the AAF (Alliance of American Football) that folded mid-season. You can see the eight XFL teams battle it out every weekend for the next eight weeks, with two weeks of playoffs after that.
So Good It Hurts
The XFL’s debut, the newest athlete to win an Oscar and hairspray dominates the Westminster Dog Show.
Small talk made easy by uniting the best in sports and pop culture just for you.
The best thing to happen to your Monday since coffee,
The Last Night’s Game Team
XFL
The first weekend of the XFL football piqued the interest of football fans. Over three million people tuned in for the first game and many stuck around to watch fast and furious games that lasted less than three hours (well most of them), f-bombs on live TV and insights into the team’s strategies with cameras everywhere. Can they keep up the momentum? Time will tell. FOR THE LOVE OF FOOTBALL
PS – The “X” in XFL doesn’t actually stand for something – hence why we didn’t spell it out like usual.
OVERTIME
Last night “Parasite” shocked the world by cleaning up at the Oscars. Spike Lee honored Kobe Bryant on the red carpet and former NFL (National Football League) player Matthew A. Cherry followed in Bryant’s footsteps and won an Oscar for best animated short film. He directed a film titled “Hair Love” about a dad learning to do his daughter’s hair for the first time. AND THE OSCAR GOES TO….
SIDELINE STAT
The U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT) qualified for the 2020 Summer Olympics over the weekend. The USWNT has qualified for every Olympics since women’s soccer was introduced in 1996 and have won four gold medals. While they’ve also won the past two World Cup competitions, they haven’t always been the golden child. The team had an early exit in the 2016 Rio Olympics but hope to continue their winning momentum this summer. GOLD LOOKS GOOD ON YOU
COACHES’ CORNER
It’s day two of the Westminster Dog show and already Aqua Net stock has gone up. These primped pooches will continue the competition with the goal of being named the “Best in Show” tomorrow. Even if you have no desire to livestream the pup parade, do yourself a favor and check out our Five Things You Need To Know About The Westminster Dog Show. There are some hilarious facets to the competition that will have you saying “what in the world?” IT ALL STARTED WITH “HOLD MY BEER.”
WHAT TO WATCH
We’re seeing more women make their way onto the field in the NFL. The Washington Redskins hired Jennifer King who will become the first African American woman to coach full-time in NFL history. She joins three other women in full-time coaching positions in the league. GIRL POWER
Starting Off On The Right Foot
It’s Super Bowl week and sports will surely dominate the conversation over the next few days. Make the week yours by owning the conversation.
It’s Super Bowl week and sports will surely dominate the conversation over the next few days. Make the week yours by owning the conversation.
Where the magic happens,
The Last Night’s Game Team
PS – Las Vegas fans, catch us this morning at 8:15 am PST on CW as we talk Super Bowl or you can watch it live here.
NFL (National Football League)
If your work promotion isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Yesterday's NFL all-star game, the Pro Bowl, resembled a backyard pickup game with its laissez-faire attitude but the AFC (American Football Conference) still beat the NFC (National Football Conference). The winning team members each took home a $64,000 bonus and the losers cashed in at $32,000. Oddly enough, the winners of the Pro Bowl actually end up making more than the losing team in the Super Bowl.
Overtime
The Senior Bowl showcases college senior football players’ talents one last time for NFL scouts. You may have seen the big oops video of Shaquem Griffin being interviewed on the sideline instead of participating in a play on the field. What you may not know is that Griffin plays football one handed because he lost his left hand at age four. Now that’s impressive.
Sideline stat
Yesterday at the ripe old age of 36, a tearful Roger Federer won the Australian Open and his 20th Grand Slam title. Federer is the first male to win 20 Grand Slam tournaments. Serena Williams won her record 23rd at the same tournament last year.
A Grand Slam in tennis describes one of the four major tournaments - the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and U.S. Open.
Coaches’ corner
Former UFC champion Ronda Rousey is taking her Hollywood acting career to a different level, signing a full-time contract with WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment). She made her first appearance last night at the Royal Rumble. WWE has also been in the news lately because its chariman Vince McMahon is reviving the previously defunct XFL (Xtreme Football League).
Stay tuned - Wednesday is the day you've been waiting for all year - our Super Bowl edition of Five Things To Know. Don't miss out!