ENTER THE XFL

   Wow---what a weekend. So, it's been a few days since the last post; and that's for some personal reasons. The personal reason in this case being that a long drought of live professional football finally came to an end. At 11 AM Pacific Standard Time on Saturday, the XFL kicked off---and as far I'm concerned the NFL officially died, and good riddance. I was at the first football party that I'd been to in years. 

   As someone who's been a football fan since the age of five, and who played all the way through his school years, the return of real football was a big deal. These were the first live-action games I'd watched in a long time. The XFL has mixed a lot of innovation with a lot of tradition; hence it has an appeal to both old and new fans. Except on a few rule changes relating to kick returns, pass receptions, and conversion points, there's not that much of a difference in actual play or strategy. One thing noticeable is the high-tech camera work:

  Which almost looks like a video-game at times. Another is that everyone is wired for sound. Players, officials, and coaches can be heard in real time. 

   Another thing that seemed odd at first was that the players looked smaller than the 'roid-ridden superthugs of the NFL; but then I noticed that XFL players were less padding. There wasn't any of the appalling Political Correctness of the NFL; except for the very disappointing decision not to allow cheerleading; although there are 'ball-girls' they're decidedly less fun. I hope that they reconsider this in 2021. 

  Aside from that oversight, watching the XFL was actually fun. In fact, I've read that adjective in most XFL reviews. The overwhelming percentage of Opening Day's commentary has been positive. The number of no-shows confidently predicted by scoffing media pundits also apparently never materialized:

   The games were very fast-paced and number of former NFL stars were in the crowd. During the St.Louis-Dallas game, former Cowboys' quarterback Troy Aikman was interviewed and voiced his approval, stating that "This League's got a real chance." I agree that it does---as long as it can hold true to its values: avoid stupid virtue-signaling Political Correctness; and evades the inevitable dirty tricks and sleazy sabotage that the NFL is bound to attempt. 

   Speaking of the moribund other league, the news this weekend was that notorious thug Myles Garrett was, as predicted, fully re-instated after starting an on-field riot last November (and after the anger from the public had blown over). The Washington Redskins announced the first-ever Black female coach. The Buffalo Bills last year made the first White Lesbian coach. Gang-bangers and frat-boys getting bossed around by strong Feminist women: nothing sums up Trash Culture more accurately than that mental image does. But at least the NFL's managed to go three weeks (so far) without a player ending up in the clink. 

   If the XFL stays the course, the NFL is going down.