It would appear the future of the XFL isn't looking too bright...

http://www.newsday.com/ap/text/sports/football/ap150.htm

-snips-

NEW YORK (AP) -- The XFL is losing viewers at a staggering rate.

The fledgling football league NBC-TV jointly owns with the World Wrestling Federation lost another quarter of its television audience on the network, according to preliminary Week 3 ratings, after a 50 percent drop the previous week. Most significant, viewership fell below what sponsors were promised when they bought ad time.

- That represents a 25.5 percent decline from last Saturday's overnight rating (5.1), and a 63 percent fall from the debut broadcast (10.3).

-The plummeting ratings mirror what happened to the USFL, another outdoor spring football league. The USFL -- which, unlike the XFL, lured some top talent from the NFL -- went from a 14.2 rating in its first game to 7.4 in its second in 1983. The rating dropped to 3.3 by Week 15, and the USFL folded after three seasons.

-end-

I'm curious if any of you who had come out in favor of the XFL on a previous thread have continued to watch their games since that season opener?

Also... Yesterday I was told by somebody that a women's football league has been organized and will be playing in select cities across the country. Now THAT would be fun to watch! Has anyone heard of this?

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), February 19, 2001

Answers

CD

While I still tuned in to the games this weekend, I find myself not enjoying it as much as the 1st week. Maybe it's everything but the football that's turning me off. The football part is OK.

I've learned that I definitely prefer Gov Ventura in his movie roles (The Running Man and Predator) than his football announcing. He's pretty damned bad at it to say the least.

At first I thought it would last, now I'm not so sure. How long was that contract with NBC???

Deano

-- Deano (deano@luvthebeach.com), February 19, 2001.

"Also... Yesterday I was told by somebody that a women's football league has been organized and will be playing in select cities across the country. Now THAT would be fun to watch! "

Ummm.. I have to disagree... Why would that be fun to watch? It's like Ali's daughter - just because she's in the family doesn't mean that women's professional boxing is cool.

Women's basketball and hockey is fun to watch, but football and boxing?

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), February 19, 2001.

Naked women playing football. Now that would be fun to watch!

-- nonehere (none@to.give.net), February 19, 2001.

I once tried to be the commissioner of an "All-Female, All Naked" football league, but it was hard getting players. I still hold the "getting slapped" league record.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), February 19, 2001.

I think a figure eight moto-cross race woule be more fun to watch.

-- Manny (No@dip.com), February 19, 2001.

How long was that contract with NBC???

Unlike contracts with the NFL under which networks bid for broadcast rights, NBC actually (and probably "regretfully") owns 50% of the XFL.

Ummm.. I have to disagree... Why would that be fun to watch?

Aw c'mon, Bemused. Sure it'd be fun to watch! Picture if you will, Brittney Spears lining up behind center to take the snap from Pamela Anderson. Imagine Jennifer Lopez blitzing across the line only to be blocked by an alert Claudia Shiffer. Think of the excitement in watching Shania Twain battling with Elle Macpherson for a deep thrown pass, or in seeing Calista Flockhart getting blind-sided by Jennifer Aniston.

You see, Bemused, the women's football league I'm hoping for would be just like that. Now tell me you wouldn't find that fun to watch.

-- CD (costavike@hotmail.com), February 19, 2001.

CD, you had me with the image of Britney Spears behind-center to Pamela Anderson. I'm on board.

Seriously, I think it would be good if there were no uneccessary- roughness penalties in this league, and if it were more like hockey, where the refs let them go at it a while before breaking it up. In fact, they could probably sell tapes of just that.

-- Bemused (and_amazed@you.people), February 19, 2001.

I still watch the games, but The Hitmen suck and stuff. BAH.

-- kritter (kritter@adelphia.net), February 20, 2001.