Dear Vince McMahon: Please keep the XFL out of LA

WWE Chairman Vince McMahon recently announced the revival of the controversial XFL. We just have one request; please stay out of LA.

Football is in an interesting state in 2018. Player health and the research of the effects of brain trauma (finally) is becoming a forefront issue in the league. Polarizing views, on both sides of the political spectrum, have caused a discussion that has led to decreased TV ratings. Now, like he has a Money in the Bank briefcase, Vince McMahon is cashing in with the XFL.

For those of you that may have been too young to remember the XFL, like me, it essentially was the WWE meeting the NFL. McMahon wanting to bring football fans a more physical, an edgier and a more interesting side of football.

The league was set to debut after the Super Bowl, capitalizing on a slow period of sports. As much as everyone loves the NBA, a lot of people would rather watch football than a February NBA game.

Rules such as eliminating the fair catch and strong marketing, banging on the PG-13 nature of WWE, lead to the XFL having a great debut. However, many began to catch onto the act. This was not real football; this was a spectacle. It had to be because quite frankly, the football itself was not that good.

After just one season the XFL folded. However, it did have a legacy on the game. The NFL picked up certain techniques (such as micing up the players) that the XFL popularized. ESPN ran a really great 30 for 30 about the rise and fall of the XFL.

Just like a returning wrestler, the XFL is back. Vince McMahon announced that the league will resume play in 2020. This new, re-branded, XFL is supposed to have a quicker pace, with no political messaging and most importantly; is supposed to be fan friendly. No more ignoring player’s safety, no more marketing around flashy cheerleaders.

At it’s core, this is supposed to be nothing less than pure, fun, football. For many, this could be the saving grace from a poorly ran NFL.

Just please do us one favor Vince, stay away from Los Angeles.

When the XFL launched, Los Angeles was one of eight cities chosen to host a team. The Los Angeles Xtreme, as they were called, were the sole league champions. Quarterback and league MVP, Tommy Maddox, returned to the NFL after one season in the XFL to win the NFL Comeback Player of the Year Award.

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As great as the Los Angeles Xtreme were, in XFL terms, they should not reinvent themselves with this new re-branded league. Quite frankly, Los Angeles is already pretty crowded for football teams, the last thing we need is another team.

LA has something that wasn’t around in 2001; an NFL team. Not only that, Los Angeles has two NFL teams. The Los Angeles Rams and Chargers are “fighting” for LA. The problem is, the Oakland Raiders still remain the most popular team in LA, with the Cowboys, Steelers and Eagles arguably having more fans than the Chargers.

Los Angeles is far too diverse, thus, nobody seems to care about the Chargers. NFL is already dealing with this problem; with the XFL, the problem would be amplified. As much as Vince McMahon wants this to succeed, he is returning with a bad rep. The XFL is going to have to prove it’s worth in it’s first season. Hosting an empty LA stadium will not do that.

You think it’s bad that the Chargers cannot fill up a soccer stadium? Just wait until you see the Los Angeles Xtreme fail to fill up a high school stadium. Maybe, maybe, in a few years, if the XFL succeeds, LA can open their arms to an XFL team.

Next: Who has the best LA fan base?

However, the city seemingly barely wants one of the two NFL teams they have. For now, Vince, maybe stick to a city without a major football team, like Portland!

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