OT: XFL is back

[Pitt79]

Honestly. No I can't. Which is why I didn't vote for Trump. And on the flip side I couldn't understand anyone voting for Killary.

That said, I came back to the NFL a bit this year. I'm no fan of the Rooneys gouging the tax payers. And I'm no fan of Ben. But their first three draft picks "seem" to be character guys and they brought in another in Joe Hayden. There's guys to root for. It will never be perfect...and I will never be 100% invested.

Isn't it time this thread get moved to the Locker Room. Leave it to SMF to get all political!

I didn't vote for Trump or Hillary either. But I root for the laundry, not who's in it. It's just a TV show, so who they hire this year to wear the laundry isn't going to effect my TV entertainment habits. I like Ben, probably my favorite Steeler of all time, so a young guy hit on some women hard, so what, who hasn't. He wasn't arrested or convicted, so who knows? Maybe it was a gold digger looking for a payday... that's not going to make me hate him forever, I don't believe in zero tolerance, I believe people change and grow, Ben's got a wife and kids and a family now and he seems like a family man, kudos to him, he's grown IMO.

I think it's enough about football to leave here. Personally, I'd like a new alternative football league, but for the right reasons, I see the right reasons being, actually making the actual game you watch as more entertaining and less laborious, more playing, less refereeing, and not really about the character of the players or the honoring of the troops.

 

[joeydavid]

Not to get political but I liked Bush 1, Clinton and Obama. W, not so much and Trump is moron, if not a criminal.

They are all on the same political spectrum as far as policy really goes. I typically go with the candidate who appears the most intellectual. Hindsight and history seems to indicate we are better off with a smart guy in the white house (so we don't end up invading the wrong country and all).

Regarding the NFL players. What's more American than your right to protest? A bigoted, racist is occupying the White House. It's a shame that "only" the players protested his message.

I'm totally with you. And Rapistberger & Mr Free Hernandez are the leaders of that Steeler locker room. No wonder ratings are down.

That said, I know from your posts on the other board that you are far from conservative. So I'm totally confused. In SMF's eyes, hating the NFL is a white conservative (racist) thing. There is absolutely no way you reside on the left side of the political spectrum. At least in SMF's world (bubble).

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

I'm totally with you. And Rapistberger & Mr Free Hernandez are the leaders of that Steeler locker room. No wonder ratings are down.

That said, I know from your posts on the other board that you are far from conservative. So I'm totally confused. In SMF's eyes, hating the NFL is a white conservative (racist) thing. There is absolutely no way you reside on the left side of the political spectrum. At least in SMF's world (bubble).

Fwiw I would think SMF, for all his faults, understands there are also people on the left who have given up on the NFL for different reasons than the national anthem right wing reasons -- e.g. domestic violence, CTE, Kaepernick being black balled, or just because the product can be pretty boring.

The combination of all sorts of issues has led to NFL having a small but notable (especially as opposed to decades of growth) ratings decline.

 

[Pitt79]

or just because the product can be pretty boring.

I'm not adamant pro or anti Kaepernick, I don't care that they knelt for the anthem in protest, I'm not a fan of BLM at all, I have little concern about off field incidents, I just want to see a better football product, not bogged down by referees and replays. I'd love to see something fast paced with guys like Kaepernick, Tebow, even Manziel out there, where you never saw a refs face on a screen and never waited for 2 minutes for NY to get back to you on the replay.

 

[MarshallGoldberg]

^OK? I want a burger for lunch. One of us will get what we want.

 

[Pitt79]

I kind of disagree with SMF on the patriotic/right wing thing in one way. Sure, the Fox News crowd would like a flag respecting, anthem standing, high character football league for sure, and for a while that might be enough. But after awhile, if it's the same thing with refs dominating the action, slow down play, flags all over, 3 minute replays and clock stoppages every 5 minutes and 10 minutes every game agonizing over what is a catch, but with less talented players, it will get old. Besides making players stand for the anthem, I think you need to fundamentally reimage what the game itself looks like. I hope that's what Vince means.

 

[DiehardPanther]

It might work. He needs to get some big names. A guy like Tebow for example.

 

[Jakey_John]

I say, "concussion protocol...shmcussion protocol"

One of the leading specialists on concussion research is Chris Nowitski, a Harvard graduate and former WWE wrestler who was billed as such.

 

[HOF Coach]

 

[PittPanther44]

Lol at the theory of “no criminals”

Some people will get warm and fuzzies....the same ones that think the position of power has to be an old white guy. The same ones that failed to educate themselves and thus couldn’t understand why they got left behind.
Oooo....I know. Let’s vote for Donald Trump. At least I don’t have to process diversity and that I’m not entitled because my parents were. Amazing...

Anyway...

Back to the criminal thing. You can bet your ass that they aren’t going to dump a star player because he has a DUI or something

 

[Pitt79]

Back to the criminal thing. You can bet your ass that they aren’t going to dump a star player because he has a DUI or something

And they shouldn't, it would be stupid, like deporting the 45 year old, legal alien doctor from Poland who came here when he was 5 and can't speak Polish anymore, because he had a destruction of property charge when he was 17! Zero Tolerance is always a stupid policy, always.

 

[PittHobo2]

how on earth is he going to form a football league with no criminal records?

you probably can't find a lot of high school teams without at least a disorderly conduct charge

 

[Pitt79]

how on earth is he going to form a football league with no criminal records?

you probably can't find a lot of high school teams without at least a disorderly conduct charge

Exactly, that's stupid! It's hard to find perfect people in the general population. Then you deal with, let's say someone does something while they are playing, so you have to then ban them?

 

[BFo8]

Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward to have major role in separate new league. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22844453/xfl-documentary-maker-plans-own-football-league

 

[Pitt79]

Troy Polamalu and Hines Ward to have major role in separate new league. http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22844453/xfl-documentary-maker-plans-own-football-league

McMahon will be pissed! LOL!

 

[BuffetParrothead]

Not to get political but I liked Bush 1, Clinton and Obama. W, not so much and Trump is moron, if not a criminal.

They are all on the same political spectrum as far as policy really goes. I typically go with the candidate who appears the most intellectual. Hindsight and history seems to indicate we are better off with a smart guy in the white house (so we don't end up invading the wrong country and all).

Regarding the NFL players. What's more American than your right to protest? A bigoted, racist is occupying the White House. It's a shame that "only" the players protested his message.

Protest on you on time with your own dime!
Anyone on this board who decided to protest on the job would be fired!

Can't wait for the new football league since Mrs Buffett and I plus million of others have stopped watching the NFL. Next year NFL viewship will plunge further as most American's are tired of this nonsense!

The Great President Trump has boosted the economy 330k jobs created in February which took The Obama two months to accomplish, GDP exceeding 3% moving in the 4% soon, energy sector is roaring back helping states like KY, OH, WV, PA, employee participation rate is increasing, home ownership is increasing, black and hispanic unemployment are at historic lows, companies are creating good jobs with benefits and 401k's, auto companies are locating and expanding in the US, tech companies have announced new plants and expansions of existing facilities, including Apple and Tim Cook cited the Trump economic /tax plan as a primary reason for the Apple expansion, repatriation of $ 2-3 Trillion of Corp profits trapped in other countries at a low one time tax, higher wages finally, the pipelines are being completed, exited do nothing penalize the US Paris Accord, illegal immigration is at an all time low, on and on.

Make America Great Again! LOL! I love to see you liberals completely miserable and you all are LOL!

"it's five o'clock somewhere"
Signed: Mr Buffett
Go PITT & CSU Rams

 

[Pitt79]

I kind of find it funny that people stop watching football over some stupid song? It's not the end of the world. And where I work, I can get away with protesting on my job.

So now, you're excited to watch a 3rd rate football league, just because inferior players will stand for the national anthem? Really? That matters to you more than the actual game?

 

[Pitt79]

I admit I'm tired of the NFL, but to me it's because of too many nitpicky rules, and I hate REPLAY so much it's making me lose interest in sports in general.

 

[happjack]

McMahon will be pissed! LOL!

I think McMahon rushed the announcement of XFL2.0 to beat Charlie Ebersol's league to the punch. The Alliance of American Football(horrible name) looks to have their shit together and kicks off in 2019, McMahon's league kicks off in 2020 and doesn't seem to have it's shit together.

Both leagues will fail since no one is really interested in minor league football.

 

[Pitt79]

I think McMahon rushed the announcement of XFL2.0 to beat Charlie Ebersol's league to the punch. The Alliance of American Football(horrible name) looks to have their shit together and kicks off in 2019, McMahon's league kicks off in 2020 and doesn't seem to have it's shit together.

Both leagues will fail since no one is really interested in minor league football.

I think they could get a following if they somehow changed the game itself and didn't have replay and eliminated so many rules that the game rarely stopped and you never saw refs on the TV screen. The NFL has the best players, but they are ruining the sport. They could eliminate 50% of the nitpicky rules, shorten the play clock, Canadian motion, no formation penalties except maybe 5 O-linemen and nobody would notice, eliminate replay and just ACCEPT that a catch is just a non-reviewable judgment call, I'd watch a league with way less rules and no replay.

 

[Mikefln]

I think they could get a following if they somehow changed the game itself and didn't have replay and eliminated so many rules that the game rarely stopped and you never saw refs on the TV screen. The NFL has the best players, but they are ruining the sport. They could eliminate 50% of the nitpicky rules, shorten the play clock, Canadian motion, no formation penalties except maybe 5 O-linemen and nobody would notice, eliminate replay and just ACCEPT that a catch is just a non-reviewable judgment call, I'd watch a league with way less rules and no replay.

I don't would be down for this except the Canadian motion, I hate that. Also I want kickoffs, to me that is an important part of the game.

 

[Pitt79]

the Canadian motion, I hate that.

You see I'd LOVE that! Think of how many times per game there wouldn't be a stoppage? It would be GREAT!

 

[Swervin27]

we as a country are over saturated with football. we've reached the breaking point. I really think that's the main issue with nfl's declining ratings. it's not the flag, standing, kneeling, endzone celebrations, rapes off field, its that there is too much football. Thur night, college on Fridays, all day Saturdays, sunday, Monday night. They've over saturated it.

Monday night football used to be huge before cable, then sunday night football was the new game of the week and now it's Thursday night NFL football is premiere game of week cause people stopped watching the other two.

Less is more..

 

[Mikefln]

we as a country are over saturated with football. we've reached the breaking point. I really think that's the main issue with nfl's declining ratings. it's not the flag, standing, kneeling, endzone celebrations, rapes off field, its that there is too much football. Thur night, college on Fridays, all day Saturdays, sunday, Monday night. They've over saturated it.

Monday night football used to be huge before cable, then sunday night football was the new game of the week and now it's Thursday night NFL football is premiere game of week cause people stopped watching the other two.

Less is more..

I can agree with a lot of what you state as i agree with this. With that said the NFL has changed the game so much, that it is unrecognizable sometimes.

 

[Mikefln]

You see I'd LOVE that! Think of how many times per game there wouldn't be a stoppage? It would be GREAT!

That is why i hate it. I hate that the rules are so in favor of the offense, that there is barley any defense anymore. Now if they got rid of the Mel Blount rule and allowed CBs to hit until the ball was in the air then I can see this rule.

 

[Pitt79]

That is why i hate it. I hate that the rules are so in favor of the offense, that there is barley any defense anymore. Now if they got rid of the Mel Blount rule and allowed CBs to hit until the ball was in the air then I can see this rule.

I just want it to move and move and move and not constantly stop. I'd like to see no reviews and never see the refs face. Be more like soccer where the ref does very little to slow down the actual play.

 

[Pitt79]

The reason I am getting really tired of football anymore is that it just plain stops too much, just too may rules and too much of the game is refs "explaining" something, too much of the game being replay review time, too much of the best plays, the scoring plays, the biggest most entertaining moments being erased by some triviality you can't see without a microscope. It sucks. In today world, the "Immaculate Reception", "The Catch", Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X.... NEVER HAPPENS, it's overturned and forgotten, in the name of getting it right.

 

[BFo8]

The reason I am getting really tired of football anymore is that it just plain stops too much, just too may rules and too much of the game is refs "explaining" something, too much of the game being replay review time, too much of the best plays, the scoring plays, the biggest most entertaining moments being erased by some triviality you can't see without a microscope. It sucks. In today world, the "Immaculate Reception", "The Catch", Lynn Swann in Super Bowl X.... NEVER HAPPENS, it's overturned and forgotten, in the name of getting it right.

What about the usage of goal line technology in soccer?

 

[Mikefln]

What about the usage of goal line technology in soccer?

Not a soccer fan but my attitude is win some lose some. let the refs make the call and move on. Don't slow it down if not needed.

 

[Pitt79]

What about the usage of goal line technology in soccer?

I'd say if they can do it instantly, like by putting a chip in the ball or something, that would be fine. Like a buzzer goes off if the plane is broken.

I'd do it for hockey too, put a chip in the puck.

For both make the rule ANY PART of the ball or puck break the plane, to make it cut and dry and instantly recognizable, and I'm fine with that. It would be instant. You wouldn't celebrate and then they rip your heart out 5 minutes later.

 

[Panther Holla]

XFL will be lucky to survive its first year. More people will watch the NFL Combine.

 

[Pitt79]

XFL will be lucky to survive its first year. More people will watch the NFL Combine.

That's the thing, they'd have to pay me to watch the NFL combine. I'd rather watch the XFL or arena football than watch guys running around cones or lifting weights, LOL. Do you watch that combine BS? That's the problem with NFL Network, out of season it's unwatchable if you aren't into the stuff besides actual games.

 

[SoufOaklin4Life]

Does the wwe play the anthem and have the wrestlers all stand?

It’s weird the xfl would even broadcast the anthem, let alone mandate it.

 

[happjack]

Does the wwe play the anthem and have the wrestlers all stand?

It’s weird the xfl would even broadcast the anthem, let alone mandate it.

If I remember right they play America the Beautiful instead of the Star Spangled Banner at Wrestlemania.

 

[Pitt79]

If I remember right they play America the Beautiful instead of the Star Spangled Banner at Wrestlemania.

Did Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik stand for it?

I used to love when Volkoff (a Polish guy who lives in Maryland)would come out and sing the USSR anthem before his matches, while the Iron Sheik (a guy named Bob from Indiana) would wave the Iranian flag.

I don't watch wrestling anymore, do they still do unPC characters like ISIS or Russians?

 

[happjack]

Did Nikolai Volkoff and the Iron Sheik stand for it?

I used to love when Volkoff (a Polish guy who lives in Maryland)would come out and sing the USSR anthem before his matches, while the Iron Sheik (a guy named Bob from Indiana) would wave the Iranian flag.

I don't watch wrestling anymore, do they still do unPC characters like ISIS or Russians?

The Iron Sheik was legit from Iran, he came to the US to coach Olympic Style Wrestling and got recruited to the pro game by Verne Gagne. There’s a documentary on Netflix about Iron Sheik which is worth checking out.

Volkoff was from Yugoslavia, since he had an accent he ended up as a Russian. Ivan Koloff who beat Bruno for the belt was French Canadian.

Both the AAF and XFL are banking on sports betting being legalized by an upcoming Supreme Court decision, if that doesn’t happen neither will play a down.