I'm Pete du Pont with the National Center for Policy Analysis. Is the XFL the end of civilization? No, but you can see it from there. The fact that a bunch of has beens, wanna bes and never weres could pull respectable ratings is bad enough, simply considered as a demonstration of football.
But you get the feeling league organizers know it. What's more important, the minimal athletic skills on display, or the mutliple, use-'em-because-ya-got-'em camera angles? This is the first sport that could increase the sale of Dramamine.
Interviews during the game? Post-game jock interviews are invetiably banal and devoid of insight. But these poor XFL guys aren't even going through the motions. The interviews are interruptions for the sake of interruptions.
The increased nastiness and encouragement of mayhem? Not by accident does this "sport" come from the same people who brought us professional wrestling. It's tricked up for the sake of gimmickry.
So here's a prediction: XFL, one season. Wrestling fans will want the real thing. So will football fans. Nice try guys, but the people will throw the flag.
Those are my ideas, and at the NCPA we know ideas can change the world. I'm Pete du Pont, and I'll see you next time.