NEWS ARCHIVE: September 2000
29
September 2000
Thanks,
Uncle Vince!
The XFL promised us cheerleaders, and
they've paid off in spades. If you don't know what we're talking
about, then go immediately over to the official XFL site for a
view of the Cheerleader commercial. The commercial is so visually
appealing it took two views to realize that the narrative is also
very "tounge in cheek" hilarious. Also be sure to have
a look at the "making of the cheerleader commercial"
snapshots. Sweeeeeeeeeet! [Link
to xfl.com]
28
September 2000
Eight
Teams - Eight Head Coaches
All
eight XFL teams now have a head coach, with today's hiring of
Jim Skipper by the San Francisco Demons and Rusty Tillman
by the New York/New Jersey Hitmen. Skipper was assistant head
coach of the New York Giants until he quit in August. It was initially
rumored that he would coach Memphis, but that was false. He was
in the NFL for 14 years, including terms as running backs coach
with the Arizona Cardinals and New Orleans Saints. Tillman was
an assistant coach for 16 years with the Seattle Seahawks, including
defensive coordinator. He also had that job with the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and Indianapolis Colts, and was a special teams coach
with the Oakland Raiders. Congratulations and welcome to Coach
Skipper and Coach Tillman.
27
September 2000
Hitmen
and Demons Head Coach Announcement Thursday
The
XFL will be making the official announcement of their head coaches
for the New York+New Jersey and San Francisco franchises on Thursday
28 Sep 00. The media buzz is that Jim Skipper will coach
the Demons and that Rusty Tillman will be the new head
coach of the Hitmen.
27
September 2000
We Didn't See Any Cheerleaders?
The XFL commercial aired last night. Did you see it? In case you
missed it (it was only 20 seconds in length) we will recap it
here. It all starts off in a secret XFL training camp in the desert.
A player is running through an obstacle course. To make things
a little more difficult, a large piece of artillery is lobbing
shells at him.
26
September 2000
More
Coaching Rumors
In
the latest round of XFL coaching rumors to come out of the media,
the former New York Giants running backs coach Jim Skipper
will coach the XFL's San Francisco team, and Rusty Tillman,
former Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator, will be the new
coach of the New York+New Jersey Hit Men.
26
September 2000
Lights...
Camera... Action. Real, Live Action!
Even though the NFL is not sure of the exact nature of what the
XFL will unveil on February 3rd, 2001, they are quickly retooling
their broadcasts. In
case anybody from the NFL is reading this, here is a tip. Go to
your boardroom and see if you can match this: The
XFL will be about football. Real live football. The rest of the
programming will be brought to you by the same guys who brought
you the Undertaker and The Rock... [Read
Entire Article]
25
September 2000
Uncle Vince Promised us Cheerleaders...
The
XFL invades the Olympics Tuesday night with it's long awaited
commercial. The motif of this commercial is how the XFL players
have to train to make it in the new league. Apparently this means
that they have to run through flaming oil barrels. No wonder gas
prices are so high, Vince is burning the stuff up, by making commercials.
We'd also like to remind Uncle Vince that he promised us
a look at some cheerleaders during the olympic commercials. We'll
wait and see what's in store. Meanwhile, the XFL has sent Dick
Butkus to Australia to promote the XFL during the Olympics.
[More
Info at the Official League Web Site]
23
September 2000
Southern Fried Football
"What
makes football a success in Alabama isn't winning records or championships
but down home brutal football. Like the games you played in your
back yard that went for hour after hour. No surrender no defeat!!"
In his most recent report, Bamaslammer, our Bolts Co-Reporter,
lets us know what type of football is popular in his neck of the
woods. [Birmingham
Bolts Team Page]
22
September 2000
Bolts to Get a Coach from
the CFL
The XFL, Vince McMahon's new pro football league, has attracted
yet another coach from the CFL. Don Lindsey, who began this season
as the Lions' defensive coordinator of the BC Lions, will take
up similar duties with the Birmingham ThunderBolts of the XFL,
starting Oct. 1. [Link
to External Article]
22
September 2000
Gatorade Signs Up For XFL Testosterone
Seeking to reach the teen male demographic that the XFL has promoted
to marketers as its raison d'être, Gatorade has signed a five-year
deal making it the official sports drink of the embryonic football
league. The pact keeps Gatorade the overwhelming leader in U.S.
isotonic market cups, coolers and towels on the sidelines while
locking other beverages out, though the league and its teams are
free to cut deals for bottled water. [Link
to External Article]
21
September 2000
Ex-CFL'ers Find Coaching
Opportunities in the XFL
What do Cal Murphy (Enforcers), Bobby Ackles, Tom Mason and Rashid
Gayle, (Outlaws), Greg Mohns (Demons), Mike Kelly and Mickey Mays
(Rage) have in common? They are all ex-CFL coaches and/or players
who have now found coaching jobs with the XFL. [Link
to External Article]
21
September 2000
Bolts Coach Holds Tryouts
Opportunity
was knocking at Legion Field for 81 potential XFL players. Many
were local players, ex-Alabama, Auburn and UAB players whom the
club could claim with territorial rights. All were trying to make
an impression at the Birmingham Thunderbolts invitation-only tryout
camp. [Birmingham
Bolts Team Page]
18
September 2000
Sixty-Seven Days in San
Jose
To San Jose, the XFL is acting like a long lost cousin who came
to visit for 67 days. There was a lot of hoopla and "pats
on the back" when they arrived, but they didn't even say
goodbye when they left. Like the fellow once said, "ain't
that a kick a head!" [Read
Entire Article]
18
September 2000
Maniax Name Kippy Brown Head Coach
Steve
Ehrhart, General Manager of the Memphis Maniax, named Kippy Brown
Head Coach of the Memphis XFL team on Monday, Sept. 18, 2000.
A veteran of 21 coaching seasons, nine in the NFL and 12 in college,
Brown is a graduate of the University of Memphis where he was
quarterback for the Tigers from 1975-77. [Press
Release]
18
September 2000
Demons Move to SFO. Why? A Fan's
View.
The
Demons will play their opening season at Pacific Bell Park. But
with this 50 mile move, the official
team name is now
the San Francisco Demons. The
move opened more room for XFL fans to see the game live. Spartan
Stadium has a 28,000-seat capacity. The new San Francisco Giants
stadium, Pacific Bell Park, can hold a crowd of 40,000. So
why did they move? [Demons
Team Page]
16 September 2000
Out
with the Old, in with the New
"On
September 10, something unexpected happened that would affect
the Chicago Enforcers and the XFL." Our Chicago Team Reporter,
QumarChicago, gives us some personal insight into the Valdeserri
resignation.
[Chicago
Enforcers Team Page]
16
September 2000
McMahon on ABC World News
Tonight
Fifty percent ownership of the XFL belongs to NBC. But, last night
the XFL got some decent coverage from a rival network. If you
missed it, the full item is available on Real Video and Audio
online at the ABC News site. [Link
to ABC News Web Page]
15
September 2000
Oh
No? San Francisco Demons?
Today,
the San Jose Team will announce it's move to San Francisco, and
change its name to the San Francisco Demons. The team will
now play at Pacific Bell Park, which apparently was more
eager to host them than was Spartan Stadium. Michael Preacher,
the Demons' general manager, said Giants officials came up with
a deal to beat Spartan Stadium's, which was still being negotiated.
How long has this been going on? It has been discovered through
one of our favorite methods, the domain name search, that sanfranciscodemons.com
was registered by the WWFe on 31 August 2000. [Link
to External Article]
15
September 2000
First salvo fired in XFL, CFL war
The issue: freedom to play in more than one
league.
The XFL has warned that the CFL will end up losing a football
war if it refuses to relax its rules and allow players to compete
in more than one league. Mike
Keller, vice-president of league operations for the XFL, said
the contracts that players sign in the XFL will allow them the
freedom to play year-round, in different leagues, if they want.
[Link
to External Article]
13
September 2000
Vin Mac on IT Radio Network
Guess who said this: "When billionaire owners start making the
rules and changing rules to benefit their investment as opposed
to the football game. It leaves open a whole brand new canvas
in which the XFL can walk right in and paint this fan-friendly
football canvas, which is what the NFL used to be years ago."
Answer: Vince McMahon. Where: In an interview he gave on
the IT
Radio Network. Real audio and transcript are available.
[Link
to External Web Page]
13
September 2000
XFL Ebay Action
Somebody is going to profit from this and it won't be us. The
news is that there is starting to be some XFL
action on EBAY. Available today is an "generic"
XFL 2001 Jersey (Size: 52) going for $42. Also you will find an
XFL "Junior Football" starting at $75, but with a "reserve"
price in place. We wonder what they really want for it. This is
also a great idea for all those players that got the XFL Combine
2000 T-shirts and that never got picked for the XFL - recoup some
of your expenses with a quick EBAY sale! [Link
to EBAY search for "XFL"]
13
September 2000
Plenty of Progress in San Jose
The
XFL is reportedly spending more than $1.6 million installing video
screens, cameras and sound equipment to bring the fans both at
home and in San Jose State's Spartan Stadium closer to the game.
Also, since the Demons' Web site has opened, it has had more than
2 million page views. Tickets for the Demons won't be available
until October, but the team's office has received nearly 5,000
requests for season passes. Why all the sales? The average ticket
price is only $23! [Link
to External Article]
12
September 2000
Rich Rose Named Acting GM of the Enforcers
The
XFL announced today the naming of Rich Rose as Acting General
Manager of the Chicago Enforcers football team. "We
are very comfortable with Rich serving as the Acting General Manager
for the Enforcers," said Billy Hicks, Vice President of Administration
for the XFL. "Rich has been with the league before day one,
having helped develop the XFL business plan. With Rich and the
current Enforcers coaching and front office staff working together,
everything will go smoothly in Chicago until a permanent General
Manager is hired." [Press
Release]
11
September 2000
It's All Math
When the XFL was first announced, one of the comments was "Who
will play in such a league?" It seems that the real question
should have been "What will the XFL do with all the potential
players they turn away?" [Read
Entire Article]
10
September 2000
Ken Valdiserri Resigns From the Chicago Enforcers
The
XFL released a short press release late today announcing that
Ken Valdiserri has resigned as Vice President and General Manager
of The Chicago Enforcers due to personal reasons. "Our
commitment to bring exciting XFL football to Chicago continues,"
said Basil V. DeVito Jr., President of the XFL. "With the
coaching staff and front office that we have assembled, The Enforcers
will provide Chicago football fans with something special."
[Press
Release]
10
September 2000
Dallas
Combine Complete
The Dallas combine was held yesterday under a hot sun at
the University of North Texas, Fouts Field. Quality athletes were
reportedly tested, with the 40 yard dash becoming the focus of
measurement. Speed was the real issue, with a time under 4.4 seconds
being a benchmark for quickness. In the end, probably only 10-20%
of the players who attended will be given contracts. For those
few, this was the start of an probable XFL career. For most others
this became a dissapointment and a liabilty: $110.00 to register
in the combine plus travelling expenses. ABC is reportedly doing
a news item on the combine after Monday night football on the
11th. We will look to that item for more news, plus to see what
type of "negative spin" a rival broadcaster puts on
the story. Next week, another combine will be held at Morris Brown
College in Atlanta. [Message
Board - Candid comments by Players]
8
September 2000
The
San Jose Demons...
What kind of name is that?
"The XFL announced that the San Jose will have
to cheer for the black and white face of a demon. A demon, a devil,
an evil spirit, a fiend. A very wicked person. A cruel person.
A person with great energy and vigor. An inferior Greek god. Other
than the second to the last definition of demon, I would have
to disagree with the XFL calling the team, the Demons. So why
did they call it the Demons?" Our San Jose Team Reporter,
"NStarz" Ha, answers this question and more in
his most recent article. [Read
Entire Article]
7
September 2000
Forget About the CFL
What a bunch of confusing talk lately! All this talk
of sharing players and mergers with the CFL. Where is all
this coming from? [Read
Entire Article]
7
September 2000
Dallas Combine to be held
Saturday
Two hundred and fifty potential XFL players will be
keeping their primetime dream alive by heading over to
Dallas for the first XFL Combine. The road starts in Texas for
many future XFL stars. XFLBoard.com would like to wish all players
who are heading into their combines the best of luck. Stay healthy
and go get 'em!
5
September 2000
XFL Commercials to Air
During Olympics
Look for XFL commercials to air during the NBC Olympic
coverage. Commercials will begin on September 15. The league
strongly suggests you especially keep your eyes open for the ads
that will discuss the XFL Cheerleaders.
5
September 2000
I Heard a Pin Drop in Stamford,
CT!
It's pretty quiet at league headquarters. Last week
it was reported that the CFL has offered to share it's players
with the XFL and have players who would play in both leagues.
The CFL has gone public with their side of the story, but
the XFL has not yet responded. The real question is whether they
took the CFL's proposal seriously, or if the XFL just plans to
continue taking whatever/whoever they please. We also wait for
the XFL to announce head coaches for San Jose, Memphis and New
York. Again, there is no new news regarding these team appointments.
4
September 2000
The
Winner is...
In our recent poll we asked you which XFL team logo
you liked the best. The winner with over 22% of the vote was the
Chicago Enforcers. Following closely behind were the Orlando
Rage and the Birmingham Thunderbolts. Last, was the
Los Angeles Xtreme with 5%. [Link
to Old Polls Page]
3
September 2000
Madden on the XFL
John Madden was asked to comment about the XFL
during an interview at the U.S. Open with USA Network's Michael
Barkann. His reponse was interesting: "It'll work, I believe
that. You have some smart people there - Vince McMahon and Dick
Ebersol. They aren't going to fail. They have the network (NBC)
to show it on. ... Some people say, 'Who is going to watch it?'
Well, who watches wrestling? There are a heck of a lot of people
who watch that, not that this (XFL) is going to be wrestling.
... They're not going up against the NFL or college football.
I think the thing not only has a chance, I think it has a real
good chance." [Link
to External News Item]
1
September 2000
Bolts... as in nuts and
bolts?
Bamaslammer, Birmingham team co-reporter,
tells us what it was like to first hear that his XFL team was
to be nicknamed the "Birmingham Thunderbolts". [Birmingham
Bolts Local News Item]