Month: August 2019

Meet the new XFL

Three days before the 2019 college football season’s soft launch and two weeks ahead of the NFL regular season, the XFL got a chance to grab a piece of the spotlight.

Scott Adamson writes about alternative pro football leagues because it makes him happy, Follow him on Twitter @adamsonsl

The rebooted league – set to kick off in February, 2020 – released its team nicknames and logos today in an effort to generate some buzz while fans are in a gridiron state of mind.

Taking the field for the inaugural campaign will be the Dallas Renegades, DC Defenders, Houston Roughnecks, Los Angeles Wildcats, New York Guardians, Seattle Dragons, St. Louis BattleHawks and Tampa Bay Vipers.

“The team names and logos were chosen exclusively to represent the spirit of football fans in their respective cities and signify fun and football – nothing more,” XFL Commissioner Oliver Luck said during the reveal.

In terms of creativity I’d have to give the nod to the BattleHawks, which is not a nickname you hear every day. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Wildcats is an extremely “meh” selection.

The Dragons logo is similar to that of the UAB Blazers (those of us who cheer for UAB notice such things), while the Renegades’ masked man is quite reminiscent of the Gotham Rogues logo from the fictional team in “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Design-wise I think my favorite is the Guardians, although it has a bit of a “Masters of the Universe” vibe.

That being said, packaging doesn’t mean a lot unless there’s a quality product inside, and that remains to be seen.

Unlike the ill-fated Alliance of American Football, which we now know banked on the hope of getting money instead of having actual money in the bank, the new XFL has a solid financial foundation.

League owner Vince McMahon has sunk $500 million into it (he cashed out a big chunk of his World Wrestling Entertainment holdings), which is reportedly enough to fund the league for its first three years.

So unless he gets a case of billionaire buyer’s remorse, he can prevent the XFL (a single entity business) from going the way of the AAF and folding before the first season is completed.

More importantly, the people associated with the league – coaches, players, team employees, etc. – can expect to get paid on time.

Bob Stoops was the first coach announced – he’ll guide the Renegades – and the rest of the sideline lineup features known commodities like June Jones and Marc Trestman.

And while rosters are obviously still in the works, the XFL is currently sending out “Commissioner’s Invitations” to top free agents.

Already the league has signed Landry Jones and is expected to add Ryan Mallett, both former college quarterback stars with several years of NFL experience. Getting guys like these is important because it shows the XFL is going after players talented enough to play in the NFL but who haven’t yet been able to crack the starting lineup.

And unlike the over the top, WWE-influenced XFL of 2001, this time the emphasis appears to be strictly on football. There will be some rule changes (reportedly one, two and three-point conversion options will follow touchdowns, for example) and that’s both expected and welcome. But the lowbrow gimmicks surrounding the game will be gone.

Of course while in nature spring is a time of renewal, the nature of spring football is to die and, in many cases, die quickly.

The USFL lasted three seasons, the original XFL was one-and-done, and the AAF closed up shop with still two weeks to go in its lone campaign.

Regardless of how first-rate this league looks – and so far, it does – surviving and thriving will defy all odds.

But for now, it’s mostly sunshine and rainbows for the new and improved XFL. Luck and company enter the traditional football season on a positive note, and get six months before they have to worry about hitting the right note with fans.

Getting serious about NISA

I spent so much time over the last several months laughing at the National Independent Soccer Association I never stopped to think that maybe the joke was on me.

Scott Adamson’s column on soccer appears periodically, usually when he’s feeling especially soccerish.

NISA? What does that stand for … the No Information Soccer Association? Or maybe it means Not Inspiring Supporters Attention.

See, for the longest time NISA’s marketing plan seemed to consist of doing no marketing at all.

Well, I take that back. Once a territory was named they put it on a pretty postcard and placed it on their website.

We’ve known a while, for example, that Charlotte would be represented in NISA. What we had trouble finding out was anything else about the club.

However, suddenly I find myself cramming on all things NISA, just in case a pop quiz comes up.

Quick … where is California United Strikers FC located?

Where and what is Stumptown Athletic?

Haven’t I seen the Philadelphia Fury somewhere before?

Not long ago I was all geared up for the National Premier Soccer League’s Founders Cup, which was to be a gateway tournament for the circuit’s pro initiative via the United States Adult Soccer Association. Clubs like the New York Cosmos, Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC would carry the NPSL banner, and I’d follow.

That being the case, I could chuckle at NISA’s expense.

But lower division soccer is a sports tornado, and sometimes it’s hard to tell what’ll turn to debris and what’ll be left standing. Now that the sky has cleared somewhat, we can survey the damage.

The Founders Cup floundered due to player insurance issues, and several clubs like Miami FC (two-time defending NPSL champion) pulled out. Thus, it was downgraded to the Members Cup, and currently serves as a one-off tournament.

NPSL Pro – or whatever it might’ve been called – is NPSL No. My main hope in the aftermath is that the NPSL (in its traditional form) continues to be a viable circuit for adult amateur soccer.

But the other league – the one I was making fun of? Yep, it survived the storm.

Chattanooga FC and Detroit City FC jumping to NISA is a done deal as of Thursday, and it was a logical next step in light of all that’s happened. Both clubs wanted to go pro, the NPSL’s pay-for-play initiative never materialized, and the United Soccer League’s League One is on the opposite end of their philosophical spectrum.

In other words, if they wanted to compete in a league in which their players got a check, NISA was really the only box they could check. They’ll officially begin play in the spring of 2020.

Oakland Roots SC was also announced as a new NISA member, but gets a head start by being part of the inaugural fall campaign.

(As for my beloved Cosmos’ future, it’s once again up in the air. At this point I wonder if they might wind up like the Bingo Long Traveling All-Stars & Motor Kings, wandering from town to town playing local clubs).

“Bringing Chattanooga FC, Detroit City FC and Oakland Roots SC all in to NISA at the same time is very exciting,” NISA Commissioner John Prutch said via a news release. “These clubs truly represent their communities and are proof the open system for soccer is the best way forward. Each has built their support the correct way and that support will sustain them and NISA for years to come. Congratulations to each of them (owners, staff, players, and supporters) for taking that step to play professional soccer.”

CFC and DCFC are two of the strongest voices in independent American soccer, and I’m glad they get to be loud and proud together. Oakland has also seemingly done everything right to get up and running, and brings its own indie vibe to the game.

So with the most recent clubs joining the party, I can only hope NISA’s landing is better than its leap.

When it was first announced back in the summer of 2017, I was genuinely excited about the possibilities. Fans could have an ownership stake, by its fourth season there’d be a promotion/relegation system (likely in concert with the North American Soccer League), and it would be more in line with international football – right down to a fall season.

But the NISA that begins play in a few weeks has changed dramatically from the league that was on the drawing board two summers ago.

Not long after the announced launch, co-founder and general counsel Jack Cummins died unexpectedly following a brief illness. Co-founder Peter Wilt later left the league to oversee the Forward Madison franchise in USL League One.

And with the NASL dormant – and on life support pending the outcome of a lawsuit against the United States Soccer Federation – a major pro/rel path is blocked.

But apart from that, NISA did itself no favors in terms of introducing itself to American soccer supporters.

For a time it existed as little more than a website featuring the aforementioned postcards. Getting information about coaches, players and venues was like going on a poorly planned scavenger hunt – you didn’t even know what you were looking for.

And with exhibition matches slated for August 31 and clubs still holding tryouts, it all seems like a rush job.

Here’s the thing, though … I bought a piece of Chattanooga FC because I believe in their mission. And that mission – like the purpose of Detroit and Oakland and, hopefully, the vast majority of other NISA members – is to be community-first, community driven organizations.

They want their footprint to be more than a cleat mark, and

NISA offers that chance. With the promise of an open system, maybe the way Chattanooga, Detroit and Oakland promote themselves will inspire the umbrella organization to up their public relations games as well.

The fall lineup, billed as “NISA Showcase,” features Atlanta SC, California Strikers FC, Los Angeles Force, Miami FC, Oakland, Philadelphia, San Diego 1904 FC, and Stumptown Athletic.

Aside from Chattanooga and Detroit, clubs in Baton Rouge, Norwich, Connecticut, and Providence, Rhode Island are expected to start competition in the spring of 2020.

Oh, and as for my homework, I found out that California Strikers FC is located in Irvine; Stumptown Athletic pays homage to Matthews, North Carolina, which was once known as Stumptown; and the Philadelphia Fury’s roots go back to the original North American Soccer League.

Obviously, I have no idea whether NISA will flourish or flop – no one does. But I have to give it a chance.

It’s here, and it’s no longer a laughing matter.

Happy birthday, AFL

If you glance at the history of American professional football, you’ll find as many tombstones as you will milestones.

Scott Adamson’s sports column appears pretty much whenever he feels like writing it.

While the National Football League has grown into the most lucrative sports league on the planet (it takes in roughly $13 billion per year), upstarts such as the World Football League and United States Football League drown in red ink.

But 60 years ago today, a competitor decided to challenge the status quo.

And although it now exists as part of the NFL, the American Football League rattled the establishment by establishing itself as gridiron equals.

On August 14, 1959, Dallas millionaire Lamar Hunt led a meeting in Chicago that created a second major pro football league in the United States, one that would begin play in the fall of 1960 as the AFL.

Hunt announced that Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Denver and New York would have franchises, and there was a possibility two more cities could join for the inaugural campaign.

“We have definite commitments,” Hunt told the United Press International news service. “A kitty (pool of money) is being set up to assure the financial success of the league.”

The other owners – including Barron Hilton, who bought the L.A. franchise, and Bud Adams, head of the Houston entry – dubbed themselves the “Foolish Club” because of their audacious plan to take on the established NFL.

“We’ll try to beat the National Football League on their draft,” Hunt said, adding that the AFL would also bid against the NFL and the Canadian Football League for the best available talent.

The NFL had 12 teams in 1959 and was still playing second fiddle to Major League Baseball among sports fans. But the senior circuit got a huge popularity boost due to the 1958 championship game, one that saw the Baltimore Colts defeat the New York Giants, 23-17, in the league’s first-ever sudden death overtime game.

Featuring 17 players who went on to be inducted in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, that contest turned the NFL into a television hit. It’s widely considered the single event that ultimately propelled the NFL to its spot atop the American sports food chain.

That being the case, trying to go head-to-head with it seemed like a losing proposition.

What’s interesting, though, is there was little opposition among NFL officials when the formation of the AFL was first announced.

Hunt discussed the idea with NFL commissioner Bert Bell, who “gave the league his blessing” and said the franchises of each league would respect each other’s player contracts.

Even Vince Lombardi – about to embark on his first year as coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers – was in favor of the AFL.

“There is plenty of talent around to support two leagues,” Lombardi told UPI.

While the movers and shakers of the AFL had only a year to get it up and running, they pulled it off, although the lineup was a bit different from the one proposed at the Chicago meeting.

The 1960 season featured the Boston Patriots, Buffalo Bills, Dallas Texans, Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Chargers, Oakland Raiders and Titans of New York.

The cordial relationship between the NFL and AFL ended quickly after the older organization announced that it would expand to both Dallas and Minneapolis. It also moved into Miami when the AFL was targeting a team for South Florida.

But the new league managed to add Boston, Buffalo and Oakland to the lineup, and started with eight teams instead of six.

AFL Commissioner Joe Foss negotiated a package TV deal for the league that guaranteed each team $225,000 for broadcast rights, and 70 percent of the players drafted out of college were signed by the fledgling organization.

“Even competition is the most important thing for our success,” Foss told the Associated Press on September 7, 1960. “One-sided games would be the worst thing that could happen and it is hoped that our plan has made that unlikely. We do not expect to be up to the standards of the National Football League, but inside the league the competition should be good.”

The rest, as they say, is history.

The relationship between America’s two major leagues got more acrimonious over the years (the Texans couldn’t compete with the Cowboys in Dallas and moved to Kansas City, where they were rebranded the Chiefs), but the AFL was proving to be on par with the NFL on the field.

On June 8, 1966 – three months before the start of the AFL’s seventh season – the two leagues announced a merger in an effort to end the bidding war for top talent. They would play four more seasons as separate leagues before joining forces as a unified National Football League in 1970.

It made perfect business sense, of course, but I hated to see the AFL loses its identity.

It was the league that made me passionate about football, and I found it far more entertaining than the NFL. Its games were high-scoring, its players free-spirited – it was everything I wanted as fan.

The AFL was the last real threat to the NFL, and proved that members of the “Foolish Club” were anything but.

It’s a league worthy of a monument, not a tombstone.