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SPORTS Friday 26 January 2018
Look what’s back: WWE head McMahon resurrects XFL

STAMFORD, Conn. (AP) — Rod Smart’s “He Hate Me”
The XFL is no longer an ex- stitched on the back of his
football league. uniform. McMahon said the
The sexed-up, second-rate XFL did not want players
football league formed as with a criminal record and
the early 2000s brainchild even a DUI would exclude
of WWE ringleader Vince an athlete from a contract.
McMahon is set for a sur- McMahon wanted his play-
prising second life in 2020. ers to stand for the national
The league that spawned anthem, though stopped
“He Hate Me” and placed short of saying it was man-
TV cameras in the bath- datory.
room flamed out in 2001 af- “As far as our league is con-
ter one wild season. Interest cerned, it will have nothing
in the league was reignited to do with politics,” McMa-
when ESPN aired the “This hon said. “And nothing to
Was the XFL” documentary do with social issues, either.
that chronicled the spec- We’re there to play foot-
tacular football failure. ball.”
McMahon is back in The XFL and WWE will have
charge, pumping $100 mil- no crossover, unlike the first
lion into the XFL through his incarnation when wrestling
new private entity, Alpha In this Feb. 3, 2000, Vince McMahon, chairman of the World Wrestling Federation, speaks during announcers and person-
Entertainment. a news conference in New York. alities such as former Min-
“I’ve always wanted to Associated Press nesota Gov. Jesse Ventura
bring it back,” the 72-year- schedule. McMahon said civious cheerleader shots, two semifinal games and a dominated the football
old McMahon said on the schedule, designed to sophomoric double enten- championship game. XFL telecast.
Thursday. “I think the most fill the seven-month gap dres and other gimmicks salaries have yet to be de- McMahon promised a safer
important thing that we without the NFL, could be- that saw ratings plummet cided, though players will football league, though he
learned with the older XFL gin as early as the end of and quickly doomed the be paid more to win. He again offered no specifics
and now the new XFL is the January. No cities or TV league. The XFL in 2001 wants a 2-hour game and for a league that unveiled
quality of play. We have partners were named. had eight teams, mostly even tossed out the idea of a human coin toss the
two years now to really get The league will own the in major markets, such as eliminating halftime. first time around — play-
it right.” eight teams. Chicago, Los Angeles and “We will present a shorter, ers scrambled from each
McMahon, who will contin- The original XFL was found- San Francisco. McMahon faster-paced, family-friend- team to grab the football
ue as chairman and CEO ed by the wrestling com- said the selection of cities ly and easier to understand to decide possession. One
of WWE, offered few other pany and jointly owned in the new XFL will be an- game,” McMahon said. player separated his shoul-
details about the football by NBC, and opened to nounced in the next few “It’s still football. But it’s der fighting for the ball.
comeback. The XFL will massive TV ratings. But the months, and a mix of major professional football rei- “We’re going to listen to
launch with eight teams, audience did not stick and mid-major markets will magined.” This could be a medical experts and heed
40-man active rosters and around on Saturday nights be considered. gimmick-free XFL, perhaps their advice,” McMahon
a 10-week regular-season to watch bad football, las- The XFL postseason will have without nicknames such as said.q

AP source: Beckham plans to

unveil Miami MLS team on Monday

By TIM REYNOLDS respond to a request for 2013 he selected Miami as
AP Sports Writer comment. His group has the place where he would
MIAMI (AP) — David Beck- said it wants the new team want to put a team.
ham’s plan to bring Major to begin play in the 2020 It will be South Florida’s sec-
League Soccer back to season. ond chance to have an
South Florida is on the cusp The former Manchester MLS franchise.
of becoming reality. United, Real Madrid and LA The Miami Fusion played
Beckham and his part- Galaxy star announced his from 1998 through 2001
ners are planning a Mon- plans to bring an MLS team in Fort Lauderdale, about
day event to formally an- to Miami four years ago. a half-hour’s drive north
nounce Miami’s new MLS The process has been ar- of Miami, and folded be-
team, as well as its name duous since, most recently cause of poor attendance.
and logo, a person with di- because of a lawsuit that When the team officially is
rect knowledge of the situ- was filed over Beckham’s born, Miami will become
ation told The Associated $9 million purchase of a the 11th market with teams
Press on Wednesday. plot of land from Miami- from the five biggest North
The person spoke on condi- Dade County to be used American sports leagues
tion of anonymity because for the team’s planned — MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL and
neither Beckham’s group 25,000-seat stadium. MLS.
nor MLS officials had an- A contract he signed in Toronto also has five major In this Feb. 5, 2014, file photo, Former English soccer star David
nounced the plans pub- 2007 with the LA Galaxy pro teams, with the differ- Beckham speaks at a news conference in Miami, where he
licly. gave Beckham the right ence being that it has a announced he will exercise his option to purchase a Major
A spokesman for Beck- to start an expansion fran- CFL franchise and not an League Soccer expansion team.
ham did not immediately chise for $25 million, and in NFL club.q Associated Press