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Ratings dropped in the second week of XFL action to about half of where they were in the opening weekend, which isn't all bad considering how good they were for the inaugural games. The games themselves were very entertaining, in my opinion, and we were treated to our first overtime game, XFL style.
And after watching these games, I think I have a feel for what Vince McMahon plans to do to keep these ratings favorable to NBC and his pocketbook. And I think we got a small dose, in week-two, of what to expect in the future.
I don't know that anyone really knows what is going on in the mind of the master of professional wrestling promotion, but I think Vince has a definite plan for the evolution of the league.
Vinny Mac built the World Wrestling Federation by developing the personalities of the wrestlers into characters that the people either loved or despised. It appeared to me that he is trying to do the same in the XFL with his player interviews and sideline reporting.
I look for some of these players to take on outrageous personalities, especially if ratings decline as the season goes on. I don't believe the league will ever become scripted like the WWF, mostly because I don't think football fans will go for it.
But what better way to get his millions of faithful grappling fans to cross over to his new venture, than by developing the same type of "faces" that you see in professional wrestling.
Maybe it was just me, but some of the coaches and players that were interviewed seemed to be trying just a bit too hard to be convincing. With a little coaching though, some of these guys could become as well known as some of the WWF wrestlers.
And speaking of wrestlers, the Rock was on hand to kick off the festivities in Los Angeles Saturday night. In typical WWF fashion, Rocky got the crowd fired up by ripping the NFL for taking pro football out of Los Angeles.
In fact the Rock, speaking before a crowd of about 35,000, told the NFL executives that they could take all those bags that they used to move the Rams and Raiders, zip them up real tight, turn them sideways, then stick 'em up…
Well maybe I better not finish that quote, but it sure fired up the Xtreme crowd before the game started.
During the game, quarterback Tommy Maddox completed 38 of 65 passes for 412 yards and four touchdowns, two of them coming in overtime, leading the Xtreme to a 39-32 win Saturday night over the visiting Chicago Enforcers. Both teams scored a touchdown on their first possession in overtime, but the Enforcers failed to match the Xtreme's second score, giving Los Angeles the win.
In Saturday's other contest, the Orlando Rage hosted the San Francisco Demons at the Citrus Bowl. After a four-touchdown performance last week, Orlando quarterback Jeff Brohm hit on just 10-of-21 passes for 161 yards with one touchdown and a fourth-quarter interception, but the running game picked up the slack with 136 yards on 26 carries.
Mario Bailey hauled in a 49-yard touchdown pass from Brohm late in the first quarter, then the Rage broke the game open in the second quarter when free safety Omar Brown forced kick returner Brandin Young to fumble, then picked the ball up at the ten-yard line and ran it in for the score. The Rage went on to beat the Demons, 26-14.
In Sunday's first game, the Birmingham Thunderbolts picked up their first win by defeating the New York/New Jersey Hitmen, 19-12. James Bostic was the key to Birmingham's offense, rushing for 103 yards, including 77 in the fourth quarter alone.
Stephret Williams put the Bolts ahead with a 95-yards punt return in the third quarter, but the Hitmen answered with a touchdown of their own. A missed extra point made the score 13-12 in favor of Birmingham.
In the fourth quarter, the Thunderbolts were stuffed on a fourth-and-goal from the NY/NJ one-yard line, but after the Hitmen took possession, Anthony DiCosmo fumbled the ball. Keith Franklin grabbed the ball and dashed 12 yards into the end zone. Final score: Thunderbolts 19, Hitmen 12.
In the final game of the weekend, the Las Vegas Outlaws dominated the Memphis Maniax, 25-3. The Outlaws used big plays on defense to remain undefeated after the first two weeks. Jason Kaiser scored on an 80-yard fumble return in the second quarter, and Kurt Gouveia had a 100-yarder in the third quarter.
For more on week-two in the XFL, check out these great XFL sites.
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