XFL needs to give public its money's worth . . . and change

04/05/2001

By Cody Monk / Special Contributor to DallasNews.com

The XFL's first regular season ends Sunday night in Chicago. Two weeks later, "The Million Dollar Game" will be played. Will it be the last XFL game? Should it be?

The answer is no on both. But with a twist.

XFL on TV Sat., April 7 • San Francisco at Los Angeles, 7 p.m, NBC • Memphis at Las Vegas, 7 p.m., NBC Sun., April 8 • NY/NJ at Birmingham, 3 p.m., TNN • Orlando at Chicago, 6 p.m, UPN (all times Central) Previous column Team rankings DMN XFL preview

The XFL must change the way it presents itself and its game. It is a work in progress, but the public doesn't want to hear about what the league is going to do. So many promises about what is coming have been made and then broken that the league's credibility is hurting. Don't tell people what you are going to do. Just do it.

The XFL has made several innovative changes in the way the game is presented. Some, no doubt, the NFL will pick up on and implement. The problem this season was that the XFL couldn't figure how to capitalize on those innovations. Too often, the league worried about being shocking and over the top instead of letting the product and features stand alone.

The product on the field was fine after the players and coaches got to know each other and got a feel for the game. For most teams, that was four weeks into a 10-game schedule. Training camp needs to start earlier next season, and several preseason games are a must. If the league wants to be different and fan friendly, it should make admission to preseason games free.

Having prime-time exposure is nice to put on a resume, but XFL games need to be in the afternoon and off NBC. Wrestling has become emblematic of pop culture by making its way on cable television. The XFL could do the same by carving a niche on TNN and UPN and striving to be the focus of those networks. Smaller ratings are more accepted on those channels and aren't as scrutinized.

Expansion is a no-no. Don't dilute an already diluted talent pool. Few XFL players are NFL material, but the talent level among the teams is close enough that the games have been entertaining and, for the most part, competitive. Shaving players from current rosters and adding more is not an effective way to build more competition. If the league were drawing monster ratings, expansion is a no-brainer. Right now, it's a no-brainer in the other direction.

The XFL needs to live. But it must walk into the football fix-it shop and get a significant tune-up.

TRACKING THE TEXANS

Los Angeles QB Tommy Maddox of Hurst L.D. Bell leads the XFL in passing yards and touchdowns but is only fifth in passing accuracy. He has thrown 50 more passes than any other quarterback and has 12 more completions . . . Former SMU coach Ron Meyer has Chicago on the verge of an impressive comeback. The Enforcers started the season 0-4 and had one of the league's more inconsistent offenses. After a win last week over NY/NJ, Chicago needs only a win Sunday over Orlando to make the playoffs . . . Beau Morgan of TCA-Addison and Ketric Sanford of Corsicana scored for Memphis in the Maniax's upset of Los Angeles. Sanford, Houston's all-time leading rusher, scored on a 30-yard run in the first quarter. Morgan, who played quarterback at Air Force and went through two training camps with the Cowboys, had nine carries for 23 yards and three catches for 19 yards and a touchdown.

THE BIG NOTES AT THE END OF THE COLUMN

The XFL Championship Game, called "The Big Game At The End" before the season started, has been renamed "The Million Dollar Game" since the winning team will split a $1 million bonus . . . Orlando and Los Angeles are the only teams guaranteed to finish above .500. San Francisco can finish 6-4 with a win this weekend over Los Angeles . . . Chicago QB Kevin McDougal and LB Jamie Baisley were XFL Players of the Week. It was the second straight week an Enforcers players has won each award . . . The San Francisco-Los Angeles game is the NBC national game this week. It's the first time this season San Francisco has been the national game. The Xtreme has been in the national game five times.

FACTOR'S FAVE

San Francisco (+6 1/2) at Los Angeles: The winner wins the Western Division. The Xtreme could have locked up the title with a win at Memphis last week, but it lost to the Maniax for the second time this season. Mike Pawlawski of San Francisco and Tommy Maddox of the Xtreme have been the league's best QBs. Both lead high-powered offenses. Los Angeles has the better team and should win, but this game will be close. Pick: Los Angeles, 28-24.

RANKINGS
Rank	Team	Comment
1.	Los Angeles	Two of three losses this season to Memphis
2.	Orlando	Should breeze through Eastern playoffs
3.	San Francisco	League's best fans
4.	Las Vegas	No offense finally caught up to Outlaws
5.	Memphis	Half its wins against league's best team
6.	Chicago	Win and Ron Meyer's team is in playoffs
7.	NY/NJ	Need win, lots of help to get in playoffs
8.	Birmingham	It's almost over, boys.