FOOTBALL
Late last year, speculation mounted that WWE owner Vince McMahon was considering another run at an alternative pro football league to the NFL, much as he did early this century with the innovative, if doomed, XFL. One wrestling observer pointed at Jan. 25 as the day McMahon possibly would unveil his latest endeavor, and sure enough, that’s what happened Thursday afternoon.
“The new XFL will kick off in 2020, and quite frankly, we’re going to give the game of football back to fans,” McMahon, 72, announced during a news conference before taking questions from the media.
McMahon said his new venture will offer a shorter, faster-paced, family friendly and fan-centric game.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s still football, but it’s professional football reimagined,” he said.
The planned 2020 launch will happen in January of that year, with eight to-be-determined teams, 40-man rosters and a 10-game regular season before two playoff semifinals and a championship game. Unlike the original XFL, which ceased operations after one season in 2001, McMahon said there will be no crossover between the single-entity league and WWE.
McMahon said he has wanted to relaunch the original XFL for years and intends to offer a “better football game than what everyone is accustomed to.”
McMahon suggested that launching in two years gives the league “plenty of time to get it right.”
The original league was rushed into existence in 2001 as a joint venture between the WWE and NBC, which spent much of the run-up period marketing the league instead of concentrating on the nuts-and-bolts required of a pro-sports start-up, resulting in some decidedly terrible football once the games actually began.
This new XFL will be reborn in an interesting time for football. The NFL’s TV ratings have faltered over the past few seasons for a variety of reasons, from cord-cutting, to attacks from President Donald Trump, the league’s wobbly stance on head injuries and domestic violence, seemingly endless instant-replay challenges, officiating that is seen as inconsistent, at best, and, this past season, player protests during the national anthem. The XFL could attempt to woo those football fans who have turned away from the NFL.
“Vince sees blood in the water,” a source told TMZ.
BASKETBALL
James, Irving select All-Stars
LeBron James got Kevin Durant and reunited with Kyrie Irving in the NBA's first All-Star draft. Stephen Curry picked James Harden and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the NBA's top two scorers, and grabbed his other two Golden State teammates in the selections Thursday. The draft was not televised, and neither James nor Curry would reveal who they chose first when they were interviewed on TNT when the rosters were unveiled. James and Curry will be the captains Feb. 18 in Los Angeles for the first NBA All-Star Game that doesn't use the Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference format. The league is hoping that trying something new will bring back some old-school intensity that has been absent from the last two games, when the West nearly scored 200 points. James also took the New Orleans duo of Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins. His reserves are Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook, the NBA MVP, Cleveland teammate Kevin Love, Washington guards John Wall and Bradley Beal, LaMarcus Aldridge of San Antonio, Indiana's Victor Oladipo and Kristaps Porzingis of New York. After taking starters Joel Embiid of Philadelphia and DeMar DeRozan of Toronto, Curry rounded out his roster with Warriors teammates Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, Minnesota's Jimmy Butler and Karl-Anthony Towns, Toronto's Kyle Lowry, Portland's Damian Lillard and Boston's Al Horford.
GOLF
Henderson leads opener
Brooke Henderson shot a bogey-free 5-under 68 in windy conditions Thursday to take the first-round lead in the season-opening Pure Silk-Bahamas LPGA Classic at Paradise Island. Henderson had four birdies in a seven-hole stretch and closed with three pars on the gusty Ocean Club layout. The 20-year-old Canadian has five LPGA Tour victories, winning last year in Michigan and New Zealand. Australia's Sarah Jane Smith finished with a bogey to drop into a tie for second with Spanish rookie Luna Sobron Galmes. Top-ranked Shanshan Feng birdied her last for a 70, matching Danielle Kang, Lindsey Weaver, Katherine Kirk, Jing Yan and Maria Torres, the tour's first player from Puerto Rico. Kang played alongside Henderson and I.K. Kim. Lexi Thompson, a playoff loser to Brittany Lincicome last year, opened with a 72. Michelle Wie eagled the par-5 11th in a 73, and playing partners Lincicome and third-ranked So Yeon Ryu followed at 74. Kim and Ariya Jutanugarn each shot 76. Gaby Lopez (Arkansas Razorbacks) had a 75. Stacy Lewis (Razorbacks) had two double bogeys in a 78.
Donaldson ahead in Dubai
Jamie Donaldson flirted with the European Tour's first-ever 59 before settling for a 10-under 62 Thursday in the first round of the Dubai Desert Classic. In perfect scoring conditions at the Emirates Golf Club, Donaldson, 42, took a one-shot lead over Anthony Wall and David Horsey. Tyrrell Hatton (64) was fourth, while four-time major winner Rory McIlroy was among five players at 65. Defending champion Sergio Garcia opened with a 5-under 67.
BASEBALL
Marlins trade Yelich
Miami Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich has been traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for four prospects, including highly regarded outfielder Lewis Brinson. Yelich became the fourth Marlins starter to be traded this offseason as they reduce payroll and rebuild their weak farm system under new CEO Derek Jeter. The Marlins earlier dealt away major league home run champion Giancarlo Stanton, stolen base champ Dee Gordon and All-Star left fielder Marcell Ozuna. In the wake of the earlier deals, Yelich said he preferred to play elsewhere this year rather than be part of a Marlins reboot. He'll make $7 million this season in the third year of a $49.57 million, seven-year contract. Yelich batted .282 with 18 home runs and 81 RBI last year.
Padres' accounts hacked
The San Diego Padres said their social media accounts were hacked early Thursday and posts were made that suggested the team had either agreed to terms with free agent Eric Hosmer or that a deal was imminent. "Messages that were inaccurate and unauthorized were posted," the team said in a statement. "MLB Cybersecurity is now investigating the matter, and we apologize for any confusion." A photo of a smiling Hosmer in a Kansas City Royals uniform was posted on the Padres' Instagram account. It was deleted a few minutes later. On the Padres' Twitter account, someone posted "Stay tuned ..." followed by a bulging eyes emoji, and then posted Hosmer's Twitter handle. They also were deleted. The Padres have offered Hosmer a seven-year deal.
Team renamed for meat
The New York Yankees' minor league baseball team in New Jersey is being renamed for the state's favorite processed meat. The Trenton Thunder will rebrand the AA affiliate the Trenton Pork Roll on Friday nights, beginning May 18. Players will wear special uniforms featuring the pork-based product, which is also known as Taylor ham. Concessions will sell pork roll sandwiches and pork roll-themed merchandise will be for sale. Thunder General Manager Jeff Hurley said re-branding as the Trenton Pork Roll on Friday nights is the "perfect way to celebrate a Garden State favorite."
FOOTBALL
Alabama hires 2 staffers
Alabama has hired Karl Scott as secondary coach and Josh Gattis to work with wide receivers. Coach Nick Saban announced the hirings Thursday. Scott was hired as Louisiana-Lafayette's defensive coordinator in late December after spending the last two seasons as the secondary coach at Texas Tech. Gattis spent the past four seasons at Penn State, working as wide receivers coach and passing game coordinator along with leading the offensive recruiting efforts. A two-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference safety at Wake Forest, Gattis also worked under Penn State coach James Franklin at Vanderbilt. Saban still hasn't announced an offensive or defensive coordinator hire. Offensive coordinator Brian Daboll left for the Buffalo Bills and defensive coordinator Jeremy Pruitt is now Tennessee's head coach.
Sports on 01/26/2018