XFL sets an example for other pro sports.

NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue dubbed the XFL a "non-issue." In many respects, he was correct. The inaugural games on Sat., Feb. 2 were a mess of dropped passes, botched plays, and poor execution. The only redeeming quality of these games was the amusing in-your-face antics of scantily clad cheerleaders and correspondents that introduced a new dimension of reality into sports on television.

However, there is a larger issue behind the XFL that all sports need to recognize. The XFL operates on an incentive-based system that rewards teams on their ability to win. Most players receive a standard salary of $45,000 (quarterbacks get a bit more and kicking specialists a bit less), with an $100,000 reward for each game won and a $1 million bonus for winning the "Big Game."

In the era of $252 million contracts, professional sports seem to have forgotten that players still belong to a team and that these players are by no means the all-time best in their respective sports. The imposition of salary caps to curb contracts has failed miserably, as owners continue extending and signing offers that far exceed any cap, hoping to emulate George Steinbrenner's all-star Yankees team. Offering large contracts places too much emphasis on a single player, which fosters team animosity. Ivan Rodriguez has been a sturdy foundation for the Rangers, consistently leading the league in RBIs. However, his accomplishments and play will be overshadowed by Alex Rodriguez's $252 million package. In basketball, superstars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal are talented athletes, but their leadership and ability to rally the Lakers have yet to surface. They seem to spend more time arguing with referees, coaches, and each other than trying to develop their play.

Ratings for professional sports have fallen dramatically, and the Super Bowl, the largest athletic spectacle, is watched as much for the commercials and halftime show as for the game. The question stands—can professional sports maintain the edge while babysitting prima donnas? WWF antics and cameos aside, the players of the XFL step onto the field to give everything they have, even if most of it is only spectacle.

Back to Sports...