WWE’S MCMAHON RESURRECTS THE XFL; IT RETURNS IN 2020
The XFL no longer is an ex-football league.
The sexed-up, second-rate football league formed as the early 2000s brainchild of WWE ringleader Vince McMahon is set for a surprising second life in 2020. The league that spawned “He Hate Me” and placed TV cameras in the bathroom flamed out in 2001 after one wild season. But interest in the league was reignited when ESPN aired the “This Was the XFL” documentary that chronicled the spectacular football failure.
McMahon is back in charge, pumping $100 million into the XFL through his new private entity, Alpha Entertainment.
McMahon, who will continue as chairman and CEO of WWE, offered few other details Thursday about the football comeback. The XFL will relaunch with eight teams, 40-man active rosters and a 10-week regularseason schedule. McMahon said the schedule, designed to fill the sevenmonth gap without the NFL, could begin at the end of January. No host cities or TV partners were revealed.
The XFL’s postseason will have two semifinal games and a championship game. XFL salaries have yet to be decided, though players will be paid more to win. McMahon wants a two-hour game and even tossed out the idea of eliminating halftime.
Guerrero goes with Angels cap.
YORK» Vladimir Guerrero will NEW become the first player to wear an Angels hat on his Hall of Fame plaque.
Guerrero spent more time in Montreal, leading many to think he would sport an Expos cap on his plaque.
Guerrero made the announcement one day after he was elected to the Hall by an overwhelming margin. The Hall gets the final say on how a player is depicted in the plaque gallery in Cooperstown, N.Y.
• ESPN reported that free-agent outfielder Lorenzo Cain reached agreement on a five-year, $80 million contract with the Milwaukee Brewers.
• Miami Marlins center fielder Christian Yelich was traded to the Brewers for four prospects, including highly regarded outfielder Lewis Brinson.
• Jose Reyes and the Mets agreed to a $2 million, one-year deal for the veteran infielder to remain in New York.
Air Force games rescheduled.
The Mountain West announced that the Air Force men’s and women’s basketball games with Fresno State that were scheduled to be played last Saturday but postponed because of the federal government shutdown have been rescheduled.
The Air Force women’s basketball team will play at Fresno State on Monday, while the Air Force men’s basketball team will host Fresno State on Feb. 26.
• Southern California fired assistant men’s basketball coach Tony Bland in the wake of his arrest in college basketball’s national bribery and corruption case.
Mayweather’s father arrested.
VEGAS» Police say the father of LAS boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. faces a misdemeanor battery charge in Las Vegas alleging that he pulled a woman out of his vehicle, punched her in the leg and left her after a boxing event last September.
Officer Aden OcampoGomez said 65-year-old Floyd Mayweather Sr. was processed Wednesday at the Clark County Jail. He was freed on $1,000 bail pending a March 27 trial. He could get up to six months in jail.
Footnotes.
Washington State women’s basketball coach June Daugherty is taking an indefinite medical leave of absence. … The IOC said Russian fans will be allowed to display their nation’s flag at the PyeongChang Olympics, but organized protests could bring more sanctions. Russia has been banned from the Games, but some of the country’s athletes will be allowed to compete in neutral uniforms under the Olympic flag.