Argos revisit "Xtreme" football roots

[Will]

Article by Mike Hogan

The XFL came at the tail-end of what arguably was the WWF's strongest period (the Attitude Era of 1998 to 2001); I remember the buzz about it that lasted exactly for one week. I think Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were one of the PBP crews. I don't recall if Prefontaine was playing while still under contract to the Argonauts.

[AngeloV]

Article by Mike Hogan

The XFL came at the tail-end of what arguably was the WWF's strongest period (the Attitude Era of 1998 to 2001); I remember the buzz about it that lasted exactly for one week. I think Jim Ross and Jerry Lawler were one of the PBP crews. I don't recall if Prefontaine was playing while still under contract to the Argonauts.

It was Jesse Ventura and not Jerry Lawler on broadcasts. Jim Ross has a football PBP background calling Oklahoma Sooners games on radio for years prior to his WWE days. If they play in a major Bowl game, you can actually usually see him on the teams sidelines still to this day.

[gilthethrill]

Vinny Mac said he would bury the CFL, did he not?

[paulwoods13]

Vinny Mac said he would bury the CFL, did he not?

I think you are off by one letter. He said he wanted to "buy" the CFL.

[ArgoRavi]

I watched more of the XFL than I care to admit to. Interesting that the two teams that played in the championship were likely the two most "CFL-heavy" teams.

And to answer Will's question about Prefontaine, the Argos allowed him out of his contract a bit early so that he could play in the XFL. IIRC, he was about to become a free agent anyway but they let him go a couple of months before, much like Barker has done in recent years with the likes of Collaros and Ball. Prefontaine then went to the NFL for a short time before returning to Toronto in August or September of 2001.

[paulwoods13]

This game in Week 2 was both the greatest game in XFL history and a contributor to its ultimate demise. The game went into OT and Saturday Night Live ended up starting at 12:14, enraging Lorne Michaels and not endearing the league to NBC.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4wdOIJOeQY

[Will]

I watched more of the XFL than I care to admit to. Interesting that the two teams that played in the championship were likely the two most "CFL-heavy" teams.

And to answer Will's question about Prefontaine, the Argos allowed him out of his contract a bit early so that he could play in the XFL. IIRC, he was about to become a free agent anyway but they let him go a couple of months before, much like Barker has done in recent years with the likes of Collaros and Ball. Prefontaine then went to the NFL for a short time before returning to Toronto in August or September of 2001.

I remember Prefontaine trying out for the NFL, but somehow had remembered it being a few years earlier.

[ArgoRavi]

I remember Prefontaine trying out for the NFL, but somehow had remembered it being a few years earlier.

Prefontaine was drafted by the Argos in the supplemental draft in 1998. He was an erratic FG kicker early in the '98 season before being replaced by Arek Bigos. He was a top notch punter through the 2000 season and completed his first Argo contract after that season. The NFL was only interested in him as a punter when he had his shot with Baltimore IIRC in 2001.

[AngeloV]

Prefontaine was drafted by the Argos in the supplemental draft in 1998. He was an erratic FG kicker early in the '98 season before being replaced by Arek Bigos. He was a top notch punter through the 2000 season and completed his first Argo contract after that season. The NFL was only interested in him as a punter when he had his shot with Baltimore IIRC in 2001.

Pre was never an NFL style punter. Always had a big leg, but never the type of hang time they prefer down there.

[ArgoGabe22]

Wasn't Adriano Belli apart of that same XFL team as Pre?

[argotom]

Didn't they have a crazy rule where a player for each team before the game started would run at opposite end for the ball with possession determining which team starts with the ball?

[ArgoRavi]

Wasn't Adriano Belli apart of that same XFL team as Pre?

Belli played for Paul McCallum's team - Las Vegas Outlaws - which was run IIRC by the late Bob Ackles.

Didn't they have a crazy rule where a player for each team before the game started would run at opposite end for the ball with possession determining which team starts with the ball?

Yes.

[gilthethrill]

Didn't they have a crazy rule where a player for each team before the game started would run at opposite end for the ball with possession determining which team starts with the ball?

Yes Tom they did. I recall one such competition where the one player separated his shoulder, ending not only his season, but also his XFL and perhaps his professional football career.

[argotom]

Yes Tom they did. I recall one such competition where the one player separated his shoulder, ending not only his season, but also his XFL and perhaps his professional football career.

Yes gill, it was pure mayhem with players being roughed up pretty good before the game ever started.
I remember Vince offering to buy the CFL and there were a few owners/governors who were ready to listen.
Thankfully sanity prevailed.
Still I wonder how much money was offered or was it nothing more then a publicity stunt?

[Gill The Thrill]

just watched that wild OT. Boy, I thought the CFL overtime giving the teams the ball at the 35 was automatic FG position. They XFL put the ball on 20 and gave teams 4 cracks at scoring with no first downs.

Should I even bother taking the poll asking if Jim Ross would be better than hearing Rod Black at play-by-play. TSN should hire this guy, he'd market the games with his announcing if he's still around and working today. No wonder Vince hired him for wrestling...must of paid him big bucks to give up broadcasting a real sport like football for a fake sport like wrestling.

Ohh..oh..Jerry Lawler may be looking for me for calling wrestling fake.