Where Do We Go From Here?

As everyone now knows, the XFL canceled the rest of their season due to the COVID-19 virus. Following other leagues like the NHL, NBA, and MLS. The NCAA itself has canceled all tournaments, even the supremely popular March Madness. This leaves fans of every sport and every league sad and disappointed.

I was hoping the XFL was going to find some solution to finish out the season. Maybe find one stadium that would stay open and have all the team play their games there. But there was one tweet from a fan (I forget who you are, my apologies) who said,

"If the XFL plays, people will smash them for not taking the virus seriously and forcing their players to play. If they don't play, people will smash them for being just like the AAF who couldn't finish a season. It is a lose-lose for the XFL"

And this fan was completely correct. As soon as the official word hit twitter, there were floods of disappointment and support from the fans. Then there were just as equally (it seemed) those who would say things like:

"It was dying anyway. They don't have to prolong the inevitable"

"I bet their 74 fans are going to be so sad"

"The XFL sucked anyways, who cares"

"It was shit football with stupid ass rules made my Vince McMahon"

"Lmaoooo they couldn't even finish one season".

And SO many more insults and shots taken on the same lines as these ignorant asshats. It bothered me so much I had to jump off twitter for a bit, just to keep from letting my emotions say something I didn't want to regret later. I want to be professional. I don't want to stoop to their level.

You might be wondering why does it bother me so much? Ever since they announced the XFL was coming back I have been excited about it. Before the NFL Playoffs even began, I wanted it to be over asap so we could get to the XFL season. I love to see things like this. It's different, it's refreshing, it's another opportunity for players and fans alike to get excited about and have fun playing and watching. This is the same reason I love watching the BIG3.

The XFL season, though short, was fantastic. And it ended with literally the "Game of the Year" in my opinion. A 41-34 bout seeing the LA Wildcats intercept the ball in the endzone to end the game against the Tampa Bay Vipers. It was an awesome game. Back and forth till the clock hit 0:00. This was the XFL in a nutshell. No matter who you were, even the 5-0 Houston Roughnecks who didn't win any of their last 3 games by more than 1 possession, were always "this close" to losing. Teams would struggle one week, then come back the next and light it up. You never knew who was going to get hot. It was the most exciting 5 weeks of Pro Football (Yes, PRO Football) as I have seen in quite some time. And it ended way too soon.

I was so excited to see if the New York Guardians were going to finally give Houston their first loss. Was St. Louis going to bounce back after having a terrible game last week? Who was going to make the playoffs??? There were so many questions that needed answers and sadly we will NEVER know them. We fans, through no fault of the XFL, feel robbed. We put in so many hours of work to follow, cover, and support this league. And to have it end like this is heartbreaking for a lot of us. "XFL Outsider" said it the best.

"I had more fun getting to know all of you the last few weeks and bonding over the XFL than I can describe. Thank you all! There's nothing like the XFL Family!"

I have written articles for low profile websites covering the NFL and Video Games. I was even writing for What Culture for a bit covering TV shows and the WWE. But I lost my passion for it. I stopped covering things for a long, long time. But the XFL and BIG3 lit that spark in me again. I watched EVERY snap of EVERY game in this XFL season and covered it more intensely than any NFL season I have ever seen, and I have seen every season since 1994. The XFL felt like a part of me. I felt it fixed a lot of things that made the NFL stale to me. It made talking about the XFL during the week exciting and fun. Especially sharing opinions with those in the "XFL Family". Those I followed and those who followed me, talking about which team was better, who was going to win, who was this week's "Star Player", the list goes on. It was fun again. And that is now gone.

The XFL is committed to playing a full season in 2021 and future years.

That is the ending of the XFL statement which said they were canceling the season. This, you would think, would make me feel better. But for some reason, I can't help but read this with supreme skepticism. It's not that I don't believe THEM. It's the fact that, for one, it is another year away, and two, they may be "committed" but they didn't come right out and say "we WILL be back for the 2021 season". While I am 100% hopeful for their return next season, I'd be lying if I said I was confident they will be back. I am about 70% sure, they may not come back. That may be my emotions talking at the moment, but I fear that this is the end.

So the question is, where do we go from here. I didn't cover the XFL by breaking news or reporting trades, injuries and line-ups. I reported what I saw, and how I felt about it. And now that I can no longer see the XFL, I'm still trying to figure out how to support the league, through writing, in another way. I honestly don't know what that is yet. But I do know, that I will be covering the BIG3 when, and IF, it happens this season. I will be covering any Sports Logo or Uniform news I find really interesting like I just did with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. So I really need to think hard about the XFL and what I can do with it for the next year before the season starts again. Hopefully.

Thank you to those who followed me, engaged with me and read my articles. I hope you will stick around and continue on this journey with me. Stay safe out there. Much love.

- Scott Summers