Xtreme new style in football

The new realm of Xtreme football has anxious fans psyched about the 10-game season. Listen to the famous Dick Butkus, director of competition, commentate the games play-byplay. See behind the scenes action of the players on the field and in the lockerooms.

by Renee DiPietro staff writer

Fireworks lined the skyline of the Las Vegas dessert before the game began Saturday, Feb. 2. The football game of the LaS'Vegas Outlaws vs the New York Hitmen marked a moment in sports history. The Xtreme Football League began and it was "one of the most eagerly anticipated inaugurations the sport world has seen in a while," football announcer Matt Vasgersian said before the game.

"To our worldwide television audience," football announcer Mike Ademle said, "on behalf of the players we want to say thank you for the privilege of competing before you tonight."

The XFL includes a whole new set of rules to the game of football that make it different from the NFL. Also the players are focused on and off the field throughout the game. The camera ventures into the locker rooms before the game and during the halftime. The physical appearance of the game looks a little different compared to the NFL as well. Announcers are featured in the stands with the fans and an enormous video board stands in the end zone. Firework displays, heart-pounding speakers and possible romantic relationships between the players and the cheerleading squad are all a part of the XFL.

"I thought it was pretty much the same as the NFL," freshman Louis Verdecchio said. "It is supposed to be so physical but the difference of a couple of rules really didn't make a difference."

The players make incredible sacrifices to play for the XFL, leaving jobs and loved ones to go to practices where no money is rewarded till this night, the beginning of Week 1 of the season. The players do not get to see a paycheck until the end of the first game of the season. They are paid according to their position in each play. If the team wins the game, the players are paid a bonus for that game. When the games get more important, like at the playoffs, a bigger bonus is added to the pay. The grand prize for winning the XFL championship game is $ 1 million dollars split between the team. Thus, let the games begin so these players can start bringing home some bacon.

Dick Butkus, director of competition, gives an opening speech before the traditional coin toss would take place in a football game, but he describes what is about to happen.

"In the past all games get started with a coin toss," Butkus said. He looks to the sold out Las Vegas stadium and yells,