If the XFL doesn’t last, at least it’s fun to watch

The XFL has given us a fresh interest in football, even if it’s not guaranteed to stick around.

This weekend, we are all going to be witness to the return of the XFL football league. By the time you see this, the first day will be in the books and we’ll have an idea of what we can look forward to over the next 10 weeks. And one thing we can officially say is that it’s been nothing short of entertaining.

We all remember the original XFL that was run by sports-entertainment monster WWE back in 2001. It was very similar to what you would expect to see on Monday nights, if you’re a wrestling fan. It was theatrical, smash-mouth football with overly outrageous characters on the field. Unfortunately for those vested in the original adaptation, it only survived one season.

Now it’s back, 19 years later, and seems to be in a more legitimate position to operate. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the first day was pretty fun. The festivities kicked off with the Seattle Dragons facing the DC Defenders and the Los Angeles Wildcats facing the Houston Roughnecks on Saturday. Nobody knew quite what to expect, but it gave us an extension to football season with the NFL crew done until later this year.

There were obvious differences, from what we are used to seeing in the NFL, to what we’ve seen through the first day of the XFL. You get a more personal experience, getting to hear more interaction with players and coaches, and even the referees get mic’d up when there is a review.

If the opening weekend of XFL action is any indication, this return season is certainly going to be interesting to watch. Personally, it wouldn’t hurt any feelings if they survived these first 10 weeks. And with only eight teams, you get two games on Saturday and two on Sunday. So it’s not a heavy schedule like you traditionally see on Sundays during the NFL.

And if you’re an NFL fan that needs a post-Super Bowl fix, this is perfect for you. Because you get the big game to close out the year, then you get 10 weeks of the XFL, and that will lead right into the NFL Draft.

It looks like we will have a much longer life than the short-lived AAF league that NBC ran last year. Having Oliver Luck as the commissioner of the league, and head coaches like Bob Stoops (formerly from the Oklahoma Sooners) in Dallas give the league a sense of legitimacy.

If this league can survive the first season, it could be an alternative for a lot of athletes. And Vince McMahon will look more like an evil genius. Even if it doesn’t, it’s been a refreshing look at football. Either way, we can all enjoy it while we have it. And for a simple 8-team league, it’s hard to ask for more.