ST. PAUL – Responding for the first time to reports that
the XFL may fold, Gov. Jesse Ventura said Tuesday the decision is
outside his reach.
"That's their call," he said of NBC during an interview on
Minnesota Public Radio. Ventura added that he would "feel bad
about it."
NBC Sports president Dick Ebersol said Sunday that the network
is considering pulling the plug on the XFL if ratings don't improve
during the new football league's playoff games next month.
Overnight ratings from Saturday night's Las Vegas-Los Angeles
XFL game on NBC drew a 2.1 rating, the same overnight as a week
ago. The national number, released last Thursday, was a 1.6, the
lowest-rated show in prime-time history. This week's national
number also is expected to drop from the overnight rating.
Ebersol said a decision would be made no later than the end of
April as to whether or not the league would make it into a second
year.
The XFL, an offshoot of the World Wrestling Federation, has a
two-year agreement with NBC that also included the broadcast
company spending $100 million during the first two seasons.
"It's sad that it didn't catch on as well, but if they choose
to cancel it, that's their call," Ventura said. "The players gave
their hearts. I gave mine and all the broadcasters – we're doing
the best job we can do and that's all you can do."  Send this story to a friend | Most sent stories |
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