© 2020 Guardian News & Media Limited or its affiliated companies. “Unfathomable,” said Myerson. Reprinted by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. The USFL maintained its share of attention off the field, as well. Exhibition Season, Week 1: New Orleans Demolition 10 T.Curtis 12-20-87, D.Pries 9-28, D.Fuller 7-35: at: Santa Rosa Ravens 26 E.Huffman 9-15-95, B.Brandon 23-132, T.Shipley 5-48: Log Box: Newark Red Dogs 17 B.Forbes 14-21-160, B.Floyd 13-55, W.Twente 4-65: at: Denali Wolves 19 Michael Lardner, one of the co-founders of the Spring League of American Football (Photo courtesy of SLAF), “It just seemed to me that this would be a great time to initiate this league,” said Michael Lardner, a longtime broadcast media executive who is part of the group launching the SLAF. Then he would reiterate that the USFL was not going to make it.”. They’ll love it in the spring, too, if the product is good and they know who the players are. franchise. He sat back, let Myerson do his dance (as the entity that led the suit, the USFL was first to call witnesses), then meticulously went about making the NFL’s case that the USFL, by moving to fall, dug its own grave. Yes, the jury would clear the NFL on the eight other charges. There won’t be any gimmicks like a television camera going into the cheerleaders’ locker room, one of the announcers starting a feud with a coach or even something like the man in motion running forward as the ball is snapped. liable on multiple counts, awarded the USFL $1 in damages. USFL.

So he and I started looking at each other, and he tried to stare me down. Rozelle hadn’t made it to the courtroom in time for the verdict. Yet it also concluded that the main culprit of the U.S.F.L.’s struggles was the U.S.F.L., which should have never tried to abandon its original spring game plan. Without seeking permission from the U.S.F.L. “No question.”, When Rothman suggested Trump’s ultimate goal was to wind up with a valuable NFL organization, the reply was staggering.

The league is also banking on player recognition among the fans. “We were screaming at each other, calling each other names. Only Mr. Bassett was willing to stand up to Mr. Trump, and their fiery exchanges at league meetings are the stuff of legend. That was a huge problem with the XFL in 2001 because it only gave itself a year to get ready. Myerson was pitching the little guys versus the big guys. For a multitude of reasons, these leagues didn’t survive. “I covered that trial, and you had to hate Trump,” said Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, who hosted the Renegades’ postgame show. Rothman’s cross-examination was a breathtaking ode to knowing your subject, and taking him apart, piece by piece. “We would love to have an association with the NFL,” Lardner said. We feel that a 10-game season with a couple of playoffs is just enough to whet everybody’s appetite.”. Trump’s testimony was decidedly different. “Actually, $3,” said David Cataneo, who covered the trial for the Boston Herald. He was such a lousy witness for them, and a great one for us.”, “The way Myerson set it up was perfect for [Rothman],” said Ehrhart. When the words “one dollar” emerged from Leisure’s lips, the younger Mara pulled out a $1 bill from his wallet and handed it to the Generals’ owner. The group, which also includes longtime media executive Rex Lardner and longtime Madison Square Garden Chief Financial Officer Robert Pollichino, has split the country into 10 zones.