Sports Blast from the Past: 4 Leagues I Wish I Could Still Watch on TV

Many of us sports fan tend to follow the most popular sport leagues, like the NFL, NBA and MLB. However, I'm sure all of us have also watched a lesser known sports league at some point in our lifetime.

This league was probably not given much publicity and was not watched by many others. However, we, as individuals, loved watching this particular and unique sports league, regardless of whether we had anyone to discuss the outcome with and regardless of whether we had anyone to argue with about which team is the best team.

In my case, there are four sports leagues that I used to watch and wish I still had the pleasure of watching on a regular basis. Although these leagues were all dissolved in some way, they will always hold a place in my heart. 

RollerJam

Oh how much I miss the World Skating League!

I remember looking forward to Friday nights every week just so I could watch my beloved California Quakes dominate the league. The show aired for four seasons between 1998 and 2001 and featured 101 episodes before being taken out of the New TNN Friday night lineup. Originally derived from roller derby, newer skaters used inline roller skates in an effort to modernize the sport.

Yes, I’m aware that the show was scripted, but so is the WWE and millions of people seem to enjoy that. I don’t understand why this league didn’t catch on with younger fans at the least. This show featured a majority of the aspects wrestling entertainment possesses, but it also featured a scoring system and an actual winner every game, not a winner due to a disqualification or interference by another superstar. These types of wins never appeal to me, as they are not fair victories.

There were many elbows thrown each game, people flying over the railings on a regular basis, heads being smashed into railings, and of course, an occasional body slam was utilized by the main enforcers from each team. Oh, and weapons were a common occurrence as well.

Just like the WWE or WCW, there was lots of drama to go around, including kidnappings, proposals and family betrayals. This league featured everything I wanted to see and expected from a scripted, athletic event, and it’s a shame the league never drew enough attention to stay on the air.

XFL

The XFL was a professional football league created by Vince McMahon. McMahon intended it to be a complement to the National Football League. Therefore, the games took place during the NFL’s offseason.

The XFL featured eight teams and only lasted one season before it folded due to lack of interest from an audience. However, during that one season, this was a very exciting league to watch, as it was very unique compared to other football leagues.

For example, instead of a coin toss to determine which team gets to choose whether to kick or receive, each team had a player line up on the 30-yard line. Those two players would sprint towards the ball, which was placed in the middle of the field. The player that gained control of the ball gave his team the option of choosing to kickoff or receiving the ball.

Other aspects of the league that made it exciting to watch were less penalties for roughness and fewer rules in general, compared to the NFL. Also, the league attempted to make this a more head-on experience for the fans, as the games featured players and coaches with cameras and microphones in the huddles and in the locker room. The names chosen for the teams were all references to insanity, evil or criminal activity. The public address announcers talked trash and the cheerleader barely wore any clothing.

That's a fantastic combination for any guy watching a game!

It was great to finally have a league that not only tried to intrigue their audience through the actual game itself, but also through the other personnel involved that usually do not draw too much attention during an NFL game. Ironically, the audience was mainly responsible for why the league folded. Not enough attention was given to the league from the fans.

Due to the credibility of Vince McMahon and the WWE, fans questioned whether the league was scripted or not. However, there was never any evidence found to support the suspicions, although the suspicions were warranted.

SlamBall

Professional Slamball is a sport derived from basketball. However, it focuses more on the dunking part of basketball, with its own flavor added into it.

Slamball first aired on Spike TV for two seasons between 2002-2003. It was dissolved after the second season, but it would make its return in 2007 with the SlamBall Challenge, which aired on CSTV. In 2008, another season of Slamball aired on Versus, CBS and Cartoon Network. Although Slamball is not being aired on TV anymore, there are tournaments being set up currently in the US and many other overseas markets.

I really used to look forward to watching Slamball whenever it was on TV. The athleticism and hopping ability of these players was amazing, regardless whether they had a trampoline or not to bounce off of. Slamball was also a full contact sport, meaning that these players were allowed to check each other when necessary.

It's a perfect combination of basketball and football—two sports loved by many people.

The object of the game was to make the shot, however, a dunk was worth three points. The primary focus of the players was to dunk the ball, as the crowd was mainly entertained by the thunderous dunks these players showcased. I was a part of that crowd, as I loved watching these players be as creative as possible in an effort to throw one down on the defensive team.

I really miss the toughness that many of the participants in this sport possessed, as that is something that is really lacking in the NBA in my opinion. I'm glad that there are still tournaments being set up all around the world, as sports fans should not be deprived of such a fun and entertaining activity.

BASEketball

I know this league was only played in a movie. I know it was a little intense, I guess is the best way to put it, in reference to the "psyche outs." However, how awesome would it be if someone actually created a league like this, with some limitations placed on the "psyche outs" or course?

It would be amazing!

I could only imagine that a majority of basketball and baseball fans would love to watch this sport being played by comical, professional athletes, or should I just say comical, professional shooters? There are a few reasons why I believe fans would adore this sport.

First and foremost, who wouldn't love to watch a grown man "psyche out" their opponents. Let's face it, we live in a time where stupidity is not only accepted but supported as well. Age is not a factor in this, as I'm no exception to this theory. I would love to see how creative grown-ups can get in an attempt to "psyche out" other grown-ups.

The second reason why I believe fans would love to watch this sport is because it takes away from the boredom of baseball while eliminating the poor efforts possessed by a majority of professional basketball players.

In reference to the baseball comment, I'm not saying that I believe baseball is boring, as I love the sport, but the long breaks in between every pitch are pretty boring, along with the copious amounts of pitches thrown in between hitters.

In reference to my basketball comment, nothing angers me more than watching professional basketball players walk up and down the basketball court for a majority of their team's possessions. With baseketball, there would be no breaks, as the shot is either made or missed. There would be no lack of effort as this sport requires minimal effort.

Finally, if this sport was given proper exposure, not just through the movie, but also through a professional league, I could only imagine how often it would be played recreationally. A majority of Americans love nothing more than an activity which requires minimal movement and maximum entertainment.

I used to love playing baseketball in the alley with my friends after we first saw the movie, and I'm sure many other people would enjoy it just as much as we did.