American winner takes all

Chapter 431 Thunderous Means
"This is named the Legends Rugby League. In my opinion, it should be called the Shame Rugby League. No matter if they are participants, players, organizers, coaches, or even spectators, everyone who actively contacts this league should feel ashamed. This is an insult to professional sports!"

Ethan watched WPFL founder Terry Sullivan's comments about the LFL on television.

Competitors are enemies. As a league that entered the field of women's rugby two years ago, the announcement of LFL directly made WPFL and other leagues with similar positioning feel a chill, so there were such harsh remarks.

In addition, several women's sports TV stations, including ESPNW and FOX Sports W, have also made similar criticisms. For example, a host of FOX Sports publicly declared: After watching these female athletes compete, I can honestly say that I respect them very much as athletes, but no matter what name they give this league, I will never respect it.

"However, in more mainstream media, no one has made such explicit criticisms, and most media outlets are still cautious."

Stephanie McMahon, who was sitting next to Ethan, said at this time that she had just sent her men to collect public opinion on LFL and showed the results to Ethan.

"But you have overlooked the most important point." Ethan said.

"Where?" Stephanie McMahon asked thoughtfully.

"The Internet." Ethan shrugged.

"That's where the public's expectations are directly reflected, and they won't be processed by the so-called 'media people'. Coincidentally, I sent someone to pay attention to the discussion about the LFL there last night. Guess what? Countless fans left messages online, asking about the specific start time of the LFL, and some people are ready to buy season tickets. We will start pre-sales in several major cities this week."

"Ethan, let alone recruiting players, the LFL hasn't even secured all the franchises yet. Isn't it a bit too hasty?" Stephanie said.

In addition to several major cities that have been determined, there are still four teams whose locations have not been determined.

"Someone will help us find a solution." Ethan said meaningfully.

"Let's not talk about that for now. Are the test results of that big guy out?" Ethan asked Triple H, who had completed a real-life PK with him.

"Then I have to congratulate you. It's a good thing you two happened in public, otherwise you would have been sent to police." Stephanie muttered.

"So, his injury is quite serious?"

"It's very serious! He has three fractures and a concussion. The most serious back injury will take more than half a year to recover. The doctor said that even after being discharged from the hospital, he won't be able to return to normal!" Stephanie shook her head: "You're too cruel!"

"He was the first to attack. If I hadn't dodged in time, I would be the one lying in the hospital now." Ethan spread his hands.

"I know, he asked for it. But now the WWF also needs a new group of wrestlers." Stephanie said.

Dwayne Johnson had already started to enter the big screen at this time, and HHH was defeated by Ethan, resulting in WWF having no pillars available.

"I think John Cena is qualified to take over HHH's resources." Ethan said suddenly.

"John Cena? Who is he?" Stephanie asked puzzled.

Ethan suddenly realized that Zhao Xina might not have appeared on stage yet, so he quickly changed his words: "Actually, he is a friend of mine. He signed a development league contract with you. I think he is pretty good. You can consider him."

WWF has an entire talent selection echelon, which starts with the Development League contract, followed by a series of trial appearances. WWF will gradually select the wrestlers most popular with the audience based on the audience's reaction and tailor the plot for them.

"Are you recommending your friends? I don't like using backdoors at all." Stephanie said with a smile.

"Sometimes it's comfortable to walk once in a while." Ethan began to bow his head.

"Thanks for the reminder." Stephanie smiled even more, and then changed the subject: "Also, I have to rewrite my love storyline now. Now I have a general idea, why not change it to that I fell in love with you at first sight because of your performance like a god sent from heaven, and then I fell into unrequited love, and turned my grief and anger into strength, and won the women's wrestling championship again, what do you think?" Stephanie told a "sealed heart and locked love" drama.

Hugging Ethan is equivalent to hugging traffic, and writing in this way is obviously the most profitable for WWF.

"As long as you don't force me to marry you in a wedding dress on the court, it's acceptable."

"You reminded me of another idea, Ethan. You are a true screenwriting genius!" Stephanie's mind suddenly opened up and she looked at Ethan with interest: "Strong, handsome, and smart, it's hard not to be attracted by you."

"We are partners now. Your father will be furious when he finds out." Ethan was also staring at Stephanie.

"I have a different idea. Maybe my father will agree with it wholeheartedly. If you can help WWF expand its market, what if I become your wife?" said Stephanie McMahon.

This is an open conspiracy.

Some women are hard to get rid of once you get involved with them, and Ethan doesn't want to be a free worker for their family.

"So we should still maintain a partnership." Stephanie saw the thought that Ethan showed for a moment and immediately said generously.

·
Over the next few days, Ethan stayed at the WWF headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut, preparing for the LFL draft and preparing the coaching staff.

Ethan was able to easily find coaches. Apart from anything else, as a veteran of the NFL and the vice president of the coaches union, it was not difficult for Holmgren to find a few unemployed coaches at home. His professionalism in this regard was unquestionable.

As for the draft, Ethan used his connections to contact his alma mater, the University of Alabama.

“Recommend LFL to the female rugby players who are about to graduate from school…I’ll take care of it!” The former sports director assured him that this would be a piece of cake for him.

Ethan also wants to promote not only the University of Alabama, but the entire Southeastern Conference, as well as the University of Southern California.

For many things, taking the first step is often the most difficult. When more and more female athletes from the Southeastern Conference decided to participate in the LFL draft, female football players from other sports leagues followed suit, and then spread to the entire five major leagues.

Although it has attracted the attention of "fresh" female athletes across the United States, considering that the athlete base itself is not large, the LFL draft is far less popular and eye-catching than the NFL draft.

However, a smaller size also means better control. In addition, Ethan also extended an olive branch to athletes from other leagues, and even learned a lot about some of the shady dealings of other leagues...

·
"Season ticket presales in several major cities yesterday exceeded expectations!" Stephanie McMahon received a report from her sales subordinate early in the morning.

This is in stark contrast to the XFL at the beginning of this year. The XFL had games but could only sell tickets at a lower price, while the LFL has already started to recover funds without even a proper schedule.

"With the Angels and the Angels cheerleaders in front, people have enough confidence in Ethan." The salesperson tried to say.

"I see." Stephanie hung up the phone and prepared to report the good news to Ethan later. Just as she was about to push the door to enter the office, the secretary came over to report another important matter.

"Stephanie, this is today's Hartford Register. You must read the headlines on the sports page," said the secretary.

Stephanie picked up the local newspaper and flipped through it. Her pupils immediately dilated and she fell into ecstasy.

After entering the office, she picked up the landline phone on the desk without taking a closer look, ready to tell Ethan the good news as soon as possible.

"Terry Sullivan, the founder of WPFL who was criticizing you a few days ago, is now in trouble!" Stephanie said in a light tone.

The newspaper in front of her had an enlarged headline: "An unprecedented scandal - an investigation into the long-standing chaos within the WPFL."

The report cited revelations from multiple insiders, saying that in recent seasons, there have been endless cases of harassment of female athletes on the team by male management and coaches of the WPFL, and that a special trend has even emerged. However, the league has chosen to turn a blind eye to this and even deliberately covered up these scandals by paying hush money to prevent the spread of the scandals.

Ethan on the other end of the phone didn't seem surprised. He just said casually that he knew and asked Stephanie to go out for dinner with him tonight.

"Are you asking me out?" Stephanie on the other end of the phone smiled like a peach blossom.

"You can understand it that way."

"Then I'll have to think about it carefully. If I need to work overtime, I'm afraid I can't agree to your request. I'll give you an answer this afternoon." Stephanie shook her head.

After hanging up the phone, Stephanie fell into deep thought. She asked her secretary to buy a few more newspapers. The results were not surprising to her. Most of the media reporting these scandals were owned by News Corporation.

Stephanie had known about the relationship between Fox and Ethan for a long time, and FOX had been confirmed as the broadcaster of LFL.

"So you were behind all this?" Stephanie suddenly realized the role Ethan might have played in this. It was he who made the scandal of his competitor known to the whole of America overnight.

It wasn't just the scandals involving competitors; all critical voices, including from mainstream television media, were gone.

The previous Fox Sports W host even publicly apologized for his "inappropriate remarks" on the Internet, saying that his words caused trouble to some female athletes.

"Is this also Ethan's secret move?" Stephanie felt scared and suddenly realized that Ethan's methods and connections were much more powerful than she thought.

She finally understood why her father agreed to let Ethan take the lead in LFL...

"Forget it, now that he has spoken, just do as he says." Stephanie sighed and called the secretary over.

"Find the information of a new contract artist named John Cena, and prepare to arrange for him to appear on SmackDown." Stephanie ordered.

Although she said that her career came first, Stephanie left the office early before four o'clock this afternoon, went home to take a shower, had a private makeup artist come to her house to do her makeup, and then changed into a black high-slit evening dress that highlighted her ladylike temperament. She was dressed up.

So much so that Ethan was stunned when he came to pick her up.

"I can also have a ladylike side." Stephanie deliberately reminded Ethan that she is not only a woman, but also a lady.

"I can't tell." Ethan noticed her exposed arms. Her arms were obviously thicker than those of other women. Her strong body and the thin evening dress didn't match each other very well. Of course, Stephanie's face was still very beautiful after being carefully dressed up, no worse than that of another "princess" Ethan knew.

Ethan's words revealed Stephanie's true colors, and she almost hit Ethan with her handbag.

When she arrived at the restaurant and saw the middle-aged men and women sitting at the table, Stephanie was dumbfounded.

"Who are these people?" Stephanie's face turned red, feeling somewhat embarrassed.

She came out with Ethan with the idea of ​​going on a date.

At this time, Ethan began to introduce these people to Stephanie one by one.

"This is Melissa Korpach from the New England Storm, the gentleman next to her is Robin Howington from the Houston Energy, and the two gentlemen wearing glasses opposite are Donna Robke and Dee Kennamer from the Austin Fury..."

These people all have one identity: the team owner of the WPFL league.

The WPFL scandal broke out in the morning, and in the evening he had dinner with several owners of the league. It was obvious that Ethan had made preparations for this.

As Stephanie and Ethan sat down, the negotiation officially began.

Eason called it "a moment comparable to the merger of the NFL and AFL." Simply put, he wanted the WPFL to be merged into the LFL.

On one side is the WPFL, which is mired in numerous scandals, and on the other side is the LFL, which is led by Ethan and has bright prospects.

For these bosses, it doesn't matter which league they are in. Making money is the most important thing. For these people, football is just a target for earning returns through investment, just like the American League back then. Based on this, the negotiations between the two sides went very smoothly.

The banquet was over, and Ethan and Stephanie saw the team owners off.

"Now that all the franchise rights of LFL have been confirmed, all these owners need to do is to pay to hire coaches and players, and they will help us spread the costs," said Ethan.

"When does the league start?" Stephanie asked.

"The Friday after the Super Bowl," Ethan said.

It was put on Friday to avoid the NCAA football game.

"In addition to the draft, you have to accept interviews from various media and appear on some talk shows. I have to go back to prepare for the playoffs." Ethan pinched his nose, showing a rare trace of fatigue.

The Angels enter the playoffs undefeated, and are likely to challenge the "perfect season" record set by the Dolphins in 1972, when they won consecutive games and won the Super Bowl. This is a result that even super quarterbacks such as Golden Arm Joe Montana, Stephen Young, and Troy Aikman have never achieved...

(End of this chapter)