McMahon scheduled a news conference in New York today to unveil the league, reports in USA Today and the Toronto Globe and Mail today said.

``This will be real American football on a 100-yard field, but with a lot more fun and a lot more attitude,'' McMahon told the USA Today.

``The NFL has become too conservative, too corporate with too much regulation. We're bringing back old-fashioned, smashmouth football but with cutting-edge marketing and production values.''

Plans were incomplete, but the spring league - to be called the XFL - is expected to play outdoors in eight U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Fla., and Washington. It has secured a television agreement to have games broadcast throughout North America, and it intends to eventually establish teams in Canada.

The likely first target cities would be Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.

Canadian Football League president Jeff Giles said he is aware of the new league's plans and is concerned about its immediate repercussions.

``My first thought is players,'' he told the Globe and Mail . ``They have to get their players from somewhere, and I`m sure they`ll be looking at us. ... I'm sure they'll offer more than we can pay, and we have to hold the line on salaries.''

Does this mean fans will eventually see XFL action figures from WWF-licensee JAKKS Pacific? It's too early to say at this time, and likely the current WWF license wouldn't extend to the new football venture, but you can bet as soon as there is information available you will read about right here at RTM!

[Updated 2/03/2000]