XFL, NBC Taking It to the Xtreme

Professional football, if that’s what it can be called, returns to the Coliseum today.

The Rock of professional wrestling fame will be there to kick things off as the Los Angeles Xtreme plays its XFL home opener against the Chicago Enforcers at 5 p.m. in the same historic stadium where the Rams and Raiders used to play NFL games and where USC still plays.

But any resemblance to a Ram, Raider or USC game will be only coincidental.

The stadium will be configured so that capacity is 41,583. As of Thursday night, 32,000 tickets were sold.

A giant screen called a Titantron will be set up at the west end so fans can hear much of the same audio that NBC viewers across the nation will hear.

At the peristyle end will be a designated party area, where House of Blues will set up a party room.

“It will be a beach party atmosphere,” said Bill Bonnell, NBC’s XFL coordinating producer.

Of course, rain could put a damper on the beach party.

But the show--and that’s what it is--will go on.

Cameras and microphones will be virtually everywhere, and a number of players from both teams will wear wireless microphones. So will both coaches.

Fred Roggin, assigned to the Xtreme’s bench, and Mike Adamle, who will work the other side of the field, are sideline reporters. Stephanie McMahon, daughter of XFL founder Vince McMahon, has been added to the NBC crew as a roving reporter.

Stephanie is scheduled to interview Linda Shehee, the mother of Xtreme running back Rashaan Shehee. Rashaan, who attended high school in Bakersfield and college at Washington, is a South Central L.A. native.

His mother, who works in the administrative office at the 32nd Street School in Los Angeles, will also be equipped with a wireless microphone during the game.

NBA also plans to pursue a story involving Scott Milanovich, the Xtreme’s backup quarterback, and his wife Jaime, who is expecting the couple’s first child any day.

Bonnell said McMahon has ordered a helicopter to stand by outside the Coliseum to whisk away Milanovich in uniform if Jaime goes to the hospital.

Could it be McMahon has a scripted story in mind?

Stephanie McMahon has also been instructed to find former Ram quarterback Pat Haden in the stands. Haden’s first daughter, Natalie, now a senior at Georgetown, was born the same Monday night Haden and the Rams defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-0, on Nov. 13, 1978.

Contacted Friday, Haden said he was not aware he was going to be interviewed. Haden’s longtime friend and former Bishop Amat High and USC teammate J.K. McKay is the general manager of the Xtreme.

As for the football game, does anyone really care?

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Xtreme Tonight

VS. CHICAGO, 5, CHANNEL 4

* Site--Coliseum.

* Radio--KLSX-FM (97.1).

* Records--Xtreme 0-1, Enforcers 0-1.

* Update--The Xtreme lost its first game, 15-13, to the San Francisco Demons before 38,000 at Pacific Bell Stadium on Sunday. Two improper clock stoppages in the closing minute enabled the Demons to kick a field goal with no time remaining. The Enforcers lost to the Orlando Rage, 33-29, last Saturday. The Enforcers are led by running back John Avery, a 1998 first-round draft choice of the Miami Dolphins who had 157 yards in 25 carries against the Rage.

* Tickets--866-529-8736.