I saw 30 for 30: Small Potatoes: Who Killed the USFL? on netflix

[Denis 11]

It made a good case for blaming Donald Trump for the demise of the USFL. He owned the Generals.
He would destroy the USA if he was elected.

[HooptieWagon]

1. USFL was a good league.

Fun to watch, many former and future NFL stars played. Steve Spurrier's first coaching job was Tampa Bay Bandits. They outdrew the Bucs then. Trump was primary reason league folded.

[yuiyoshida]

7. I used to love to go see the

Oakland Invaders!

[Gman]

2. Gotta watch that

The USFL was great football. While Trump killed the league off, I think most teams weren't on good financial ground anyway. Seems if it wasn't Trump, it would have folded anyway.

I'm sure there's details in the movie I'm not aware of. And it's a very long time ago.

[beac]

3. Clip on youtube:

The last 20 seconds is especially telling.

[tammywammy]

4. I have liked all episodes of 30 for 30 I've seen.

I'm not even a sports person.

[Travis_0004]

5. I actually have to disagree

I think trump helped to put it out there a bit and give it more legitimacy. He signed a few big players and strengthened the USFL. It was already doomed to fail. I don't think a single person could have saved the USFL, and I don't think a single person could have destoryed it. It just wasn't polished enough to compete with the NFL, and the NFL did not need more expansion teams, so there was no room for the USFL.

[Snobblevitch]

6. Trump signed Walker and gave the leage more credibility.

There is no way the USFL was going to merge with the NFL. The NFL did not need to merge with the USFL because they were not a threat.

[HooptieWagon]

8. League was already doing well and had credibility.

Doug Williams and Steve Young among others were playing in the league. Trump just wanted to buy himself a championship team.

[Snobblevitch]

10. The USFL was doing well?

The LA Express owner (Young's team) went bankrupt and could not find a buyer for his team. Has that happened in the last 40 years in the NFL?

[HooptieWagon]

11. NFL has TV contract, owners make a profit if not a single ticket sold.

Plus, the NFL plays in stadiums generally paid for by public funding.
USFL had no large TV deal, and had to rent stadiums to play in.
The Tampa Bay Bandits did ok financially...no huge salaries, averaged about 40,000+/game, reasonable rent, and local TV deal. LA Express probably lacked one or more.
The big blow from which the league couldn't recover was suspending play while they sued the NFL under anti-trust laws. Legal expenses were high, they prevailed in the suit but only won $1 in damages, which automatically tripled to $3 under anti-trust law. $3, that's all they got.

[MinM]

9. Michigan Panthers

The Michigan Panthers were great...

The only pro football championship in nearly 60 years for the State of Michigan.

Donald Trump ruined that model where you drafted local players and played in the spring and summer instead of going head-to-head with the NFL. Trump ruined that like he has everything he's touched.

At least we still have Courser & Gamrat.