Ventura's XFL Job Reportedly in Jeopardy

L O S  A N G E L E S, March 15 -- Gov. Jesse Ventura will retain his top analystslot for the XFL, at least this weekend, despite critical commentsfrom league founder Vince McMahon and poor ratings.

Ventura is on "thin ice," McMahon told the Los Angeles Timesin an interview published today. The league's research has shownpeople don't like Ventura as an announcer, and he is too "over thetop," McMahon added.

"Hyperbole turns people off. They know when you're not tellingthe truth," McMahon said.

Ventura brushed aside questions today.

"I'm not getting into that," he said.

NBC Says Ventura Is Still Tops

NBC Sports Vice President Kevin Sullivan said today that theannouncer lineup for this week's game would be the same as lastweek — with Ventura in the top spot.

"He's doing the game," Sullivan said. "Jesse's done the gameevery week. … He's the one constant."

He added, "I couldn't really add anything to what Vince said inthe paper."

Related Stories

Man kills wife, 3 kids in mass shooting: Police

• Apr 23, 12:35 PM

Trump, NY AG resolve dispute over $175M bond

• Apr 22, 12:14 PM

OJ Simpson dies at 76

• Apr 11, 6:32 PM

Ventura learned of the McMahon interview today, said hisprivate attorney, David Bradley Olsen.

"We don't know if it's Mr. McMahon trying to make the governora scapegoat," Olsen said. "I will be talking with some people atthe XFL to find out what's really going on."

Lessening WWF Style

McMahon said organizers of the struggling league have mademistakes, and that one of the biggest "was our selection ofannouncers. We need football announcers, not WWF announcers."

Ventura, a former professional wrestler, gained fame as acommentator for McMahon's World Wrestling Federation.

The XFL's ratings have slipped since the league's openingweekend, and McMahon said the league now plans to put more emphasison football and less on what is viewed as the WWF aspect of theXFL.

"We've got a wonderful league here, and we're in it for thelong haul," McMahon said.

After the first week, McMahon yanked play-by-play man MattVasgersian off the main NBC team and put him on the backup team.Vasgersian has since regained his spot on the main team.