Friend or Foe of Crossfit: National Pro Fitness League

If you follow Crossfit, The Sport of Fitness, at any level then you've most likely heard of Tony Budding. Budding was Crossfit's media director for many years and often seen as Dave Castro's right hand man at the Games. That all changed though late last year when Budding left Crossfit to build something of his own. What has resulted is the National Pro Fitness League, a team based version of  the Crossfit Games (my words not his). Here is how Budding describes the league:

It's a fascinating concept and something that I would certainly be interested in watching. The league has announced five cities and says that up to three more could be added this year. They've also started signing athletes and they've nabbed some elite level athletes so far, including Games athlete Amanda Goodman. Now the new league won't prohibit these athletes from still competing in either Regionals or the Games, but you've got to wonder how long that will last. Will athletes who don't have a shot at a podium finish at the Games risk injury by still competing when the NPFL is just a couple months later, especially if the salaries for the league increase in a couple years? Could athletes eventually be forced to choose because of the grind of training for both? Or could Crossfit and the NPFL simply merge at some point with the team side of the Games shifting to the NPFL (that's just wild speculation on my part)?

All these questions and many more are left to answered about the league, but I'm can guarantee this won't be the last time I write about the NPFL. I can't wait to see what Budding has in store.