I don't know if changing the Bullets' name was a good thing to do or not. But starting a sports team in the New York City area called the Hitmen does not seem to make a lot of sense. Recent studies by the Justice Department show that violent crime has dropped significantly in New York City and the state. Highlighting violence by the use of the nickname seems to make light of something that should always be taken seriously. The WWF is fun show to watch, much like a cartoon.
Simulated violence is a part of that show.
But the XFL will apparently be a true contest of athletes. Making a direct connection between football and murderers does not seem healthy. The NFL has the Oakland Raiders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I am sure that pirates did kill people. In baseball, the Atlanta Braves and Cleveland Indians do use a Native American warrior as their mascot.