With this year’s NFL International Series game now gone, there has been plenty of speculation, fuelled by fairly vague comments from administrators, that the UK will in time, see either an increased number of regular season games played here; or that London might host a Super Bowl; or even a franchise. As NFLUK journalist Keith Webster notes, the league must have a roadmap of where it is going with these games, as otherwise the venture risks petering out with little long-term legacy, as previous efforts did in the past.
A second annual game is widely expected, and seems realistic, especially given the high levels of interest in the games so far. Any of the other proposals however, would be much more drastic. Loaning the outside world one game a year is one thing, but a Super Bowl is America’s biggest sporting event, whilst a London team would mean weekly transatlantic trips and would need a guaranteed week-in, week-out fanbase.
With that in mind then, a Super Bowl seems more likely than a franchise, but still not likely. The NFL has a strong preference for warm weather or indoor locations, and London in February will have neither. Most important is the likelihood of rain, which can have a marked effect on the quality of entertainment, as we saw with the first game at Wembley in 2007, when the Giants v Dolphins clash was turned into a mudbath. On the plus side, it would avoid the league taking away a home game from either of the teams involved, and it is a game that fans are used to travelling for. However those same fans would be outraged at the showpiece event for “America’s game” being taken overseas, especially given the huge boost that the game brings to the local economy of the host city.
As for a London-based franchise, there are three key issues. The first is that of logistics. Could teams reasonably travel across the Atlantic every week, and would players be willing to relocate to another country? The second question relates to the fans. Although Wembley has been sold out three years in a row thanks to a combination of hardcore supporters and curious sports fans looking for something different and a spectacle, would they attend eight games a year, and support a London franchise? Casual observers might be good for a game or two per season, and whilst the hardcore would attend more regularly, financial would come into play, as would the fact that many who have attended the London games have come from around the UK and Europe. They presumably would not do so every week. Meanwhile most UK fans already support NFL teams, and would be reluctant to change their allegiance to a side whose American players would have as much in common with Britain as those in Denver, Houston or Chicago.
Finally, it would require a big change in culture. Farming out individual games, even the biggest game of all, to another country is simply promoting an American product abroad. Handing entry to the NFL to a foreign team would mean that this is no longer America’s game. It would, if successful (admittedly a big if), mean giving the outside world a say in the running of the sport. Britain gave up ownership of sports like football, cricket and rugby many years ago, but retained its own leagues and identity, and despite the increase in foreign players and cross border competitions, that integrity remains. This would be a long way from the defunct NFL Europa. Up until now, Americans who disagree with international expansion have been largely able to ignore such efforts, which have had little impact on them, and barely registered on their consciousness.
Despite the hopes of Webster and Alistair Kirkwood, Managing Director of NFLUK, veteran journalist Mike Carlson probably identified the most realistic plan on Five last Sunday night. He has observed that the most likely outcome is the addition of a 17th regular season game to the league schedule (which has already been discussed), and for each team to play their extra game at a neutral venue, whether abroad, or at locations in the United States that do not currently host NFL games, such as Los Angeles. This seems more pragmatic and could lead to London and other British and European locations hosting multiple games annually. League expansion would only follow if this move succeeded.
Ultimately, as a fan who has attended all three Wembley games, and hopes to attend more in the future, I hope that the league does not add a London team. A 17th game which allows further matches in the UK would be great, but not a Super Bowl or franchise. Part of the NFL’s charm, amongst many other things, is its American-ness. It has a different culture and character to European and Commonwealth sports, and conjures up scenes from an array of locations across the length and breadth of the United States. As Paul Hayward recently observed in The Guardian, sporting events have a sense of belonging to a place. To buy into a sport is to buy into its surroundings and history. Sporting events are a part of the fabric of their location, and their location is a part of their fabric.
There is still room for international expansion in sport, taking the PGA or LTA tours, or the Formula 1 circuit to new countries is a logical reflection of those sports’ growing appeal. The Premier League’s derided game 39 plan misjudged this balance, but there may be other ways of bringing English football to overseas fans.
As for the NFL, in the cold light of day, a London franchise or a Super Bowl seem unlikely, whatever league Commissioner Roger Goodell says. Men like Goodell and Kirkwood, with vested interests in keeping fans as interested as possible are never going to rule anything out, and the intrigue keeps people talking, so putting too much faith in their statements is unwise. Instead, British fans should make the most of whatever games come our way, and revel in the excitement of something that is truly American, in the best possible way.
Friday, 30 October 2009
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Rugby: Invictus Trailer Released
The trailer for Clint Eastwood’s upcoming film, ‘Invictus’ has been released this week. Based on last year’s acclaimed sports book by John Carlin: Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Changed a Nation, it tells the story of how Mandela used the 1995 Rugby World Cup to bind together South Africa in the early days of his presidency. This has Oscars written all over it (Clint Eastwood? Triumph against adversity? Racism? Morgan Freeman? Matt Damon? It’s got to win something), and finally gives us a chance to see Morgan Freeman play a role he has been linked with for years. Have a look at the trailer and see what you think. On first viewing, Freeman and Matt Damon seem to have at least got the accents down, but we’ll have to wait for the finished article to find out whether justice has been done to one of sport’s most iconic moments.
If nothing else, it will be good to see a high-profile film about rugby. Most non-American sports have fared pretty badly on the big screen over the years, with one or two notable exceptions, and I can’t think of a good rugby union film, although rugby league can lay claim to a classic in This Sporting Life.
If nothing else, it will be good to see a high-profile film about rugby. Most non-American sports have fared pretty badly on the big screen over the years, with one or two notable exceptions, and I can’t think of a good rugby union film, although rugby league can lay claim to a classic in This Sporting Life.
NFL: New England Patriots 35 - 7 Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The 84,254 fans who crammed into Wembley Stadium for the third year running to watch the NFL’s finest do battle both for a win, and for the hearts and minds of British supporters, witnessed an entertaining but one-sided affair, as the heavily favoured New England Patriots easily defeated the winless “home” side, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
On the field, this was a routine win for the Patriots, who after a slow start, are beginning to resemble the ruthless machine that came seconds from a perfect season in 2007. This is due in no small part to the growing confidence of quarterback Tom Brady, whose early season performances suggested he was still feeling the psychological effects of the knee injury that ended his 2008 season after only a few minutes. Brady was short of his best at Wembley, but still comfortably outclassed Tampa Bay’s Josh Johnson, his precision and patience resulting in three passing touchdowns. Brady was never seriously pressured by the Buccaneers’ defence, despite giving up two interceptions, and good protection from his offensive line allowed the three-time Super Bowl winner to pick out his receivers at ease. With deep threat Randy Moss often double covered, and carrying an injury, the Patriots favoured screen passes and quick slants to Wes Welker and an unheralded supporting cast of Ben Watson, Sam Aiken, Chris Baker and Brandon Tate. Welker, Watson and Aiken all scored touchdowns, whilst Laurence Maroney, who had a good day, added a rushing score in the fourth quarter.
The tone for the performance had been set by the Patriots’ defence, when safety Brandon Meriweather intercepted Johnson on the first drive of the game, and returned the pick for a touchdown. From that point on, the Buccaneers were always chasing the game, and never really threatened an upset. Johnson was picked off again by Meriweather in the first quarter, and although he improved, showing glimpses of talent with a nicely weighted touchdown pass for Antonio Bryant in the third quarter, a combination of poor protection, throwing and catching meant that the Florida side relied on the running game, making it easy for the Patriots’ defence to stop them.
With a straightforward, albeit entertaining, game on the field, the other matter at hand was the ongoing success of the NFL’s International Series. There has been speculation, much of it fanciful, about where the league goes from here, but whatever happens, the fixture was another triumph, with the highest attendance yet, better weather than previous years, and a wealth of media coverage prior to the game. The novelty may be wearing off after three years, but there is a committed band of supporters who keep coming back. The game itself may not have been a close encounter, but they came away entertained and content that they had seen one of the game’s true greats in Brady.
On the field, this was a routine win for the Patriots, who after a slow start, are beginning to resemble the ruthless machine that came seconds from a perfect season in 2007. This is due in no small part to the growing confidence of quarterback Tom Brady, whose early season performances suggested he was still feeling the psychological effects of the knee injury that ended his 2008 season after only a few minutes. Brady was short of his best at Wembley, but still comfortably outclassed Tampa Bay’s Josh Johnson, his precision and patience resulting in three passing touchdowns. Brady was never seriously pressured by the Buccaneers’ defence, despite giving up two interceptions, and good protection from his offensive line allowed the three-time Super Bowl winner to pick out his receivers at ease. With deep threat Randy Moss often double covered, and carrying an injury, the Patriots favoured screen passes and quick slants to Wes Welker and an unheralded supporting cast of Ben Watson, Sam Aiken, Chris Baker and Brandon Tate. Welker, Watson and Aiken all scored touchdowns, whilst Laurence Maroney, who had a good day, added a rushing score in the fourth quarter.
The tone for the performance had been set by the Patriots’ defence, when safety Brandon Meriweather intercepted Johnson on the first drive of the game, and returned the pick for a touchdown. From that point on, the Buccaneers were always chasing the game, and never really threatened an upset. Johnson was picked off again by Meriweather in the first quarter, and although he improved, showing glimpses of talent with a nicely weighted touchdown pass for Antonio Bryant in the third quarter, a combination of poor protection, throwing and catching meant that the Florida side relied on the running game, making it easy for the Patriots’ defence to stop them.
With a straightforward, albeit entertaining, game on the field, the other matter at hand was the ongoing success of the NFL’s International Series. There has been speculation, much of it fanciful, about where the league goes from here, but whatever happens, the fixture was another triumph, with the highest attendance yet, better weather than previous years, and a wealth of media coverage prior to the game. The novelty may be wearing off after three years, but there is a committed band of supporters who keep coming back. The game itself may not have been a close encounter, but they came away entertained and content that they had seen one of the game’s true greats in Brady.
Monday, 26 October 2009
NFL: Running up the Score
The visit of the NFL’s New England Patriots to London for last weekend’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers has deflected attention from a minor controversy about whether or not they were guilty of running up the score in the previous week’s 59-0 drubbing of the Tennessee Titans.
Running up the score is a uniquely American controversy. In many sports at both amateur and professional levels, it is common for teams that are comfortably beating their opponents to continue to play at the same level, and continue to score. The only exception is perhaps in friendly games, where it might be in the best interests of the game to ease off on the losing team. Whilst a football team might start to string passes together, rather than press for another goal, the side will still take whatever opportunities comes its way.
In the United States and Canada however, a winning team that has a comfortably large margin will be expected go easy on its opponent, playing less aggressively, and replacing star players with their backups. Against the Titans, the Patriots found themselves 45-0 up at half time, after a breathtaking second quarter display that included five touchdowns. NFL etiquette would therefore require them to send their reserve quarterback out in place of three-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady, and to stick largely to running plays, thus saving much further embarrassment for the struggling Titans. Instead, the Patriots sent Brady out for the second half, and added a further touchdown before then easing up and sending the replacements in.
Admittedly, what criticism there has been has been subdued, but this is familiar territory for the Patriots. In their record-breaking 2007 season, a 52-7 victory over the Washington Redskins was criticised for the same reason, although 2007 was also the year of the “Spygate” affair, which confirmed the Patriots as the league’s most unpopular team, and meant that any chance to criticise the franchise would be seized upon.
It is nonetheless an oddity that in a professional league this is worthy of debate. Professional sport is a results-driven business, and no coach is more unsentimental and focused on winning than the Patriots’ Bill Belichick. Amateur and professional sportsmen in competitive fixtures around the world have suffered defeats by 100 points in rugby, 10 wickets in cricket, several goals in football, and so on, and although they may bristle at the indignity, would be far more insulted if their opponent appeared to take pity on them. Furthermore, goal or points difference are usually important when deciding league placings and so on.
In the end, this is one of the many cultural differences that separate North America from the rest of the sporting world, and the fascination with these differences is what draws many overseas fans into the NFL and its fellow American sports leagues.
Running up the score is a uniquely American controversy. In many sports at both amateur and professional levels, it is common for teams that are comfortably beating their opponents to continue to play at the same level, and continue to score. The only exception is perhaps in friendly games, where it might be in the best interests of the game to ease off on the losing team. Whilst a football team might start to string passes together, rather than press for another goal, the side will still take whatever opportunities comes its way.
In the United States and Canada however, a winning team that has a comfortably large margin will be expected go easy on its opponent, playing less aggressively, and replacing star players with their backups. Against the Titans, the Patriots found themselves 45-0 up at half time, after a breathtaking second quarter display that included five touchdowns. NFL etiquette would therefore require them to send their reserve quarterback out in place of three-time Superbowl winner Tom Brady, and to stick largely to running plays, thus saving much further embarrassment for the struggling Titans. Instead, the Patriots sent Brady out for the second half, and added a further touchdown before then easing up and sending the replacements in.
Admittedly, what criticism there has been has been subdued, but this is familiar territory for the Patriots. In their record-breaking 2007 season, a 52-7 victory over the Washington Redskins was criticised for the same reason, although 2007 was also the year of the “Spygate” affair, which confirmed the Patriots as the league’s most unpopular team, and meant that any chance to criticise the franchise would be seized upon.
It is nonetheless an oddity that in a professional league this is worthy of debate. Professional sport is a results-driven business, and no coach is more unsentimental and focused on winning than the Patriots’ Bill Belichick. Amateur and professional sportsmen in competitive fixtures around the world have suffered defeats by 100 points in rugby, 10 wickets in cricket, several goals in football, and so on, and although they may bristle at the indignity, would be far more insulted if their opponent appeared to take pity on them. Furthermore, goal or points difference are usually important when deciding league placings and so on.
In the end, this is one of the many cultural differences that separate North America from the rest of the sporting world, and the fascination with these differences is what draws many overseas fans into the NFL and its fellow American sports leagues.
Football: Chaos at Atlético
From The Guardian's website, a remarkable tale of how Atlético Madrid went through nine managers (or potential managers) in 24 hours. Liverpool fans who think that their club is badly run should take solace from the fact that on this evidence, it could be a lot worse.
Monday, 19 October 2009
Cricket: Usain Bolt vs Chris Gayle
Judging from this footage from a recent charity match, Usain Bolt has more presence and effectiveness on the cricket pitch than many of the current West Indies team.
Friday, 16 October 2009
NFL: Terrible Performances Producing Wins
Last Sunday, two of the NFL’s worst teams, the Cleveland Browns and the Buffalo Bills, played out a grim fixture, resulting in a 6-3 win for the Browns. Three field goals was poor value for the long-suffering fans of both franchises, and the match was so devoid of skilful play that NFL Network pundit Steve Mariucci was forced to turn to the performance of Cleveland’s punter, Dave Zastudil, to find something positive to discuss (incidentally, the reference to Stanford towards the end of the highlights is a reference to this legendary play).
What did catch the eye however, was the performance of Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, who threw only 17 passes, and amazingly, completed only two of them, as well as being intercepted once. This is normally the sort of performance that would get a quarterback benched, and were it not for the fact that Anderson had only just won the job after previous starter Brady Quinn suffered that fate at the hands of head coach Eric Mangini, he probably would have been. What is even more remarkable is that the Browns were able to win a game where their quarterback completed only two passes for 23 yards. Yes, Jamal Lewis rolled back the years to rush for over 100 yards, but this must be one of the worst performances by a winning quarterback in the modern history of the league, and one of the worst performances by any winning team in top-flight professional sport anywhere.
If anything, the result testifies to the ineptness of the Bills, whose quarterback, the under pressure Trent Edwards, completed 16 passes (a more normal number), threw for 152 yards, and whose side racked up 297 yards of total offense to Cleveland’s 174, yet still lost. With some terrible teams in the league this year (Oakland, Tampa Bay, St Louis to name three), one is left wondering whether this will not be the worst performance by a winning side this year, since sudden-death overtime makes tied games so rare (last year’s Philadelphia – Cincinnati tie being the first in seven years). Reports of games from other sports where a terrible performance resulted in a win are very welcome.
What did catch the eye however, was the performance of Browns quarterback Derek Anderson, who threw only 17 passes, and amazingly, completed only two of them, as well as being intercepted once. This is normally the sort of performance that would get a quarterback benched, and were it not for the fact that Anderson had only just won the job after previous starter Brady Quinn suffered that fate at the hands of head coach Eric Mangini, he probably would have been. What is even more remarkable is that the Browns were able to win a game where their quarterback completed only two passes for 23 yards. Yes, Jamal Lewis rolled back the years to rush for over 100 yards, but this must be one of the worst performances by a winning quarterback in the modern history of the league, and one of the worst performances by any winning team in top-flight professional sport anywhere.
If anything, the result testifies to the ineptness of the Bills, whose quarterback, the under pressure Trent Edwards, completed 16 passes (a more normal number), threw for 152 yards, and whose side racked up 297 yards of total offense to Cleveland’s 174, yet still lost. With some terrible teams in the league this year (Oakland, Tampa Bay, St Louis to name three), one is left wondering whether this will not be the worst performance by a winning side this year, since sudden-death overtime makes tied games so rare (last year’s Philadelphia – Cincinnati tie being the first in seven years). Reports of games from other sports where a terrible performance resulted in a win are very welcome.
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