As another season starts for the Millburn Magic, first-year head coach Sean Kiernan is preparing for a new training schedule with the team set to start on May 16th. With new ideas and new players, Kiernan explains more about his way of working and also welcomes a star back to the Magic.
Click here for the story.
The addition of a women's team to the New Jersey Blaze organization brings a great opportunity for ladies of all ages to get involved in the area's only soccer team. Fostering youth talent as well as older, more established players, the Blaze are debuting the women's U20s squad in 2011. Coach Erwin van Bennekom talks us through the new season.
Click here for the story.
This is due to be posted on Atomic Sports Media but I thought I would post it here while it's still fresh (and before the semi-finals), so here I give you an account of the amazing FA Cup we've had in England (and Wales) this year.
What is a Cupset, you may ask? Well, it happens to be the most overused word in sport over here in Britain, as we face possibly the strangest outcome to the FA Cup in modern times.
A portmanteau of “cup” and “upset”, the description couldn’t be any closer to the reality. With the semi-finals announced, only one of the four teams remaining is in the Premiership - and it’s none of the Big Four (Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool), but Portsmouth. The other 3 teams may be little-known to your average non-Brit, with West Bromwich Albion, Barnsley and Cardiff City representing the second-tier of the Football League, the Championship.
What happened?
Well, we must address what is commonly known as “the magic of the FA Cup”. Hundreds of football clubs, big and small, enter to try and make the best of what they have - as long as they have a suitable ground, of course. This year a record breaking 731 teams entered, which automatically includes all 92 Football League teams (from the Premier League, the Championship and Leagues One and Two).
Most of these will be eliminated by the First Round Proper in preliminary rounds. After this, League One and Two teams are entered (including my team, Hartlepool United). By round three the Premiership and Championship teams begin, which is when the fun begins…
Just to make it clear, each team gets 40% of ticket sales, with 20% going to the FA. This means that if a small team gets an away game at a huge club with thousands of fans, they’ll be swimming in money.
The early rounds showcase little-known teams who make it through the qualifying rounds. Although many other small outfits had great runs, this year it was two teams in particular - Chasetown and Havant & Waterlooville - that stunned even the most passive of football fans.
Chasetown after beating Port Vale in the second round
Havant & Waterlooville clash with Liverpool in front of 45,000 at Anfield
Bristol Rovers' Danny Coles scoring his team's second against Premiership team Fulham
Captain Brian Howard celebrates his Barnsley team's 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield
Muntari scoring Portsmouth's winning goal past Manchester United temporary goalkeeper Rio FerdinandMy friend Jon came up with the idea a while ago to collate as many aptronymical names as possible - that is to say, names that describe said person's charms. Given it was for Atomic Sports Media, he decided to stick to sport. After the piece got sidetracked due to Jon's work commitments, I took over, adding a few more names to the six selections I originally submitted to him. I hope you enjoy it! Click here to read the article on the website, or continue below...
I am sure plenty of you will be aware of the Mr. Men or the Seven Dwarves. As bastions of the modern age of literature, their basic beauty is in their descriptive names. Mr. Happy was a jolly fellow. Sleepy was the lazy sort. I’m pretty sure Snow White wasn’t African-American.
But it’s certainly interesting to note that there are plenty of examples in real life to help us play the name game. Nominative determinism -- that is to say, how a person's name sounds has an effect on who that person becomes -- is to thank for George McGovern, former presidential candidate in 1972. Joe Holiday is Gibraltar’s Minister for Tourism. Margaret Spellings is the Secretary of Education in the United States Government. My favourite is probably Cardinal Sin, former Archbishop of Manila. Or Kevin De Cock, Director of HIV/AIDS at the World Health Organisation, who promoted the benefits of circumcision and safe sex.
Luckily, we sports fans have the best selection of well-named superstars. Maybe one day, they will all have to be renamed for the sake of clarity. Until then, we will have to bless the almighty Sporting Gods for those who already grace, or have graced, TV sets and internet pages across the world.
1) Gary Player is a South African golfer who turned professional in 1953. His career is widely regarded as one of the best in the history of golf, notching up 24 career wins including three Masters tournaments (1961, 1974, 1978), three British Opens (1959, 1968, 1974), one US Open (1965) and two PGA Championships (1962, 1972), making him the most successful golfer to come out of South Africa. It is not known what his skills are like with the ladies, but no doubt he's just as good a player there as he is when it comes to golf.
2) Chris Moneymaker is a poker player from Atlanta. Gaining a World Series of Poker bracelet in 2003 by beating Sam Farha with a full house on the last hand, Moneymaker has gone on to make a lot of money, turning an original $39 stake into $2.5 million in his debut live performance. His name is not a pseudonym, and apparently derives from the German name “Nurmacher.”
3) Eldrick "Tiger" Woods, possibly the most successful golfer of all time and still going strong at the age of 31, has used his woods to his advantage, clocking up 13 major championship wins and 86 professional wins to make him world No. 1. In 2006 he was the highest paid professional athlete in the world, making more than $100 million in winnings and endorsements.
4) Michael Ball is a 28-year-old soccer left-back born in Liverpool, England, currently playing for Manchester City. Having brief spells at PSV Eindhoven in Holland, five seasons at Rangers and four at Everton, as well as one England international cap, Ball prefers to get rid of the ball, given his defensive role.
5) Mario Lemieux is possibly the most famous NHL star in Pittsburgh, and probably the second most famous in Canada after some guy called Wayne. His role in the Penguins' line-up between 1984-94, 1995-97 and 2000-06 gave the team the boost they needed, also leading the team to successive Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992. His number, 66, was selected due to his comparison to that other Canadian bloke, who wore the same number but upside down - 99. His name - Lemieux - literally translates as "The Best" in French. This is amazing considering the records he holds, including most goals in one period (4), longest goal scoring streak (12 games), and the only player to score 30 power-play goals in two seasons.
6) George Best is possibly the most famous soccer forward in Britain. Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, many of his fellow countrymen express their love for him by saying: “Maradona good, Pélé better, George Best.” The first example of a “playboy” soccer player, his lifestyle would ultimately lead to his premature death, aged 59, in 2005. Although the bulk of his talent and memorable moments were during his 11-year career at Manchester United, he also graced the NASL, playing for the San Jose Earthquakes, Los Angeles Aztecs and Fort Lauderdale Strikers. Belfast City Airport was named after Best in 2006, even though it is not the top airport in Ireland.
7) Chuck Long is gifted with probably the best name for a QB in NFL history. A college Hall-of-Famer from the Iowa Hawkeyes, Chuck did not put his name to good use during his time at college due to his team’s strong running game. Drafted in the first round by the Detroit Lions, he was a bit rubbish. Then again, the Detroit Lions were/are rubbish, so he did not have much of a fighting chance. His best season came in 1987 with 2,598 yards, 11 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. After a year with the Los Angeles Rams and a one-year return to Detroit, Long chucked in the towel after a five-year career, and now coaches San Diego State.
8) Willie Thrower, another QB in the NFL, became the first African-American quarterback in the NFL, and was cited by Warren Moon as a key influence and a groundbreaking presence in the sport, even though he only played for one season at the Chicago Bears. Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney unveiled a statue to Thrower in his home town four years after his death, in 2006.
9) Mack Strong was strong enough to be the lead blocker for three 1,000-yard rushers in Chris Warren, Ricky Watters and Shaun Alexander during his 14 years with the Seattle Seahawks. With two Pro-Bowl selections to his name in 2005 and 2006, Strong finally announced retirement this year after he received a herniated disk in his neck after a Week 5 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
10) Derek Jeter, current captain of the New York Yankees and the longest-serving position player on the 2007 team roster, Jeter is French for “to throw." It is a shame it is not French for “to catch” after his 12th-inning Superman dive into the stands to stop Trot Nixon’s ambitious effort in the Yankees’ 2004 game against the Red Sox. Rivalries can make you do crazy things. Having said that, he’s now getting $22 million a year. I’d jump into a moving truck to make a catch for that salary.
11) Scott Speed was, for all intents and purposes, rubbish. His name, particularly in relation to his Formula One performance, seems more ironic than anything else. Racking up 0 points in 28 races, his career was finished before it started due to an unreliable car, poor team relations and entering the only racing championship that Americans aren’t very good at.
12) Arsene Wenger is the manager of Arsenal F.C., who are currently in or are jostling for the top spot in the English Premier League in soccer. Labelled “Comical Wenger” by Manchester United fans in earlier 2003 for predicting that his team could go unbeaten for the 38-game season, Wenger proudly held up a t-shirt produced by the rival fans when he accomplished the feat. Although he’s a brilliant manager known for his brilliant purchases and transfers, I must warn you that he’s a bit… French.
13) Wolfgang Wolf managed German Bundesliga team VfL Wolfsburg. I mean, come on. That’s just getting silly. He’s either an insane fan that has changed his name by deed poll, or he’s their mascot with an unimaginative name like “Steely McBeam”. I’m still coming to terms with it actually being true.
I hope that some day this trend will take off so that I, or anyone else, will not forget a player name in a pub conversation. Having said that, I think nominative determinism works well as it is. I am quite good on the horticultural circuit, and Jon Bellwood, whose idea it was to create this in-depth analysis into this phenomenon (and who I am writing on behalf of), had a brief career as an ornamental instrument carver. One way or the other, it makes life easier.
I decided to broaden my American sport horizons further by doing a piece on the National Hockey League. I've been a Pittsburgh Penguins fan for a long time but I've never had an active interest in the NHL as I have in the NFL. However, a ground-breaking game came about on New Year's Day: the Penguins vs. the Buffalo Sabres... in an outdoor match. I wrote for Atomic Sports Media to commemorate the game, and the options it brings to the League.
Read the article at Atomic Sports Media by clicking here, or continue below...
Predictions are wonderful things.
In late September, I discussed the options for American sports in exploiting the potential of the European market. Since then, the NFL, NBA and NHL have all played games in London. However, one comment I made really stood out, even if the event was on domestic soil. It was in regards to pulling in a big audience from a potential European crowd:
“The NHL would run into problems (with outdoor games) though. … Like back in 2001 during The Cold War game between Michigan and Michigan State at Spartan Stadium, they’d have to adapt a field to get the maximum amount of people to watch. Even then, it would have to be two amazing teams to really pull in the crowds. And 75 percent of them wouldn’t see the puck.”
As a Pittsburgh fan I was alerted to the news quite quickly that, on New Year’s Day 2008, the AMP Energy NHL Winter Classic would be taking place between the Sabres and the Penguins at the Ralph Wilson Stadium. The Associated Press played up the Michigan link to the point that “Michigan” was the third word of every sentence. Not that one can blame them, of course, given that both Penguins forward Adam Hall and Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller were present for Michigan State in the famous 3-3 draw.
Coincidences didn’t stop there. The Penguins’ Georges Laraque and the seemingly unbeatable Ty Conklin also played in the 2003 Heritage Classic, an event set up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Edmonton Oilers joining the NHL in 1979. This too was modeled on The Cold War game but seemed more of a unique celebration than a serious attempt at an event for the future. The real pulling power was in the MegaStars game that preceded the game, featuring Wayne Gretsky amongst others. The fact that the main event was against the Montreal Canadiens probably had something to do with it, too. Regardless, you cannot deny that drawing 57,167 fans was an achievement for a regular-season NHL game.
This number would be smashed by the 71,217 that bore the brunt of sub-zero temperatures in Buffalo. The game -- the first outdoor NHL contest in the United States -- proved how the future of the league could unfold, returning to the sport’s outdoor roots. A thrilling match saw the Penguins win in a shootout after battling through a scoreless third period and overtime.
Sports Illustrated put the popularity of the game into perspective the following day:
“The Penguins-Sabres game in snowy Buffalo drew a 2.6 overnight rating and a 5 share on NBC. Those were the best numbers since a six-game regional telecast on Fox drew a 3.0 overnight rating and a 7 share on Feb. 3, 1996.
“The Winter Classic ratings also surpassed Wayne Gretzky's final game, which was broadcast on Fox on April 18, 1999, and drew a 2.5/6.”
Even the Capital One Bowl between the Florida Gators and Michigan Wolverines, in which Chad Henne beat Heisman winner Tim Tebow to the MVP award and claimed the win for Lloyd Carr in his final game, was well behind in even the Detroit market (although it IS Hockeytown).
Sidney Crosby, a proud Nova Scotian who grew up playing hockey outdoors, also supported the roofless adaptation: “When you see 70,000 people jammed into a stadium to watch hockey, it's a good sign. The atmosphere and environment, I don't think you can beat that.”
As is American tradition in anything of slight historical value, throwback jerseys were worn. While the Sabres adopted their white jerseys of 1978-96, the Penguins went for the classic powder blue jerseys of 1973.
Some things did change, however, namely the rules, which were adapted for outdoor conditions. The teams swapped ends halfway through the 3rd while a zamboni cleared the ice of any extra snow that landed. Overtime was also divided, but the main bonus came in the shootout, where the goaltenders could choose the end they wanted (both Conklin and Miller chose the favorable west side).
The military preparation of the rink from Dec. 24 and overall fan participation made the whole event resemble an NFL playoff game. Many said the tailgating was better than at a Bills’ game. It was almost as if fans were trying to mock the weather and establish their fanaticism by braving the elements, some naked from the waist up.
For an indoor sport, and with the madness that football fans naturally have, this was many hockey fans’ only chance to prove their worth in the eyes of the nation. Having said this, the amount of Steelers and Bills merchandise may have led a neutral fan to believe that this was just another football game on a frozen gridiron.
So, it was all good. The players loved it, the coaches loved it, the fans turned out in droves and Eddie Olczyk called it “one of the best events I've ever been a part of as a player, coach or broadcaster.” Then again, he wasn’t really as a coach – not a talented one, anyway.
So what about the future of outdoor hockey?
First, the negatives. As I originally said four months ago, just how many people can see the puck? I struggled to see the football during the NFL’s dalliance in rain-soaked London, and I was 14 rows from the front. It’s pretty obvious why all but four hockey arenas have fewer than 20,000 seats.
Tell me this too: How successful would an outdoor hockey game be in the Pacific or Southeast? Unless they changed to roller blades halfway through the second period, I can’t see an outdoor game in Phoenix going too well. They should have never moved from Winnipeg.
Still, home-field advantage would hardly matter given they have to convert a field to make it work. The strategic placement of games in halfway house stadiums would no doubt be the natural way forward as fan support would dictate home-field advantage (Canadiens playing the Coyotes in, say, Chicago. The Triple C Contest, you could say).
There’s also a precarious balance that the NHL must understand. Once in a while, maybe (bi-)annually, would be a great money maker. Any less and it wouldn’t be a celebrated event. Any more and people may lose interest and not fill the stadiums.
Either way, the NHL is finally seeing the benefits of harnessing the outdoor game. Still desperately trying to shake the image brought about by the 2004-05 season, regardless of revenue and profit growth, the way to change opinions is to get more people on board. Even if the next outdoor game is half as fun to watch as the Sabres and Penguins, new fans will come and ratings will be high.
It’ll happen again soon. Trust me.
Given the boring, boring World Series has been annoying enough to waste valuable late-night quality viewing on Five (haha... okay, maybe not), I decided to compile the similarities between two sports that, on the face of it, have very little in common. Find it on Atomic Sports Media by clicking here or here or even here, or read the article below...
So, I was thinking, what’s the perfect comparison of sport between Merry Old England and Stupidly Huge America? I had a think. And by think, I mean to say that I looked on Wikipedia at a list of sports. Having spent over eight seconds looking at words I hadn’t even seen before, I certainly knew two things: firstly, that it’d have to be mainstream; secondly, that it had to have similar basics.
Sadly, all of our good ones - and by good, I mean in the eyes of the masses - are completely different to yours. You have football. So do we. Obviously the main difference between the definitions is that our description of football is actually accurate. I’m even happy to carry that definition joke over to comparing your MLS with our Premiership. I mean, REALLY, did you guys learn nothing from the NASL? The former is a thoroughly bastardized form of the latter.
Anyway, before you all start frantically pushing Alt + F4 to close your browser because of some Limey know-it-all who seemingly doesn’t know that America would kick our arses in everything but soccer, yet still incessantly talks and talks in over-long sentences, wait. I have found the finest comparison of Trans-Atlantic sports. It will show you that we’re not two countries separated by a common language as Oscar Wilde once said, but by a common sport as well.
In looking for the link, I found something common. In true American fashion, you’ve taken out the unnecessary parts of original British blueprints, done away with any form of tradition and made it as flashy and exciting as possible. Sadly, it’s still regarded by the masses as one of your most boring sports - the very link that brought the link to my attention.
So what were widely regarded as the boring sports of the world by those young go-getting Internet types on their forums and LAN games, listening to their hippety-hop music? I did a quick check around a few message boards and the same answers came up.
“Anything to do with horses” - but horse racing, the most viewed of them all, isn’t sport, everyone knows that: it’s a thinly-veiled platform for gambling.
“Basketball. You score and then you concede. Whoever scores last wins” - valid point. I don’t even watch until the fourth quarter. Still, we got “Space Jam” out of it. That was a good film, apart from the shameless Michael Jordan montage after he went into Looney Tune Land. Then again, when the TuneSquad beat the Monstars I cried with joy. But I digress.
“Snooker, because it only has one camera angle” - true, but there’s sometimes nothing better than having no commitments, a six-pack of beer and a couch with it on the TV for hours. Besides, it’s hardly a team game and they don’t build stadiums for it.
“Golf.” - see above.
But then…
“Cricket because it’s on for five days, i.e. forever”
“Baseball, I hate it, apart from when balls bounce off of Jose Canseco’s head and out of the park for a homer”
And there we have it.
I’m surprised the link hadn’t come to me sooner in light of the World Series (I’m too busy watching the Steelers fall apart at Denver to pay much attention) and cricket’s Twenty 20 World Cup (I was preoccupied with seeing England lose in everything this week to even remember that tournament).
I’ve broken the comparisons down into handy bite-sized pieces. I would have said fun-sized, but I feel that is, and always has been, a lie. I expect a fun-sized Mars or Snickers to be at least 5 pounds, but the description does not deliver - something I aim to do. I digress.
1) Wood, balls and running
One guy throws the ball, the other hits it. Fantastic. When you hit it nicely enough, you can grant yourself a light jog in order to score points.
2) Boundaries
If you hit the ball far enough, you score more. In baseball, the home run gains you one point. In cricket, if you hit it to the boundary, you gain either 4 or 6 runs, depending on whether the ball bounces before the boundary or not.
3) Heights of athleticism
Don’t get me wrong. I’m hardly in a place to criticize other people’s athletic ability. However, one does not have to be a string bean to compete. Compared to football, soccer, ice hockey and basketball - which are generally more movement-based and potentially damaging, if a contact sport - both cricketers and baseball players alike don’t need huge muscles and 36-inch waists and below to enter.
4) No need to retire at 30
My own father, who captained the local cricket team, played until he was 49. With such low intensity play, it’s easy to do so - although obviously, playing at local level contributed to that. However, players at the top level have regularly gone on to play at 40 years old, and beyond. Sir Donald Bradman, regarded as the greatest batsman of all time in cricket, racked up a batting average of 99.94 by age 40. Even now, in the wake of the World Series, Curt Schilling, Mike Timlin and Tim Wakefield - all 40 or over – played key rolls in the success of the champion Red Sox.
5) SCANDAL
This is probably my favourite area of comparison, and it highlights our cultural differences in such a stereotypical way. Ticket-selling superstars have a personal habit of getting themselves in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. Barry Bonds - central to the BALCO Scandal - is not so much remembered for his prolific record-breaking home run total, but for his alleged drug use (‘The Cream’ and ‘The Clear’) and the purported effect it has had on his performance. You Americans and your drugs tests, huh?
Here, we’ve had two successive England cricket captains in trouble with the England Cricket Board (ECB). The first - the infamous Andrew Flintoff (known as Freddie to most people here, as his surname resembles that of one Mr. Flintstone) - was caught up in the “Fredalo” incident that resulted in his loss of his vice-captaincy. Basically, he got really drunk, tried to ride a pedalo, fell in and had to be rescued. Us Brits and our alcohol, eh?
The second and more recent incident involved Paul Collingwood, England’s current captain, who did the damnedest thing when attending a strip club for a couple of beers. Fined £1000, he didn’t realize it was a strip club until a full half an hour of attending. If naked women on poles didn’t catch his attention, it probably stands to reason why he was out on his first ball the next day against South Africa in the World Twenty20 Championship - obviously the bowler didn’t catch his eye either.
6) Us against them
Cricket and baseball both find themselves with a fan base that is surprisingly militant in their following. Cricket was, a few years ago, full of old people who were very prim and proper, obsessed with tradition and, well, British. Very British. It’s opened up in recent years, where five-day games (two innings, unlimited overs - an over amounting to six balls) would attract the “Barmy Army,” hardcore young Britons who dress up, sing, play marching band music from the stand, everything. It’s rejuvenated the sport.
Baseball is, and always has been, like that. From the stereotypical organ through the tannoys to the hilarity of Steve Bartman, baseball fans always get involved one way or another. However, the fans of these sports have a group mentality, and it leads back to the original point; baseball and cricket are, in the eyes of the masses, boring as hell.
Call it the lack of contact, the length of the game or the irregular stand-up-and-dance involvement, baseball and cricket fans tend to follow their sport and no other. I like that: it shows true fan identity. Besides, why buy a beer when you have no time to drink it? Why wait for tickets that cost a stupid amount of money when it doesn’t last? Length of a game doesn’t matter in the grand scale of things - not with other priorities in life, like getting drunk.
7) Tradition
Baseball seems to be a very British sport in America. Everything seems to stay the same, from team logos to outfits to helmets to batting styles to everything. Chief Wahoo and Mr. Met are still going strong, for example; other sports seem to tire of these facets of identity quite quickly, although I don’t think anybody can blame the Braves for dropping Chief Noc-A-Homa. You’d get shot for suggesting something like that these days.
Regardless, American baseball iconography has a huge place in popular culture and is going strong outside the USA - I don’t know of anybody who can’t recognise the Boston “B” or the Yankees’ “NY.”
British identity lies in the county you were born in. My family, for this very reason, has strong bonds with Durham County Cricket Club, the youngest team in the County Championship (formed in 1992) and winner of their first two trophies this year. Everything tied in with that is very old-fashioned - club crests are usually the county coat-of-arms, and the colours - if worn (cricket players usually wear white) - depend on those on the crest. And finally…
8) The future of the sport
Although this seems like a bit of a throwaway comment, or an obvious one to say the least, the future of both of these sports is through youngsters. Children form the backbone of the future success of both cricket and baseball - whether it’s the little leagues in America or the local clubs of the villages and towns in England. Fan bases of both sports are very family-orientated, more so than other sports. As it’s more relaxed, frequent and lasts longer, you get a better bang for your buck and a good day out.
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The great irony of this comparison is possibly one of home culture: I love cricket, yet I just can’t watch baseball. I truly cannot. I suppose when you’re indoctrinated to the ways of the cricketer from birth, there’s no avoiding a love for cricket; maybe I dislike bat-and-ball sports but just feel compelled to watch it due to family allegiances. Having said that, I’m a Red Sox fan on account of having a tour of Fenway Park.
I find myself drawn to the NHL and NFL due to their emphasis on contact - the forms of sport I’ve always personally engaged in. I probably only like the NBA because young upstarts like Carmello Anthony always guarantee a bench-clearing brawl every now and then.
Still, without cricket and baseball, both British and American sports would find themselves lacking the alternative chilled out approach to competition. They both represent the traditions and balance sport needs to thrive and, to a certain extent (and particularly in the move-happy USA), survive. It’s just a bonus that to their fans, other sporting disciplines simply do not compare, and I can see exactly why - fans of these sports are a different breed; in most respects, much better.
Given my attendance at NFL London was probably the greatest thing I've ever done in my life, I decided to make an article of it. Due to a bombardment of articles, videos and interviews during the week addressing this landmark event for the NFL and for British sports fans, it's absolutely massive. If you get the chance, please go to Atomic Sports Media and read it there or, if you're lazy, click this link here to go directly to the piece! (Incidentally, this blog's banner is a picture I took at the game...)
So here it is -- the biggest report you’ll get this season for a game involving the Dolphins. But, of course, this is more than that. Finally, 81,000 people plus myself will get their first chance to see live football without a TV being in the mix.
This took a long time to sink in with me -- it only really hit me once I got inside Wembley Stadium -- but American sports networks, Web sites, interviews and a general media bombardment truly started during the game between the New England Patriots and the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 21. It is here that the diary of events I dutifully collected starts.
And as a ploy to get your attention early on, I will advertise genuine mentions of ESPN being idiots, the incompetence of both British and American media outlets, a player that does not know what London is or where it’s at, Mexican waves, nudity and the Miami Dolphins cheerleaders (although I can not promise those last two are linked).
Also worth a mention are two of my previous articles detailing NFL Europe’s demise and a somewhat unofficial first part to this piece about sporting America coming to Britain; it really is amazing how many of those topics were thrown into the air during numerous broadcasts and writings.
21 October
It’s official. I hate NFL commentators. Before they were so bad, they were good – John Madden, a.k.a. Captain Obvious, being my personal favourite (and Terry Bradshaw, given that he’s a legend) -- but way to offend an entire nation, guys. A week before the league’s biggest experiment, they decided to spend a good half-hour mocking the British. Granted, some of it was funny… in a “so unfunny, it’s funny” way, surprisingly. The best came when one turned to the other and said:
“You gotta feel sorry for the Brits that have to watch a 0-7 team next week.” (Fair point.)
“I don’t think half of them know what 0-7 means!” (errrr…)
“They’ll be confused by the whole thing!” *cue Dick Van Dyke English accent* “Who are these blokes?”
To make matters worse, BBC Sport would play up to this by feigning stupidity later in the week.
23 October
My boss and editor of the site, David Hale, sends me a touching email that -- although loaded with class -- ultimately makes me sigh given the line-up, when originally announced, actually seemed pretty good.
“Enjoy the game this weekend, although allow me, as an American Football enthusiast, to apologize for you being forced to watch Eli Manning vs. Cleo Lemon. Really, it’s generally much better than that.”
Cheers for that reminder, boss.
24 October
And so begins the BBC’s descent into American Football. Think of, say, ESPN as a 10 for football knowledge. BBC was about a 3 before this week. Knowing its audience to have little knowledge, they lowered themselves to about a minus-2 by the Sunday evening highlights.
However, BBC’s Inside Sport video regarding the game (specifically from the Dolphins’ point of view) was good for many reasons. Although the compilations of hard-hitting tackles seemed badly slapped together by someone who just liked seeing bodies breaking (although I certainly enjoyed seeing one clip of Jason Gildon destroying Jay Fiedler), the interviews were carried off with the true class of the BBC.
First up was Dave Hyde, reporter at the Miami Sea Sentinel. “I did a column questioning why the Dolphins are going to London,” he said. “Within 12 hours of saying that I got emails and emails from England… I was stunned by the volume of emails, and I realized of course, that all of them had become fans because of Dan Marino.”
And that was genuinely reflected on the Sunday. Dan Marino is a pure icon -- the American version of our Bobby Moore holding the World Cup, one might say. The No. 13 jerseys were out in force. Marino’s legacy turned out to be one of the most popular conversation-starters during the week, and Jay Feely was happy to continue the praise.
“Dan Marino was my favourite player when I was a kid,” fawned Feely, traipsing through Dolphin Stadium. Pointing at the mural of Marino: “I love coming in and seeing that.”
Fuad Reviez - the Fuad-o-matic himself, now looking more like an ex-D lineman than a kicker - commented on his trip to London in an exhibition match, and the overall failure to win over the fans for an obvious reason: “They wanted to see the superstars. They were expecting to see Dan Marino for four quarters -- they saw him for 4 minutes.”
By this point I was getting pretty annoyed. These interviews were filmed about a week previous to broadcast, and after 7 minutes there was no mention of the Giants, the state of affairs this season, or any current player interviews. Then Wayne Huizenga, the owner of the Dolphins himself, seals the deal:
“We decided to take the best of the best, in a game which counts towards the playoffs.”
…are they still trying to kid the clueless British contingent?
Thank the Lord should he or she exist, when the downsides of this match-up set in. Working on the 80/20 principle of good and bad, the stereotypical style of BBC reporting was glaringly apparent with 2 minutes left, in which everything bad in football - aside from that STUPID FOX robot from their game coverage intervals - was touched upon.
“They raise our prices and we have one less game,” whines a Miami tailgater. “The Giants haven’t played here in maybe 10 years. Miami’s loaded with New Yorkers!”
Page 2
The BBC clarifies this concept in the only way they know how: “Imagine if Manchester United took their match against Liverpool to New York? Well, the Miami Dolphins have just sacrificed one of their eight regular-season home games.”
Then the real disenchantment hits. The first was beautifully ironic, and also exacerbated the poor quality of editing and NFL updates the BBC seemingly concerns itself with.
“So, Ronnie Brown, are you looking forward to playing in London?” He looked like he was going to cry. He probably injured himself on purpose to avoid a country too preoccupied with rain and drinking tea to concentrate on contact sports. Well, at least in the minds of NFL commentators.
Cut to the Dolphins crowd, accompanied by the emphasis on the 0-7 statistic. A small contingent of three or four fans are shouting popular phrases: “We suuuuuuuck!” “We still suck!” “We suck it!” Dave Hyde returns in light of this:
“NFL Europe might’ve been a little better than what you’re going to see right now.”
Cheers for that reminder, boss.
25 October
Sky Sports News is our only real 24/7 sports channel here, brimming with updates. And what a surprise that, when the NFL preview FINALLY comes on (at the end of the hour, no less), it’s concerned with the impact on Premiership soccer. Who does one have to bribe to get decent football coverage over here?
Eggert Magnusson, owner of West Ham United and class-A aptronym - he actually looks like a hairy egg - loves the NFL. Only because a similar move “would be good for the [British] game”.
Then there was something about the Dolphins cheerleaders meeting MPs at the Houses of Parliament - incidentally the only day where they all turned up to do some work! (This may or may not be true.)
And to add to the Dolphins’ tarnished squad, Channing Crowder reminds us why he’s got a degree from Florida, given to me through another Hale-mail mocking my future attendance of this game.
“I couldn't find London on a map if they didn't have the names of the countries,” he said. "I swear to God. I don't know what nothing is. I know Italy looks like a boot. I know London Fletcher. We did a football camp together. So I know him. That's the closest thing I know to London. He's black, so I'm sure he's not from London. I'm sure that's a coincidental name."
Cheers for that rem… ah, forget it.
26 October
ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli decides to make me feel like an MP who slept in yesterday.
“Despite a respectable No. 15 ranking in league statistics, the offense is anything but explosive. Cleo Lemon, a lifetime backup quarterback, now is the starter. Chris Chambers, the most capable receiver, was traded to the Chargers last week. And star tailback Ronnie Brown, arguably the team’s one bright spark, was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered against the Pats.”
It’s becoming as clear as crystal that the Dolphins may be the first 0-16 team in NFL history, and they’re coming to London.
27 October
Before I got the train to the South, I checked ESPN’s comments page. Three struck me as a great spread of opinion.
The first was pretty straightforward: “The job of a corporation, like the NFL, is to expand and make more revenue. By expanding overseas they are increasing their maximum total revenue and their opportunity cost is nothing compared to what the benefits are.”
Now THAT is spoken like a true American capitalist.
Now the turn for the token spanner in the works: “I am personally offended by the decision to attempt to globalize the NFL. Are we, here in America, not worthy fans anymore?”
Erm… you’ve been the only country with a competent league for the past 80 or so years.
He continued, evidently without engaging his brain: “I am disgusted. And if all those dreams of the NFL bourgeoisie come true, and there is a team outside of America in the NFL, I will refuse, from that day forth, to call myself an NFL fan. Let’s be serious, the globe is not shrinking. But your loyal fan base will if you continue to think this way.”
Yeah, maybe the NFL might become the second sport of America.
How’s about no? This fervent patriotic fundamentalism strikes me as interesting. We’re very lucky to get this game, but is it really that awful a thing to happen - a game in *gasp* Londonengland (as EVERY American pronounces it)?
The last comment cemented the same old point into the forthcoming game, and one I now use as an excuse for the amount of beer I drank that night to numb the pain of £75 spent on a ticket.
“I thought Great Britain was an ally of the U.S. Why are we punishing our allies? First we send the NHL over there and now the Miami Dolphins. Holy crap! They’ll never back us again.”
It was then that I realized that card -- such as the kind that the ticket was printed on -- was flammable. Sadly, no source of fire was available. Guess I had to go, then.
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28 October
After meeting up with my fellow NFL observers in Baker Street, one thing was scarily comforting. I’m known for wearing football jerseys most days -- I have about 20 or so -- and I’ve always enjoyed having that different dress sense to reflect one of my favourite things in life. It would lead to the odd conversation with someone wearing a Raiders cap they bought because they saw it in a Snoop Dogg video and as such knew everything about football, or a genuine fan from when the NFL was popular on terrestrial TV here in the ’80s. Nothing particularly substantial.
The pub we were in, however, was PACKED with them. Everyone was bonded in a strange sense of unity, almost like ex-pats living abroad. The silent nods went to everyone -- particularly the Steelers fans in my case (I hugged the odd one too) -- never before have I, or should I say we, felt like being wanted by other people.
THIS was what the NFL phenomenon had caused in London; not a football game, but a social bond. You weren’t alone anymore. You didn’t have idiots from a workplace or college saying how they preferred watching “proper sports” like rugby or soccer. People in the street would breeze past the huddles of fans wearing every shirt, looking at them all with an envious glare, they, themselves, now being the outsiders. Not me, though. I was one of them.
I even chatted to Ravens fans, laughed along with Broncos fans even though they’d just beaten us the week before, and even respected a person who said that Plaxico Burress was neither greedy nor stupid for leaving the Steelers. Wearing big numbers on your front and back qualified you as family, and you can never break those ties.
Use BBC logic: if you were into European soccer, and were wearing an Arsenal shirt, you would be surprised if anyone would say anything. Here, I think you’re born wearing a soccer jersey. Although very basic in comparison, the emotional and social impact on a city, never mind a person, is overwhelming.
Given everyone stole our idea of a few pints in Baker Street then the Underground to Wembley Park, the platform, and train… and station… and Wembley Way… were absolutely heaving with bodies. Every team imaginable was represented -- I even saw a Detroit Lions jersey. That’s commitment.
Ticket hawkers lined the street. Counterfeit or not, one typical American and his wife bundled through only for the man to be stopped after the woman -- he went marching off in anger to find the man who’d most likely legged it to the bank. Very unlucky.
The Game
Last time I counted, I think America had about roughly six, perhaps seven million stadiums with more than 50,000 capacity. Here we only have four - St. James Park, Old Trafford, Emirates Stadium and, of course, the most expensive stadium in world history (fact!): Wembley.
And just… well… phenomenal. I can’t sum it up any better than that - not without heavily censored yet completely legitimate profanities. Still relatively empty - only around 30,000 - we got our first glimpse of Strahan, Manning (The Lesser), Moss and Shockey - about 30 yards away from us. They looked so much… bigger on TV. Even Strahan. I put it down to perspective personally.
The cheerleaders were a welcome distraction and served their purpose well. They must be fitted with nitrous oxide - they just can’t physically stop smiling, not even in the pouring British rain.
After the band I have no interest in had finished, the national anthems bonded the two nations together formally. Although the American one wasn’t very popular (even if Jocelyn Brown was phenomenal), God Save The Queen shook the foundations. It was the first time I’d sang it at a sporting event, and what better time to do it than when you’re hosting another country without actually playing them?
The stage is removed, the dancing kids finally get lost and are replaced by the seemingly equally loathed Giants. Don’t get me wrong - they were well supported -- but they were led out by John Terry, the overpaid Chelsea and England soccer captain (and honorary Giants captain for the day), who is universally loathed by anyone in London who isn’t a Chelsea fan.
And this is where ESPN will get their heads kicked in by rugby hooligans if it ever shows its scruffy face near Twickenham. Martin Johnson -- the former England rugby team captain who led our team to win the Rugby World Cup in 2003 -- was the honorary captain of the Dolphins. After the amazing fireworks display that singes my eyebrows 14 rows back, seeing T.I. carrying the British flag and the cheerleaders all lined up to greet them, the coin toss took place.
Announced were three representatives: Martin Johnson (HUGE cheer). Lewis Hamilton, F1 rookie sensation (HUGE cheer). John Terry (HUGE boos that lasted for about a minute). But ESPN, who not only addressed it wrongly after the game but made a point of it, too (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=271028015), happily blamed Johnno. Wrong move.
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We simply won’t forgive you for that, guys. Granted, we boo our England soccer team captain, but given we probably won’t qualify for the European Championships and he earns £125,000 a week, you might begin to understand.
And what to say about the game? It was bloody rubbish!
But just as bad, it was the best game I’ve ever seen. I don’t even mean that in an “only game I’ve seen” way either - but there’s so much you miss out on during everything I’ve experienced of the sport. If a TV screen isn’t denying me of it, it’s the Atlantic. The atmosphere was electric, and the fans were genuinely responsive. Shouting, cheering, singing, laughing, everything was jovial.
But on the pitch, the mood had been set weeks ago. The game was now merely a foregone conclusion. Seemingly, as a result, the charts hit season-long lows. Such statistics include:
Lowest passing yards in a game for Giants this season (8-22, 59yds)
Lowest passing yards in a game for Dolphins this season (17-30, 149yds)
Lowest receiving yards in a game for Giants this year - Jeremy Shockey, a TIGHT END (3-26)!
Lowest receiving yards in a game for Dolphins this year - Peelle (6-42)
Commentators blamed the turf: “They’ve gone from a 5/8ths- to a 1-inch cleat.” They blamed the rain: “This is becoming an old school game in this weather.” They blamed jetlag. Basically, they blamed anything that wasn’t the players. We all know that footballs get slippery, footing is lost, and that it’s just not as safe to play in. Hell, the Giants played in brown uniforms in the second half. Still, I really couldn’t care less: fact is, Eli Manning had won five games straight before this game, and the Dolphins are looking like the worst team to grace the NFL. This game was the flagship of future NFL dealings, and Manning’s only touchdown came when he ran the thing into the end zone.
In fact, there’s two ways to prove he was in no way arsed.
Cleo Lemon was better than him by nearly three times. Cleo Lemon! That guy! And he threw for a touchdown!
Tom Coughlin said, when asked if the trip was worth it: "I'll be glad to give my opinion to the commissioner with the issues that came up.”
A no from the Giants coach would have sufficed. Evidently he’d not shown the effort as a leader to do anything more than win. By three points for goodness sake! 13-10 is not a healthy score against winless opposition for a team challenging for the playoffs. Angry at the conditions which he should have been completely aware of months ago, Coughlin’s simply not giving the people of London a game, and could have indirectly - or directly - instructed his players to treat it as… how can we put it… NFL Europe?
I know it’s mere formality - hell, it’s institutionalized in the anti-climax that is pro football - but 2 minutes of kneeling is NOT what London wanted. It was so lackluster -- boring, almost -- the glimmer of hope from the Dolphins proved to be the only true football highlight in the game. Granted, turnovers mean potential field goals, but an institution like the New York Giants should not be in a 3-point-lead situation anyway. It just seemed like Coughlin was taking aggressions against Roger Goodell out on the thousands in the crowd, like myself, who spent hard cash for this spectacle. How? Boring football.
Brandonn Jacobs was very impressive though. After Eli missed Burress a few times, Manning decided to palm it off to give the Giants their highest rushing total of the season (23-131). Fair play to the guy, but it doesn’t disguise an ultimate inadequacy in his and Coughlin’s passing game. Burress missed two easy receptions, too, but he should have never left Pittsburgh, the silly boy. Weather should not be a reason if you play half of your games in the Tri-State area. Miami’s only strength is in pass defense, and even then they’re 16th!
Regardless of all of this idiocy on the part of the Giants, alongside the inadequacy of the Dolphins, the game was truly a sight to behold. The biggest cheer of the night, or at least in the top three with the Dolphins’ touchdown and the end of the British national anthem, was the unlicensed nudity.
I didn’t understand what was happening at first. Picture the scene: kick-off for the second half begins. The umpire suddenly dashes towards the centre of the field, kicking away a black piece of clothing. Then everybody stands up while I’m fiddling around with my camera for the kick-off, only to look up and laugh. The “umpire” was now naked but for a football-shaped jockstrap, dancing wildly before breaking into press ups. The police were nowhere to be seen and security and players alike looked on as the crowd cheered wildly. It also (I assume) inspired the first of many Mexican waves in the stadium.
After it had all finished, the Mexican waves were replicated down Wembley Way as queues were at a standstill and bored. As I piled onto the Underground train, conversation was immediately sparked up about the future. Not the game itself - everyone knew each other had enjoyed it - but rumours of the Jaguars playing the Patriots next year, or the future of the NFL in Britain and beyond.
Even after getting back and watching the highlights - which jumped straight from kick-off to the missed field goal to the first points on the board (it really was that dull), and hearing a great line for a Dolphins DE to his teammates: “Hi, I’m Jason Taylor, what’s your name?” - it came to me.
The underlining significance to this entire experience is that, amidst a weekend of clichés, uninformed broadcasters, crap commentators (got another one for you: “Do you think these Brits want Lemon with their tea?”) and a fundamentally flawed final game, it was the atmosphere of collective enjoyment that ruled in the favour of the NFL. The question over the amount of fun had would have been fruitless - those on the train were concerned with the future, and the future only.
And if the NFL comes to Wembley again, I know at least 81,000 people who want to go again - including me.
I got tickets to NFL London! How good is that? By way of celebration, I wrote probably my longest piece yet for Atomic Sports Media. Read it below, or click here or there to get to it on ASM!
Finally, the moment my life has been building up to has arrived. After 21 years and four months, God has been gracious enough to allow me into the inner circle of Heaven. On October 28, I will be one of 90,000 fans watching the first NFL game outside North America at Wembley Stadium in London.
More than 500,000 people applied for tickets in March. I had no emails regarding the first and second lottery-pick rounds. Fast forward (or rewind, I guess) to September 6, 2007, probably the happiest day of my life. How so, you may ask? A pretty obvious set-up has deflated my impact, but I’ll give you an accurate transcript of my response to the beautiful email I received that day.
“Dear NFL fan,”
Hello NFL.
“Congratulations!!”
What have I won, a chance to buy sale items at RBK.com?
“You have previously told us that you would like the opportunity to purchase tickets for the Miami Dolphins v New York Giants match at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 28 October 2007, in accordance with the NFL's ticketing terms and conditions.”
Yes. Under three email addresses. Three of which broke my heart on two separate occasions.
“NFL UK and Ticketmaster are delighted to inform you that you have been given the opportunity to purchase tickets for this historic event!”
[expletives deleted]
“You are therefore entitled to buy up to 4 tickets to the game. In order to buy tickets we invite you to visit our ticketing website www.nfllondon2007.com at 10:00 BST on Wednesday 12 September. […] Tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. There will be more applicants than seats available, so please purchase early to avoid disappointment. On May 16th, when the first batch went on sale, 40,000 tickets were sold within 90 minutes, and the second sale saw more than 10,000 tickets go in a similarly short amount of time.”
Bollocks. Big problem. I was in college on that day, at that time, without Internet access, learning shorthand. I knew that ASM colleague and partner-in-crime Jon Bellwood would be most happy to join me, so after a trip to his house and the setting up of a Ticketmaster account, he would represent us, and two accomplices, in our ticket purchase.
It was 10:03 a.m., Wednesday, and my phone starts going. I dash out of the room and answer. “Your details aren’t working, mate.” Double bollocks. After the fastest and most quickly resolved argument in my life, we find a second course of action. Five minutes later, my phone’s beeping. It’s a text from Jon.
The words “WE’RE GOING TO WEMBLES!!!” made me squeeze my unmentionables so hard to stop me both yelling in happiness and/or doing a lap of honour in the classroom. Might I add, sports fans, that the tactic is remarkably good if you want to reduce your manly bellow to a squeak and your galloping run to a shuffle; even then, you’d have a problem getting out of your seat to do it.
As my first article for the site I wrote about the collapse of NFL Europe. As a review of the game will no doubt be the ultimate conclusion and wrapping-up of the success of the event, I’ve found myself considering the following points now the dream is finally a reality, not only for the NFL, but for American sports on a whole.
1) New York Giants vs. Miami Dolphins?!
I know this sounds ungrateful. Hell, as long as they’re throwing the ball forward, it’s better than the sports I already have to watch with a ball that isn’t round, right? But really… I know that the Dolphins and Giants are nice sounding teams, but when was the last time they were actually good? The last time the Dolphins won the Divisional Playoffs was 1992, and they haven’t been in a Super Bowl since ‘84. Which they lost. Obviously the Giants did great in 2000, but the last time they were world beaters, Lawrence Taylor was still playing.
I probably deserve a slap given that I’m a beggar who’s wanting choice, but if you’re trying to promote the game internationally, wouldn’t you, as NFL Commissioner, at least try to get two flagship franchises of particular significance over the last five years? The others that made the shortlist, to my memory, were my beloved Steelers, the Saints, Eagles, Cowboys and Packers. Any of those five, at the moment, are more promising than the current choices. However, the league evidently thought that the greatest tie would be the one that sounded good when people used to watch the NFL here on a Sunday in the ‘80s. Fair play to them, I guess.
I’m not complaining though. The tickets have been sold. Some of you may remember that I myself have one. Hell, the Browns could play the Lions and it would still sell out.
Okay, maybe that’s an overstatement.
2) If it’s already sold out, why aren’t more games being scheduled for Europe, and for more sports?
I remember reading, a couple of years ago, about the L.A. Kings planning on coming over to Europe to do play a game or two - a plan that never came to fruition. If this NFL match succeeds in its aims, will the American sporting nation make a more concerted effort to stretch their boundaries? I know what you Yanks are thinking. You have your sports in your country, we have ours in, well, the rest of the world.
Even cricket is more popular in a larger amount of countries at international level than baseball and football put together. Then there’s soccer, of course. My beautiful soccer. That’s pretty much the universal sport - any country, any race, either gender.
I think the ticket sales stats given out by the email from NFL UK prove the selling potential of sporting franchises elsewhere. As universal as soccer may be, American sports would have to make up for their pseudo-cult status by tailoring their pulling power to the most obvious nations. For example, if the NFL plays another game, it would most likely be Germany given the NFL Europe venture was predominantly there until 2007; the Olympiastadion in Berlin holds 75,000. Then again, you could go all-out and aim for the Nou Camp in Barcelona - former home of the WLAF’s Dragons - and get close to 100,000. Either way, fans are willing to travel even if the host nation is unconvinced.
The NHL would run into problems though. They would have to spend a lot of money to create their own stadium as there really isn’t that much available in Europe, discounting Scandanavia and Russia (and really, would they go to Russia?). Like back in 2001 during The Cold War game between Michigan and Michigan State at Spartan Stadium, they’d have to adapt a field to get the maximum amount of people to watch. Even then, it would have to be two amazing teams to really pull in the crowds. And 75 percent of them wouldn’t see the puck.
And the MLB? They wouldn’t stand a chance. I don’t know of a single baseball diamond in Britain, or any leagues in Europe. Our version of it is cricket - a game which, to the masses, is a long and boring stick and ball game - although that’s another argument for another time!
The NBA would probably have the most luck after the NFL in hosting a game, as it’s pretty popular in several countries (particularly on the Mediterranean Sea). However, with the schedule meaning they have to play 600, maybe even 1,000 games a season (seemingly), the strain of traveling would be an immediate disadvantage to the participants. Both the Dolphins and Giants get a bye week after their trip to London, so it’s safe to assume that an NBA game would have to make similar adjustments to their schedule.
3) By the same token, would European sports try and make an impact on the American stage?
This is a tough one. The major European sports were, last time I checked, soccer, Rugby Union, soccer, Rugby League, soccer, soccer and soccer. And cricket.
Which of those could potentially sell in an American market? Soccer is on the upsurge. David Beckham’s various injuries have curbed the enthusiasm somewhat, and if we sent over Arsenal to play Manchester United at Giants Stadium or FedEx Field I have no doubt that the place would be filled. Would it actually happen though?
The Big 4 over here in the Premier League - Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal - all hate each other. It’s pretty much accepted fact that in a country so small, rivalries are easy to come by. However, all teams play each other twice - once home and once away, and games such as these serve as cornerstones of income (and fan fanaticism) for the teams. Although they could pull it off, it’s highly unlikely that it would ever happen – home-field advantage is a genuine saving grace. Having said that, with the USA Women’s soccer team dominating the Women’s World Cup, it could spark another bit of interest in the nation.
I think rugby would probably fail. The old joke over here, when I express my love for football, is that it’s “for girls who need pads to stop themselves getting hurt.” Obviously it’s a fatally flawed argument given the rules of rugby, and after playing both I can safely say that you NEED the pads in football to walk away from tackles. It would certainly be an interesting concept though, sending over London Wasps to play Leicester Tigers or another European team like Toulouse or Munster. It would never happen though, and the pulling power isn’t there. I don’t think even the current Rugby World Cup is getting much airtime on TV in the States.
The only way it could succeed would be to pit the Super Bowl winners against the Heineken Cup champions in a pair of role-reversing games. I think it’s happened before, but not on a particularly grand scale (and I think the rugby boys won). That would NEVER happen. I can’t see Peyton Manning going into a tackle with Lawrence Dallaglio. American players are just worth too much.
I have a funny feeling that these questions, and more, will be answered after October 28. Hopefully I can answer a few. What I am hoping for, above all, is a game where the points are flowing and not solely through field goals. Given both the Giants and Dolphins are 0-2 as I write this, it may actually turn out to be a dogfight of huge proportions. Either way, I hope you’re watching the game on your TVs; you’ll see the pulling power America does, can and will have over the sporting minds of Europe. If this hits the mark, I don’t think there’ll be any stopping commissioners from all sports questioning the financial and marketing gains of a European game.
After all, sports are a business. THE business.
I've just started blogging for Atomic Sports Media as well as here. I figured that it would give me an escape from consistently big articles and let me vent my thoughts - perhaps frustrations - about my favourite sports. I've started doing Confessions as a series of writings about Hartlepool United, partially because that's what comes first in my sporting life but also because I hope that people - even if it was just one - take an interest in it all too.
Read my blog here or below...
So, it comes to this. My team, the once ‘lowly’ Hartlepool United, facing up against the fallen giant, Leeds United. Leeds, having only been in the Premiership in 2004 and the UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE SEMI FINAL in 2001 (a fact I feel I must shout given that I simply cannot comprehend this team facing my own), flew down the divisions after a poor business investment did not pay off. Thinking that they could get away with it, Leeds management duly put all their eggs in one basket - the pay-off being the Champions’ League title bonus - only for Valencia to duly crap on Leeds 3-0 in the semi-final second leg in front of 53,000 fans in Spain. From a great height.
Oops!
So here we are today. Leeds, deducted 15 points before they kicked their first ball (financial irregularities do this to you), are now on -3 after four games; 4 straight wins. Hartlepool, who have just been re-promoted to League One (the third tier of English soccer, behind the Premiership and Championship), are on 9 points from four games - three straight wins after a loss at the beginning of the season.
With both team scoring the same amount of goals - 9 - the two in-form teams will square off at Elland Road, Leeds’ 40,000 all-seater stadium in Yorkshire. This is, without doubt, Hartlepool’s biggest ever League game in the modern soccer era.
Could I get tickets, though? Could I hell. Luckily my brother works in Leeds, and he was able to secure three tickets - one for me, two for my brethren - in the Leeds Family Stand, i.e. the home end. With my hands secured firmly underneath my arse and a roll of duct tape over the bottom half of my face, I should be able to hold back the screams of happiness should Hartlepool overcome this lot.
The gravity of the situation is unparalleled. Hartlepool have already dispatched Oldham, Doncaster and Port Vale - three teams who were challenging for promotion the season before. Oldham, in fact, were in the playoffs and we destroyed them 4-1 in my first match of the season at Fortress Hartlepool.
A win away from home at Leeds United would be phenomenal. Morale boost and 3 points in the bag, our team would feel unstoppable and our fans would be bouncing about for weeks to come.
With a win yesterday at Chesterfield (or CHEATerfield as they’re known) in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy (which I think is sponsored by Disney too given it’s a joke of a competition), we’re on a roll. With the strongest team I’ve seen in my entire life as a Pools fan, I think we may just be able to do it.
If you see Pools have won and I don’t ever write again, you’ll know I died - happy - at the hands of irate Leodensians whilst chanting “Hartlepool, la la la, Hartlepool, la la la!”
Below is my crack at an underused area of Atomic Sports Media - the "Greatest Sports Rivalries" page. Given I am intrinsically linked to what I consider to be the greatest sports rivalry, I decided to represent the ongoing battle between two North-East teams - Hartlepool United and Darlington F.C.. After a lot of research and research through football messageboard users (including John Phillips from the brilliant Hartlepool fan database In The Mad Crowd), I compiled this run through the history of the two teams and uncover some startling similarities. Read the full article by clicking on one of these words somewhere.
