View Full Version : NFL continues American football export drive to UK
Jimbuna
10-26-12, 07:00 AM
Looks like the US are about to invade one of its closest allies :O:
The star-spangled NFL caravan has entered town for another year, with a huge crowd at Wembley set to cheer on the New England Patriots and the St Louis Rams in the latest American football game to be staged in the UK.
The US's most popular sport is in the middle of a serious export drive, as it seeks to make continued inroads into a market usually seen as the home of that other form of football, soccer.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-20049783
mookiemookie
10-26-12, 08:15 AM
You think they'd at least showcase good games over there. I doubt that the Premier League would send someone like late 2000s-era Derby County over here to show soccer at its best.
Jimbuna
10-26-12, 09:25 AM
That's a question I was going to ask but forgot in the original post Mark....are either of these teams top drawer over in the US or are they also rans?
Takeda Shingen
10-26-12, 09:32 AM
New England is usually a contender, but St. Louis is not very good, and hasn't been for some time. It will likely be a very lopsided game.
Tribesman
10-26-12, 09:53 AM
A few friends are heading over for the game, they also went up for the NotreDame-Navy match in Dublin.
Sailor Steve
10-26-12, 09:58 AM
I still say if they're gonna try to sell it in Yurrup they need to go with the "HandEgg" thing. :O:
Jimbuna
10-26-12, 10:01 AM
I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection :)
Tribesman
10-26-12, 10:10 AM
I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection
Have you considered importing Rugby?
Sailor Steve
10-26-12, 10:12 AM
I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection :)
I don't know. American football is more like ancient land combat, where lines of soldiers faced each other and fought it out. The object really seems to be to run over the other guy as hard and fast as you can. I know the Aussies do it without armor, but how long do their careers really last? You can only break so many parts before they don't work so well anymore.
Takeda Shingen
10-26-12, 10:30 AM
I wouldn't mind seeing a game played without all that protection :)
It wouldn't be the same game. It would be rugby. You don't hit the same way without pads that you do with pads. Not passing judgement one way or another, but if you watch the two games, the mechanics are completely different.
BossMark
10-26-12, 10:35 AM
I wonder what kind of attendance they are expecting at Wembley :hmmm:
Jimbuna
10-26-12, 11:13 AM
I don't know. American football is more like ancient land combat, where lines of soldiers faced each other and fought it out. The object really seems to be to run over the other guy as hard and fast as you can. I know the Aussies do it without armor, but how long do their careers really last? You can only break so many parts before they don't work so well anymore.
It wouldn't be the same game. It would be rugby. You don't hit the same way without pads that you do with pads. Not passing judgement one way or another, but if you watch the two games, the mechanics are completely different.
Good and fair points....different sporting cultures I guess.
Well, we had the British Invasion back in the 60's now its our turn. The NFL is taking over:D
They will send Obama over when he looses..........Oops that was hush hush.
Cough...LOOK OVER THERE A HOTDOG STAND!
Takeda Shingen
10-26-12, 03:32 PM
Well, we had the British Invasion back in the 60's now its our turn. The NFL is taking over:D
Not really. There are some British fans, but the game is largely alien to them, not having grown up with it. I can understand that too. American football has a great deal of peculiarities that make it an acquired taste. There's a ton of people on the field, a bizarre scoring system and about 7 million rules. The action also stops about every 15 seconds.
Personally, I love the game, but I grew up with it. I also recall my earliest memories of watching football and not knowing what the hell was going on. I just thought it was exciting when they threw the ball. The way that many Europeans feel about American football is the way I feel about European football (soccer). I didn't grow up with it and I don't really get it. To the informed viewer, it is very exciting. To me, it is excruciatingly long periods where nothing is happening puncuated by the occasional goal. To me, football is the perfect television sport; giving the viewer time between plays to grab snacks, hit the head and argue with his friends. To the uninformed viewer, it is rife with breaks in the action that disrupt the continuity of the game.
It's all what you know from your environment. I don't expect the NFL to really catch on in Britian more than European football has caught on in America.
I agree, just having some fun with Jim,lol The Euro League started by the NFL has folded hasn't it? The Vikings will be playing the Steelers in the UK next year.
CaptainMattJ.
10-26-12, 11:03 PM
Well it looks like super bowl rematch. Too bad the Rams havent got a chance against the patriots. I wish the Rams would come back to LA.
Go Navy and Go Rams.
magic452
10-27-12, 12:35 AM
If Europeans really wanted to see FOOTBALL (see Hand Egg) in a way they may like better than the NFL would to be able to see two very good collage teams play, more continuous play, not so many commercials and far less celebrating after each play and very exciting football. A much better game for my money.
You really don't get the impact of the game watching on TV, you have to see the game live to understand it.
As far as pads go, for anyone that's played Hand Egg they know that pads are as much as weapon as they are for protection. A head on collision between a 250 pound running back and a 280 pound linebacker without pads would a train wreck, I wont even go into the 300 pound lineman that can run a 4.5 or 4.6 40 yard dash. If you're in the stands you can hear those collisions. Game wouldn't last to half time without pads or as someone said you'd be playing rugby. Nothing wrong with rugby it's fun to watch.
The Pats are very good, the Rams not so hot lately.
Magic
Jimbuna
10-27-12, 06:11 AM
Not really. There are some British fans, but the game is largely alien to them, not having grown up with it. I can understand that too. American football has a great deal of peculiarities that make it an acquired taste. There's a ton of people on the field, a bizarre scoring system and about 7 million rules. The action also stops about every 15 seconds.
Personally, I love the game, but I grew up with it. I also recall my earliest memories of watching football and not knowing what the hell was going on. I just thought it was exciting when they threw the ball. The way that many Europeans feel about American football is the way I feel about European football (soccer). I didn't grow up with it and I don't really get it. To the informed viewer, it is very exciting. To me, it is excruciatingly long periods where nothing is happening puncuated by the occasional goal. To me, football is the perfect television sport; giving the viewer time between plays to grab snacks, hit the head and argue with his friends. To the uninformed viewer, it is rife with breaks in the action that disrupt the continuity of the game.
It's all what you know from your environment. I don't expect the NFL to really catch on in Britian more than European football has caught on in America.
I agree, just having some fun with Jim,lol The Euro League started by the NFL has folded hasn't it? The Vikings will be playing the Steelers in the UK next year.
No harm no foul gents...far better to discuss sporting differences than those of the 'other' kind on GT :03:
One of the positives of sport is it has no real definable boundaries because most countries play some kind of sport that was alien to them at some point in time. I should imagine athletics is one of the exceptions.
I'm often surprised at the Olympics when I see countries participating in the early rounds and I hear myself saying to the wife or daughter "I never realised that country competed in that sport". Bobsleigh Jamaica anyone?
IMHO I doubt American football will make it as big in the UK as Soccer has in the US but only time will tell.
There should always be room for peaceful pastimes in society....fight on the games field and let the battlefields become a thing of the past.
If only.
clive bradbury
10-27-12, 05:19 PM
Actually, I would argue that American Football is a significant minority sport in the UK. There are far more fans than you realise - the Wembley game is pretty much always sold out.
There are also leagues across the country, so there are also a fair few UK players, although obviously our home grown sports dominate.
We get pretty good TV coverage, too. Three NFL games every Sunday, Monday night football, and college games. All on satellite, but the Superbowl is also covered on terrestrial TV. By the way, Takeda, the scoring system is not bizarre to any Englishman - with the exception of the safety you simply stole it all from rugby...
There has been much talk about a NFL Wembley franchise, but the recession seems to have put paid to that for now. I hear, though, that Jacksonville are to play a regular 'home' fixture at Wembley in the next couple of seasons.
It is a bit of a shame that recent games have tended to be mis-matches. Not always the case, though - Saints v Chargers a few years ago was a cracker. The choice of teams recently has made me reluctant to buy tickets, as I want to see a competitive match.
BossMark
10-28-12, 03:17 PM
Well the Patriots won bloody easy didn't they :yep:
Takeda Shingen
10-28-12, 03:46 PM
By the way, Takeda, the scoring system is not bizarre to any Englishman - with the exception of the safety you simply stole it all from rugby...
Except that the numbers are 6/3/1/2/2 as opposed to the rugby 5/3/2. Which is to say, they aren't all that alike at all.
nikimcbee
10-28-12, 04:18 PM
You guys got to see a few Gronk spikes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9EwsmFrodco&feature=related
So how wwas the pie?:up:
Gargamel
10-28-12, 05:51 PM
I think Jamaica in the bobsleigh is an obvious match. It's a sport of sprinters and driving. One of which they do very well in.
Jimbuna
10-29-12, 06:25 AM
Well the Patriots won bloody easy didn't they :yep:
Watching the report on tv last night it certainly appeared to be a one sided affair and not a particular good advert for the game.
soopaman2
10-29-12, 06:42 AM
Its just a shame that the game you got were 2 of the biggest piles of garbage in the league.
Why no Patriots, 49ers, even the Dallas Cowboys. Giants, Green bay, I can go on...
Jets vs dolphins? It was like watching 2 unranked college teams play.
I bet most Brits just mocked us after seeing that mess of crap, then went back to their soccer hooliganism. ;)
Oh my, looks like another British invasion is coming!!! :D I wonder, is the UK still sore over losing the Revolutionary War!?! And still trying to get even,lol
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/29/sports/soccer/premier-league-deal-gives-nbc-380-soccer-games.html?_r=0
Jimbuna
10-30-12, 07:32 AM
Can't open the link, could the site be down as a results of the storm? :hmm2:
Maybe this link will work hopefully! 200 soccer games on US television, its an invasion I tell ya!!:D
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/nbcuniversal-acquires-premier-league-rights-in-usa.html
Jimbuna
10-30-12, 11:06 AM
Maybe this link will work hopefully! 200 soccer games on US television, its an invasion I tell ya!!:D
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/news/nbcuniversal-acquires-premier-league-rights-in-usa.html
That's better....time you lot educated yersels in the sporting ways :O:
Don't forget to cheer for the TOON in November :sunny:
What's a TOON? Over here using our slang, toon is short for cartoon, does that mean your team is a bunch of characters?:D
Jimbuna
10-30-12, 02:04 PM
What's a TOON? Over here using our slang, toon is short for cartoon, does that mean your team is a bunch of characters?:D
The word "town" spoken in a geordie accent sounds like the slang term "toon."
Newcastle's football (soccer) fans are known as the "toon army"
One geordie to another: "I'm off doon toon."
http://www.toonarmynyc.com/Toon_Arse_081405_6.jpg
http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcThxYTftZ7CHe6hXIC98l_kBlJCCxT3E CGpr2NMGu6-SWeKje-YKQhttp://www.magpieszone.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/23102011_Indonesian-Toon-Army.jpg
I suppose after having 200 games blasted into my television, I should understand the terms a bit better,lol
I'll have to check with a friend of mine who lives in London, to find out which team to cheer for. Don't want to cheer on the wrong team now, do I!:D
Jimbuna
10-30-12, 04:23 PM
Well if he's from London the answer is sure to be "Manchester United" :D
*Brit joke*
No, not Manchester, it will be Liverpool! Not sure I should repeat what he joked about Newcastle!:D
Jimbuna
10-30-12, 04:54 PM
Liverpool have the home advantage but if you manage to get over here to watch the game, be sure not to bring your car or you'll probably find the wheels will be nicked and it'll be standing on bricks :D
This is all in good fun now, but from what I've been told, I might switch to cheering for Newcastle! Especially when I heard this-:D
"Newcastle is a city in the North East, known for hard working and hard drinking people,
a good Saturday night on the town would consist of wearing as little as possible in all
weathers (the women regard underwear as winter clothing),"
That settles it, if I can save up the money, I'm going to the UK! Will only be in London long enough to get transportation to Newcastle. You all can watch Newcastle play, I'll be with the women!:haha:
ABBAFAN
10-30-12, 05:48 PM
Do Americans ever watch Rugby? Perhaps NFL would be more interesting if the unecessary layers of safety wear were removed. The only sport requiring armour should be the joust. :D
Snooker should be beamed into homes in the US in order that our transatlantic neighbours may enjoy the world's finest sportsmen and sportsmanship. Anything else is pedestrian rubbish. Apart from fox hunting, which filthy anti Britain types have banned.:nope::nope:
CaptainMattJ.
10-30-12, 06:35 PM
Do Americans ever watch Rugby? Perhaps NFL would be more interesting if the unecessary layers of safety wear were removed. The only sport requiring armour should be the joust. :D
Snooker should be beamed into homes in the US in order that our transatlantic neighbours may enjoy the world's finest sportsmen and sportsmanship. Anything else is pedestrian rubbish. Apart from fox hunting, which filthy anti Britain types have banned.:nope::nope:
Except that Rugby isnt quite as vicious as the NFL. the NFL has fewer tackling rules. Rugby players are usually smaller and more agile than the NFL, where 350 pound men slam into each other at full speed. Not saying Rugby doesnt hurt like hell, but not wearing pads would make the seasons awfully short because the players couldnt even stand up.
Besides, i think Gaelic football needs to be right alongside AF as a dominating sport here. Its such a great sport. It combines the agility and constant movement of soccer with dribbling and handling of basketball and the scoring and ruggedness of American Football.
mookiemookie
10-30-12, 06:37 PM
Do Americans ever watch Rugby? Perhaps NFL would be more interesting if the unecessary layers of safety wear were removed. The only sport requiring armour should be the joust. :D
Sometimes they have it on here. I love it. I was sitting in a bar watching the All Blacks once with an expat and told him that I have no idea why it's not bigger here...constant action and people hitting each other. What's not to like?
nikimcbee
10-30-12, 06:45 PM
I need to get me a Toon jersey.:rock:
Jimbuna
10-31-12, 08:18 AM
This is all in good fun now, but from what I've been told, I might switch to cheering for Newcastle! Especially when I heard this-:D
"Newcastle is a city in the North East, known for hard working and hard drinking people,
a good Saturday night on the town would consist of wearing as little as possible in all
weathers (the women regard underwear as winter clothing),"
That settles it, if I can save up the money, I'm going to the UK! Will only be in London long enough to get transportation to Newcastle. You all can watch Newcastle play, I'll be with the women!:haha:
Your da man :rock:
50 degrees People in southern England turn on the central heating
People in Newcastle plant out bedding plants
40 degrees Southerners shiver uncontrollably
Geordies sunbathe on the beach at Whitley Bay
35 degrees Cars in the south of England refuse to start
People in Newcastle drive with their windows down
20 degrees Southerners wear overcoats, gloves and woolly hats
Newcastle men throw on a T-shirt & girls start wearing mini-skirts
15 degrees Southerners begin to evacuate to the continent
People from Newcastle swim in the North Sea at Amble
Zero degrees Life in the south grinds to a halt
Newcastle folk have the last BBQ before it gets cold
Minus 10 degrees Life in the south ceases to exist
People in Newcastle throw on a light jacket
Minus 80 degrees Polar bears wonder if it's worth carrying on
Boy Scouts in Newcastle start wearing their long trousers
Minus 100 degrees Santa Claus abandons North Pole
People in Newcastle put on their 'long johns'
Minus 173 degrees Alcohol freezes
Geordies get upset because all the pubs are shut
Minus 297 degrees Microbial life starts to disappear
The cows on Newcastle Town Moor complain about farmers with cold hands
Minus 460 degrees All atomic motion stops
Newcastle folk stamp their feet and blow on their hands
Minus 500 degrees Hell freezes over
Sunderland qualify for Europe
Jimbuna
10-31-12, 11:41 AM
:har::har::har::har:
http://img188.imageshack.us/img188/2063/image2rza.png
"You take the High road,
I'll take the low road,
and I'll be in Newcastle before you!":D
nikimcbee
10-31-12, 11:46 AM
What's a TOON?
Like a cheezhead, but waaaaaay classier.
Jimbuna
10-31-12, 12:22 PM
"You take the High road,
I'll take the low road,
and I'll be in Newcastle before you!":D
The fog on the Tyne is all mine :03:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dF5xVnTo8gs
Is that fog caused by the weather or a trip to the pub!?!:hmmm:
Jimbuna
10-31-12, 03:20 PM
Is that fog caused by the weather or a trip to the pub!?!:hmmm:
Probably a bit of both :)
Look up some of the Lindisfarne stuff over the years, they're quite big in these parts.
I watched the video you linked to, good stuff,lol But have to be honest, hard to understand them all the time. I was told its becuase they're from up North!:D
Jimbuna
11-01-12, 05:51 AM
I watched the video you linked to, good stuff,lol But have to be honest, hard to understand them all the time. I was told its becuase they're from up North!:D
Well Sarfeners would tell you that :D
Onkel Neal
11-01-12, 06:06 AM
Why Is It Called Football if They Hardly Ever Use Their Feet?
Read more: The 10 Most Confusing Things About Football to an Outsider | Cracked.com (http://www.cracked.com/blog/the-10-most-confusing-things-about-football-to-outsider/#ixzz2Ay50QXxR)
a safety is also a kind of play. When the offensive team is so far back that the ball carrier gets taken down in his own end zone, the defensive team gets two points for humiliating them in such a manner.
;)
Sailor Steve
11-01-12, 09:32 AM
:rotfl2:
Brilliant! :rock:
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