posted Oct 30, 2007

There was nothing wrong with the pitch that couldn't have been found in, say, San Francisco, Green Bay or Chicago. The teams played on wet grass and mud in the old school tradition, the kind you just don't see anymore.

I have my grievances against the star-stop stuff, especially since television has had aggravated it for the last twenty years, and I say that as a Yank. The next game you see on tv, look for a guy on the sidelines, wearing large orange oven mitts and crossing his arms. He's not an NFL official but a television flunkie. The crossed arms are a signal to the referee to stop for a commercial at the next chance.

No, what really stunk were the Giants. They played against a winless, injury-crippled team. They had no right to win by less than 21 points, wet weather or no.

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posted Oct 30, 2007

I think the NFL could definitely be making a return, sooner rather than later. Whilst he didn't say so specifically, the commissioner alluded to a possible Super Bowl in London when he stated that competition to host the event could "come from abroad". That's a very brave statement to make in my opinion, hosting the FA cup final in Cardiff was controversial enough, imagine it being played in America!

I personally believe the Americans should be commended for being so open to playing sports in this country, the NFL, NBA and NHL have all been over here in the past two months, and their market is strong enough to have absolutely no need for it. This confidence in their sports is something that we Brits could learn from, before decrying them as "girly". Remember that the next time you see some Premiership footballer writhe in supposed agony in the penalty area.

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posted Oct 30, 2007

BoKnows34 - An excellent comment and one to which I wholeheartedly agree. Teriffic stuff man.

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posted Oct 30, 2007

EmpireofSports

Sun Devil Stadium is more like 49 degrees C (120 F) on the field late afternnoon in August. Rain at Wembley is heaven compared.

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posted Oct 31, 2007

£800 million stadium and they leave the roof open. Thank wembley.

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posted Oct 31, 2007

The whole day was a great occasion that cannot be repeated soon enough.

Granted, watching two teams grinding away in the mud is not exactly what the uninitiated would have been hoping for, but what do you expect when it has been raining solidly for two days. Rugby (Union or League) would have been no different.

Like it or not, NFL is here to stay.

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posted Oct 31, 2007

TTT "The NFL, NBA and NHL have all been over here in the past two months, and their market is strong enough to have absolutely no need for"

Are you actually aware how much hockey and basketball rely on European players! Seven years ago I saw the Sedin Twins make their NHL debut...in Stockholm, their home Capital. Hmm, no marketing at play there then!

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posted Nov 1, 2007

BigIssue,

'Like it or not, NFL is here to stay.'

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posted Nov 1, 2007

I agree, Wembley is a good stadium, but it could have been a lot better! The pitch could have been a little bit better - agreed - but for a stdium sooooo over budget and over due, for the amount of money they spent on it, it should have been built with a fully retractable roof! That would have made the pitch conditions a bit better. However, good luck to the major American professional sports leagues for playing their regular season games over here and in other major cities around the world. The Premier League could learn a lot from them!

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posted Nov 1, 2007

"Are you actually aware how much hockey and basketball rely on European players!"

Because the pinnacle of the sports are the NHL and NBA. The NHL isn't going to suddenly flood with British born players because of the two games in September. The only marketing effect these games have had is to introduce the public to the sports and possibly sell more jerseys, same with the NFL game. These sports would be more than self-sufficient if they'd never left their shores, so I stick to my point - there's no need for them to do it, but they should be commended for doing it anyway.

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