There was quite a debate on ESPN Radio this afternoon between the ever-worldly Jason Smith and Len Pasquarelli regarding the relative wisdom of the NFL scheduling a regular season game in London next Autumn.
Smith insisted that such an event would prove alarming to fans of the Giants or Dolphins because both teams would have to contend with “an 18 hour delay.”
Persons unfamiliar with the world beyond the Connecticut/New York border may or may not be interested to know the United Kingdom is 5 hours ahead of the Eastern U.S.
Pasquarelli (above) was openly skeptical, sniffing that while the NFL “might sell a few more t-shirts”, crossover dreams in Europe were farfetched because “this isn’t soccer or basketball.”
You’d think a supposedly learned analyst like Pasquarelli might’ve taken the time to check out just how heavily the NFL has been exposed on terestrial and satellite TV in the UK over the past 20 years. While American football is by no means considered a mainstream sport, there’s far more NFL coverage in the UK papers, websites, TV sports news, etc. than any other U.S. pastime.
I’ll make the following prediction : if said game takes place at the new Wembley between the Jints and Fins, not only will every ticket be sold, but the resulting media splash will dwarf any hoops coverage on the continent, up to and including Michael Jordan’s retirement or the Dirkster’s playoff run last June.
If the Dolphins can’t hire a younger Schottenheimer, will they opt for a junior Shula? Josh Rosen writes, “saying that I prefer Jim Mora Jr. to Chan Gailey is one of the most depressing statements ever.” But I disagree. “Good evening, Ms. Marlowe, I’m here from the escort agency,” is one of the most depressing statements ever.
that was before i heard that mike shula was a candidate.
David Shula, Heath Shuler, unavailable for comment
Iced in and going mad, it was jarring to hear the Sky Sports presenter on Fox Soccer Channel refer to the touchdown catch by Bear-nerd Berrian in their NFL playoff recap.
sky _always_ shows NFL highlights during their sports news and on their loopy loop s.s. news channel. Not very in depth mind you, but they give the NFL more props than ESPN gives any soccer league, domestic or otherwise. Sky shows 2 NFL games each sunday while Channel 5 has the Sunday and Monday night games….the latter even went “interactive” with highlights and live stats from the games they weren’t showing available via Sky + on satellite.
This season, the NFL and Yahoo debuted an online version in the UK of the Sunday Ticket package that’s proven so popular in on DirectTV in the US.
I’m not naive enough to believe American football would ever be a mainstream sport in the United Kingdom. But you don’t have to be in the mainstream to make a ton of money, not in this day and age. There’s a world of difference in asking punters to shell out serious loot to see minor league gridiron (ie. the failure of the Monarchs) and staging a game that actually counts between two of the NFL’s elite.
Or failing that, the Giants and Dolphins.
I really don’t think I’m going out on a limb in predicting the NFL will promote the hell out of this, and UK print and TV outlets will be all-too willing to let Tom Coughlin play goodwill ambassador (mmm, can’t wait). And out of the trio of Strahan, Shockey and Ricky Williams, I suspect the tabloids will find a storyline or two.
I found the pronunciation far more surprising than the actual highlights.
I suppose there’s an analogy for the MLS in your minor league gridiron paragraph, but I’m too tired to extend it.
I think I should just cut my losses and return to lurking now. The Simpsons softball episode is starting.
oh, I think I get the analogy. Though I do believe the quality of play in MLS has improved over 10 years, you’re still talking about a division 2 stature (at best) compared to the better domestic football associations around the world. aside from the existing biases / preferences, and the way loyalties and rivalries are bred over generations, not just a few years, asking the public to pay major league money for minor league action just doesn’t cut it anywhere. Not if they have something to compare it to.