The Tome of Tom - The London Game
So about a week and a half ago, the NFL held a regular season game at London’s Wembley Stadium. It’s the second year in a row they’ve done this, and they’ve sold the whole place out in minutes both times. Outside of bumbling sportscasters’ bad “TUT TUT CHEERIO” jokes, it was pretty much a huge success. I think it’s awesome that the NFL’s trying to branch out to international fans and non/fans alike. However, I was talking to a few friends about it, and they thought it was a stupid idea. Why, you ask?
Friend: “Football’s an American sport, they shouldn’t bother taking it overseas.”
Me: ……..
I mean, seriously. Should sports be tied to national identity? I. I remember when I lived in Perth, I went to pro baseball games (Go Heat) and pro basketball games (You my boys, Wildcats). Both of these are games that originated from America, and yet are played all over the world and have pro players from all over the world. Yet for some reason, football’s some sacred cow that the rest of the world doesn’t deserve? Dumb dumb dumb.
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2 Comments to “The Tome of Tom - The London Game”
November 5th, 2008 at 8:34 pm
It’s like footba… err, I mean soccer. Need I mention Rugby?
In S.A., oddly enough, soccer wasn’t the only big sport. Baseball was more the addiction, and eventually… well, they came to play here (U.S.). It’s not about national identity, but industry seeking talent globally.
One of my TCK “friends” went into basketball during the 90’s. He toured most of S.A., did pretty well, then went to the U.S. where they literally tore him apart. We always teased him for not trying other sports, but in some ways, I think he was personally struggling with leaving “American” culture behind.
As for national identity to sports? Football. It goes both ways. Sometimes it’s the American who argues that the NFL shouldn’t be overseas. I wouldn’t assume that your British friends are being anti-American, but that America (sometimes) is the one who holds the grudge.
I mean c’mon… exactly which “football” are we talking about here?
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November 6th, 2008 at 5:01 am
Sports are in a way tied to the culture, so I think this is where your friends were coming from.
But being a TCK, I have to agree with you!
Tear down all borders!
I wish I could have Ice Skating here in Brazil, lol!
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