New England Old England samples on Sunday as the NFL's ever increasing foray into international markets continues with the latest game in London. Patriots Tampa Bay Brita get, meaning they'll look the greatest that American football has to offer, other than the Buccaneers.
I preferred it when the NFL confined its globe trotting to preseason games, but the seal forever broke in 2005 when Mexico City hosted the first regular season game outside the U.S. Pats Bucs will mark the third straight year for a real game -- really, closer to surreal -- at London's Wembley Stadium. Then later this year the Bills will play their second annual game in Toronto, with at least three more years to follow.
It has only just begun.
The NFL's expand-the-product enterprise has identified five "priority markets'' as Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The London game will become more than just an annual novelty.
"We are going to continue to follow that and fuel that,'' NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We are considering playing multiple games in London as early as next year.'' He also acknowledges "dialogue'' to play a game in Africa, most likely in Nigeria, and calls future expansion franchises abroad "in the realm of possibility.''
This may be jingoism, but I'd like to keep the NFL an American league that plays in America. Some 240 countries get games or highlights on TV; isn't that enough?
As 2007 Goodell even as currently said "we'll be looking at'' a possible Super Bowl in London. He has since backtracked due to the backlash, but has never obviously ruled it out. He should, without prevarication.
Moving America's "national holiday'' abroad will be the Litmus test for when the NFL has irrevocably gone too far with its globalization.
Football gradually but inexorably surpassed baseball as America's Pastime. The sport will begin to relinquish that crown, by degrees, when the NFL gets too close to standing for National Foreign League.
I preferred it when the NFL confined its globe trotting to preseason games, but the seal forever broke in 2005 when Mexico City hosted the first regular season game outside the U.S. Pats Bucs will mark the third straight year for a real game -- really, closer to surreal -- at London's Wembley Stadium. Then later this year the Bills will play their second annual game in Toronto, with at least three more years to follow.
It has only just begun.
The NFL's expand-the-product enterprise has identified five "priority markets'' as Canada, China, Japan, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The London game will become more than just an annual novelty.
"We are going to continue to follow that and fuel that,'' NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "We are considering playing multiple games in London as early as next year.'' He also acknowledges "dialogue'' to play a game in Africa, most likely in Nigeria, and calls future expansion franchises abroad "in the realm of possibility.''
This may be jingoism, but I'd like to keep the NFL an American league that plays in America. Some 240 countries get games or highlights on TV; isn't that enough?
As 2007 Goodell even as currently said "we'll be looking at'' a possible Super Bowl in London. He has since backtracked due to the backlash, but has never obviously ruled it out. He should, without prevarication.
Moving America's "national holiday'' abroad will be the Litmus test for when the NFL has irrevocably gone too far with its globalization.
Football gradually but inexorably surpassed baseball as America's Pastime. The sport will begin to relinquish that crown, by degrees, when the NFL gets too close to standing for National Foreign League.
