When I woke up this morning and flicked on the boob tube… I was more than surprised to see a football game, already underway -- IN LONDON, no less… Here on the East Coast football doesn't usually get going until noon. But, this was unexpected… I was completely unaware of this new initiative the NFL has been toying with.., of getting an American football team to relocate -- to the UK!
To be honest… It sounded like "Kooky-Talk," to me...
As both sides of the pond take their football, quite seriously… I can vividly remember getting my "bell rung" on more than one occasion, doing a 10 yards and over the middle.., by some high-school "kid" with a full beard! But, we indoctrinate our children, early on, to the game, here in the states. And, I would imagine, it's not all that different in the UK.
We, even us noobs, that refer to european football, as soccer -- are aware of the dedication it's fans have, to there game. The intensity they display at there matches, can be considered, unmatched. We've all seen, the all-out brawls that can take place between the harshest of rivals…
So, it threw me a bit… To see and imagine an American football team playing in London, with the possible attempts of a relocation, someday. Is this even possible? Could this actually work? What's the logistics of something like this? And who would be the brave fellows, willing to take it on the chin -- literally, Im sure…
Because, to be blunt… I can't see the the chaps that root for Manchester United, take to kindly to a bunch of well-paid (over paid) Americans crossing the pond, to invade their, very traditions!
Maybe I wrong… I know growing up here in the states, european football -- soccer, as we refer to it, was not very popular… Yeah, you heard of legends, like Pelé, but that's about as far as it went… But today.., soccer is HUGE in the US. Right now, in 2016 -- 3 million kids play in youth soccer leagues. And among 12-17 year olds MLS is more popular than MLB -- it blows my mind!
Soccer more popular than America's greatest pastime… And then, after a little research… It was very disconcerting to uncover -- it's all about the money!
Really..?
Have we let giant corporations and advertiser's, really take over the games our children will play with such veracity, creating moments.., they will remember for a lifetime. "Man, do remember that goal in overtime -- in the finals, I made!" I thought these kind of memories, were supposed to be priceless… At least, that's what the Mastercard commercials say…
Have these vultures sold us a bill of goods -- just in the efforts to unload a few more million Cristiano Rinaldo jersey's..? And is the UK in there sites, now… Are they targeting the youth of Liverpool, just to sell some Tom Brady lunch boxes?
Or, is it a good thing… Expanding the mind of our youth -- opening them up to different cultures, at a young age could not be considered, a bad thing… It's the motives behind the popularity of these new ventures that bothers me, a bit. All the money, driving these decisions, that will affect the way our children grow up. But, I guess.., for now -- the best thing to do, is let kids be kids, and play their little hearts out -- whichever "football" they choose.., and let the cards fall where they may…
