The Richard Lowe Column We’ll be coming from the mountains when it comes… An Autumn Sunday, 6pm, 2007, London. That’s all the confirmed information at the moment, although come February 2nd we will know for certain that the Miami Dolphins are hosting the New York Giants at Wembley Stadium, one week after BritBowl XXI (My personal assumption). The news is fantastic for us in the UK, and whilst there’ll always be complaints regarding the location (London is the capital of the UK and more people live there, along with excellent (minus the M25) transport links), the teams (it’s the sport! Not the teams this time!), ticket availability (we don’t know yet!), and warm beer (Something I agree with here), the fact an NFL Regular Season game is being playing on our fair isle shows that Football is now taking off in the UK in a big way. With an ever expanding British American Football League (BAFL), the college game (BCAFL) and for those between 14 and 18 (BYAFL), more and more people are getting interested in the sport, and we should encourage a Wembley sell-out. This may not happen, it might be embarrassing (I doubt that), but we’ve been given an opportunity to show that we can put on an event of this size, and we need to seize it. Tail-gating in an open Wembley Car Park, full bars around the area, flags and banners, the works. Whilst we can never hope to fully recreate the American experience, we can but try. Those who have been to games in the States (myself not included) can take the lead and show examples of what it can be like. However, there is already negative press seeping through via the media in the US, with John McGrath at TheNewsTribune.com asking “How can British fans embrace pro football when Lions general manager Matt Millen doesn’t even understand it in Detroit?”. Whilst many will agree regarding Millen, why can’t we embrace it? This website is a UK based fan site, for, yes John, BRITISH FANS. Sure, some people will go to Wembley and treat the game as a circus – something they’ve know knowledge or real interest in, but just fancy being nosey, but at least allow the rest of us some respect, and a little less patronising. If Wembley sells out, I hope John McGrath will print an apology, saying that British fans do indeed embrace the game – for starters it’s the only game I’ve ever loved (With Soccer I’d only watch Spurs & Crewe, and sometimes England, whereas I’ll watch any Football game – College or Pro), and this website has over half a million visits a year! Whilst I can understand Dolphins fans’ frustrations in losing a home game and having to travel for 8 to 10 hours to see their team when they normally might only walk down the street, don’t patronise us, don’t blame us, don’t even blame the NFL – your owner backed regular season games abroad, so go and picket HIS office! No matter what the teams, what the date, and what the cost and ease of travel – I’m going to be in whatever stadium, watching whatever teams, on whatever date. Why? Because I’m a football fan dammit! NFL Watch Can I just say “la la la la la la I was right about last week?” There, done. 4 out of 4. (Along with Steve Grant I hasten to add!) After my 2-2/1-3 performance the week before, I hit the bull’s-eye. Every. Single. Time! (Bragging over) Sadly that means the only way is downwards. This week sees the Divisional Title Games, with New England against Indianapolis for the 48th time in 5 years, with my ‘prediction’(guess) being Indy in a 17-14 sneaker, and New Orleans travel to Chicago with my backing being on the Saints in a 20-14 win upset. I guarantee blow-out wins for the Pats & Bears now! Arizona have appointed Ken Whisenhunt as Head Coach, and with his pedigree at Pittsburgh, along with the talent at the glamour positions, lead me to believe I may regret trading Anquan Boldin for Marques Colston in the Bucs UK FFL…! Miami have now interviewed everyone who’s ever watched a down of a football game, and feel that they need to re-interview everyone. Just to be sure of course. Marty Schottenheimer is going back to San Diego! Whilst Miami were hoping he’d be fired, San Diego is honouring his contract, and then will kick him out unless a Superbowl/Lone Play-off victory is had. Thanks for reading; I’m off to call John McGrath… January 2007