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UP to 160million viewers are expected to tune in to American football's Super Bowl tomorrow between New England Patriots and New York Giants.
Here, TV and radio star VERNON KAY, a big fan who plays for a London team, explains why the sport is a winner.
AMERICAN football is still a new sport over here. It has only been around since the mid-1980s.
I went to the Super Bowl two years ago with my brother — and soccer has a lot to learn.
We never queued for anything, we didn't hear one swear word, home and away fans were mixed and it was a family experience.
I was pretty good at sport at school, playing football, cricket and rugby.
I just got bored with them and wanted to start something new, which was this big, brash American sport which we only dipped our toe into for 30 minutes on a Sunday night on Channel 4.
I played American football for the Manchester All Stars when I was 13, in the British National Youth League. When I went to university I left the game behind but I got into it again when I took part in a TV programme about the Manchester All Stars.
I was offered the chance to train with the London Warriors and now play in a position called free safety — like the full back in rugby.
We got beaten in the national final last year by the London Blitz, who are current European Champions.
I enjoy the physicality of the sport. My rugby friends say it's "pansy rugby" but it is just as physical. Trust me.
Once you know how to play the sport, watching it makes it more interesting. It is a physical version of chess.
People say it is "stop-start" but that is because every individual play is a tactical decision.
If the Super Bowl tomorrow will be the first American football game you have ever seen I would say sit back and enjoy the razzmatazz.
There is even a British interest — Scots-born Lawrence Tynes, the Giants' placekicker, scored a field goal that took them to the final.
And Madonna is doing the half time entertainment — you don't get much better than that.
In previous years they have had Sir Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, The Who and Michael Jackson.
You can go to NFL.com to understand the rules better.
Tomorrow look out for the No12 on the New England Patriots — Tom Brady.
He is their quarterback. He is dashingly handsome, married to supermodel Gisele Bundchen and is the American David Beckham.
On the opposing team is quarterback Eli Manning and those two are going to make for one heck of a competitive game.
Everyone says the Giants will win, but I think the Patriots are going to snatch it by seven points.
Get the beers in and watch it.
The Sun
Here, TV and radio star VERNON KAY, a big fan who plays for a London team, explains why the sport is a winner.
AMERICAN football is still a new sport over here. It has only been around since the mid-1980s.
I went to the Super Bowl two years ago with my brother — and soccer has a lot to learn.
We never queued for anything, we didn't hear one swear word, home and away fans were mixed and it was a family experience.
I was pretty good at sport at school, playing football, cricket and rugby.
I just got bored with them and wanted to start something new, which was this big, brash American sport which we only dipped our toe into for 30 minutes on a Sunday night on Channel 4.
I played American football for the Manchester All Stars when I was 13, in the British National Youth League. When I went to university I left the game behind but I got into it again when I took part in a TV programme about the Manchester All Stars.
I was offered the chance to train with the London Warriors and now play in a position called free safety — like the full back in rugby.
We got beaten in the national final last year by the London Blitz, who are current European Champions.
I enjoy the physicality of the sport. My rugby friends say it's "pansy rugby" but it is just as physical. Trust me.
Once you know how to play the sport, watching it makes it more interesting. It is a physical version of chess.
People say it is "stop-start" but that is because every individual play is a tactical decision.
If the Super Bowl tomorrow will be the first American football game you have ever seen I would say sit back and enjoy the razzmatazz.
There is even a British interest — Scots-born Lawrence Tynes, the Giants' placekicker, scored a field goal that took them to the final.
And Madonna is doing the half time entertainment — you don't get much better than that.
In previous years they have had Sir Paul McCartney, the Rolling Stones, The Who and Michael Jackson.
You can go to NFL.com to understand the rules better.
Tomorrow look out for the No12 on the New England Patriots — Tom Brady.
He is their quarterback. He is dashingly handsome, married to supermodel Gisele Bundchen and is the American David Beckham.
On the opposing team is quarterback Eli Manning and those two are going to make for one heck of a competitive game.
Everyone says the Giants will win, but I think the Patriots are going to snatch it by seven points.
Get the beers in and watch it.
The Sun
What do we all make of this then. Should we take a leaf from the americans?
Edited by Grog, 05 February 2012 - 04:22 PM.
