Up All Night

One of the most attractive aspects of sport is the fact that every event is unique and unpredictable. While other forms of entertainment are pre-determined, it is sports unscripted nature that attracts spectators, viewers and fans in their millions. While there is always a place in the sporting landscape for highlights programmes such as Match of the Day or trips down memory lane on ESPN Classic, the live element of sport is so important to it that if it is removed it can diminish the enjoyment that fans take from it. It was always possible to record games using  a video recorder, but the advent of Personal Video Recorders (PVRs) and Video On Demand services such as BBC iPlayer now mean that watching sport “as live” is easier than ever but it leaves you at the mercy of technology.

The live aspect of sport is so important to me that if I know the result or a major incident in a match, my interest wanes. It is the unpredictability that gives me the strength to sit through sometimes excruciatingly boring passages of play in the hope that something exciting is just around the corner. The live aspect is also important to me because I cannot cope with just seeing a result afterwards. Watching a football match for ninety minutes gives you time to accept the 5-0 thrashing, something that looking up the score on the internet does not afford you.

Formula One and American Football are but two sports that can take place at unsociable hours for British fans and watching them live requires serious discipline or being nocturnal. Before I acquired a PVR I would either have to watch a repeat, which would leave me in danger of finding out the result before I viewed the event. Although video recorders were an apt solution, I found it a complicated and occasionally fruitless procedure whereas now I can push a button and watch the match at my leisure without fear of finding out the result.

I did this last weekend for the inaugural Korean GP which was broadcast on the BBC and woke up eager to view the latest instalment in a thrilling climax to the 2010 Formula One season. Sky+ has the useful feature of being able to detect when a programme has been extended and adjusts the recording accordingly. Sadly, as good as Sky+ is, it is unable to account for torrential rain and the decision of the BBC to switch channels as the race overran its original timeslot. As it became apparent that the recording was too short, I was furious and I was not alone. I checked BBC iPlayer and although Part 1 of the race had been uploaded (the part that had been shown on BBC One), but part 2 (the part shown on BBC Two) had not been. In the end, since I am incapable of insulating myself from the internet and sporting media for longer than a few hours, I blinked and checked the result and discovered that I had missed out an eventful end to the race.

Another example of my new found dependence on technology thwarting me was when I recorded Monday Night Football on ESPN a few weeks ago. Green Bay travelled to Soldier Field to take on Chicago and a tense game was approaching a crescendo. Almost exactly at the two minute warning, my recording ended. This time there was no other way to view the final two minutes so I looked up the score and saw that the Packers had lost 20-17. The time invested in watching an event only to miss the end feels all the more wasted when the ending does not have a happy outcome.

The spread of PVR technology now means that sports fans can enjoy far more of the action ‘as live’ and has certainly changed the way we consume sport. The technology means that the live and spontaneous nature of sport isn’t removed and results in much of the attraction is retained. I can imagine that many baseball fans are grateful for that this week, given that much of the World Series will be broadcast while they are asleep.

America's Game in the UK

Before the age of satellite television brought us wall to wall sporting coverage from every corner of the world, a new television channel called Channel Four brought American football to British screens on a Sunday evening. The game reached unprecedented levels of popularity during the 1980’s and developed a hardcore following. In 2007, the NFL brought a regular season game to the UK to the first time and the publicity that accompanied the match at Wembley introduced a whole new generation to America’s game. For a sport that has no significant domestic league in this country and remains at the periphery of Britain’s sporting mainstream, there is a wealth of coverage devoted to the NFL.

The NFL has four broadcasters in the UK. The main television broadcaster is Sky Sports who show games at 6:00pm and 9:00pm on Sunday. Coverage is presented by Kevin Cadle and Nick Halling who are joined by a guest pundit. Sky Sports also show the Thanksgiving games and then show the Thursday Night game which is aired in the US on NFL Network. This year, American football has returned to Channel Four as they have secured rights to Sunday Night Football. Gary Imlach, who had previously fronted American football for the channel, is joined by Mike Carlson, who was a pundit on five’s NFL coverage.  ESPN show Monday Night Football which is the flagship programme of their American counterparts and show the entire American production, including Monday Night Countdown. The BBC shows the Superbowl live with Sky Sports, who show the game exclusively in High Definition. While the coverage this year is an improvement on last year when Monday Night Football was absent from UK television, to watch every game shown you need two subscriptions and only one game a week is on free to air television and it is on late Sunday night. The quality of coverage is exceptional, especially in high definition and the studio programmes ensure that British viewers are not subject the frustrating number of advertising breaks that plague American viewers.

British fans can also listen to radio coverage which began last season. BBC 5 live sports extra provide coverage of a game at 9:00pm on Sunday nights. Commentary is taken from an American radio station or from the BBC’s own commentators in the states while the studio keeps the listener informed of the scores from around the league. The radio coverage is as good as the rest of Radio 5 live’s output and the inclusion of many of the best known NFL UK personalities such as Neil Reynolds means that it is as knowledgeable as anything the US can offer. For those seeking more audio coverage, the NFL UK ‘Inside the Huddle’ podcast provides both previews and reviews of the week’s action with Neil Reynolds and Mike Carlson.

Coverage of the NFL in the UK is as comprehensive as it can get, with at least four games a week shown live on television and another on the radio. It is covered as well in this country as football, rugby union, rugby league and cricket which means that following the league has never been easier for the American football fan.

A Bridge too Favre?

NFL: Minnesota Vikings

The NFL kicks off today and most teams have a sense of optimism going into the 2009 season. New England will be hoping the return of Quarterback Tom Brady can help them return to the play-offs while the New York Jets and the hapless Detroit Lions will want their rookie QBs Mark Sanchez and Matthew Stafford to make an impact. The Minnesota Vikings however will be hoping a rather older Quarterback will propell them into the post-season. Brett Favre has come out of retirement for a second time for one last chance at Superbowl glory. It's a win-win situation for Favre, but what effect will it have on the Vikings?

Minnesota were one of the favourites for the NFC Championship before Favre signed with a super offence of which the key weapon is undoubtedly Running Back Adrian Peterson. The Vikings however were unconvinced by their Quarterback options, especially Tavaris Jackson who remains with the team. Minnesota had wanted Favre last season, but were thwarted in their attempts by the Green Bay Packers who held on to Favre's registration and were unwilling to trade him to a division rival. After one, ultimately fruitless, year with the New York Jets, Favre who was suffering from a bicep injury called time on his illustrious career. The Jets moved on by drafting Mark Sanchez in the 2009 draft and released Favre who was now able to join any NFL team. After yet another protracted saga Favre joined the Minnesota Vikings.

When Favre returned prematurely from retirement in July 2008, many observers and fans felt that a return to the NFL would tarnish his legacy with the Green Bay Packers after it became clear that that organisation did not want him and had moved on with Aaron Rodgers leading the Packers' offence. Favre was eventually traded to the Jets and after a decent start, his injury problems meant that he went out with a whimper, leading the league in interceptions and failing to lead the Jets to the play-offs. During the first half of that season Favre proved why he was one of the best Quarterbacks of all time and still remains a decent player. Many feel that the Vikings are taking a risk with Favre, but why? Ultimately the Vikings are a better team with Favre and he enhances a team that looks an NFC Championship contender. As for Favre and his legacy, he has a real chance to add to his sole Superbowl victory having thrown an interception with his last play for Green Bay in the NFC Championship game two seasons ago.

As a Packers fan, I'm delighted to see Favre back in the NFL. The man is a legend of the game, one of the greatest Quarterbacks of all time and was the face of the Packers franchise for a decade and a half. He'll be a force to reckon with in the NFC North, which has three genuine contenders this year, especially with Chicago acquiring Jay Cutler in the off-season. Having said that, right now I wouldn't trade Aaron Rodgers for any other QB in the league and feel that Packer's management made the right decision in the summer of 2008 by sticking with him and allowing him to progress as a player. Last season was tough, but there were glimpses of why Rodgers can become one of the league's elite QBs this season. Favre is back though, and with him, Minnesota can go all the way.

Superbowl XLII: A Giant Upset

New York Giants 17 - 14 New England Patriots

After each side contested their 19th game of the season, it was the end. For the New England, their "Pursuit of Perfection" had reaped no reward. They were not to leave Glendale, Arizona with the Vince Lombardi trophy. Their record, a commendable 18-1 meant nothing after the end of the Superbowl on Sunday night. The New York Giants had caused an almighty upset. The Giants became the first NFC Wildcard to win a Superbowl, and in doing so ended the Patriots dream of emulating the 1972 Miami Dolphins, who went 16-0, and the season unbeaten. The heartbreak of the Patriots and the jubilation of the Giants highlighted both the pros and the cons of the system in which American Football teams compete.

The action was intense, and the 7-3 scoreline in favour of the Patriots at half-time only told half the story. The Giants were getting a lot of the ball and were rattling New England. Suddenly, the league's most lethal combination of QB Tom Brady and Wide-Receiver Randy Moss, did not look so lethal. The Giants' defence was holding out and keeping the dream alive. New England looked to have won it when that lethal combination previously mentioned, managed to score a touchdown. Each team's entire season went down to five minutes of football. The Patriots stifled the Giants' Offense before Eli Manning produced a piece of magic that will be shown in Superbowl showreels for years to come. It looked like the Giants Quarter-Back had been sacked (something the Giants managed to do Manning's New England counterpart, Tom Brady five times), but somehow managed to squirm free before throwing the ball to David Tyree, who managed to catch the ball by holding it against his helmet. Manning then found Plaxico Burress to make it 17-14 New York. The Giants held on and managed to win their third championship.

While the Giants celebrated an improbable victory, the Patriots had to accept their first defeat of the season. They had saved their worst performance for the last game, the one that mattered most, and this is the fatal flaw in the league structure of NFL. As the author of this article has been brought up on a diet of Premier League football, a league in which the best team undoubtedly wins by having the best record over the course of the season. On Sunday night, the best team in the 2007 NFL Season did not win the championship. A plucky outsider managed to force their way through the post season and triumph. This is also one of the joys of the structure and makes the Superbowl such a spectacle and a joy to watch. The Giants deserve their victory, but there was no doubt in who was the best team in the NFL this season.

Superbowl XLII: Super Sunday

It's one of the biggest sporting events in the world, and it's on today. The unbeaten Patriots look to secure their place in history by defeating the New York Giants, who have surprised everyone on their way to tonight's season finale. British interest in the spectacle has been revived this season following the game at Wembley and hopefully when events get underway in Arizona, it won't disappoint.

The New England Patriots are currently 18-0, the first team ever to achieve this record, and can become only the second team, after the Miami Dolphins, to go an entire season unbeaten in the history of the NFL. The Patriot's ship has been steered by Tom Brady, who will be looking to win his fourth Superbowl, and stake his claim to being the league's all-time top quarter-back. Randy Moss has also made history, after receiving 23 Touchdowns in the 2007 season. While those two hogging the headlines, the other areas of the New England team have been overlooked, but there is quality in every area of the side. With New England favourites and seemingly unstoppable, is there any way that they can be stopped?

The Giants surprised many en-route to the Superbowl, especially with their overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers at a freezing Lambeau field a fortnight ago. With Eli Manning looking to follow in the footsteps of his brother, Peyton, who won the Superbowl with the Colts last season, this should be an intriguing contest. The Giants pushed the Patriots all the way at the end of last season as New England laboured to a victory that ensured their perfect season. The Giants can take heart from that performance, but are under no illusions that this will be anything but a difficult task. The key to stifling New England, is to neutralize Tom Brady. Some teams have tried to take Randy Moss out of the game, while ignoring Brady. The Patriots have too many offensive weapons to counter such a one-dimensional defensive strategy. There is no doubt about it, sometimes New England are just unplayable.

The Giants will have to play the game of their lives to defeat the New England juggernaut, intent on what the media have dubbed, "The Pursuit of Perfection". Eli Manning will want to ensure that the Manning family secure a second consecutive Superbowl victory, while the Patriots will want their place in history. With American Football in the British spotlight a little bit more than usual this season, the showpiece of the sport will have to live up to expectations.

An NFL Odyssey

It was 3 a.m., I was tired, sick and in serious need of sleep. Yet I continued to watch as the NFC Championship game headed to overtime after the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants could not be separated in normal time. The game had been exciting, but tense, as the team I had picked last August had battled over four quarters to secure their place in the Superbowl. Then, my hopes of seeing the Packers in the Superbowl evaporated as Lawrence Tynes scored the points that secured the Giants the NFC title. It was disappointing, but the season had proved to me that American Football was as entertaining a sport as any other.

I had always disregarded the NFL, seeing it as an imposter, posing as rugby. I criticised the stop-start nature of the sport and saw it lacking the "fluidity" that Rugby Union and football have. However, these claims are unfounded and are just typical responses that British sport fans give when asked about American football. The first time I watched American football was last year's Superbowl. For some reason I was still awake when the match started and watched the first ten minutes. I could see why so many people found the sport entertaining, but never saw myself as being a follower of it. This summer, I decided that perhaps I should find out a little bit more about an American sport, considering I had absolutely no knowledge of baseball, basketball, ice hockey or indeed NFL. Picking a team was surprisingly easy. I had thought about picking the New England patriots, simply because they had England in name, but once I had researched the history and philosophy of the Green Bay Packers, there was no turning back.

At first I simply followed the results of the Packers, but my interest fell at the wayside for a while. However, it was restored after the game at Wembley. The match between Miami and the Giants was a dour affair, the contest ruining the hallowed turf at Wembley, yet I watched the match and was beginning to understand the sport a little bit better. I immediately started following Green Bay, with gamecasts on the Internet, and on TV whenever I could. Since Green Bay are from such a small city, they are rarely televised on national American television. Five broadcast Sunday and Monday night football, so I could watch some matches when I was suffering from temporary insomnia. I was hooked, and was eagerly anticipating the play-offs.

The Packers managed to defeat the Seahawks in the Divisional Play-offs, before last night's epic encounter with the Giants. The winner knew that they would face the New England Patriots in Arizona and the Giants seized their chance with that last minute field goal. The drama was there, as was the tension. This was big. The Superbowl is one of the most viewed events in the world. Not bad for a sport that is supposedly restricted to North America.

American football is an exciting, intriguing sport and deserves to be accepted as such. The match at Wembley showed the interest from fans in Britain and Europe and the NFL will return to the UK next season after the success of the Dolphins - Giants game. Television viewing figures increased 40% following the match and the NFL will look to capitalize on the rise. NFL is perhaps well poised to capture UK audiences. The matches on Sky Sports generally start at around 6 p.m., perfect for catching the football fan who will have just watched Super Sunday. While Five broadcast games, they are generally at ungodly hours, although I have caught a fair few this season. Surely the NFL, when the rights contracts are up for renewal, should offer a free-to-air highlights package that isn't on at 1.00am. This would ensure that the sport could regain some of the popularity it achieved in the 1980's.

The skeptics will still be out in force, calling the sport "American Rugby" and ignore the sport. I, for one, genuinely can't wait for the Superbowl, even though the Packers have not reached it. It will be broadcast on Sky Sports (and on HD) as well as live on BBC Two on the 3rd Februrary.The fact is, NFL is a superb sport, capable of capturing the imagination of sports fans everywhere. It's also the perfect way to spend a Sunday or Monday night when one can't sleep.