Agreed, BroEss. At least with soccer over here, there is grass-roots level soccer being played. American football is weird because it really is only played in the U.S.

BUT many people do love it and I agree - interest in the NFL is peaking and that’s why now is when they’ll go international - they want to strike while the iron is hot to see if they can take it to the next level… Expanding into new, untapped markets is the way to keep it going strong - keeping things as is means there would probably be a higher chance of a decline (although highly doubtful when we’re talking about the 800-pound gorilla of sports leagues - thanks for that: Brunt, Stephen).

Here’s a good article in today’s Globe and Mail about the NFL coming to Toronto:

Indy vs. the Pats should be a classic next week! I have to think New England will still win handily BUT the Pats’ D hasn’t been tested like this yet…. The winner of this game could go 16-0. If it’s the Patriots, I think they will. If it’s the Colts, I don’t have as much confidence - I think they’ll lose eventually. We have to hope they meet again in the AFC Championship game, which will be great, but a shame at the same time because if they do meet in the semifinals, it means the Super Bowl will be a little anti-climatic.

I don’t follow the CFL that closely, but I usually tune in for the playoff games. There’s something about the CFL playoffs that I enjoy. I’m rooting for the Green Riders - a Western Final pitting them against BC would be a real barnburner! As for the Argos, I don’t love or hate them - I think them playing in the Grey Cup will add the extra little bit of a spark the game needs though.

I realize that the NFL has fans around the world (via TV), but there is virtually no grass-roots American football played anywhere else. (Not that that guarantees success, either - northern Florida bought 80000 tickets for college football, but only 60000 for the Jags.) And what if the NFL’s popularity is just peaking now - hey, everything is cyclical.

Rrrrrrrrrrr-goooooooozzzzzzzzz.

This will be a make or break season for Naslund and Morrison I believe. If they dont do something this year, they might as well call it quits or ask for trades and let the real rebuilding begin.

The Sedin twins are coming along fine but I think they still need that grizzled vet to show them the way. If Naslund cant do it, then who becomes the question. Trevor Linden can only do so much.

NOW as for the football…the Niners once again make an OK showing but cant seem to find that trigger. Started off really well this year with the 2-0 start but those wins were rather lucky (arent most of them to begin with?)

NEXT week is THE week for anyone whos a fan of NFL football to watch…

INDY vs NEW ENGLAND…. can you say WOW!?!

CFL playoffs will be kicking into high gear and I think Saskatchewan will pull it out. Head coach and former Argo Kent Austen would love to do nothing more than take on his former team…IN Toronto…and win the Grey Cup. The Roughriders have been on fire recently, but its going to be hard to unseat BC Lions in the west. Winnipeg looks like it might take the East, but the I HATE THE ARGOS in me would just love for them to go to the Cup at home…and lose.

I guess my bitterness comes from the fact that I’ve had Markus Naslund a few times in various hockey pools and he always seems to underperform - same with Morrison - the Canucks seem to play a fairly exciting brand of hockey but I don’t think they actually put the biscuit in the basket as much as they should.

Combine that with the fact that during last year’s playoffs vs. Dallas first and then Anaheim, they were almost unwatchable as they just sat back and hoped that Luongo would win the game for them. I found their play to be almost embarrassing and I just think they need 1 or 2 more ‘creative’ players before they’re really a threat - although I admit, I haven’t seen them play yet this year.

I understand the ‘code’ - once you leave Leaf or Hab fandom, don’t expect to be allowed back in. As far as the Habs go, I don’t really wish them any ill will - other than when they play God’s team (that’s the Leafs). My brother-in-law (and nephews) are Red Wing fans, and two of my buddies are Phliar fans, so those are the teams I’ve really grown to hate.

It also burns me that Philly was able to revamp their team for the post-lockout NHL by taking it on the chin for a year, trimming the fat, and re-tooling through good drafting and key free agent signings, while the Leafs continue to flounder with poor drafting, questionable signings and proceeding with an astounding lack of direction/vision.

Yeah, I’ve got a weird feeling that Miami may play better than advertised this week also - something to do with the dramatic change of scenery. We’ll see!

Over the years of watching the Canucks Ive come to appreciate the totally different style of hockey on the west coast. Its much faster, more exciting, (ie less TRAP hockey) and it can keep you riveted to the TV watching a game between the Canucks and Avalanche or the Minnesota Wild even.

As for my NFL picks….and for no particular reason other than the fact that ONE week I’ll do well…

INDY
CLEVELAND
MIAMI (Yes I know, but any game outside the country might be an upset)
PHILLY
PITTSBURGH
CHICAGO
TENNESSEE
NEW YORK JETS
TAMPA BAY
SAN DIEGO
SAN FRANCISCO
NEW ENGLAND

and on Monday

DENVER

For the survivor this week, even though I’m not fond of them as they are in Washington’s division, I will go with the Giants.

For my weekly picks (let’s see if we inch closer to .500 this week)

Giants

Browns

Chicago

Indy

Oakland

Minnesota

Pitt

Buffalo

Houston

Jags

N’Owleans

Washington (yes, they will keep it close vs. New England)

Green Bay