Can Our Sports Conquer Europe?
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THE GA T EWAY volume XCVIII number 1 SPORts 27 Soccer men build new side Can our sports conquer Europe? The Bears will try to hold on to success in spite of losing many of last year’s national champions NICK Hockey is already popular in parts American football is about as appeal- FROst of Europe—England just isn’t one of ing to people outside North America ROBIN COLLUM “Not having those few players them yet. But while the mass popular- as cricket is to people inside North Sports Editor is going to put a bit more pressure ity might not be there, at least a sem- America. With the exception of the on the first-year players to step up blance of a hockey league is: the Elite now-defunct money pit that was NFL There are few things in sports sweeter and make an impact early,” Vickery Ice Hockey League, which currently Europa, there are no North American- than repeating a title, but it’s rarely an admitted. Sports operates in ten locations throughout style football leagues outside of this easy feat, especially when there have “We’re coming off winning a Commentary the United Kingdom. continent, so most Europeans have been significant changes to a team national championship, and last year no exposure to the sport outside of between seasons. That’s the dilemma we did have a strong core of fifth-year f the British Empire (on a politi- Hollywood movies. the Bears soccer squad, last year’s players,” he added. “Unfortunately, cal level) or Pinky and the Brain Both the NHL and NFL One of the biggest mistakes that national champions, face right now. they’re lost to us this year, but on I (on a Saturday-morning-cartoon are trying to expand the NFL is making in their European The Bears graduated five fifth-year the plus side we have a strong core level) have taught us anything, it’s that foray is that they are presenting a players and lost several others to inju- of [returning] players, as well as a complete world domination just isn’t their appeal into really boring match-up. Neither the ries and other pursuits. Head coach few strong transfer students and a possible—there will always be factors Europe, but hockey Dolphins nor the Giants have been Len Vickery expressed confidence very strong group of first-year players such as decolonization or poorly-built particularly successful recently, and in his team’s ability to overcome the coming into the program.” ACME products preventing one from appears much more there really aren’t any marquee play- shakeup and excel this season, but Those include ‘keeper Jas Gill, mid- attaining success on such as massive likely to succeed in the ers on either team, with the exception acknowledged that there are signifi- fielder Manav Deol, and defenders scale. long term. of Giants quarterback Eli Manning— cant challenges ahead. Martin Andersen and Giovanni Bruno. But on a sporting level, with the although I bet there are going to be “Our [first] goal is to make the play- These four—along with Sidra—were surprising fan support of the expan- a lot of Brits seeing his name in the offs at the Canada West level,” Vickery all a part of the Edmonton Juventus sion Toronto FC and the arrival of The EIHL doesn’t get much fan or paper and asking themselves, “Wait, said. “Anything goes at the playoffs— club team that won the provincial David Beckham in America, it seems media attention, but with the NHL roll- isn’t his name Peyton?” it’s two semi-final games and a final, championship last weekend. like soccer finally has the major sport- ing into town for not one but two reg- A big name is needed in this situation and we have to win that final to “When somebody has played four ing markets in its grasp (for the next ular-season games between one of the to give the game any legitimate hype. advance to nationals because UBC are or five years and is lost to the pro- five years, at least). As a result, the most well-known cities in the world, These teams aren’t even division or hosting this year and they automati- gram, if a first-year player is to take major North American sports leagues and the defending Stanley Cup cham- conference rivals: this game couldn’t be cally take one of the CW berths.” their place they have to be truly out- have got it in their heads to do the pions, people will pay attention. Not any less interesting if it tried. The only In addition to the graduating play- standing,” Vickery said, noting that he same. But two examples —hockey and to mention that the Ducks and Kings thing it has going for it is the novelty ers—Hilaire Kamden, Mark Korthuis, kept that in mind as the team looked football—show the problems with have enough international flavour value, and while that may have created Devon Fraser, Jarin Myskiw, and Mike for new players to fill the roster for this plan. between the two of them to appeal a ticket demand for 500 000 people so Kennedy—the Bears lost a few others: this year. Over the next two months, London to a European crowd—they feature far, once they see what they’re actu- keeper Daniel Gusberti has decided The stakes are high for the new team. will play host to two of North players from eight different countries, ally spending a ridiculous amount of to focus on working towards medical As mentioned, there’s only one open America’s big four sporting leagues: including the only Slovenian player in money on, that number will drop for school instead, and new recruit Luke Canada West spot at nationals this year, the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks and Los NHL history, Anze Kopitar (though any games in the future. So much for Jones, a forward from England, has and this conference is generally consid- Angeles Kings will square off in a two- it’s debatable just how much interest long-term sustainability. been sidelined due to injury. ered the most competitive in the coun- game set the on 29 and 30 September, English fans have in Slovenia). While it is definitely a positive thing Perhaps the face most noticeably try. There’s little room for error if the and the Miami Dolphins and New If the NHL games are successful to see North American sports leagues missing from this year’s lineup is Eddy Bears want to keep their title. York Giants of the NFL will enter- in finding an audience in England, want to go international, the ability Sidra, the team’s 2006 Rookie of the “It’s a short but very intensive tain fans at Wembley Stadium on 28 it should help the EIHL develop a (or wherewithal) to do so sometimes Year. He’s plying his trade in Europe season,” Vickery explained. “We’ve October. Both these leagues are trying following as well. With a bigger fan isn’t there. A better strategy would be this year instead, having joined the got to get better from week to week, to expand their appeal into Europe, base, it could become one of the most to expand a game at the grassroots under-19 side of German professional and hopefully things come together but hockey appears much more likely important European superleagues. level first, and then build it up before team Energie Cottbus. for us by the end of the season.” to succeed in the long term. On the other side of the coin, trying to take over the world. 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