VOA常速英语2007-NFL Tackles Europe

By Suzanne Chislett
London
30 October 2007
 

Two years after American football's NFL broke down international boundaries by playing a regular season game in Mexico City, the sport has spread its wings across the ocean. On Sunday, the Miami Dolphins battled the New York Giants in London. While the on-field result went against the Dolphins, who lost 13-10, the off-field impact of taking an American showpiece to Europe could have major implications for the future of the sport. Suzanne Chislett reports from the British capital.

There were more than a million requests for tickets for the first regular season National Football League game to be played outside North America - and as the lucky 80,000 fans began crowding into London's Wembley Stadium, the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants took to the field to warm up.

The players arrived in London just two days earlier - but despite the lengthy¹ transatlantic flights, it was straight down to training as they attempted to force their body-clocks to make the five hour jump forwards.

New York Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin was determined² to keep his team focused. He explained his purpose and goals. "Travel plans are not always as you would like them to be as evidenced today. So put a smile on your face and stay positive about it. We're here for one reason and one reason only -- that's to try to win a football game."

All 32 NFL franchise³ owners backed the move to take the game overseas during the regular season in a bid to raise the sport's profile.

H. Wayne Huizenga, franchise owner of the Dolphins, says it was a common-sense decision. "Like other leagues we all realize that the world is growing smaller and the need to be more global is more than it's ever been."

For the players, the chance to show off their skills to a new audience was too good an opportunity to pass up.

But Miami Dolphin Defensive⁴ End Jason Taylor pointed⁵ out while the game was about showing off the sport - it was not an exhibition. "It'll be highly competitive. It is the NFL as a whole for 60 minutes. It's something very different to what is normally shown here."

Many of the fans who watched the American footballers take to the field at the home of English soccer are already looking forward to next season's NFL visit.

One fan said, "I think it will help in the UK (because) obviously quite a few university teams play at the moment and it will make people more aware and stuff."

Another fan welcomes more. "We should have some more of it, definitely"

Yet, another fan found the game enjoyable and said, "It's great. I hope there's more. It's awesome⁶. The fans are amazing."

The impact of this inaugural⁷ NFL regular season game in Europe is being closely monitored by many other sports. Already bosses of English Premier⁸ League soccer are said to be considering taking top teams around the world to boost their sport's profile.

1 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。

2 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

3 franchise   

n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权

参考例句：

• Catering in the schools is run on a franchise basis.学校餐饮服务以特许权经营。
• The United States granted the franchise to women in 1920.美国于1920年给妇女以参政权。

4 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

5 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

6 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

7 inaugural   

adj.就职的；n.就职典礼

参考例句：

• We listened to the President's inaugural speech on the radio yesterday.昨天我们通过无线电听了总统的就职演说。
• Professor Pearson gave the inaugural lecture in the new lecture theatre.皮尔逊教授在新的阶梯讲堂发表了启用演说。

8 premier   

adj.首要的；n.总理，首相

参考例句：

• The Irish Premier is paying an official visit to Britain.爱尔兰总理正在对英国进行正式访问。
• He requested that the premier grant him an internview.他要求那位总理接见他一次。