What’s Good,


A couple
weeks ago something that I can only describe as fate, occurred here in London.  My hometown American football team came to me here in London to play a game at Wembley.  Just for some background information, the NFL is trying to pursue the possibility of putting a team here in London and at least encouraging popularity of American football here in London.  So for this game there was an enormous amount of hyping up done by the NFL.  On Saturday, the day before the game, theyheld a “Fan Rally” at the heart of Trafalgar square.  I really did not know what to expect coming
to this event.


Walking from my flat to the event I saw people dressed in NFL uniforms riding taxi bikes.  Arriving at the square I really began to see the proportion of this.  The entire square was sealed off by security and there were at least 200 staff members working the event.  There was an enormous stage in the heart of the square, food stands, promotional stands and more.  After waiting in line to get in we
proceeded around the square checking everything out where we were handed multiple promotional brochures for Reebok and video games.  After this we headed over to the stage where the show began.  They kicked off the stage show by bringing out the commissioner of the NFL who is by his own right a celebrity in America.  He did a question and answer session with a representative on stage.  He hinted the prospect of a NFL team in London, which initiated an onslaught of cheers from the local fans.  Next which was the highlight of my day NFL legend Jerry Rice came on stage.  This
was a guy I had seen as a little kid back at home and undoubtedly one of the best players of all time.  Jerry rice proved to be a true showman, especially when supermodel Marissa Miller came on stage.  A couple other “important” people and players came on stage that was mildly entertaining. 


            At this point the musical entertainment began on stage.  First a dance group came on who were doing all kinds of crazy acts which didn’t seem to engage the people too much.  After that
the 49ers drum line came on and put on a mildly entertaining performance.  This was only to be followed by probably the most ridiculous music act of my life. They are known by the name, “The Cuban Brothers.”  These of what I can only describe as clowns, performed 70’s hits dressed in all leopard jumpsuits.  The singing was mediocre and the dancing was nauseating, especially when the main singer made the humble choice to de-robe.  Finally this act concluded to a relief of many people.  Next there was a popular college rapper named Asher Roth who performed.  At the beginning it was clear he had no place there.  He tried to get audience participation to no avail.  His set was extremely short and only lasted about 10 minutes.  At this point the group of us decided to leave.  As we left, the dancers were doing the same exact performance they did earlier.  This event was a feeble effort at hyping up the NFL.  It started off great with the commissioner and Jerry Rice, but killed itself with cheap performances.  I do not want to say this event is a failure because it did manage to put on a show in the center of one of the most famous squares in the world.  But had it not been there this “rally” would have been a terrible failure. 


Danny Seidel