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PITCH BATTLE: Bush (left) with Tomlinson

TWO of the NFL’s biggest stars Reggie Bush and LaDainian Tomlinson were in London recently to promote the upcoming NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers at Wembley in October.

It will be the second regular season game to be played in the UK after Wembley hosted the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins last October.

This year’s game has generated unprecedented hype with over a millions fans registering for tickets and the first 40,000 tickets made available selling out in just 90 minutes.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said that the game would be an opportunity to grow an already passionate international fan base, as well as showcase the two teams based in areas that recently experienced natural disasters.

“We think this game will be great for the UK fans but also the people of New Orleans and Louisiana, and the people of San Diego and southern California. This is a great opportunity to go on an international platform and promote the things that are happening in their cities,” Goodell told the Voice of Sport

Tomlinson who is a running back for the Chargers expressed his delight at the upcoming game and is delighted at the response the game has generated.

“I’m very excited, there is a lot of excitement and energy about football in America and it’s a chance for the UK fans to see how the pros do it,” he said.

Bush, who is also a running back for the New Orleans Saints, is excited about the prospect of showing what his team can do.

“I’m really excited, its my first time playing out of the country, I'm excited to come over here and help promote football and make it big over here. I’m looking forward to it,” he said.

Tomlinson is one of the leading players in NFL, after he set an NFL record in 2006 when he scored a total of 31 touchdowns during the season and despite his recent knee injury is confident of his team’s victory.

“Last year the Giants were here and they ended up winning the Superbowl. We have a really good team and I like our chances,” he said.

Bush 23, who signed for the Saints in 2006, feels that the game is an opportunity to show UK fans his skills.

“I’m still in the early stages of my career I haven’t reached my peak yet. Hopefully this will be a great year for me. I have been working tremendously hard,” he explained.

He added: “It’s going to be a tough game. Obviously LaDainian is a great player. We’re going to have to block the hype out and just concentrate.”

As official spokesmen for the NFL, both men feel that the game can become a permanent fixture in the UK, especially as it has been confirmed that at least one game will be played in the UK for the next three years.

“I really think so, it’s the type of game that draws a lot of attention. Human nature really loves the competitiveness and physical nature of games like this. I think it will work,” Tomlinson said.

In fact both men think that UK fans and those curious about the game will be in for a treat.

“They can expect a little bit of everything, excitement, energy, emotions up and down but I think they will see a lot of talented athletes on the field,” Tomlinson said.

'The New Orleans Saints play the San Diego Chargers when NFL returns to Wembley on 26 October 2008. For more information, visit www.nfluk.com '

• Did you know….?

• The National Football league (NFL) is the largest professional American football league in the world.

• It was formed by eleven teams in 1920. The league currently consists of thirty-two teams from American cities and regions, divided evenly into two conferences The American Football Conference (AFC) and National Football Conference (NFC).

• At the end of the regular season, six teams from each conference play in the NFL playoffs, a twelve team single elimination tournament that culminates with the championship game, known as the superbowl.

• Over the years the superbowl has become the most-watched U.S. television broadcast of the year, and has become likened to a de facto U.S. national holiday.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl - cite_note-0 In addition, many popular singers and musicians have performed during the Super Bowl's pre-game and halftime ceremonies.

• The NFL has the highest per game attendance of any domestic professional sports league in the world drawing over 67,000 spectators per game.

Published: 29 June 2008
Issue: 1327

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