Patriots aren't 'America's Team' but Tom Brady's stardom carries over to Europe

[KamaAina]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/tom-brady-s-star-power-carries-over-to-europe-where-patriots-have-established-popularity-despite-deflate-gate-042709036.html

For a league in the midst of a decades-long wooing process outside of the United States, there is a reality of foreign fandom that is a little awkward for the NFL.

The overseas market buys Tom Brady. A lot. And it buys the New England Patriots, too. More than any current NFL player and team, in fact. In the latest jersey sales from Europe, three Patriots land in the top seven sellers. The top slot belongs to Brady, with the fifth and seventh spots locked up by tight end Rob Gronkowski and wideout Julian Edelman.

So, yeah. There's that. After spending millions promoting the game and brand, and cementing an annual international series, the NFL went to war with the chosen team and player of its most prized foreign market. There are a lot of Patriots fans in London. Find one and ask that person about the NFL's federal court battle with Brady and you'll feel like you wandered into a Boston bar on game day.

"It has been a massive point of discussion," said James Cuff, a Patriots fan who lives in Cardiff, Wales. "I've refused buying things from the NFL because of it. I didn't renew my subscription to (NFL) Game Pass because I didn't want the money going into the NFL's pockets. I bought season tickets for all the Wembley games and I'm not going to any of them. I'll just watch how I can watch them, without giving any money to the NFL."

[joeybee12]

1. Good old Europeans, not blinded by jealousy and hate...knr

[trumad]

8. Talk to the hand Joey---

Nobody gives a shit what ignore boy has to say in this here parts.

[NRaleighLiberal]

2. Go Pats.

[El Supremo]

3. Fuck the Patriots. I hope they move to London.

[KamaAina]

4. Wouldn't that make them the Old England Patriots?

Or Redcoats?

[madinmaryland]

6. England's and the Queen's favourite team with their favourite colour RED!!

[Iggo]

5. They can have 'em.

The cheatin' bastards.

[T_i_B]

7. We don't want them, or any other NFL team

The people I know who are into that sport absolutely loathe the Patriots. At most they appear to be a bit of a glory hunters team, with extra cheating accusations thrown in.

But the US sports team that is most associated with glory hunting eejits is the New York Yankees. And that's about the only thing I know about baseball.