VOA常速英语2007-Britain Prepares for First Ever Regular Season P

By Tom Rivers
London
27 October 2007

For the first time ever, the U.S. National Football League will stage a regular season game in Europe. The venue¹ for the Sunday clash will be London's new Wembley stadium. Tom Rivers has detail from London.

Here in Britain, football is king.  International-style football that is, or what Americans call soccer.  But now, anticipation² is growing for the arrival Sunday of a special game that most Britons have only seen on television, professional American-style football in a regular season contest that counts.

The contest pits the New York Giants against the Miami Dolphins. After doing most of their game preparation in the United States during the week, the two teams arrived in London early Friday morning.

For many of the players, the immediate³ concern was jet lag, but not for New York Giants defensive⁴ end Michael Strahan.

"Mine is already gone," he said.  "I grew up in Germany so I slept on the plane. I am up. I did not take a nap. I am not going to take a nap. I do not plan on going to bed early."

This is the first trip to England for some players. However, Miami Dolphins kicker Jay Feely was over three times before when he played soccer as a teen.

Coming over here was an eye opening experience and hopefully it will be in reverse here as we come over as football players. It will be eye opening for English fans.

Because of their busy schedule, the teams only have a few hours of leisure time in the British capital. Miami quarterback Cleo Lemon says his wife is setting out their tourist itinerary⁵.

"I let my wife do that," he said.  "She took care of that for us and she will drag me around and we will have a bit of fun but at the same time, we take care of business at the same time also."

For Giants Head Coach Tom Coughlin, whose team has strung together five consecutive⁶ wins, a victory on Sunday is the most important part of the trip.

"We are here for one reason, and one reason only and that is to win a football game," he said.

But Coughlin understands the historical significance as well.

"We are very proud to be here," he added.  "We are very proud, the New York Giants are very proud to be a part of this first ever regular season game played out of North America. We are proud to be a part of that."

Miami Dolphins Head Coach Cam Cameron says it is a privilege to be part of the historical contest.

"I am excited to be here. Our players are excited to be here. I have tried to let them know the venue that we are playing in - Wembley stadium - they are going to be excited once they walk in the stadium," he said.

Miami has had a tough season so far. They are winless in seven games. Kicker Jay Feely says this change of setting may be just what they need to get out of the rut.

"I think for us in our situation, it is probably a good distraction," he said.

Dolphins' quarterback Lemon could not agree more, but he says it is also about selling the game itself to a brand new audience.

"It is a big deal. We want to come over and get our first victory but at the same tine give the fans something to root for," he added.  "Show them some good American football and go out and have some fun."

A capacity crowd of 88,000 is expected. League officials say they could have sold three times that number.

If it all goes according to plan, more regular season contests could be heading here in the coming years and that would suit the fans, who are more accustomed to soccer, just fine.

1 venue   

n.犯罪地点，审判地，管辖地，发生地点，集合地点

参考例句：

• The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
• The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。

2 anticipation   

n.预期，预料，期望

参考例句：

• We waited at the station in anticipation of her arrival.我们在车站等着，期待她的到来。
• The animals grew restless as if in anticipation of an earthquake.各种动物都变得焦躁不安，像是感到了地震即将发生。

3 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

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 itinerary   

n.行程表，旅行路线；旅行计划

参考例句：

• The two sides have agreed on the itinerary of the visit.双方商定了访问日程。
• The next place on our itinerary was Silistra.我们行程的下一站是锡利斯特拉。

6 consecutive   

adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的

参考例句：

• It has rained for four consecutive days.已连续下了四天雨。
• The policy of our Party is consecutive.我党的政策始终如一。