THE NFL COMES TO KING WEST

Get ready folks. The NFL is coming to King West.

The Grey Cup was a blast. But throughout the week of festivities I couldn’t get past the truth. I wasn’t really a fan of Canadian football.

Growing up In Toronto afforded sports fans the opportunity to watch the best product available. And while my intention is not to irk those of you who live and breathe three down football, I’m referring to the NFL.

Unfortunately it wasn’t all roses. Through not fault of my own, the beginning of my affair with American football was tainted by the team I grew to love – the Buffalo Bills. By product of proximity, the American affiliate stations that showed up on television screens this side of the border were from Buffalo. I had no chance really.

I won’t go through the many painful moments Bills fans have had to endure throughout the last 25 years. Let’s just say, the lows out weighed the highs – by a considerable amount.

But fear not, King West resident. Those of you unattached to a certain team will be able to enjoy this weekend’s spectacle at the Rogers Centre without putting your heart through the anguish that accompanies watching Bills football.

This Sunday the Bills in Toronto Series makes its annual visit to the King West area. The combatants – Buffalo and Seattle – both have something to play for, a fact that hasn’t been the case in recent years.

The Bills playoff hopes are dead. One week after a thoroughly dominant performance against the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ralph Wilson Stadium,  they played one of their worst games of the season. The St.Louis Rams came into Buffalo and escaped with a 15-12 win. The rest of the season will be spent evaluating personnel and the direction of the club. And while that isn’t exactly glamourous, it needs to be done.

Not the most exciting of circumstances, but don’t worry, the real draw on December 16^th will be a short Quarterback from the University of Wisconsin and a Pop star from South Korea. Yes, I’m serious.

The Seattle Seahawks already have a large Canadian following in British Columbia. That fan base is going to get bigger thanks to the exploits of Russell Wilson, the rookie Quarterback that’s making the Seahawks relevant again.

And then there’s Psy, star of the most watched Youtube video of all time. The South Korean pop sensation will perform the song of the year at halftime. Hopefully this is the last time we’ll hear the song that captured our hearts only to make us loathe it for being overplayed by every radio station in the world.

One team fighting for playoff berth, a halftime show that won’t suck, and the most popular sports league in North America. Get ready, King West. The NFL is coming. Oppan Gangnam style.