I was watching that recent Hawaii game, and the
commentators mentioned something about how they recruit
New Zealand rugby players. I assume that they recruit them
based mostly on geographical proximity (or maybe not),
otherwise why not European rugby players? We see what
happens when a North American sport becomes international.
Hockey, baseball, and basketball have experienced an influx of
Europeans, Hispanics, and/or Asians from outside America.
Along with much more white Americans at the taboo positions
(that's first and foremost), I would love to see Europeans in
football. It may not be good for marketing at first, since
American fans seem to generally prefer American athletes.
The NFL is a business, and it needs to make money. But why
should fans identify more with blacks from America than whites
from outside of America? We know that it's ridiculous. I
certainly identify more with Andrei Kirilenko or Dirk Nowitzki
than any black basketball players, even if he was born in the
same town as me. I don't care where he was born. Maybe
over time Americans could learn to embrace European
athletes. Okay, rant over.