This time it is ‘da Bears turn in the London spotlight. From a sports venue more than 1,000 years old and now one of the countries most storied cricket grounds, The Oval, the guys had a brief and enjoyable time withe “the pride and joy of Illinois.” Besides raising the ire of Lovie Smith with him having seen the guys on Sky Sports News today stating that it was a bad idea for the team to wait until today to arrive, fun is had with a yawning Jay Cutler an enthusiastic Brian Urlacher trying to be a cricket “bowler,” and Lance Briggs demonstrating that he couldn’t hit his way out of a paper bag.
Carson Palmer looked good to go for Oakland when we filmed earlier today, but we now know he will not be able to answer the bell for Raider Nation.
Wonderful stuff from Bears brief practice. Tomorrow is a town-hall with Commissioner Goodell, fan rally at Trafalgar Square, dinner with Bucs U.K. group, and then the legendary annual Rants & Raves Party at Sports Cafe.
Were those dudes in the background at the end about to escort the guys off the premises?
I may be wrong, but I’m with Lovie…I’d stay in the familiar surroundings and do the travel the same way I would for a west coast trip.
@ Ed – having been a member at the Oval for many years, I’d say those dudes are about to suggest that filming your piece in an exit corridor isn’t the greatest idea! Good to see the chaps in “my house”, though.
I thought Lovie was very fair, especially as Steven asked a closed question, to which he could only possibly give one answer – “No”. He not only recognised Steven and had a little fun, he then answered a much better question, “What factors made you decide coming over late was the best thing to do?”, making himself AND Steven look good. That’s impressive.
Guys, the Oval is indeed a fantastic, historic venue, but one thing it ain’t is 1,000 years old! The lease was signed in 1845 and, like much of the rest of the area, it was market gardens for London before that. Did you ever manage to get up to the top of the Pavilion? Great views of London from there. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Look up your facts ;-) the place has been a sporting venue since 1,000 A.D.!
No, Jeff, I’m sorry, it really hasn’t.
Which facts? The history on the offical Oval website makes no such claim, even though it would make the place the oldest (by several hundred years) sporting venue in Britain – http://www.kiaoval.com/sites/oval/files/oval12/History%20for%20Website_0.pdf . The authoritative Survey of London (Volume 26 – http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=49754#s4) describes the land as agricultural until the Montpelier Club signed the sub-lease from the Otter family in 1845 to create the cricket ground. Because of the royal history of the Manor of Kennington, the historical record for this part of London is pretty good, from Domesday Book, through late Middle Ages maps and plans, to the leasehold records of the Duchy of Cornwall. I lived 50 yards from the Oval for 10 years, and I am a local history and cricket enthusiast (and, as I said originally, a member of the Club for many years), and I have never seen or heard any suggestion of such an early sporting history on the site of the Oval.
Could be mistaken. I thought I had read this little factoid inside the Vauxhall End of the grounds. Many apologies if wrong. It had more to do with the land (obviously) than cricket itself.
Ah, it’s probably more about the area (Vauxhall), rather than the actual site of the Oval. Both Vauxhall Park and Spring Gardens (up towards the river) do have a long history of entertainments of all kinds (and I mean ALL kinds!) I’ll have to remember to look for what it was you read when I’m there next season :-)