Premier League fans lost in London fog

You never want to write something if it sounds like you’re whining.

But just this once ...

Wait, let me back up and note that there a hell of a lot of soccer fans in this country now — MLS has taken off, and millions follow the stars of the European game.

England’s Premier League, the richest and best the sport can offer, has lured more and more Americans into the web of “the beautiful game.”

One way we know for certain that the Premier League has attracted a huge following on this side of the Atlantic is that NBC out-bid several rivals to carry English regular-season games.

Not just one glamor match per week, either.

Nope, NBC broadcasts all 10 games each weekend — on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.

OK, now I’m going to whine anyway.

SEE, IN this country, TV tells every league and college conference when to start games. Whatever the network thinks is best for ratings (and thus for advertisers), that’s what it’s going to be.

The National Hockey League was so desperate to get a decent national television deal, it actually changed the sport.

Yep.

For about a century, there was no such thing as a stoppage for those routine face-offs. The linesman grabbed the puck, maybe teams changed lines quickly, and the battle was on again.

Not now.

At designated intervals, when the goalie freezes the puck or a shot sails into the crowd ...

Halt.

The face-off has to wait a couple of minutes for a series of commercials.

THAT’S THE power of TV, which has affected every sport except soccer.

When a game mesmerizes the entire planet, the people who run it don’t give a hoot what any network in any country thinks.

The Premier League?

Hah!

And why I’m whining right now, because I’m really, really tired.

Almost two decades ago, I got hooked on English football (what Americans call soccer).

Specifically, I became a Gooner. That is, a fan of Arsenal in north London.

The Gunners.

I was living just outside Charlotte then, and the time difference wasn’t too difficult. Then I spent three-plus years in Scotland, which was mega-convenient — even for game-day trips to London.

But now, on the West Coast?

We’re eight hours from England, and there’s one noon game on Saturday and another on Sunday to draw the most possible eyeballs to television sets.

THE NORMAL starting time for English games is 3 p.m., which is 7 in the morning in the Pacific Time Zone.

Right, that’s early enough for a night person to drag himself out of bed.

But I mentioned I’m weary ...

That’s because Arsenal played Fulham at noon on Sunday. Yes, 4 a.m. here, and I stayed up all night to watch the match.

What can I say?

I’m a Gooner.

I slept off and on throughout Sunday, but my body still doesn’t understand.

“More caffeine, nurse.”

Of course you’re saying: “Why don’t you record these early morning games?”

A true soccer junkie wouldn’t ask that question, but for everyone else ...

Even if I could sleep all morning and hope to watch a replay, about a dozen mates would be texting throughout with comments and an awful lot of blah-blah.

So that’s me, whining just a teeny bit today.

But hey, even at zero-dark-thirty it was worth it, because the Arse whizzed to a 5-1 win — so I’m grinning through my fog.

Still, sometimes I wish the Premier League would try all night games.

- • •

Steve Cameron is a columnist for The Press.

A Brand New Day appears from Wednesday through Saturday each week.

Steve’s sports column runs on Tuesday.

Email: scameron@cdapress.com. Facebook: Steve Cameron. Twitter: @BrandNewDayCDA