So I've just heard an advert on the radio for "Superbowl Sunday". This being the UK, of course, the advert goes something like this: "Real men like football. American football, that is...".

I'm always amused when they try to slap US culture on us. It's weird: we're expected to understand Americanisms and the like as they are, but when UK TV progammes (or films) get shipped to the States, they feel the need to re-make them (usually removing all the humour in the process). Funny. I really don't know what it says about Americans, positive or negative... ;-)

It's like when they pulled the Clairol Herbal Essences Shampoo advert wholesale off American TV and showed it to the UK. Yeah, we knew what it meant, even if a certain proportion of Britisth TV audiences looked quizzically at the box and thought "What is 'urble'?".

They should have put another disclaimer on that Superbowl ad: "American Football is like rugby, only the player feel the need to wear padding to protect their $4000 dental work and/or rhinoplasties".

And, on that note, why is there no women's American football (league or amateur or otherwise)? Women and men alike play rugby, and smash their faces up in the name of sport - why is it the only place for women in American football seems to be in short skirts, doing the "Rah-rah-rah, we adore manly men!" act. Bo-ring.

Of course, if women do play American football in any sort of capacity, I'm happy to be set right. And if they do, do they have male cheerleaders? Please say they do - I may have to take it up if that's the case...