After seeing highlights of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Los Angeles Rams at the Superbowl, I am trying to understand the conference system the NFL employs and how that leads to the Superbowl. Whilst American football is foreign to me in many regards, I respect the skills of the players and their commitment to becoming the best team in the league.

What never fails to amuse me is the claims that the Los Angeles Rams are now world champions. Look, I appreciate that the NFL is America’s game, as an Australian Rules football fan, I totally respect a national sport that is unique to that country – I get it. I can see the NFL is attempting to grow the game internationally, just as the AFL began playing a game or two in China, that does not make AFL an international sport.

But come on, this is a national sport played in the United States by American teams, in American stadiums, followed [mostly] by Americans and sponsored by American companies. Yes, I am aware that there are NFL teams in various countries, the AFL is played in other countries as well, even the US. But this does not make this an elite competition, we are talking of grassroot support in an attempt to grow the sport.

Even some commentators have got some Americanisms going, they have made some statements in regards to some AFL records being world records – give it a rest. We know this is the most elite competition in the country, it is a league record only. These commentators get smacked down pretty quick, it is viewed as ignorant and arrogant. Americans need to heed this advice, this is a league championship, it is a long season to get to the last game of the year. League champions, absolutely, but world champions they are not.