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Resources Aug 08, 2013

Jason Sudeikis gets his footballs crossed in NBC Sports EPL promo

We’ve all seen the culture clash in everyday life: American football and the version played by the rest of the world just don’t usually mix all that well, from vocabulary to coaching methods to style of play.

The NBC Sports Network couldn’t resist mining that contrast for a few good jokes as it promotes its upcoming broadcasts of the English Premier League this fall, and they’ve enlisted veteran Saturday Night Live comedian Jason Sudeikis to make them.

Sudeikis stars as “Coach Ted Lasso,” a classic gridiron barker who joins the technical staff at EPL club Tottenham Hotspur in “An American Coach in London,” gently poking fun at the diametrically different rules — and mentalities — between soccer and football.

“Football’s football, no matter where you play it,” explains Lasso in his opening press conference in the ‘mockumentary’ style video. “You got grass, you got cleats and you got helmets with masks on them.”

If you haven’t watched it yet, it’s must-see viewing:

Tottenham couldn’t resist adding a bit more to the joke themselves, posting a “behind the scenes” video of Lasso’s/Sudeikis’ brief time at the club.

Looks like Spurs have enlisted a new celebrity fan.

NBCSN is eager to catch American eyes this month as the network counts down to the debut of its sweeping new coverage of the EPL later this month. The network outbid several more established U.S. sports networks for the league’s Stateside broadcasting rights and has announced ambitious plans to make every EPL game available for U.S. viewing on multiple media platforms.

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