NFL teams
Michael Rothstein, ESPN Staff Writer 9y

Lions appear to be enjoying first days in London

BAGSHOT, England -- Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola was asked about the royals on Wednesday afternoon and in the land of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, it can be a confusing question for an American.

“I looked it up this morning, just to see who won,” Raiola said.

Wait, what? Raiola thought reporters were talking about the Kansas City Royals, the team that lost Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday night. Instead, though, Raiola was being asked if he was following much of the drama around the royal family, which make headlines in Great Britain regularly.

“Hell no,” Raiola said. “I don’t know what’s going on. Our cab driver was talking about Prince Harry and how crazy, I guess the Queen was in town because the flag was out last night. [The cab driver said] like this flag is out which means the Queen is staying there.”

In England, though, following the royal family is as much of a gawking sport as celebrity-watching is in the United States and some Lions spent their first day in the country as tourists.

Some Lions traveled into central London, even if their hotel is about 75 minutes away from the city in Bagshot, England. Punter Sam Martin and tight ends Joseph Fauria and Eric Ebron all sent pictures in front of Big Ben to their Instagram followers.

Running back Reggie Bush went into the city, by driver, for a late dinner with his wife, Lilit, at Nobu. Tahir Whitehead's anniversary is tomorrow, so he is planning on heading into London to have dinner with his wife then.

But for many Lions who have not been overseas before -- Bush is well-traveled, as is Ndamukong Suh, who recounted prior trips to London as among his most fun vacations -- this is a completely different experience.

“The impression from other people that I’ve been talking to who actually spent more time down there (Tuesday), they really enjoyed it, did a lot of sightseeing and did some shopping,” Bush said. “I think the big thing was taking the train down into London, a lot of guys did that yesterday.

“So they really enjoyed that part of it. I think everybody has been enjoying it so far.”

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