I met a guy in Chicago called Ahman Green, an NFL rushing back who played 12 seasons of professional football and still holds the Green Bay Packer's record for most rushing yards.
"Oh, I've been to New Zealand a few times," he surprised me. "I had the haka welcome."
He had visited for an event to promote American football. Had I heard about it? Gulp.
And specifically within Chicago, there's a lot to compete for public attention.
Tomorrow, a tightrope walker will stride, blindfolded, 200m above the Chicago River. They're closing central city bridges and they've banned all drones.I barely heard a word on the stunt, all week.
Rugby's growth will always be hamstrung because it's a complicated sport.
When I explained to a group of Chicago schoolgirls the core differences from football, I made sure to mention you can't pass it forward and that rugby players don't wear pads.
Did I bother explaining the minutiae and interpretive nature of the current breakdown laws? Nah, we'll save that for next time.
And there should be a next time. Because even though the average Chicagoan still isn't super hot on rugby, the US TV coverage means it will still have found plenty of new fans.
In a sport with only a few truly competitive teams, is it really so bad to do something different now and then?
The rugby fans in Chicago - Americans and Kiwis - have had passions rewarded and refreshed.
• Jack Tame is on NewstalkZB Saturdays, 9am-midday
