Ed Wang is a offensive tackle who played college football at Virginia Tech. Interestingly, Wang's brother is currently playing football at Virginia Tech. However, with the 140th overall pick in the 5th round of the 2010 NFL draft, the Buffalo Bills selected Ed Wang, the first full-blooded Chinese player to enter the NFL. Although several players in the NFL have heritage roots from Asia, like Hines Ward, Wang is the first NFL player to be 100% Chinese.
I find it very shocking that the NFL did not have a truly Asian-American player in the league until this year. Wang opened a door for many high talented oriental football players in believing that one day they can accomplish the dream in making it to the NFL. I relate this to the Yao Ming topic that we discussed in class with him entering the NBA. Although very few Asian players followed Yao to the NBA I believe we will see more Asians in the NFL after Ed Wang shows his success in the league.
Through 13 weeks of the NFL season, Wang is yet to start a game. However, he has played in the last four games and is beginning to look like a great fit at left tackle for the Buffalo Bills.
I also think that it is suprising there has yet to be a 100% chinese-american player in the US. The only full bloded asian player that i know is Dat Nguye who is Viatemese and has been very sucessful in the NFL as a linebacker. I think the China, Japan, and South Korea are places the NFL should look into trying to develop a fan base and having player in the league like Ed Wang is defintely a help.
ReplyDeleteFirst off, I would be a solid left tackle for the Buffalo Bills, that isn't saying much. However, I think this speaks volumes and proves what Dr Cho has spoken to us in class about. He, along with many other Koreans, were introduced to the American game of football due mostly to their Army regulations, however I'm sure there are other reasons and some of those could have spread to China. The NFL should try to play a game in China instead of just going to England like they have done the past few years and try to establish a market there.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely surprising that there wasn't a 100% Asian player in the NFL until Ed Wang. I agree that this opens doors to other international players to come to the NFL. The NFL is different from the MLB though because I feel that it is a lot harder for international people to succeed in football as opposed to baseball. This is because there is more baseball played overseas than there is American football. This is great for the sport though and the global market because now the NFL has become more marketable.
ReplyDeleteI think that this is a great stepping stone for the Globalization of the NFL. I too am very surprised that there has not been a 100% chinese player in the NFL. I know it sounds funny when when we think of Chinese you think of sumo wrestling and how good those guys would be at being an offensive lineman. This is a great way for the NFL to spread to China and possible expand their market even further.
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