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Where EAST meets the Northwest
From The Asian Reporter, V21, #03 (February 7, 2011), page 9 & 10.
NFL postseason filled with Asian-American stars
By Mike Street
Special to The Asian Reporter
In the past decade, it’s become much easier than ever to find Asian-American players in the National Football League (NFL). Thanks to their tradition of rugby and big bodies, Polynesians can often be found in offensive and defensive lines or in the linebacking corps. Other Asian Americans can be found elsewhere on the field, but they’re the exception, not the rule. This season’s playoffs saw many Asian-American players in familiar and unfamiliar roles, as well as one with a less-common heritage.
That unusual player, Haruki Nakamura, appeared in the AFC (American Football Conference) matchup between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers. Nakamura is among the rarest of Asian NFL commodities: a Japanese American. The son of a Japanese black belt in judo, Nakamura earned his reputation as a hard-hitting standout safety at the University of Cincinnati and the Ravens made him their sixth-round draft choice. But with All-Pro Ed Reed ahead of him on the depth chart, Nakamura doesn’t get many chances to play, except in nickel packages.
It was in one of those packages when Reed and Nakamura combined for an odd play in the first round of the playoffs that made many highlight reels. Gathering his first career interception on a deflected pass against Kansas City, Nakamura tried to lateral the ball to Reed, but fumbled instead. Though the Chiefs recovered the ball, it didn’t stop the Ravens from winning — but it might have energized Nakamura, who picked up his first career postseason sack against the Steelers the next week.
In front of Nakamura in the Ravens’ defense is Tongan nose tackle Haloti Ngata, a University of Oregon graduate. A first-round pick in 2006, Ngata earned his first Pro Bowl berth in 2009 and was sixth on the team this year in total tackles — an impressive achievement on a team that prides itself on its defense. Against Pittsburgh, a team that prides itself on its ability to run the ball, Ngata helped hold the Steelers to just 71 yards on the ground.
Pittsburgh emerged victorious, however, thanks to its own Asian stars. Korean-American wide receiver Hines Ward, a familiar name to most NFL fans, caught one of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s two touchdown passes. And another familiar name, six-time All-Pro Samoan safety Troy Polamalu, helped the Pittsburgh defense hold Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco to a 61.1 rating and a mere 4.2 yards per pass attempt. On the other side of the ball, Steelers guard Chris Kemoeatu of Tonga protected Roethlisberger’s blind side and opened up holes in Baltimore’s defensive line, leading the Steelers to a 31-24 victory.
Pittsburgh advanced to face the New York Jets, who downed the New England Patriots 28-21 in a divisional clash thin on Asian talent. New England’s only Asian representative was free safety and Oregon graduate Patrick Chung, the son of a Chinese father and Jamaican mother. New York had Hawaiian native Wayne Hunter at right tackle along with defensive tackle Sione Pouha of Tonga, who picked up a sack and helped keep the Pats out of the end zone on the ground. But New York’s victory was short-lived, as Pittsburgh defeated them 24-19 the following Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl.
On the NFC (National Football Conference) side, our own Seattle Seahawks, fresh off an incredible upset of the defending champion New Orleans Saints, squared off against the Chicago Bears. Despite being in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle has very few Asian players and lost one of those players in the last game of the regular season when defensive end Junior Siavii, a native of Pago Pago, injured his spine. That left only fellow Samoan Lofa Tatupu, the three-time Pro Bowl linebacker who was nursing a knee injury and a concussion sustained in the New Orleans game. He started against the Bears, however, ranking second on the team with seven tackles and picking up a sack.
Chicago responded to Seattle with its own Asian contingent: a trio of Samoans. Former Duck Matt Toeaina is a stalwart on Chicago’s defensive line, but a greater force lurks behind him — strong side linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. He, too, was suffering from a balky knee and saw limited action against Seattle, managing a single tackle.
Chicago’s most interesting Asian player, however, is Brandon Manumaleuna, a 300-pounder who can line up at tight end or in the backfield. Pass-catching tight end Greg Olsen led the team in receiving yards, but Manumaleuna’s blocking helped the Bears gain 176 yards on the ground while Chicago can thank their two Samoan countrymen for the Seahawks’ paltry 34 rushing yards.
Chicago defeated Seattle, 35-24, to face the Green Bay Packers, who’d crushed the Atlanta Falcons the week before, 48-21, in the postseason’s only Asian-free matchup. Indian-American linebacker Brandon Chillar had played for the Packers in the regular season, but he aggravated a shoulder injury in November, forcing the team to place him on injured reserve. After Green Bay beat Chicago 21-14, that meant just one Super Bowl team had Asian representation. But with all the Far Eastern excitement in the playoffs, Asian-American sports fans have certainly had their fill.
On Super Bowl Sunday, the Green Bay Packers defeated Hines Ward, Chris Kemoeatu, Troy Polamalu, and the Pittsburgh Steelers 31-25 to take the title.