Global talent making impact at Super Bowl
INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana: From a Romanianborn punter to a Jamaican- born defensive back and a German lineman plus players of Nigerian and Puerto Rican heritage, Sunday’s Super Bowl 46 has a global array of talent.
Millions around the world will see American football’s championship spectacle between the New York Giants and New England Patriots, some of them cheering on family members.
Patriots safety Patrick Chung expects relatives in Jamaica, where he was born, and China, thanks to his father being half-jamaican and half- Chinese, to be cheering for him on Sunday.
“We’ve got full support,” Chung said. “They are probably watching all of this and thinking the same thing I am, that it’s all so crazy.”
Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko, born in a small Romanian town near the Hungarian border, was forced to hide from army gunfire battles and lived in poverty until his father won a lottery for a US work permit in 1997 when Mesko was 11.
Mesko, a youth soccer player, kicked a ball so high in a US gymnasium that he broke a light and was recruited as a gridiron punter. This season, he set a Patriots record by averaging 46.5 yards a punt.
Now he hopes for some support from Romanian friends watching on television.
“It’s going to be a midnight, 1 a. m. kickoff there,” Mesko said. “Hopefully people will get their afternoon naps in and support me because I’ll be supporting them.”
Asked if he was the only NFL player known in Romania, Mesko deferred to star teammate Tom Brady, saying, “There’s no way people don’t know Tom Brady more than me.”
The Patriots also boast starting German right tackle Sebastian Vollmer, who has been sidelined with a foot injury but could return to his starting spot Sunday alongside New England guard Brian Waters.
“Sebastian is a superbly talented player,” Waters said. “He’s not kind of good. He’s really good. To be coming from Germany, coming out of nowhere, and he’s one of the top tackles in the NFL, that’s a true testament to his work ethic and how he plays this game.”
Patriots safety James Ihedigbo’s parents moved to America from Nigeria in 1982, the year before James was born.
Ihedigo admires Giants rookie safety Prince Amukamara, whose mother was a Nigerian Olympian in 1984, and defensive end Osi Umenyiora, who was born in London to Nigerian parents.
“I’m definitely honored to be one of the many Nigerians in the NFL,” said Ihedigbo. “They are great players. It’s the athleticism, guys that are big guys that are able to play versatile positions and do more and be athletic. “It’s awesome.” Asked about the possibility of an NFL team based in London one day given the popularity of NFL regular season games played there, Umenyiora was in favor.
“That would be awesome,” he said. “If there’s a permanent team in London, I think the English people will embrace it eventually. I think it will be a great thing for the NFL.”
But later this year, English fans must settle for a regular season matchup between the Patriots and St. Louis Rams.
“I’ve been to London two years ago with the kids and my wife,” said Patriots receiver Deion Branch. “I really liked everything. What I remember most was the freshness of the air.”
Patriots owner Robert Kraft is looking forward to the trip as well.
“One of my best friends in the world lives in England. His name happens to be Sir Elton John and he’s excited that we’re coming back,” Kraft said. “We hope to have a lot of fun there.”
New York receiver Victor Cruz and New England Aaron Hernandez are both of Puerto Rican heritage.
“It’s great for the Puerto Rican community,” Hernandez said. “There aren’t that many Puerto Ricans in the NFL but having some in the Super Bowl is a great deal. It means a lot.”