Chapter 54: Emergence
"...Indeed, we need to continue to observe, this young player still needs to continue to prove himself, but I must admit that I was surprised."
The next day, when Blake Ledger was a guest on an ESPN football program, he couldn't wait to share what he saw yesterday.
The NFL is in the offseason, but the professional league is still busy. The draft has just concluded and the offseason free trade market has begun.
It is precisely because of this that professionals have temporarily turned their attention from college players to the contract renewal, termination, and signing situations of league teams.
However, Black Ledger still could not control himself and shared the joy; then, Black Ledger realized that he was not alone——
Although it was just an NCAA warm-up game, ESPN's live broadcast ratings still exploded, easily attracting more than 25 million viewers, completely beating the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets in the first round of this week's NBA playoffs. The second game once again demonstrated the power of rugby.
Black Ledger spoke about a scene, and the studio was instantly flooded with chatter.
"Yeah, number twenty-three, right? He's great, he's really, really great."
"I have to say, it turned out to be a Crimson Tide storm, and Shaban once again trained an excellent running back."
"The ground attack fifty-five seconds before the end of the game was very beautiful, with sudden stops and turns, continuous changes of direction, and a head-on collision. He showed his skills, talent, and wit. It was really impressive."
Praise, one sentence after another——
Who would have thought that a college student would occupy a full 60 seconds of discussion in the professional league transfer market? And you can’t stop?
Sure enough, college football in the offseason always attracts countless attention.
Black Ledger was inspired to continue dishing out his scoop.
"This young player is of Chinese descent and is 18 years old. He just started practicing rugby three weeks ago. For now, he is still a little rusty..."
Before he could finish his words, even "but" was interrupted before he could even speak, and the crowds of exclamations were like a volcanic eruption.
"Wait, wait, Chinese?"
"Whoa whoa whoa, pull the reins, what did you just say?"
"Three weeks ago? What do you mean you just started playing football three weeks ago?"
"You mean, he's never touched rugby before? He's never played it, but he's always watched it, right?"
"I haven't had any contact with it, which means I haven't played or watched it. I probably don't know the rules at all."
"Jesus Christ, what is he, an alien?"
"If they are of Chinese descent, it makes sense. The Asian market still prefers basketball and football. They are probably watching the Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets games and have no idea that such a player is debuting in the NCAA."
"What! Chinese?"
"At the moment, I don't know which news has more impact, the Chinese players or the one who came into contact with rugby three weeks ago. God, this is incredible."
"If combined with his performance in yesterday's game, this is even more incredible. God, how did he do it? Did Nick Shaban make a wish to Aladdin's lamp?" In 2019, Chinese-American safety guard Chi Youjun was selected in the draft The 61st overall pick in the second round of the conference was selected by the Los Angeles Rams, becoming the Chinese player with the highest draft pick in NFL history, triggering a lot of discussions. From that time on, the distance between football and the Asian market seemed to have finally broken. layer of window paper.
However, in fact, before Chi Youjun, Asian players had already entered the professional arena one after another.
In 2010, Chinese-American player Wang Kai was selected by the Buffalo Bills with the 140th pick in the fifth round of the draft. He was also the first NFL player whose parents were Chinese. However, unfortunately, he only served as an offensive player in his rookie season. The forward substitute made six appearances before being released by the team.
The most famous and even great Chinese player in history is the legendary New England Patriots safety guard Patrick Chung. This player is a third-generation Chinese immigrant from Jamaica. His grandfather is Chinese and his grandmother is Jamaican. , better known as the Chung Family.
Zhong entered the league in 2009 and has since won three Super Bowl rings and was selected to the All-American First Team in the 2010s. He is a very dominant safety.
In addition, Hines-Ward, the wide receiver selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the third round of the 1998 draft, is known as one of the greatest offensive players in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was elected MVP of the Super Bowl and left numerous brilliant achievements in his career. His father is African-American and his mother is Korean.
Roman-Gabriel was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Rams in the 1962 draft. His mother is Irish and his father is Filipino. He was the first Asian player selected in the first round of the NFL's history. Being elected regular season MVP in 1969 was a career highlight, and he was also one of the best quarterbacks in the 1960s and 1970s.
Of course, the above is still not all.
As of 2016, there are a total of eleven Asian players in the history of the NFL. Each one has his own story. Although there are many Asian players on the rugby field, there are also not many. Overall, rugby is a sport that It is still unfamiliar to Asians and participation is not high.
It was against this background that Levi appeared on the stage, emerging in a way that shocked everyone with his skills.
Originally, Black Ledger wanted to be "modest" and not put too much pressure on the young people. After all, it was just a warm-up match so far. At most, there would be a practice match. If he was anxious to praise the gods now, it would be counterproductive. Praise and kill young people; but never thought that——
Three weeks of exposure to rugby.
This keyword is enough. There is no need to be low-key or critical. Everyone can feel the impact behind this keyword.
Even Blake Ledger's chest puffed up slightly, "Compared with Derrick Henry, who wrote the legend of the Crimson Tide last season, this young player has a completely different style. I personally think that his model should be Patrick Peterson... …”
"Yes, indeed." Before Blake Ledger could finish speaking, someone immediately took over.
"I won't go into details about starting speed, turning ability, etc. I personally think that compared with Peterson, his observation and interpretation of defensive formations are not very similar but exactly the same."
"I was more impressed by his composure under pressure in important moments than by his personal ability. Considering he only started playing football three weeks ago, to perform like this in his debut at Bryant-Denny Stadium is incredible. We all know how crazy a 100,000-person stadium is."
You said something to me, and ESPN's praise was not inferior to "Red Tide and White Wave", so much so that Blake Ledger, the introducer, was left aside——
A little lonely.
Fortunately, his eyes finally returned to Blake Ledger, "What is this young man's name?"
Black Ledger showed a proud smile, "Levi, his name is Levi. Scouts, team managers, head coaches, you'd better take out your notebook and remember this name. In the next new season, you won't Hope to miss it.”
Dear bosses, niche rugby really needs every support. One more follow-up may change the situation and directly determine life or death. The boy shouted again, follow-up, follow-up, follow-up! Thank you all!
(End of this chapter)