Japanese coach comes to OU for clinic

[NormanPride]

That's kind of what this is about... Anyway, so here's the link:

http://www.elevenwarriors.com/2010/05/checking-in-with-our-foreign-correspondent.html

Essentially, this Meatchicken fan is in Kyoto and sees a football team practicing. Not euro diveball but real, authentic American hand-egg. Turns out this team has been around for 25 years and the coach recently went to OU for a conference with the Sooner staff. Pretty cool! There's a picture in there of the coach in an OU windbreaker, but I don't know how to link it here, as it's in a slide show.

Apparently American Football's getting more popular over there, which I think is awesome. There was a recent comic in the most popular comic magazine over there called Eyeshield 21 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eyeshield_21) that was football-based, and it was popular enough to get its own TV show as well.

Oh man I need football so damn bad... Off season sucks.

[KantoSooner]

NP, don't hold your breath. I went to high school there (in an American High School) and played football (very poorly, in my personal case). Even we could beat Japanese colleges. And the crowds that came out would be numbered in single digit hundreds.
Now, that was 25 years ago, and people are bigger and stronger and faster (milk and cheese in the diet). And there has always been a dedicated following among a few. But the sport will likely stay about where rowing is in the US.

[NormanPride]

All it would take would be a couple of their big boys to make it as OL over here, and they'd be hooked. :D

[47straight]

I've got to admire any Japanese players of football. That seems like a lot of dedication.

[olevetonahill]

This one ?

http://lh6.ggpht.com/_oKNDahHWj-o/S-MDFgqcSYI/AAAAAAAAACM/Sivv-NV9crQ/s640/nara%20and%20kyoto%20344.JPG

Hope I did it right

[NormanPride]

Good on ya, vet!

[olevetonahill]

Good on ya, vet!

Look at me all Puter smart and stuff :eek: :D

[SouthFortySooner]

You have asdf imprinted on the tip of the fingers of your left hand and jkl; on the other. No surprise here.