proazn
08-10-2007, 02:57 AM
When the Falcons play the Jets in the preseason opener Friday night, a wide receiver and kick returner named Noriaki Kinoshita is expected to get some playing time. And although you've probably never heard of Kinoshita, if he were to make the Falcons' roster he'd instantly become one of the league's most important players.
"I want to be, ummm, how do you say it? A pioneer? Yes, I want to be a pioneer," Kinoshita said Wednesday, flashing an optimistic smile.
The Japanese Kinoshita would definitely be a pioneer if he made it in the NFL. American football is far behind basketball and baseball in terms of its reach overseas, and Roger Goodell would love to have even 10 percent as many fans in Japan as Major League Baseball has. That won't happen until a Japanese player makes it to the NFL. Kinoshita probably won't be that player, but the fact that he has even an outside chance is noteworthy.
"I want to be, ummm, how do you say it? A pioneer? Yes, I want to be a pioneer," Kinoshita said Wednesday, flashing an optimistic smile.
The Japanese Kinoshita would definitely be a pioneer if he made it in the NFL. American football is far behind basketball and baseball in terms of its reach overseas, and Roger Goodell would love to have even 10 percent as many fans in Japan as Major League Baseball has. That won't happen until a Japanese player makes it to the NFL. Kinoshita probably won't be that player, but the fact that he has even an outside chance is noteworthy.