American Football – Nigeria’s New Game

What up World????

Let me give a big and welcome to the world shot-out to “Baby Eli”... 

A lot has gone down since I last spoke to you all huh?  To my peoples and family in Egypt keep your head up!!!  In the words of Winston Churchill, “if you’re going through hell, keep going”. 

Once again a massive thanks to all the followers and viewers of the “My Omo Naija” blogspot.  Your support and positive words of encouragement has made this experience thus far so meaningful and invaluable. Always expect something refreshing and thoughtful here on the blogspot.

Ok people, let me get focused…

It is the National Football League (NFL) Super Bowl weekend here in the United States and like they say on this side of the Atlantic, “It’s bout to go down”.  I hope those that will be watching the game across the globe get a competitive and entertaining game at least until halftime. Here is a little nugget, Papa John’s pizza has promised and agreed that if the game goes into overtime everybody in America gets a free pizza.  Don’t know about you all but am I hoping for Double Overtime!!!  Go on their website and check it out if you do not believe the kid.

Super Bowl XLV for Africans; in particular all my Nigerian people whether watching the game or not should be a day of pride, celebration and admiration.  In the game you have a rising star, a young dominating defensive lineman for the Green Bay Packers, B.J. Raji of Nigerian pedigree (I love when he sacks the quarterback and does his “we go chop” celebration).  Equally, if not more important is what will take place shortly before kickoff at 6:52pm eastern time when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell before a global audience, announces the winner of the 2011 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year award from these three finalist; Oakland Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (Nigerian), Chicago Bears defensive lineman, Israel Idonije (Nigerian), and Minnesota Vikings safety Madieu Williams (Sierra Leonean). These three athletes were chosen and are being recognized for their efforts and work in their respective communities and through the foundations they support or help to oversee. 

Note:  The award was named after “Sweetness” the late Walter Payton who died in 1999. A legendary running back for the Chicago Bears who was arguably regarded as one the greatest football players in NFL history. A quiet and dignified man, highly respected by his peers and those afar for his passion for football and helping those in the community through his endless support and participation in several charitable organizations across America.

Nnamdi Asomugha (Oakland Raiders) 

Chairman of the Asomugha Foundation where he works to enhance the two key programs, OWIN and ACTS.  OWIN, Orphans and Widows in Need, supports women and children in Nigeria and provides food, shelter, medicine, vocational training, literacy efforts and scholarships. OWIN is currently working to expand the existing two centers in Nigeria to other countries through out Africa.  ACTS, the Asomugha College Tour for Scholars, was created in 2007 and is an annual college tour and mentoring program which provides high-achieving high-school students of color the opportunity to visit college campuses across the country.  To date, ACTS has provided 36 students with opportunity to tour colleges and universities in Atlanta, Boston, New York, and Washington, DC. The 2011 tour will take an additional 16 students to New Orleans. Asomugha speaks nationally on the merits of volunteerism and education and was an invited guest of former President Bill Clinton at the Clinton Foundation Global Initiative University (2009, 2010). He currently serves as a national spokesperson for the United Way's "Live United" campaign and NFL Network's "Keep Gym in School" initiative.

Israel Idonije (Chicago Bears)

Created the Israel Idonije Foundation (IIF) in 2007. He is present and personally involved in all activities associated with the Foundation and has contributed more than $300,000, along with other in-kind contributions. Idonije's First Down Attendance Program currently serves more than 600 economically disadvantaged students in five schools in Chicago and Manitoba, Canada. Designed to encourage and sustain students' regular school attendance, high achievement and good citizenship, the program motivates and rewards students. Participating schools have increased student's regular attendance by at least 8 percent. The Israel Idonije Foundation, through its C.A.R. E. Africa program (Caring, Advancing, Restoring and Educating), extends into the international front by promoting education, self-preservation, humanitarianism, leadership, and awareness. Idonije is a two-time NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee and has been the Bears spokesman for the United Way LIVE UNITED campaign in 2009 and 2010.

Madieu Williams (Minnesota Vikings) A fellow Univeristy of Maryland graduate and Terp!!!  Shot-outs to the entire UMD Alumni and family!!!

Williams' charitable works have achieved local, national and global impact. Locally, he works with the North Community YMCA, United Way and Harvest Prep/Seed Academy and provides season tickets for the kids and his "Dieu's Crew" program. Williams also hosted a free football camp in Maryland, where he has raised, this past summer, and continues to support the Cincinnati area after a stint playing for the Bengals.  Globally, Williams made a $2 million donation to create the Madieu Williams Center for Global Health at the University of Maryland, where he attended college. The center will address public health issues in Prince George's County and Sierra Leone, where Williams was born. He has already built a primary school in the African nation and is now building a secondary school there as well. His foundation sponsored a mission to Sierra Leona that brought American teachers, surgeons and dentists to help educate the teachers at his school, give free dental cleanings to all of the students and provide free surgeries. Williams came to the Vikings as a free agent in 2008 and has been a stalwart in the defensive backfield. He has started 38 of his 39 games and notched a career-best 96 tackles in 2010. Williams is a leader on the Vikings defense that has ranked in the NFL's top 10 each of his three seasons with the club. Williams led the Vikings DBs in tackles in 2009 when the team advanced to the NFC Championship game. 

(All informtion on all three finalists' courtesy http://www.nfl.com/)

As we celebrate black history month here in America during the month of February, I intend to introduce you to some prominent Africans, Nigerians and African-Americans. Their contributions, impact and legacy in their respective professions and body of work however big or small shall be praised and distinguished amongst all people of color.

The next NFL football game you either attend in person, watch via television or internet, I want you to remember that moment when the announcer or broadcaster struggles with the name of a black athlete. Chances are, and I am willing to put a friendly wager on it, that the athlete in question is 90% African and probably 65% Nigerian or of Nigerian descent. It is important that we pause for a second and acknowledge the contributions and pay homage to trail blazers such as athlete Chrisitian Okoye; "The Nigerian Nightmare", the first prominent NFL athlete of African ancestry and Nigerian lineage to impact and dominate the game at his position of running back. His combination of brut strength and speed was unseen in the NFL before his arrival in the early 90's. It is the success Nigerian athletes like Okoye experienced on the football field that led to an onset and influx of several other talented athletes who played or are currently displaying their abilities on the gridiron today. Athletes such as Brian Orakpo, Devin Aromashodu, Ovie Mughelli, Amobi Okoye, Chike Okeafor, Remi Ayodele, Chinedum Ndukwe, Russell Okung, Osi Umenyiora, Eric Ogbogu, Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila, Adewale Ogunleye, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Legedu Naanee, Tamba Ali, Xavier Adibi, etc…  The Nigerian athlete’s presence and influence in today’s NFL is unmistaken.  They are massive, quick, fast, explosive and very physical.  African and Nigerian athletes in the NFL are often regarded as having a very high IQ, intelligent, quick learners and have a desire and hunger to be the best by their coaches, general managers and journalist who follow and cover the game.  Many general managers in the NFL hope to add players of this caliber to their team rosters in hopes of boosting their chances of competing and winning the next Super Bowl.  

We are Generation Next!!!