Chapter 846: 845 Historical First Chapter 846: 845 Historical First 2018 season NFL regular season MVP winner, Li Wei.
This result not only shook the history of the NFL but also the history of North America’s Four Major Sports Leagues, and even on a global scale, it marked an unprecedented, groundbreaking event. It transcended the realm of competitive sports and went viral, igniting a frenzy of heated discussions akin to a tidal wave.
Taylor Swift: “Congratulations on making history! You absolutely deserve all the praise. You’ve earned this honor with your actions! @Li Wei.”
Rafael Nadal: “This is Li Wei’s moment, and he deserves all the accolades and glory.”
Prince William: “This is a historic moment. I sincerely hope Li Wei and the Kansas City Chiefs can visit Wembley next season as honored guests.”
Liu Xiang: “The words I said in Athens in 2004 now also apply to Li Wei. He has once again proven that those prejudices are foolish.”
Ohtani Shoyo: “Li Wei is my role model and my source of inspiration. I hope to have the opportunity to exchange experiences with him face-to-face in the future.”
Jack Nicholson: “Li Wei makes football so much more interesting. Who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll head to Arrowhead Stadium to watch a game.”
Leonardo DiCaprio: “I don’t usually watch football, but Li Wei is my only exception. Did you see his performance in overtime during the American League Championship game?”
Cristiano Ronaldo: “@Li Wei, respect, admiration, and 100% reverence. You deserve it.”
Lewis Hamilton: “Li Wei demonstrates through action that anything is possible in competitive sports. He adds a unique charm to athletics.”
Jose Mourinho: “This day should have come long ago; it happened too late, but better late than never. Li Wei deserves this honor.”
Rihanna: “Amazing! @Li Wei.”
Jennifer Lawrence: “Wow, unbelievable, utterly incredible. Have you watched the highlight reel of Li Wei’s matches? He makes football look incredibly sexy.”
Katy Perry: “Li Wei? He looks truly extraordinary. Should I start paying attention to football now?”
Stephen Curry: “I cast my sacred Pro Bowl vote for Li Wei. I’m a fan of his.”
LeBron James: “That’s my brother.”
Manny Pacquiao: “Oh, what a pity. Truly a pity. Li Wei should try boxing. I believe he’d carve out his own space in the boxing world as well. Of course, I think he hasn’t yet reached his full potential in football either. I’m still looking forward to his future.”
Frenzy, an all-encompassing frenzy.
The above is just the tip of the iceberg. Leaders from various industries and sectors—society, politics, culture, influencers, and more—joined this frenzy. Millions of ordinary people couldn’t suppress their excitement and joy, sparking an uncontainable wave of enthusiasm.
History is happening.
All along, American football was seen as North America’s own carnival. Despite all 32 NFL teams being among Forbes’ top 50 most valuable professional clubs globally and collectively occupying half of the top 10 positions, showcasing their unparalleled value.
However, on a global scale, football (soccer) remains the undisputed number-one sport. Even rugby (English-style) has its World Cup and is fervently expanding markets in Africa, Oceania, and other regions.
American football has always been teased as North America’s sport—
A pastime for its own amusement.
It’s precisely because of this that Goodell has been trying to unlock the global market. The market value for football in North America has already been nearly fully excavated, and if the League wishes to grow further, it must go global.
Pushing flag football into the Olympics is one such effort.
Flag football, simply put, involves no tackling or collisions. Defenders merely need to remove flags attached to players’ waists to complete a defensive play. These rules lower the risks of impact while retaining football’s strategic charm, with other rules essentially aligning with American football.
In recent years, Goodell’s efforts have achieved significant results. This is also why his support rate among team owners remains high—
Yet even as football’s global influence steadily rises, it’s undeniable the journey ahead remains long. When compared to sports like soccer, basketball, racing, tennis, and golf, whose global penetration is established, football still lacks a solid foundation and wields less impact in competing disciplines.
Every sport has iconic flagbearers—a single name synonymous with the sport—who break barriers, infiltrate broader aspects of society, and make profound impacts. Football, however, has lacked such figures.
In 2018 and 2019 seasons, even legends like Big Manning or Brady, who epitomize the League, had very limited international and cross-disciplinary influence. It wasn’t entirely absent, but it was minor, with out-of-sport recognition nearly zero.
Not only the first Asian regular-season MVP in North America’s Four Major Sports Leagues, but also the first in the Five Major European Football Leagues.
Whether people like football or have never even heard of it, everyone is swept into this storm at this historic moment.
The situation Goodell had been brewing and the moment the League had been awaiting finally arrived in an unexpected way, breaking the impasse.
Perhaps the historic moment football has long awaited is now at hand—
Everything, just like Roger Federer breaking down barriers for tennis; just like Tiger Woods bringing golf into mainstream awareness.
Everything, just like Michael Schumacher introducing F1 racing into the lives of countless ordinary people; just like David Beckham sparking women’s interest in soccer; just like Michael Jordan demonstrating that basketball’s commercial value was unparalleled.
One person, in the tide of an era, at the right moment, can leverage the world with a single move.
Amid the bustling waves of attention flooding in.
This time, it’s real—mighty, monumental, and revolutionary—igniting a frenzy that commands global attention across industries.
After so much anticipation and yearning, few could have imagined that the first breakthrough for Asians in Europe and America would come in the world of football.
And it’s a running back.
Though all of this already seems incredible, delving deeper reveals it exceeds imagination, and the shock never ceases.
For the first time in history, football has crossed barriers, with everyone discussing football; everyone is now an expert casually sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm. Even knowledge-sharing platforms have seen football-focused accounts sprout up overnight like mushrooms after rain.
What is real influence?
This is real influence—from overlooked and neglected to sizzling hot, turning everyone into an overnight expert—all because of one luminous moment writing history.
Imagine even those with no knowledge of football feeling its impact; then consider the shockwave felt by the insiders who truly know the sport.
A shockwave, tenfold, hundredfold!