Ben Graham first Aussie into Super Bowl but will he play?
Ben Graham and Saverio Rocca, both well known to Australians. Today one of them was going to make history as the first Australian to earn a spot in a Super Bowl. Both players had left Australian Rules football to try their luck in the NFL.
In a unique situation the pair faced each other when their teams met for a clash to earn a Super Bowl XLIII berth. Ben Graham was the kicker for the Arizona Cardinals and Sav Rocca had the kicking duties for the Phiadelphia Eagles.
In other sports we have seen Aussies play in Baseball’s World Series and also Luc Longley and Andrew Gaze have collected NBA Championship rings. But now we have a player set to take part in one of the truely great sporting occasions.
The Super Bowl ranks right up there when it comes to sporting events. You of course have the soccer World Cup and the Olympics, but they come around just every four year. The Super Bowl is a huge annual sporting spectacular. Super Bowl XLIII will be played on February 1, 2009 at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Florida.
Ben Graham became the first Australian player to reach that big stage as the Cardinals defeated the Eagles 32-25 in Phoenix.
Graham started his NFL career with the New York Jets, where he spent four seasons. Luckily for him he was not wanted and fate lead him to Arizona. The rest his history. Rocca joined the Eagles in the 2007 pre-season.
Graham now 35, played for the Australian Rules team Geelong from 1993 to 2004. Rocca also 35, played 257 games for Collingwood and North Melbourne from 1991-2006.
Colin Scotts who was really the pioneer for Australians in the NFL said before the match “Ben Graham or Sav Rocca will be absolute rock stars in the US for being in the Super Bowl and being the first Australian to be in the Super Bowl. You can’t put words to it, it’s a religion in America, you get 300 million people watching over there … I’m just so proud to think there’s going to be an Aussie out there.” Scotts played for the St Louis Cardinals in 1987.
In the match itself Graham was not at his best. He kicked five times for 186 yards at an average of 37.2 yards. His best punt was 44 yards. Rocca had just one punt for 58 yards.
Ben Graham is under a bit on an injury cloud in the lead up to the Super Bowl. He has a groin injury. Here’s hoping that he can take his spot on Super Bowl Sunday.
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