`Touchdown` in the Name of Mother

A Korean origin `Black Pearl` Heinz Ward (27. Pittsburgh Steelers) led a dramatic come-from-behind victory with a score of 36-33 in the first round of the NFL Playoff, and turn the American continent into a scene of wild excitement.

The first round of the American Football Conference (AFC) Playoff against the Cleveland Browns held in Pittsburgh on the 6th. The 5-year pro Ward led the team with a team record of 11 catches for 104 yards. Especially, he caught a touchdown pass 3 minutes to go in the 4th quarter, when the team was losing the game, so he received wild cheers from the home crowd.

For the Pittsburgh, which caught up with 28-33 with the Ward`s touchdown, Chris Juamatu Mafala caught a picture perfect 5-yard touchdown pass from Maddox, so the team had a dramatic come-from-behind victory. The Pittsburgh did not kick the point-after-touchdown (PAT. 1 point) after the touchdown (6 points), but succeeded the 2-point conversion and added 2 points. The Pittsburgh is facing the Tennessee Titans for the AFC Championship Game on the 12th.

Ward, who was born between a Korean mother and a black GI of the US Armed Forces in Korea, had graduated from the University of Georgia and joined the pro in 1998. He is spending the `best season` leading the team`s success this year. He is also participating on the NFL`s `All-Star Game,` the Pro Bowl held in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 3rd as one of the 4 selected AFC wide receivers.

In the National Football Conference (NFC), the traditional powerhouse San Francisco Forty-niners overcame the 24-point deficit and got a thrilling come-from-behind victory by one points over the New York Giants with a score of 39-38. The 24-point deficit was the second largest in the Playoff history.

The San Francisco was losing the game with a score of 14-38 until 4 minutes to go in the game, but the real value of the league`s best combo, the Quarterback Jeff Garcia and the Wide Receiver Terrel Owens, was shinning from there and got the come-from-behind victory. Garcia succeeded one touchdown by himself since then and threw 2 touchdown passes, and Owens also caught 2 touchdowns (including 1 2-point conversion). The San Francisco will meet with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the 13th.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com