By Jim Wyatt / Sports Writer
"The Tennessean"
How far did last year's Super Bowl run take the Titans?
At least to Tokyo.
And as a result, Tez Matsuda, editor of Pro Touchdown magazine in Tokyo, Japan, is in Nashville this week to study the Titans during minicamp.
"Before last year, Japanese fans were upset because they changed from Oilers to Titans," Matsuda said. "But no one was complaining after they made it to the Super Bowl.
"Now the Titans are very popular. Everyone wants them to go to the Super Bowl again."
Matsuda is also scheduled to attend minicamps for the St. Louis Rams, Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings.
He said the Titans became a "hot team" at the end of last season. A year ago it was tough to find Titans merchandise in the Japanese stores, but it's not nearly as tough now, he said.
"The most popular players are Eddie George and Jevon Kearse," said Matsuda, who said the most popular NFL player of all time for Japanese fans is former 49ers quarterback Joe Montana.
In the July issue of Pro Touchdown, 15 pages are devoted to the Titans. There are color pictures of Titans Coach Jeff Fisher, quarterback Steve McNair, tight end Frank Wycheck, as well as photos of George, Kearse and safety Blaine Bishop.
No other NFL team got nearly the same coverage.
In August, the Cowboys and Falcons are scheduled to play a preseason game in Tokyo.
"Baseball is big in Japan, and so is soccer," Matsuda said. "But football is also popular. Everyone loved last year's Super Bowl so much they want it to be the Titans and Rams again this year."
Matsuda attended Super Bowl XXXIV in Atlanta, when the Rams beat the Titans, 23-16.