Scott Fujita

Infobox NFLactive


name=Scott Fujita
width=150
caption=
currentteam=New Orleans Saints
currentnumber=55
currentpositionplain=Linebacker
birthdate=birth date and age|1979|4|28
birthplace=Ventura, California
country=USA
heightft=6
heightin=5
weight=250
debutyear=2002
debutteam=Kansas City Chiefs
highlights=
* Honorable mention All-Pac-10 (2000-2001)
* Academic All-Pac-10 (2001)
* NFC Defensive Player of the Week (Week 3, 2006)
college=California
draftyear=2002
draftround=5
draftpick=143
pastteams=
* Kansas City Chiefs (2002-2004)
* Dallas Cowboys (2005)
* New Orleans Saints (2006-present)
statweek=17
statseason=2007
statlabel1=Tackles
statvalue1=513
statlabel2=Sacks
statvalue2=18.0
statlabel3=INTs
statvalue3=3
nfl=FUJ296636

Scott Anthony Fujita (born April 28, 1979 in Ventura, California) is an American football player who is currently a linebacker for the National Football League's New Orleans Saints. He is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, earning a BA in political science in 2001 and a MA in education in 2002.

Background

Although Fujita's last name is Japanese, he is white Caucasian, as he is the adopted son of Rodney Fujita, who is Japanese-American, and his wife Helen, who is white Caucasian. He thinks of himself as half Asian, however.

Fujita grew up in a traditional Japanese household, celebrating Japanese festivals and holidays, and eating with chopsticks. His grandparents have several bonsai trees on their property. Because of his upbringing, he considers himself to be culturally Japanese.

Professional career

Fujita was drafted in the 5th round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He played 3 seasons with them before signing with the Dallas Cowboys for the 2005 season. On March 13, 2006, Fujita signed with the Saints, reuniting with his former position coach as well as offensive coordinator (now head coach Sean Payton). In 2006, as part of a "Monday Night Football" game against the Atlanta Falcons, Saints teammate Mike McKenzie introduced Fujita as the "Asian Assassin." Fujita has also been known, upon making a big tackle or sack, to cover his right fist with his left palm and bow -- a gesture inspired by the yin-yang symbol. Fujita was named defensive captain of the 2007 Saints. In , Fujita had caught a crucial game-winning interception in the very end against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

References

*cite news|title=Tackling adoption not issue for Fujita |work=The Dallas Morning News |date=2005-12-17
*cite web|title=A linebacker with a conscience |url=http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/061110 |last=Fleming |first=David |publisher=ESPN |work=Page2 |date=2006-11-10

External links

*
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=fleming/061110 ESPN.com: "A Linebacker with a Conscience"]
* [http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=FUJITSCO01 NFL Stats of Fujita]
* [http://www.neworleanssaints.com/Team/Roster/People/Scott%20Fujita.aspx New Orleans Saints bio]