China embraces American football

Whoever thought that China couldn't produce brawny-enough players for the game of American football hasn't seen recent scouting "combines" in Beijing and Shanghai.

Taking a promotional page from the NFL playbook, the nascent China Arena Football League conducted its own scouting combines this month.

A combine is something of a cattle call for players in which they are measured by size, strength, speed and even psychological fitness. The first CAFL combine was held on April 16 in Beijing and drew more than 170 prospects, and the second took place in Shanghai on April 23.