Polynesian Invasion

Occasionally you'll find a three hundred pound football player with nimble feet. Every three hundred pound Polynesian football player has nimble feet. It's just amazing how they move. The agility and quickness seen in players like Baltimore Ravens nose tackle Haloti Ngata and San Francisco 49ers guard Mike Iupati is remarkable. Players from the Polynesian Islands are the latest culture to embrace football and the game is better for it.

In his book, How Football Explains America, Sal Palantonio explains that "the latest immigrant culture to find a home in the game of American football comes from the Polynesian Islands." Vai Sikahema was the first NFL football player from the South Pacific island of Tonga. He was a dynamite special teams player for the Cardinals, Eagles and Packers. He explains why his and other island cultures found a natural fit in football. "It is because of the way the Polynesian culture is set up-the chiefs rule the villages. And they rule islands. Questions weren't asked or posed to the chief, or they were killed." The iron rule of the football coach wasn't foreign to the Polynesian athlete. Sikahema goes on to explain the warrior culture in the South Pacific islands. They are born into it and they live with it. The "battle to the death" mentality has always been welcome in football. The Polynesians have it and bring it to the game. Ceremonial dances have always been a part of Polynesian Island life. The nimble three hundred pounders grew up with the Haka and fire knife dances. Not only do their feet become nimble, the hand-eye coordination that is required in these dances produce a ready football player. It wasn't until recently that the world discovered that the Polynesian culture produced terrific football players. Huge, nimble Islanders have been invading football fields across America and there are more on the way. Then there's Troy Polamalu. He's probably a runt by island standards. Actually, by most standards. His quickness, tenacity and anticipation are incredible. He's everywhere. He's one of the best safeties to ever play the game. He's also one of the smallest Polynesians. It's scary if there's more his size.

Polynesian culture: great food, great celebrations, great football players.