Sports in American Samoa
Encyclopedia
Sports in American Samoa is not that different from Western Samoa
. The main difference is the popularity of American sports such as American football
(gridiron) and its league, NFL. Western Samoans tend to follow rugby union
.
. A 2002 article from estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American.
Pittsburgh Steelers
safety Troy Polamalu
, though born and raised in the mainland U.S., is perhaps the most famous Samoan in the NFL, having not gotten his haircut since 2000 (and only because a former USC coach told him he had to) and wearing it down during games in honor of his heritage.
represents the country in international Rugby League
. The team has competed in the 1988, 1992, 1998 & 2004 pacific cup competition. The team has also competed in the 2003 and 2004 world sevens
qualifiers in the 2005 World sevens
. America Samoa's first match in international Rugby League was in 1988 pacific cup against Tonga
, Tonga
won the match 38-14 which is still the biggest lost by a American Samoan side. American Samoa's biggest win was in 2004 against New Caledonia with the score ending at 62-6.
American Samoa get broadcast of the National Rugby League
in Australia on free-to-air television.
There is also a new movement which aims to set up a four team domestic competition in American Samoa.
(see especially Anoa'i family
). World Wrestling Entertainment
has employed many members from the Anoa'i family, most famously The Rock. The company most recently employed Anoa'i member Eddie Fatu
, better known to wrestling fans as Umaga, who had a traditional Samoan gimmick and was also known at times as the Samoan Bulldozer. However, with the recent release of Sim Snuka, adopted son of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, World Wrestling Entertainment
does not currently have any Samoan wrestlers on its roster. Also in professional wrestling, under the brand TNA or Total Nonstop Action, there is a wrestler called Samoa Joe.
is ranked near the bottom of the [FIFA] rankings. It also has the distinction of suffering the worst loss in international football history: they lost to Australia
31-0 in a FIFA World Cup
qualifying match on April 11, 2001. They won their first international match 2-1 against Tonga on November 24, 2011
is legal in American Samoa.
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
. The main difference is the popularity of American sports such as American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
(gridiron) and its league, NFL. Western Samoans tend to follow rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
American football
About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League (NFL)National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. A 2002 article from estimated that a Samoan male (either an American Samoan, or a Samoan living in the 50 United States) is 40 times more likely to play in the NFL than a non-Samoan American.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
safety Troy Polamalu
Troy Polamalu
Troy Aumua Polamalu is an American football strong safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League. He was drafted in the first round of the 2003 NFL Draft by the Steelers. He played college football at the University of Southern California.-High school:Troy Polamalu graduated...
, though born and raised in the mainland U.S., is perhaps the most famous Samoan in the NFL, having not gotten his haircut since 2000 (and only because a former USC coach told him he had to) and wearing it down during games in honor of his heritage.
Rugby League
The American Samoan national Rugby League teamAmerican Samoa national rugby league team
The American Samoa national rugby league team represents American Samoa at rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 1988.-Competitions:American Samoa has participated in:*Pacific Cup...
represents the country in international Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. The team has competed in the 1988, 1992, 1998 & 2004 pacific cup competition. The team has also competed in the 2003 and 2004 world sevens
Rugby League World Sevens
The Rugby League World Sevens, usually referred to as the World Sevens and sometimes as the World Cup Sevens, were a pre-season rugby league sevens tournament made up over the years primarily of New South Wales Rugby League , Australian Rugby League and mostly recently National Rugby League ...
qualifiers in the 2005 World sevens
Rugby League World Sevens
The Rugby League World Sevens, usually referred to as the World Sevens and sometimes as the World Cup Sevens, were a pre-season rugby league sevens tournament made up over the years primarily of New South Wales Rugby League , Australian Rugby League and mostly recently National Rugby League ...
. America Samoa's first match in international Rugby League was in 1988 pacific cup against Tonga
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
, Tonga
Tonga national rugby league team
The Tonga national rugby league team is a national sporting side, representing Tonga in rugby league football. Rugby league is a popular sport in Tonga, and the national team has become one of the best performed nations in the world...
won the match 38-14 which is still the biggest lost by a American Samoan side. American Samoa's biggest win was in 2004 against New Caledonia with the score ending at 62-6.
American Samoa get broadcast of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
in Australia on free-to-air television.
There is also a new movement which aims to set up a four team domestic competition in American Samoa.
Wrestling
A number have also ventured into professional wrestlingProfessional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
(see especially Anoa'i family
Anoa'i family
The Anoa'i family, originating from American Samoa, is a family of professional wrestlers. Family members have comprised several tag teams and stables within a variety of promotions.-Family members:...
). World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
has employed many members from the Anoa'i family, most famously The Rock. The company most recently employed Anoa'i member Eddie Fatu
Eddie Fatu
Edward Smith "Eki" Fatu was a Samoan-American professional wrestler better known by his ring name Umaga...
, better known to wrestling fans as Umaga, who had a traditional Samoan gimmick and was also known at times as the Samoan Bulldozer. However, with the recent release of Sim Snuka, adopted son of Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka, World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
does not currently have any Samoan wrestlers on its roster. Also in professional wrestling, under the brand TNA or Total Nonstop Action, there is a wrestler called Samoa Joe.
Association football
American Samoa's national soccer teamAmerican Samoa national soccer team
The American Samoa national association football team represents American Samoa in association football and is controlled by the Football Federation American Samoa, the governing body for football in American Samoa. American Samoa's home ground is Veterans Memorial Stadium in Pago Pago and their...
is ranked near the bottom of the [FIFA] rankings. It also has the distinction of suffering the worst loss in international football history: they lost to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
31-0 in a FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
qualifying match on April 11, 2001. They won their first international match 2-1 against Tonga on November 24, 2011
Other sports
The bloodsport of dog fightingDog fighting
Dog fighting is a form of blood sport in which game dogs are made to fight, sometimes to the death. It is illegal in most developed countries. Dog fighting is used for entertainment and may also generate revenue from stud fees, admission fees and gambling....
is legal in American Samoa.
- American Samoa at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAmerican Samoa at the 1996 Summer OlympicsAmerican Samoa competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.-Athletics:Women's Shot Put* Lisa Misipeka* Qualification — 13.74m *Anthony Leiato*Okland Salavea-References:*...
- American Samoa at the 2000 Summer OlympicsAmerican Samoa at the 2000 Summer OlympicsAmerican Samoa competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.-Archery:American Samoa's debut Olympic archery competition resulted in a last-place finish for their only archer.-Athletics:Men’s 100 mWomen’s hammer throw...
- Rugby union in American SamoaRugby union in American SamoaRugby union in American Samoa is a growing sport.-History:Rugby has been played to an extremely high level in neighbouring Western Samoa, which has reached the World Cup on a number of occasions, and whose team calls itself "Manu Samoa" meaning the Samoan team...
- American Samoa national rugby union teamAmerican Samoa national rugby union teamThe American Samoa national rugby union team represents American Samoa in international rugby union. America Samoa are a member of the International Rugby Board . They have yet to play in a Rugby World Cup.-External links:* on IRB.com...
- American Samoa national rugby union team
- American Samoa national rugby league teamAmerican Samoa national rugby league teamThe American Samoa national rugby league team represents American Samoa at rugby league football and has been participating in international competition since 1988.-Competitions:American Samoa has participated in:*Pacific Cup...
- American Samoa national football team
External links
- NFL Video: Giving back to Samoa - featuring 3 Samoan members of the Cincinnati BengalsCincinnati BengalsThe Cincinnati Bengals are a professional football team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the AFC's North Division in the National Football League . The Bengals began play in 1968 as an expansion team in the American Football League , and joined the NFL in 1970 in the AFL-NFL...