Well,as big as we can be,we're still a very small minority in the states.Pretty much the only Samoan in the mainstream media is The Rock.I love seeing how our people are all on tv,make movies,put out albums like yall do in NZ.That would be awesome if it were like that out here but it IS the US.It's a little bit harder to make a name for yourself or even have a proper representation of a people that are almost unknown to most americans unless you move to the Bay Area,L.A.,Hawaii or those other states I mentioned.
Some other notable Samoans in the industry would be Rich and Tone Taluega.I think thats their last name.They are dance choreographers that gave Usher,nsync,Michael Jackson,Britney Spears,and J-Lo alot of the moves you see them doing.Right now they are on jennifer lopez' show on mtv.There are plenty of successful Polynesians out here,not just in entertainment or sports but we still have a long way to go before getting the recognition we would like as a people and a culture.Most Samoan,Polynesian celebrity in the states come from the NFL.We have some awesome players out here.I'm surprised to hear that you didn't think there were any Samoans out here.We have been coming to the states since the 1920's or 30's,I beleive.Samoa used to be a big focus in alot of very old hollywood films from the 30's.They were pretty racist but those were the more ignorant days of society.Not to say its gotten any better but its not as bad as it used to be with white men painting themselves brown,wearing grass skirts,bones in their hair and talking like "oogabooga".ehhh haha
reply
share
Cafro
17 years ago
haha yea i guess so. You say theres a few that play NFL, thats pretty cool, I knew the Rock used to, and I'm not surprised consdering that islanders almost make up half the All Blacks squad over here(not including Maori players). Who are the big name islanders in NFL over there? I never knew they were into that sport but rumour has it that is becoming alot more popular then rugby amongst Samoans.
reply
share
kolemani-1
17 years ago
lol yeah,Polamalu is the *beep* believe he is the first Samoan to ever be on the cover of Sports Illustrated magazine.Football in the states has always been the main sport for Samoans.Some play rugby but it hardly has the same impact on Poly's here like it does overseas.Jesse Sapolu has 4 super bowl rings with the 49ers.There are hella non Polynesians that cant even say that.I think the first Samoan to ever play in the NFL was in somethin like,1941.Somethin like that.Thats how long we been doin it.You should try and get you a copy of the documentary Polynesian Power.It was aired on ESPN,here in the states.Its pretty tight.You can get a good idea just how much Samoans can dominate in football.
http://www.piccom.org/polynesianpower/index.php
http://www.trojanwire.com/images/polamalu-si-cover.jpg
you gotta check out this video that was put together for last years Super Bowl when Troy Polamalu's team The Pittsburgh Steelers went up against another dope Samoan player,Lofa Tatupu and the Seattle Seahawks.This was real big.The Steelers took it but these guys represented real big with this.This wasnt some small time show either,it was shown on cable tv out here.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55KZxiGlnfU
reply
share
MazulaBitchOnFire
17 years ago
The Super Bowl is broadcast live here in Australia on a free to air channel SBS. My whole family watched last years Super Bowl lol. Watched the repeat of this years final between the Chicago Bears and Indianapolis Colts earlier tonight. Bloody hell Chicago needs to replace that Rex Grossman. One of the worst quater-backs ever! I sometimes watch the games on Foxtel (Aussie cable) so yeah I know all about our brothers reppin' it in the NFL.
I'd make sure to keep an eye out for Polynesian Power. Sounds interesting. I think Samoans can definitely dominate the NFL. Just give it about 10 more years. I mean look at the Super 14 (rugby union's equivalent to the NFL) and the NRL (rugby league's version) they both have a s**tload of Samoan players and some are considered the best in the world!
BTW isn't Jesse Sapolu the guy that came out of the closet and was on Oprah a few years ago?
reply
share
kolemani-1
17 years ago
JESSE ON OPRAH!? nooooooo lol I think that was esera.I forget his last name
reply
share
MazulaBitchOnFire
17 years ago
MY BAD!!! I just looked it up and his name is Esera Tuaolo. Trust the first Samoan I've seen on Oprah to be on the show over something controversial lol
reply
share
Kraftzy
17 years ago
Samoans are known to be controversial in contact sports,i mean look at the Tana Umanga and Brian O'Driscoll incident 2 years back during the British and Irish lions clash against the All Blacks. Besides Polamalu is pretty up there in NFL,sort of reminds me of Jerry Collins on defence-hard hitting.
reply
share
MazulaBitchOnFire
17 years ago
"Samoans are known to be controversial in contact sports, I mean look at the Tana Umaga and Brian O'Driscoll incident 2 years back during the British and Irish clash against the All Blacks"
"Controversial" incidents like that infamous spearhead a couple of years ago happen
ALL THE TIME in "contact sports" and the culprits are
NOT always Samoan.
reply
share
Kraftzy
17 years ago
True, but it was a big story,unecessarily too.I believe O'Driscoll went too far with the whole thing, If you can't take the hits,don't play the game,it seperates the men from the boys as they say.
And yes the culprits are not always Samoan, but they have had their moments,you can't deny that. Despite that, I don't know about NFL but Samoans are generally cited as gracious in victory and humble in defeat, as well as being very true to their beliefs,culture and religion.makes me proud to be one.
reply
share
Noufa
15 years ago
Uhh...I don't think that was how Esera Tuaolo was considered "controversial".
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5190140
His book is actually a pretty interesting read, BTW.
reply
share
mynamesdignan
15 years ago
Although not usually a fan of remakes of foreign films I walked away from this one thinking an American remake would be welcome. The nationalities of the characters wouldn't matter. What mattered was the story and the heart that the guys had for one another. That kind of thing transcends color.
All in all I thought the movie was very good but really didn't pick up steam until the middle of the 2nd act. By the begining of the 3rd act there was no way I wasn't finishing the movie. The characters really came alive around that time.
The setting of New Zealand as well as its portrayal of it was amazing. As I watched it I couldn't help but think Damn i'd like to live there. I'm definitely not knocking the New Zealand film community but I thought the production values were top notch, the acting first rate as I now want to see some of the guys in different movies. Wish I hadn't cancelled my netflix now.
As a Mexican American I could see it being remade with a Mexican cast. Either that or have it set in Hawaii to keep the Pacific Islander flavor to it.
Life is for the adventurous.
reply
share
MazulaBitchOnFire
15 years ago
Good to know people of other ethnicities enjoyed the film Goes to show we are much more alike than we are different.
Live a little. Get a peeerm!
reply
share