Sports in American Samoa

Sports in American Samoa

Sports plays a large role in the national culture of American Samoa. Sports in American Samoa is not that different from Samoa. The main difference is the popularity of American sports such as American football and its league, NFL. Samoans tend to follow rugby union.

American football

About 30 ethnic Samoans, many from American Samoa, currently play in the National Football League. A 2002 article from [http://espn.go.com/gen/s/2002/0527/1387626.html ESPN] 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.

Wrestling

A number of American Samoans have also ventured into professional wrestling (see especially Anoa'i family). World Wrestling Entertainment has employed many members from the Anoa'i family, most famously The Rock. The company currently employs Anoa'i member Eddie Fatu, better known to wrestling fans as Umaga, who has a traditional Samoan gimmick and is also known at times as the Samoan Bulldozer.

occer

American Samoa's national soccer team is considered one of the weakest teams in the world. It also has the distinction of suffering the worst loss in international soccer history: they lost to Australia 31-0 in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match on April 11, 2001.

Other sports

The bloodsport of dog fighting is legal in American Samoa. [ [http://files.hsus.org/web-files/PDF/dogfighting_statelaws.pdf HSUS] ]

* American Samoa at the 1996 Summer Olympics
* American Samoa at the 2000 Summer Olympics
* American Samoa national rugby union team
* American Samoa national rugby league team
* American Samoa national soccer team

References

ee also

* Sport in Samoa


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужен реферат?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Outline of American Samoa — …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa — Infobox Country native name = Amerika Sāmoa / Sāmoa Amelika conventional long name = American Samoa common name = American Samoa |125px |80px national motto = Samoa, Muamua Le Atua spaces|2(Samoan) Samoa, Let God Be First national anthem = The… …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 2008 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=2008 Summer competitors= 5 sports= 3 flagbearer=Silulu Aetonu officials=American Samoa sent a team to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. American Samoa selected five athletes to compete in three… …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 2000 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=2000 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer=Lisa Misipeka officials=American Samoa competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, Australia.Results by eventArcheryAmerican Samoa s debut Olympic archery… …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 1994 Winter Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=1994 Winter competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=American Samoa competed in the Winter Olympic Games for the first time (and as of 2006, only time) at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer,… …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 2004 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=2004 Summer competitors=3 sports=2 flagbearer=Lisa Misipeka officials=American Samoa competed at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece.Results by eventAthleticsMen s 100 metre * Kelsey Nakanelua Heat: 11 …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 1996 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=1996 Summer competitors=7 sports= flagbearer= officials=American Samoa competed at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, United States.Results by eventAthleticsWomen s Shot Put * Lisa Misipeka :* Qualification …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 1988 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=1988 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=American Samoa competed in the Summer Olympic Games for the first time at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul, Korea.Results by eventAthleticsMen s… …   Wikipedia

  • American Samoa at the 1992 Summer Olympics — Infobox Olympics American Samoa games=1992 Summer competitors= sports= flagbearer= officials=American Samoa competed at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. =References= * [http://www.aafla.org/5va/reports frmst.htm Official Olympic… …   Wikipedia

  • List of American Samoa-related topics — The following is a list of topics about the United States Territory of American Samoa. NOTOC compactTOC4 0–9A*Administrative divisions of American Samoa *Agriculture in American Samoa * *American Samoa [http://americansamoa.gov/ website] ** ***… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”