"Football Island" 60 Minutes Piece

I watched it on tv last night. It was awesome!

they should change the national sport to football. all the samoans I've coached had huge ballsecurity and tackling problems, cause of their rugby play. But the linemen were huge

Outstanding piece by 60 minutes. Doesn't look like there is a whole lot of opportunity there for those kids so at least they have football. On top of that, several of them are good enough to make it to college and then on to the NFL. Even if they don't make it to the NFL, there are other opportunities they may have to use that athletic ability and football skill to earn a living. Did you see the house the player from the Bengals built for his family? Good for him and them!

I would be willing to donate resources if someone could take the lead in organizing something to help meet equipment needs.

Awesome piece....

I loved the part where they talk about the young man doing a days worth of work before school starts and when they ask the dad about it he says that is way he was raised and he expects his children to respect him (quite a novel concept these days).

Samoa is a perfect example of of what an old Woody Hayes quote "You win with people". They show what happens when expectations are not lowered by society and people are not looking for the easy way out or the next modern convienience to help them "survive".

Ystick I am with you.

If anyone knows of any organizations that contributes resources or is willing to try and start one I would love to help out.

I feel you on helping the Samoans with football... as football men, that's the type of issue we should support...

But then again... there are dead folks in Haiti... deplorable hospital accomodations, a lack of food, water, shelter... I can't think of sending $ anywhere else.

More so... like Davecisar quoted from the show...

[glow=red,2,300]30 in the NFL from an island of 65,000. Kid in Samoa is 59X more likely to play in the NFL than someone from the mainland- that's just unreal IMO[/glow]

Um... can't some of these cats give back a little? Hell the tax implications alone should make that a no brainer?

One school had 3 nfl'ers but was still using atiquated equipment? Samoans unite?

I have these same issues with the African American community... guys coming from the worst neighborhoods... talking about how they escaped... but yet won't return to help youngsters that have no control over where they are raised or how they are raised.

30 nfl'ers... I think they said there were only 8 schools? What's the problem? I'm sure, they could use their resources, and not even have to come out of their own pockets to make that happen...

But again... I need to stay out of other folks wallets... and be mindful of what I'm willing to do.

have had the pleasure to coach with the "throwin samoan".played at long beach state then Star QB in the CFL(BC LIONS) and is one of the nicest guys on the planet. family has a million football playing boys. Also, helped develop Flutie as QB coach for Lions.

That was a great segment. Do know that their field are made up of a lot of lava rock. OUCH. Our kids complain about mud. That was great with what the dad said. It is so true that it all starts at home!! In the mainland we are spending all this time and money on character education. Like the warm up as well.

Great piece, except for the last line. Something like "It's not really about size at all, it's about heart". I just get kind of tired of hearing stuff like that, which has little to do with reality.

I've coached a few islanders, and they just have a lot of attributes that make good football players. Strong, quick, aggressive, etc.

Very respectful, easygoing people, also.

As someone who has played with and coached many many Polynesians the shoes thing is more cultural. You cant get them to ware shoes. ‘Coach why does my back hurt?' Because you walk barefoot on concrete!

Great piece. I plan to show it to our kids to help them appreciate all that they have.