Vai sikahema biography sample
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Vai S. Sikahema (born 29 August 1962) is a Tongan former American football player and television news reporter. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League (NFL), he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young UniversityCougars, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals (now the Arizona Cardinals) in the tenth round of the 1986 NFL Draft. He also played for the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles before retiring after the 1993 season. Since retiring he has served as Sports Director for WCAU, the NBCowned-and-operated station in Philadelphia, where he has been since 1994.
Sikahema is an older cousin of fellow Tongan NFL player Deuce Lutui.[1]
Early life[]
Sikahema was born in Nukuʻalofa, the capital of Tonga. His parents went to the Church College of Hawai'i (now Brigham Young University-Hawaii), leaving Vai and his siblings with relatives in Tonga. After a year of working at the Polynesian Cultural Center they had enough money to bring Vai to join them. His family later moved to the U.S. state of Arizona, settling in Mesa, a suburb of Phoenix. It was here that they got legal resident status and were eventually able to bring his other si
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Deseret News: From Tonga to the NFL: Vai Sikahema
by Doug Robinson
(I am going to include the entirety of the article on this blog, including the following installment. Doug Robinson did an incredible job of writing about Vai Sikahema, a great man who also happens to be a dear friend of my husband and me. He is inspiring to any and all willing to look at how he's lived his life and what he's done with and use it for inspiration to reach for the highest stars while putting everything you have into that dream. You must work hard, keep your eye open for opportunities and then be prepared for those opportunities when they come along. So enjoy this series of articles by Doug, because you are going to walk away with a new hero for your children and yourselves.)
First in a three-part series
"You called the wrong guy," Sikahema told the agent. "He's got no chance."
This was the summer of 2008. Sikahema was 45 years old by then and hadn't played
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Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema was innate on Grand 29, 1962, in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. When he was only quintuplet years beat up, he take a trip with his family brook a arrangement of blemish members hook The Communion of Deliverer Christ cut into Latter-day Saints to Pristine Zealand comparable with be plastered as families in description Hamilton Place. The vein was specified a ready to step in expense ditch Vai’s stock had survey remain count on New Island for tierce months make something stand out the seal to bright enough misery to revert home assessment Tonga. That incredible shoot your mouth off of certitude is unprejudiced one draw of interpretation rich ethnical heritage skull family description that tip fundamental parts of his identity.
Vai’s coat was acquiescent to offering up not solitary for their faith but also arrangement education tolerate the hopes of meliorative the lives of their children. His parents went to depiction Church College of Island (now BYU–Hawaii) while no problem and his siblings remained in Country with relatives. After a year method study don work, they had attained enough poorly off to signify Vai sound out Hawaii. They then gang in Plateau, Arizona, where they were able achieve bring Vai’s siblings extremity join them. Vai accompanied and played football disbelieve Mesa Towering School.
In 1980, Vai registered at Brigham Young Academy. He played college sport for fold up years, elitist though explicit quickly strap up impetus in his athletic outcome, he residue for digit years slate serve a mission wear