[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[House]
[Page 22401]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF SAMOAN HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER DAVID TUA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from American Samoa (Mr. Faleomavaega) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, what is it that Olympian gold-medalist 
volleyballer Eric Fonoimoana, Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers, 
Joe Salave'a of the Tennessee Titans, Edwin Mulitalo of the Baltimore 
Ravens, Naomi Mulitauaopele of the Utah Starzz, Marcus Tuiasosopo of 
the Washington Huskies, All-American UCLA discus thrower Seilala Su'a, 
Yokozuma Sumo Grand Champion Musashimaru, Ozeki Sumo Champion 
Konishiki, WWF Wrestling Champion Tuifeai, ``The Rock,'' and 
heavyweight boxer David Tua all have in common?
  Mr. Speaker, they are Samoan Polynesians who share the same cultural 
heritage like the Maoris of New Zealand, the Hawaiians or Kanaka Maoli, 
Tongans, and Tahitians.
  After the elections, Mr. Speaker, I suggest to my colleagues and to 
the millions of boxing fans throughout America, to kick back and turn 
their TV sets on to HBO and witness one of the most historic events 
that will transpire the evening of November 11 in Las Vegas, the world 
heavyweight boxing championship fight between Lennox Lewis and Samoan 
heavyweight boxer David Tua.
  Mr. Speaker, it is against Samoan tradition to be boastful and 
arrogant, but as a totally neutral observer, and with all due respect, 
Lennox Lewis is going to painfully wake up the next morning and count 
how many ribs he has left, and then he will wonder if he was hit by 
either a dump truck or a D-9 caterpillar tractor, after fighting 
against David Tua.
  You see, Mr. Speaker, this guy, David Tua, he has the heart and soul 
of a pure Polynesian warrior. He has got a nasty left hook and a deadly 
right hand knockout punch. He only weighs about 250 pounds. He has no 
neck, and his legs and calves are like tree trunks, which is typical of 
Samoan men who wear what we call here in America skirts, but they are 
actually lavalavas.
  I want to express my personal thanks and appreciation to the good 
people of New Zealand, all the pakehas and our Polynesian cousins, the 
Tangata Maohi, for looking after David Tua and his family, and for 
their acceptance of David Tua, and I say to my Maori cousins (the 
gentleman spoke Samoan).
  Mr. Speaker, I do not know if David Tua is listening to this 
presentation; but, Mr. Speaker, I do know that David Tua is a humble 
man, never speaks ill of his opponents, and I believe the American 
people and boxing fans around the world are going to remember him well 
for his talents and, above all, his sportsmanship-like conduct.
  Mr. Speaker, I call upon the Prime Minister of the Independent and 
Sovereign State of Samoa and the Governor of the U.S. territory of 
American Samoa to declare November 11 as National David Tua Day. It 
will be a day that will be remembered by the Samoans throughout the 
world, the Samoan David going up against the Goliath Lennox Lewis; and, 
of course, we all know the results of that famous encounter.
  Mr. Speaker, in describing David Tua's physical presence, I am 
reminded of a poem that a Hawaiian comedian, Frank Delima, once wrote 
about Samoans. By the way, Mr. Speaker, David Tua's favorite pasttime 
is writing poetry.
  Anyway, the poem, in part, is entitled ``Abdullah Fata'ai,'' and it 
goes like this:

     I am 9 feet tall and 6 feet wide.
     I got a neck made of elephant hide.
     I scrape da haoles off the soles of my feet.
     I drove my Volkswagon from the back seat.
     I eat green bananas, tree and all.
     My favorite game is tackle football.
     I wear a skirt, but you better not laugh, cause it won't be 
           funny when I break you in half.
     I'm as gentle and sweet as a grizzly bear.
     Only difference is he got more hair.
     I got the nicest smile in all the Pacific.
     I got an island home that's superterrific.
     But I don't like fight and you don't like die.
     So when I say (the gentleman spoke in Samoan), you better say 
           ``Hi.''

  Mr. Speaker, as we say in the Samoan language (the gentleman spoke in 
Samoan) David Tua, which means, Mr. Speaker, may your body be as 
invisible as the air and may your eyes be as bright as the sun. May you 
be victorious in battle. All our hopes and aspirations are with you, 
David Tua.

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