[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 16]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23047]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



       SPECIAL RECOGNITION OF SAMOAN HEAVYWEIGHT BOXER DAVID TUA

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 17, 2000

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, what is it that Olympian gold-medalist 
volleyballer Eric Fonoimoana, Junior Seau of the San Diego Chargers, 
Joe Salvare'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, 
Yokozuna 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 
all Samoans. Not Somalians. 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 historical events 
that will transpire on the evening of November 11th 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-nine caterpillar tractor, after fighting 
against David Tua.
  You see, Mr. Speaker, this guy David Tua--he has the heart and soul 
of a true Polynesian warrior. He's 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 also wear what we here in America describe as 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--``Tena Koutou! 
Tena Koutou!'' Thank you, Thank you!
  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 past time 
is writing poetry. Anyway, the poem, in part, is entitled ``Abdullah 
Fata'ai'' and it goes like this:

I'm nine feet tall and six feet wide.
I got a neck made of elephant hide
I scrape da haoles off the soles of my feet
I drive my Volkswagen 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 super terrific
But I don't like fight and you don't like die
So when I say, ``Talofa!'' you better say, ``Hi!''

  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 11th as National David Tua Day. It 
will be a day that will be remembered by Samoans throughout the world--
the Samoan ``David'' going up against the Goliath ``Lennox Lewis''--and 
we all know the results of that famous encounter.
  I do not know if David Tua is listening to this presentation, Mr. 
Speaker, but 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.
  As we say in the Samoan language, (the gentleman spoke in Samoan) 
``Ia pouliuli lou tino, ma ia malamalama ou mata, ma tafe toto ou ala--
ou mama na, 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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