Take Two translates the day’s headlines for Southern California, making sense of the news and cultural events that affect our lives. Produced by Southern California Public Radio and broadcast from October 2012 – June 2021. Hosted by A Martinez.
Football is America's passion, generating billions of dollars every year. As a result, the game needs players, with a high proportion of new talent coming through what's known as the Polynesian pipeline. Young men from Samoa, Hawai'i, Tonga and other islands are 28 times more likely to play in the NFL than any other ethnic group, based on population size.
Tonight on PBS, a new documentary titled "In Football We Trust" tells the story of the "pipeline" through the eyes of four Polynesian high school students in Utah. It explores why success is so important, not just to the players, but also their families.
As part of a special screening of "In Football We Trust" in Carson last week, Take Two's A Martinez sat down with a panel of guests to talk more about the pipeline, and its impact on the Polynesian community in Southern California.
Gavin Dougan; Executive Producer, In Football We Trust
Sydney Seau; daughter of the legendary NFL linebacker, Junior Seau
Coach Pene Talamaivao; Primetime Polynesian Athletic Training; former NFL player (San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills)
Shawn Tanuvasa ; educator with Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; played football to college level and is also a youth coach