Why Vai?

I will be directing my next posts toward the world of athletics. This is a topic I know a lot about and have quite a passion towards. Please be patient you might learn something.

A few weeks ago Jay received the below e-mail from a former team-mate, in an effort to get support for a good friend Vai Sikahema. We could all tell you quit a few interesting stories about Vai, but really the most important thing to know is what an amazing athlete and great guy he is.

Many people would be quick to criticize a man of his age taking on boxing after he had such a great college and pro career, but these would be people "WHO JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND" either Vai or Jose Consenco or sports at all!!!!.

Let me explain what I mean. Yes this event has also gotten Jay and I thinking about athletics in general and it has really stirred up a lot of conversation about all of those lay people who "THINK THEY KNOW" you know who I mean, the armchair quarterbacks who talk about a team they support as if it is their team. For example; they will talk about the game last night and say "We just looked horrible" What in the heck do they mean by that, I didn't see them on the court playing. THEY ARE NOT ON THE TEAM, WHAT DO THEY MEAN BY "WE"

It is real easy to sit back and criticize Pro athletes especially when "YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IT TAKES TO ACTUALLY BE ONE. Oh yeah, you might have played "high school sports" or even been on a community softball, basketball or volley ball team, but please understand "YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE ON A "REAL"COMPETITIVE TEAM.

You don't know what it takes to be an athlete on that level. Well I don't either, but I spent 6 years watching my husband compete on that level, and I will tell you it is much different then you might think. I don't know about the other sports but I can tell you a thing or two about Football, steroids, and pain killers.

First of all they don't necessarily go hand in hand but there is a lot of physical pain and pressure to be bigger, faster, and stronger. Why is the general public so confused when they find out that an athlete is taking steroids to enhance performance or is addicted to pain killers? It's a "no brainer" Because we the public drive these athletes to it.


You pick a sports figure to be your hero, you expect him to preform every night, you pay him a ridiculous salary and you "DEMAND PERFECTION" I'm not condoning it, but most of these athletes are different on the inside then they appear on the outside. They want to preform, but most of them (at least in football) are playing in a considerable amount of pain. They have to, they really have no choice. After all you DEMAND IT.

The e-mail

9aAFTER DEFEATING 95.7 BEN FM's Dave Cruise in a celebrity boxing match in January, NBC 10 sports director Vai Sikahema is confident that he can hold his own in the ring against Jose Canseco.
The former NFL player has been selected to fight the bad boy of baseball July 12 at the Bernie Robbins Stadium in Atlantic City.
We reported last week that Canseco was seeking a challenger. Sikahema jumped at the chance and was among thousands of people who contacted promoter Damon Feldman's Celebrity Boxing Promotions. Feldman, co-promoter Bobby Capone and auto mogul Gary Barbera were the selection committee.
Canseco and Sikahema are scheduled to attend a press conference at 10:30 a.m. June 3 at Gary Barbera Chryslerland/Jeepland (7810 Roosevelt). For tickets, call Center Stage Tickets at 800-677-8499.

This post to be continued