Vai Sikahema
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| Vai Sikahema | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: | August 29, 1962 |
| Place of birth: | Nukuʻalofa, Tonga |
| Career information | |
| Position(s): | Running back, Kick returner |
| College: | BYU |
| NFL Draft: | 1986 / Round: 10 / Pick 254 |
| Organizations | |
| As player: | |
| 1986-1990 1991 1992-1993 |
St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals Green Bay Packers Philadelphia Eagles |
| Career highlights and Awards | |
| Pro Bowls: | 1986, 1987 |
| Stats at DatabaseFootball.com | |
Vai Sikahema (born August 29, 1962 in Nukuʻalofa, Tonga) was an American football running back-kick returner in the National Football League who played for 8 seasons from 1986 to 1993. Sikahema was a special teams standout for several teams, including the St. Louis/ Phoenix Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Philadelphia Eagles. He was named to the Pro Bowl twice (in 1986 and 1987). It was during his stint with the Eagles that he came up with the famous "goalpost punching" stunt after scoring a kickoff return touchdown in a 1992 game against the New York Giants at Giants Stadium.
Upon retiring, Sikahema was hired by then-CBS owned and operated television station WCAU in Philadelphia to do weekend sports. Surviving the station's sale to NBC, Sikahema later moved to weekdays and is currently the Sports Director. His cousin, Reno Mahe, also plays for the Philadelphia Eagles. Sikahema's nephew by marriage is actor Jon Heder, star of the film Napoleon Dynamite and Blades of Glory.
In May of 2008, Sikahema accepted an open challenge from former baseball player Jose Canseco to fight him in a celebrity boxing match for $5,000. Canseco claims to have earned black belts in Kung Fu, Taekwondo, and Muay Thai, while Sikahema, who grew up wanting to be a professional boxer, had once fought in a National Golden Gloves Championship that was eventually won by Sugar Ray Leonard. The fight is scheduled for July 12th, 2008, in Atlantic City.[1]
Sikahema is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He has been a resident of Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey.[1]
[edit] References
- ^ Kravitz, Gary. "Where Are They Now: KR/PR Vai Sikahema", Philadelphia Eagles, April 2, 2004. Accessed May 25, 2008. "Sikahema currently resides in Mount Laurel, N.J., with his wife Keala and four children: Landon, L.J., Trey, and Lana."
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