Tropic of Football
By Rob Ruck
The Long and Perilous Journey of Samoans to the NFL. The New Press, 2018.
Summary of Tropic of Football book by Rob Ruck
The surprising history of American Samoa’s participation in professional football, their intricate ties to the United States, and their ongoing battle to retain their culture in the face of external influence.
Chapters in Tropic of Football book summary
What do you get from this book? The bittersweet journey of American Samoa’s rise in the NFL
American Samoans have a strength and resiliency that makes them ideally suited to playing football
Germany and America battled for control of Samoa leading up to World War I
World War II forged a connection between Samoans and the US military that transformed the island’s culture
The Kahuku Sugar Plantation on Hawaii’s North Shore helped popularize football on the island
Al Lolotai and Charlie Ane were star athletes who demonstrated that Samoans were capable of reaching great heights
Clarence Hall brought national attention to American Samoa’s decay, but Bob Apisa helped showcase the revival in progress
Jesse Sapolu and his coach Dick Tomey changed how people viewed the University of Hawaii’s football team
Oceanside Samoans adopted a culture that was part beach community, part Pacific Islander, and all football
Junior Seau was a beacon of hope for Samoans, but brain damage caused a tragic end to his life
While Samoan traditions began declining in the nineties, they remained strong in Hawaii, where football reigns
The game between Tafuna and Faga’itua highlights the differences in their changing culture
Health has rapidly declined in Samoa but there are those fighting to reestablish old traditions and improve lives
Summary of the key insights
Selected critiques in brief
Final word
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Tropic of Football — Book Summary Snapshot
Who should read Tropic of Football book
- sports fans
- history aficionados
- historians and anthropologists
- football players and coaches
- anyone interested in foreign relations
About the author of Tropic of Football
Rob Ruck
Rob Ruck is a history professor, author, and documentarian. His films include the Emmy Award-winning Kings on the Hill: Baseball’s Forgotten Men. Ruck was on the 2006 National Baseball Hall of Fame committee responsible for adding minority players to the museum. His written work has appeared in the Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times.
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