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Dick Harmon: Sikahema ready to rumble with Canseco

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ramper | 7:12 a.m. June 1, 2008

There is no shortage of boxing trainers in Philly. When Tex Cobb was asked why he moved from Texas to Philly to train he said: "Philly is the only town that when you see two whino's fighting on the street they are bobing and weaving." Good luck Vai. Stay inside on Canseco.

Mossco | 8:04 a.m. June 1, 2008

I'm not a big boxing fan but I'm looking forward to this fight. I'm hoping Vai smacks Conseco around with the "humbling stick".

Rose | 8:08 a.m. June 1, 2008

Just keep moving a lot, if he connects with one of his lumbering punches, you may regret that you got in the ring with this idiot. This fight surprises me, this puts you in the class of Tanya Harding.

Comments continue below

Vai | 8:10 a.m. June 1, 2008

you might want to do the haka before your fight. Good luck and make sure your blender at home is working. Canseco will want to beat you impressively to get another fight to make more $ to save his home.

UTE ALUM | 9:13 a.m. June 1, 2008

As much as I dislike all things BYU, I hope this Sikahema cleans up the canvas with Canseco.
Many years ago one of my husband's employees had photo of Wally Joyner & Canseco standing next to each other. Joyner should have himself checked for coodies.

To Rose | 9:20 a.m. June 1, 2008

"[C]lass of Tonya Harding" -- what are you talking about?

nottyou | 9:20 a.m. June 1, 2008

Is PPV or streaming video available for the event? That would help pay a mortgage payment or two.

Hey Sikahema... | 9:35 a.m. June 1, 2008

Just don't let Canseco fall on you. That would be like one of them Redwood trees falling on you.....LOL!!

Good luck and have fun...

Go get em Vai | 9:54 a.m. June 1, 2008

I'd love to see Vai knock some sense into Canseco. . . if that's even possible. You've got a ton of friends pulling for you, Vai. You da man!

Petey | 10:19 a.m. June 1, 2008

Wow, how do you spell loss of credibility.

UTE ALUM | 10:31 a.m. June 1, 2008

To Rose -remember Tonya Harding tried to be a boxer, it was a disaster, oh yeah all things T.H. are disasters.

BHS Fan Man | 11:14 a.m. June 1, 2008

Via - go for it!

Via is right - you only live once! It would be interesting to see what shape, weight and blubber factor the criticizers above are in. If Sikahema is in shape and wants to donate his pursue to a policeman's widow - then he is a total stud and anyone who says he is crazy is a terminal criticizer who doesn't know all the facts.

Rose and Petey - how do you critize Sikahema? How do you say he has lost class or credibility, when he is doing it for a policeman's widow and he is making a tacit statement for the 45-year olds out there that says "if you get off your big fat blubbery duff you too can be in shape" better than the surgeon general could say?

Go Via! You are not crazy. You have more guts and man genes than any fat, lard-butt criticizer who sits in front of their computer and finds ways to put down people who achieve much more than they have.

Sikahema: Go go go go go go!!!!!

Interesting | 11:46 a.m. June 1, 2008

What a dope

Screech | 2:10 p.m. June 1, 2008

Great Sikahema. Now your joining the likes of Screech (from Saved by the bell) and Vanilla Ice.

Chad LeSueur | 3:24 p.m. June 1, 2008

Vai is a stud. He's a good guy. He was never to busy or too arrogant to come play alittle dunk ball with the local neighborhood lids back in Mesa, Az
Canseco is a punk that's gonna get punked.

Utah Iggle Fan | 7:01 p.m. June 1, 2008

This will be awesome. When I read this, the first thing I thought of was when Sikahema took back two punts for TDs against the NY Giants in one game back in the day. After the second one, he started punching the padded Giants logo on the goalpost.

He's a great guy. It's wonderful he's doing this for charity. He once volunteered to be the "attacker" for a self-defense class at the small college I attended in Philly. He took quite a beating that night.

Charles | 7:06 p.m. June 1, 2008

I guess I'll have to root for Sikahema even though he went to Mesa High....Go Toros!

darnreed | 8:39 p.m. June 1, 2008

I hope that the Deseret News will be kind enough to report on this as it builds up and unfolds. Details along the way would be nice.

Politico | 1:34 a.m. June 2, 2008

Why don't we do something like this in politics?

It would sure be interesting to see Hillary vs. Obama in the ring. Now THAT would generate some money on PPV.

The winner could get a bunch of delegates.

Dana Bright | 6:26 a.m. June 2, 2008

C'mon Politico, Hillary v. Obama would be a great battle, but the Secret Service can't sit idly by and watch two of their protectees inflicting bodily harm on each other. They'd have to step in and THEN things would be worth watching! Hillary's detail v. Obama's detail on PPV. Until one of the agents gets impatient and draws a weapon, this could be the best PPV fight in history!

Charity | 7:42 a.m. June 2, 2008

Umm... Tonya Harding and Screech did it for personal gain. He is donating the purse to a widow of hero. I don't think a comparison to either of those buffoons is accurate.

Look out Jose | 2:47 p.m. June 2, 2008

Sikahema was on his way to being a professional boxer when football made him a better offer. Seems that he has some pretty good genetics, too. Didn't his father put on his uniform while he was in the shower and do an almost credible post game interview once? I don't know Canseco's background in boxing, but a lot of good athletes from other sports have been shown up when they step in the ring with a real fighter. Sikahema might be just enough of a real fighter to teach him to show more respect for the sport.

Another AZ guy | 3:11 p.m. June 2, 2008

The only place outside of Arizona where you get Mesa vs Mountain View trash talk! One more reason to love the Des News!

food for thought | 3:16 p.m. June 2, 2008

Isn't this a little demeaning for both Canseco and Sikahema? Guys in their forties should try to keep ahold of any and all brain cells left. This is just plain weird, and I want no part of it.

TJ | 3:42 p.m. June 2, 2008

I love Vai. I played football with many of his relatives and he is just a good guy and I can't wait for him to get in the ring. I grew up boxing with his nephews and cousins and Canseco better watch out because this guy knows boxing. He may be a little out of practice but it will all come back to him. You have to respect Jose a little for the black belts he claims he has but there is no kicking in boxing so that takes away half of Jose's game and I than Vai will knock him out. It says the rounds are 2 minutes but how many rounds is the fight planned for?

Jersey Ute | 3:44 p.m. June 2, 2008

Good Luck Vai - you are the man - I can't wait to see you jack Canseco up.

Rowley

Anonymous | 4:07 p.m. June 2, 2008

I want to see a post-fight headline ...

"Sikahema bashes Bash Brother"

ken | 4:25 p.m. June 2, 2008

I hope jose kicks the crap out of big mouth Vai. This fight won't go 2 rounds. Jose will knock Vai back to the news desk. (where he belongs) Keep your head up Jose...

E.T.O | 4:33 p.m. June 2, 2008

One Two Three he is out on the third round the winner is Vai Sikahema of Tonga,via-Mesa,via Philly go get 'em Vai and don't worry I'll pray for ya and you do the good deed we both have blessing and fun run circle around him for me will ya!!!!!!!!!good luck budduh from the aloha state.

RE: E.T.O | 5:07 p.m. June 2, 2008

What ????.

inoke | 6:24 p.m. June 2, 2008

Let me see, 2 two minute rounds? I love Vai, but a short fight with short rounds favors the big Fella. I don't see this going well for Vai. But I do appreciate his intentions. Go VAI!!!!!

Re: Ken | 7:26 p.m. June 2, 2008

Big mouth Vai? WOW!!! Interesting how someone who lies under oath, claims inside knowledge on everything baseball, ruins the lives and careers of his "friends", and cheats his way through a career is the model of humility and integrity.

Sorry but Webster uses one of Canseco's mug shoots next to it's definition of "big mouth".

Philly Coug | 7:41 a.m. June 3, 2008

Trust a bunch of uptight Utahns...lighten up! Vai is a beloved figure in Philadelphia and he is always doing good things for the community. This is yet another example of him doing something for a city that needs as much help as it can get. He'll get in the ring, have a little fun and help someone out in the process. What's the shame in that?

Smokin Joe | 7:52 a.m. June 3, 2008

Hey Dick, George Foreman was one of the most devastating punchers of all time! Just ask me!

Stake Presidency | 7:59 a.m. June 3, 2008

Something about this screams "inappropriate activity" for a member of the stake presidency. I should think President Sikahema would involve himself in more wholesome activities than this. I'm embarrassed for him and all the other members of the stake who think this is unbecoming of one of our highest priesthood leaders.

Easy Now | 9:51 a.m. June 3, 2008

To "Stake Presidency":

Sikahema is using his position (sports journalist) and training he received growing up to do something worthwhile. I'm not a fan of boxing, per se, but I have no problem with Sikahema using this avenue to accomplish some good in the community. I suspect that some folks might have been embarrassed to see Joseph Smith down in the dirt, stick pulling with the youth in Nauvoo. Let's not be so quick to judge Vai's choice as unbecoming. He grew up boxing and it is truly a sport to him. I have no problem with that.

Whoa Nellie | 10:04 a.m. June 3, 2008

Yo, Stake Presidency,
At what point does participating in any sport become inappropriate for any priesthood holder? In your feeble mind is it an age issue? Should returned missionaries not participate in any college athletic event, or is it inappropriate for them to become professional athletes? Would a tennis match be acceptable to you or do we have to tone it down to a friendly game of golf to be deemed appropriate for a stake leader?

It's too bad you are "embarrassed for him" and all your other nameless stake members. You seem to be specifically the kind of person Ezra Taft Benson referred to when he spoke of those who are looking from the bottom up as being as prideful as those who think they are on top and look down at others.

Go Vai!

Re: Stake Presidency | 10:09 a.m. June 3, 2008

Get off your high horse! I'd bet that President Monson would be ringside, if he could!

What a pretentious comment!

To Easy Now | 10:14 a.m. June 3, 2008

Hey Easy, my guess is Joseph Smith likely wasn't "down in the dirt stick pulling" with folks of Jose Canseco's ilk. Mere association with and publicity in the same activities as Jose Canseco pretty much paints all participants as less than what I'd expect from a member of my stake presidency.

President Sikahema is out teaching the youth of this stake that who you choose to associate yourself with is important. His choosing to participate in this stunt, even in the name of charity, is more along the lines of something you'd expect to see on Maury Povich.

President Sikahema is well enough off and influential enough, not to mention has enough dignity and respect for his calling, that he could find and donate a meager $5,000 to the worthy cause in a far more honorable manner than lumping himself in the celebrity boxing stunt category with Karl Malone, Tonya Harding and Jose Canseco.

As a member of his stake I'm not impressed and have lost a great deal of respect for him.

South Jersey Coug | 10:24 a.m. June 3, 2008

Can't wait to go to the SandCastle!

Misconception | 10:50 a.m. June 3, 2008

Some of you posters are misconstruing my posts. I've got nothing against boxing and it's impressive that President Sikahema is in the best shape of his life and is good enough to get in the ring in the first place. I'm only saying that putting your arm around Jose Canseco and mugging with him in the publicity that will accompany this stunt is below what I'd expect of my stake presidency. When hugging dirt you have a tendancy to get dirt on you!

Give Me a Break!!! | 12:02 p.m. June 3, 2008

To Mr. "Easy Now" comment of 10:14 am. You have got to be kidding me! Brother Sikahema is not "associating" with Conseco, he is just boxing him in order to win money for a needy woman! Are you saying that we can't "associate" with people who don't have our same values at work as well? You have GOT to get real!

I have an uncle who has held EVERY church position from Mission President to Stake President, Patriarch, etc. And if he was younger and healthy he would easily be one to do something like this! You are so self righteous!!

TJ | 12:30 p.m. June 3, 2008

I cannot believe you that you are so upset about this Stake Presidency. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what he is doing and I do not think it demeans or shows disrespect at all to his calling. I think it is very good of him to do it and shows that just because Canseco is not a clean person(morally speaking) doesn't mean we should ignore him and completely avoid him. We are taught to accept everyone and to forgive and he(Vai) is just showing us how to do it. You do have not have to approve of what Canseco has done in his life(many things he did I do not appove of) but Vai is showing that just because someone made a few mistakes that doesn't mean that we should boycott them. We don't need to associate ourselves with them every day or week but to come together for something good(he turned this into a charity boxing event) is something that we can all do no matter the history of a person. I tip my hat to Vai for being an example of love, forgiveness and not judging Canseco but accepting him. isnt't that what the church is about?

Karl | 12:34 p.m. June 3, 2008

ha ha Vai...I still pictures of you when you were young boxing outside the driveway...good luck bro...much 'ofa

Old time Cougar | 12:36 p.m. June 3, 2008

I watched Sikahema on the field when he played at BYU and I have kept track of his career to some degree to this point. I have the greatest confidence that he is making the right decision in doing this.

It may be that Canseco needs a lesson in humility and rather than the almighty coming down himself he figured he would send one of his servants to perform his work. Of course the real benefit is for the needy widow to recieve some financial help.

Some of you need to lighten up and realize this is no more than a boxing match which is a sport like football, basketball, hockey, etc....

To Old time Cougar | 1:34 p.m. June 3, 2008

Boxing isn't a real sport. For starters, it's a dead fake sport. How popular is it today? Nodda. Almost non-existant. Sport isn't punching each other in the face with intent to draw blood and cause bodily damage. Hit each other silly until one doesn't know which direction is up. Sounds a lot like Michael Vick's dog fighting operation to me. Shame on President Sikahema for participating in such nonsense. To the poster above who compared this to Joseph Smith pulling sticks, you're not serious, are you? That's an apples and oranges comparison if I've ever heard of one! I agree with President Sikahema's stake member...first, we here in Utah don't understand the feelings of the members of the church in New Jersey and second I agree this isn't an activity conducive to the spirit President Sikahema should carry with him always.

Go ahead and call it charity...It'll do far more damage to the image of the church in NJ than it will help to give the poor widow a paltry $5,000. I guess at least he's not selling his soul for money!

Ridiculous | 1:56 p.m. June 3, 2008

Honestly, leaving the boxing thing aside for a moment, just reading these ignorant, judgmental and envious posts about Vai is embarrassing. It is times like this that I almost feel ashamed to say that I am LDS because of the ignorance that so many supposed saints display. Why do we have to be such a judgemental and holier than thou society? It seems that many people are just contentious in nature and want to find controversy in everything.

Please look deep inside before opening your mouth again and embarrassingly representing our faith. Who are you to speak for the stake and members of the church? Shame on you.

To Ridiculous | 2:21 p.m. June 3, 2008

I didn't speak for the stake. Did I say anything about anybody else in the church? I voiced my personal opinion and I stick by it. Who are you to say I can't voice my opinion?

When the day comes that I see a general authority participate in such a barbaric event and say it's an activity becomming of a stake presidency member I'll change my opinion and fall in line with the brethren. I don't think you're going to see this event sanctioned by the church any time soon...and talk about ridiculous posts above, I'll stand up on a table an apologize profusely for my opinion if you'll show me President Monson ringside for such a circus.

No Ridiculous, shame on you for thinking only your opinion counts. Again, you're probably in the bubble of Utah and not out in the real world where this kind of thing is scrutinized.

Agree with Old Time Cougar | 4:22 p.m. June 3, 2008

To the poster of 1:34 directed to "Old time Cougar". You must still be wet behind the ears to think that boxing is NOT a sport. I grew up in a very religious family in UTAH where my "card carrying" Mormon father watched the Friday night fights all the time on TV.

Boxing IS a sport--although it is not my favorite. I can't say the same for the ultimate fighting however, because THAT is brutal. But who cares how popular boxing is anyway-at least it is more of a sport than golf-that is just an activity-not a sport.

Unless Bro Sikehema can't get his recommend for doing it, there is nothing wrong with him performing in this event. I guess if you and others would promise to pull the $5000 out of your stingy hands and give it to the poor widow then Brother Sikehema wouldn't have to do this.

Cry me a River!! | 5:42 p.m. June 3, 2008

To the posting of 2:21 June 3: The problem with your personal opinion is that it stinks and is way off base! No, I can't see our general authorities engaging in a boxing match but that isn't because it is beneath them, but rather they are too old for that! I would bet there are a number of authorities who have boxed or engaged in wrestling but don't let that decrease your testimony now...

With your approach it sounds like you really mean to say that football, hockey, basketball, soccer, baseball & golf (yawn), and others are some of the only "approved" sports for church members?! I've seen worse brutality and fights viewing some of the sports listed above. Boxing is not about destroying your opponent like ultimate fighting is, but rather scoring by throwing more punches.

This event is NOT inappropriate for someone in his position and you need to check your thinking!

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