This is another in a series of inspiring stories about people in sports from outside the U.S.
His full name is Pulutausa Fatu Utuone Aiono Nu’u. But you can call him Joe.
The nickname came because he knew his friends in America would have trouble remembering or pronouncing his full name. He was a fan of the TV show “Bonanza,” so he chose the name “Joe,” though “Hoss” might have been more appropriate.
The son of a tribal chief from Western Samoa, he was his paternal grandfather’s first grandson. That’s a big deal in the Samoan culture, as he would eventually be groomed to become chief.
But his grandfather passed away when Joe was 5, and Joe’s parents sent him to the United States at age 6 because they believed he had a better future in America. Unfortunately, they chose to live in Compton, California. Hey, America is America, right?
Joe hated his new surroundings and quickly found the gang culture as a way to fit in. Bigger than most kids his age, he spent his time playing sports and fighting. He was good at both.
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