Producer empowers
Polynesian players

Combining sports with the American Dream is nothing new as a documentary theme.

But Jeremy Spear's perspectives certainly are fresh.

Pro Bowl Who: AFC All-Stars vs. NFC All-Stars Where: Aloha Stadium When: Sunday, 2:30 p.m. TV: ESPN Tickets: Still available at Aloha Stadium box office, Ticketmaster ticket centers, Times supermarkets, Blaisdell Arena and Brigham Young-Hawaii. Also available at (877) 750-4400 and online at ww.ticketmaster.com

Spear's first film was 2000's critically acclaimed "Fastpitch," in which the former Yale baseball player takes up the dying sport of fastpitch softball at age 35. The film is a study of the changing face of America as well as Spear's personal journey as an aging athlete.

Former University of Hawaii football players Isaac Sopoaga and Pisa Tinoisamoa (now members of the NFL's 49ers and Rams) are the subjects of Spear's new film (co-produced with Robert Pennington), "Polynesian Power."

It's about the journey to the NFL for athletes who come from what is often culturally a different world than that of American players.

"I have some Samoan friends who played football, and this was in the back of my mind for a while," said Spear, who lives part-time in Hawaii and New York. "America's true pastime is football now, and here in front of millions on TV, is this secondary story no one paid much attention to.

"My interest as a filmmaker is really telling stories about issues of cultural legacy and identity through the vehicle of sport," he said. "A kid in Ohio might know nothing about Polynesia, but he can still relate to their journey (to the NFL)."

"Polynesian Power," narrated by The Rock, makes its world broadcast premiere today on ESPN2 at 3 p.m. It will also be shown tomorrow at 2 and 3:30 p.m.

Blackout lifted: Once again, the Pro Bowl is a sellout And that means ESPN's local television blackout is lifted, and the game will be shown live tomorrow at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are still available, since officials anticipate quite a few will be returned by players who don't need all of their allotments.

"We are pleased that for the 26th consecutive year in Hawaii, the Pro Bowl will be played before a sold-out stadium," NFL spokesman Mike Signora said.

T.O. practices, won't play: Terrell Owens just can't stay off the football field.

Although the Philadelphia Eagles receiver had already given up his spot at the Pro Bowl because of his ankle injury, Owens still participated in the NFC squad's practice yesterday. Owens ran a few routes and later caught a few passes on the sideline after posing for pictures in his Pro Bowl uniform.

Owens returned to the Eagles' lineup for the Super Bowl just 6 1/2 weeks after surgery to place two screws in his ankle. The All-Pro caught nine passes for 122 yards in Philadelphia's loss to New England.

Owens was selected for his fifth Pro Bowl in nine NFL seasons, but was replaced on the NFC roster Wednesday by St. Louis' Torry Holt. In all, 14 players selected to the 43-man AFC and NFC rosters pulled out of the game because of injuries.

Moving men: Several NFL players, including offensive tackle Wayne Hunter (RadfordUHSeahawks), defensive tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu (KahukuRavens), guard Chris Naeole (KahukuJaguars) and linebacker Jeff Ulbrich (UH49ers) participated in a project involving several Oahu schools yesterday in conjunction with the Pro Bowl.

The players helped children process donated books and sporting goods to be distributed to less-fortunate youngsters.

"This is a good thing. It's Hawaii kids helping other Hawaii kids. The aloha spirit is going strong in the Hawaiian islands," Naeole said. "Every time I come to Hawaii, anything I can do off the field, I'm there."

The players also spoke to the children about staying away from drugs and alcohol and staying in school.

"I think it has a lot more impact than if you or I or a teacher says the same things," Boys & Girls club executive director David Nakada said. "The kids are in awe, and they are like big brothers to them. All the players were enthusiastic and really nice, as were the cheerleaders."

The donated items were taken to the Boys & Girls Club, from which they will be distributed to rural areas of the island.

"I went to this Boys & Girls Club when I was a kid," Hunter said. "This is great giving back to kids who are in the position I was in, because the community gave so much to me."

Kemoeatu spent a lot of time at the Waianae Boys & Girls Club as a youngster.

"They helped me set goals. I got my backbone here, learned about maintaining good relationships with kids and adults. I learned the limits of when someone gets mad, back off, and I learned to have fun," he said. "I told myself if I ever made it, I'd come back and help my community."

Proud mentor: UH offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh had dinner with former pupil Kynan Forney on Thursday. Forney, now an Atlanta Falcons guard, was named to at least two all-pro teams, although not the NFC Pro Bowl team.

"He's improved tremendously," Cavanaugh said. "He plays with great passion and intensity. He's on his way to a Pro Bowl career."