LIHU’E — Jesse Sapolu is no stranger to leapfrogging long odds. The offensive lineman starred at the University of Hawai’i from 1979 to 1982, but waited until round 11 to be selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983
LIHU’E — Jesse Sapolu is no stranger to leapfrogging long odds.
The offensive lineman starred at the University of Hawai’i from 1979 to 1982, but waited until round 11 to be selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1983 NFL Draft.
Weakened body parts sidelined Sapolu for the first three years of his career, and 49ers’ management had their eyebrows raised.
But a healthy Sapolu buckled down and, in 1987, began producing. Two pro bowls and four Super Bowl rings later, the Western Samoa native was riding high.
But the biggest obstacle was yet to come.
“I never told my teammates about my heart condition,” Sapolu said before a charity softball game at Vidinha Stadium Sunday afternoon. “I didn’t want it to be widely known.”
The ‘heart condition’ was a leaky valve, and in early 1997 Sapolu had surgery to repair the ailment. It wasn’t a situation that doctors or football analysts figured the then-36-year-old Sapolu would come back from.
“I had to do it,” Sapolu said. “About 10 percent of kids in this country suffer from the same heart-valve ailment. I wanted to come back to football to show them that this thing could be overcome.”
So, the 6-foot-4, 278-pounder asked the 49ers for one more season. They said no and cut him. But Sapolu was not deterred. When San Francisco’s starting center suffered an injury, however, the 49ers re-signed him, and one of Hawaii’s sons got a chance to end his career on his terms.
“The last full year was 1997, and I played in the 1998 playoffs,” Sapolu said. “It was good to come back.”
Which is something Sapolu did Sunday.
The offensive lineman brought some teammates from his past, like Guy McIntyre, as well as some current 49ers, like Fred Beasley, to Vidinha Stadium for a softball game as part of the 6th Annual State of Hawai’i Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO). Members of the Kaua’i Police Department served as opponents.
“I love coming through Hawai’i and doing charity events,” said Sapolu, a graduate of Farrington High School. “But this is one of my favorites.”
Sapolu’s crew, which included some Los Angeles Raiders, played charity basketball games on Oahu, Maui and the Big Island before Sunday’s game at Vidinha.
“The money goes into the police officer’s union,” said Stan Kua, who organized the KPD team. “It’s nice to have the football players attached to the charity.”
The tour was expected to bring in over $100,000 this year.
While bringing in the money, however, the Kaua’i event had trouble drawing the fans. The stands at Vidinha were scarcely populated Sunday. Organizers hoped that next year’s contest would draw more folks.
As for Sapolu, he said that since his retirement from the NFL, he has “been running my businesses in the Los Angeles area.
“I needed to take some time away from football after being involved for so long,” he said. “But I’ve been recommended for a job in the San Francisco front office.
“The decision on that is to be made this week.”
Sapolu said he’s ready to re-insert himself into football in an effort to return the 49ers to “the glory days.
“Back when it was me and Jerry Rice and Joe Montana and Roger Craig. We have to get today’s young players back to that level.”
If anyone can overcome the odds of salary caps and free-agent team hopping, it’s Jesse Sapolu.
