Richard FaleTWITTER
Hawaiian politician Richard Fale "possesses a defiant streak which he believes makes him the right man to take control" of National Rugby League side New Zealand Warriors, according to David Skipwith of the NEW ZEALAND HERALD. The colorful and "ambitious Utah-born 36-year-old" is the head of the Tongan-American NFL consortium that has been in Auckland over the past week to "thrash out a deal to purchase the NRL club from long-time owner Eric Watson." Fale, who served in the U.S. military in Iraq and Afghanistan, "brings with him a reputation as a wildcard." His "shoot-from-the-hip style almost saw negotiations fall over midweek, when he threatened to pack his bags and fly home," furious in "believing his group's Pacific Island heritage saw him underestimated" by Watson, who rejected his formal offer of NZ$22M ($15.9M) while holding out for his reported NZ$24M ($17.3M) asking price. Fale refuses to apologize for "ruffling feathers" and "insists his stubborn personality makes him the ideal candidate to take the club forward." He said, "You can't be a pushover. ... I have a major issue when people view Pacific Islanders as dumb idiots. 'They're great athletes but anything off the field, just shut your mouth.' That, I don't react very well to." Fale was previously "embroiled in controversy" when he voted against same-sex marriage in '13. The question has been raised as to whether the NRL, which is "increasingly active in trying to engage and connect with the gay community, would take a dim view of his conservative stance." But Fale argued he has been "portrayed unfairly." He said, "Do we let people vote on it or do we dictate to the state of Hawaii on what we want to do? My position was, let people vote. ... The Pacific Islands have a longer history of acceptance of the gay community than New Zealand, Australia or the United States" (NZ HERALD, 3/18).
