{{Short description|American football player (born 1969)}} {{good article}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography |name=Niu Sale |image=Niusale.jpg |upright=.7 |number=34<ref name="pfa"/> |position=Wide receiver / Linebacker |birth_date={{birth date and age|1969|11|17}} |birth_place= |height_ft=5 |height_in=9 <!-- height and weight are from the following sources: https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/163035076/ https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/163053515/ --> |weight_lbs=190 |high_school=Bishop Montgomery<br>(Torrance, California) |college=El Camino (1988–1989)<br>Missouri (1990) |undraftedyear=1992 |pastteams= * Sacramento Attack/Miami Hooters ({{AFL Year|1992|1993}}) * Massachusetts Marauders ({{AFL Year|1994}}) * St. Louis Stampede ({{AFL Year|1996}})* |highlights= * First-team All-Arena (1993) * Second-team All-Arena (1994) * AFL All-Star ({{AFL Year|1993}}) * 2× First-team All-American (1988–1989) |aflstatlabel1=Receptions |aflstatvalue1=69 |aflstatlabel2=Receiving yards |aflstatvalue2=963 |aflstatlabel3=Receiving TDs |aflstatvalue3=12 |aflstatlabel4=Tackles |aflstatvalue4=100 |aflstatlabel5=Interceptions |aflstatvalue5=7 |afl=1402 }} '''Niusumelie Sale''' (born November 17, 1969) is an American former professional football player who played three seasons in the Arena Football League (AFL) with the Sacramento Attack/Miami Hooters and Massachusetts Marauders. He played college football at El Camino College and the University of Missouri. He was a two-time first-team All-American while at El Camino College and a two-time All-Arena selection while in the AFL. While with the Attack/Hooters, Sale was a member of an informal group of Polynesian players on the team called "The Committee".
==Early life== Niusumelie Sale was born on November 17, 1969.<ref name="sale">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/163039288/ | title=Arenaball team sold on Sale's performance | work=The Miami Herald | date=August 5, 1993 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Cash, Rana, L. | pages=9B}}</ref><ref name="pfa">{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/players/s/sale00110.html | title=Niu Sale | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="cool"/> He grew up in Carson, California, and started playing flag football when he was nine.<ref name="sale"/><ref name="cool"/> He played high school football at Bishop Montgomery High School in Torrance, California as a two-way player.<ref name="hshof">{{cite web | url=https://www.bmhs-la.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=104096&type=d&pREC_ID=2520542 | title=Niu Sale '88 / Class of 2022 | publisher=Bishop Montgomery High School | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> Sale spent time at quarterback, defensive back, tailback, and linebacker at Bishop Montgomery High.<ref name="cool"/> He passed for 1,228 yards and rushed for 1,011 yards his junior year, becoming the first player in school history to pass and rush for over 1,000 yards each in one season.<ref name="hshof"/> On defense, he earned all-league honors three times and first-team ''Daily Breeze'' All-Area honors twice.<ref name="hshof"/> Sale was inducted into the Bishop Montgomery High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2022.<ref name="hshof"/>
==College career== Sale was recruited by several schools, including UTEP, Tennessee, and Arizona.<ref name="cool"/> However, he did not qualify academically for the NCAA and instead played college football at El Camino College.<ref name="cool"/> He played for the El Camino Warriors from 1988 to 1989 as a safety, earning all-conference and first-team All-American honors each season.<ref name="cool">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/163035076/ | title=El Camino's Niu Sale: He's Real Cool – Until the Game Gets Going | work=The Los Angeles Times | date=October 20, 1989 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Garcia, Irene | pages=C12, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times/163035969/ C15]}}</ref><ref name="hshof"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://eccwarriors.com/hof/2003/index | title=2003 Hall of Fame Inductees - 16th Class | publisher=El Camino College | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="sam">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/163053515/ | title=Mizzou Hopes Sand Man Turns Out To Be Sleeper | work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch | date=August 14, 1990 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Thomas, Jim | pages=1C, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/st-louis-post-dispatch/163053934/ 5C]}}</ref> He recorded 197 tackles and 11 interceptions during his two-year career at El Camino.<ref name="sam"/> Sale also returned punts and kicks and was a holder for the Warriors.<ref name="sam"/> El Camino attempted seven fake kicks in 1989, with Sale scoring on six of them.<ref name="sam"/> The 1989 Warriors went 10–0 before losing to Riverside City College in the Orange County Bowl, finishing the season ranked No. 4 nationally by J.C. Gridwire.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eccwarriors.com/sports/fball/Records/ECC_All-Time_Results_By_Season.pdf | title=All-Time Yearly Game-By-Game Results | publisher=El Camino College | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> Sale was inducted into the El Camino College Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.<ref name="hshof"/> In 2019, Sale was named to El Camino's 1980s All-Decade Team as an all-purpose player.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://eccwarriors.com/sports/fball/2019-20/releases/20191116vnqdld | title=Warriors Fall to Cerritos in Regular Season Finale | publisher=El Camino College | date=November 16, 2019 | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref>
Sale transferred to play for the Missouri Tigers of the University of Missouri. He earned a varsity letter in 1990 as a safety.<ref name="pfa"/><ref name="Saf"/> In the first game of the season against the TCU Horned Frogs, Sale returned a punt 52 yards for a touchdown, which was Missouri's first punt return touchdown since Bill Whitaker in 1978.<ref name="bobble">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune/163069897/ | title=Bobble mars Sale's heroics on returns | work=Columbia Daily Tribune | date=September 9, 1990 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Cain, Scott | pages=19}}</ref> However, Sale also fumbled the kickoff on the team's final possession as Missouri lost by a score of 20–19.<ref name="bobble"/> In 1990, he totaled two interceptions for 22 yards, eight punt returns for 139 yards and one touchdown, and one kick return for 22 yards.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/niu-sale-1.html | title=Niu Sale | publisher=Sports Reference | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> He also scored a defensive extra point on a fumble recovery.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-star/163038442/ | title=Big Eight Briefing | work=The Kansas City Star | date=November 5, 1991 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Dutton, Bob | pages=C2}}</ref> Sale played most of the year with a broken finger and an occasional hurt ankle.<ref name="Saf">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/columbia-daily-tribune/163069531/ | title=Offense points toward progress | work=Columbia Daily Tribune | date=November 24, 1990 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Cain, Scott | pages=13}}</ref> He did not play in 1991 due to being ruled academically ineligible.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph/163038666/ | title=Despite 0-0 mark, Missouri has already suffered losses | work=The Pantagraph | date=September 11, 1991 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Kindred, Randy | pages=B3}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Sacramento Attack/Miami Hooters=== Sale played in all ten games for the Sacramento Attack of the Arena Football League (AFL) in 1992, totaling six catches for 126 yards and one touchdown, six carries for 20 yards, five kick returns for 125 yards and one touchdown, 47 solo tackles, 11 assisted tackles, two forced fumbles, 16 pass breakups, and five interceptions for 61 yards and one touchdown.<ref name="pfa"/><ref name="af"/> He played both offense and defense during his time in the AFL as the league played under ironman rules.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tennessean/163091628/ | title=Elimination of 'Ironman' rule bothers Baron | work=The Tennessean | date=February 28, 2007 | accessdate=15 January 2025 | author=Hopp, Jessica | pages=1C}}</ref><ref name="pfa"/> The Attack finished the 1992 season with a 4–6 record.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/1992arflsac.html | title=1992 Sacramento Attack (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref>
In 1993, the Hooters restaurant chain purchased the Attack and moved the team to Miami, Florida, renaming them the Miami Hooters.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tampa-tribune/163091089/ | title=Hooter's shifts Arena team to Miami | work=The Tampa Tribune | date=March 9, 1993 | accessdate=15 January 2025}}</ref> Sale appeared in all 12 games for the Hooters that season, recording 45 receptions for 616 yards and eight touchdowns, 43 kick returns for 865 yards, 23 solo tackles, seven assisted tackles, three fumble recoveries, five pass breakups, and one interception that he returned 14 yards for a touchdown.<ref name="pfa"/><ref name="af">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/1402/ | title=Niu Sale | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> He was named first-team All-Arena as a wide receiver/linebacker for his performance during the 1993 season.<ref name="awards">{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/players/?page=players&player=1402&pageview=bio | title=Niu Sale - Awards | publisher=ArenaFan.com | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> He was also named to the 1993 AFL All-Star Game.<ref name="awards"/> The Hooters finished the year with a 5–7 record and lost in the first round of the playoffs to the Orlando Predators.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/1993arflmia.html | title=1993 Miami Hooters (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref> While with the Attack/Hooters, Sale was a member of an informal group of Polynesian players on the team called "The Committee", which included Alo Sila, George Fua, Richard Ane, Junior Ili, Ken Sale, and Kaiser Noa at several points in time.<ref name="Attack"/><ref name="Hooters"/> The group appeared in various promotions and visited hospitals.<ref name="Hooters"/> The Committee named the van they drove in "The Canoe".<ref name="Hooters">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/163057780/ | title=S. Pacific in S. Florida | work=The Miami Herald | date=May 9, 1993 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Christopher, Andre | pages=1D, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/163058089/ 11D]}}</ref><ref name="Attack"/>
===Massachusetts Marauders=== Sale played in eight games for the Massachusetts Marauders of the AFL in 1994, accumulating 18 catches for 221 yards and three touchdowns, eight carries for 35 yards and one touchdown, 18 solo tackles, six assisted tackles, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery, three pass breakups, and one interception.<ref name="pfa"/><ref name="af"/> On August 2, 1994, he was placed on the team's suspended list for an unknown reason.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news/163090757/ | title=Transactions | work=The Bangor Daily News | date=August 3, 1994 | accessdate=15 January 2025 | pages=C6}}</ref> He garnered second-team All-Arena recognition for the 1994 season.<ref name="awards"/> The Marauders finished the year with an 8–4 record and later lost to the Predators in the semifinals.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://profootballarchives.com/1994arflmas.html | title=1994 Massachusetts Marauders (Arena) | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=14 January 2025}}</ref>
===St. Louis Stampede=== Sale signed with the AFL's St. Louis Stampede in March 1996.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/herald-and-review/163066476/ | title=Transactions | work=Herald and Review | date=March 20, 1996 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | pages=B5}}</ref> He was waived in April 1996 before the start of the 1996 AFL season.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-miami-herald/163066411/ | title=Transactions | work=The Miami Herald | date=April 24, 1996 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | pages=10B}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sale is of Samoan descent.<ref name="sam"/><ref name="Attack">{{cite news | url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/163055364/ | title=Yikes, it's the Attack's wild and crazy guys | work=The Sacramento Bee | date=July 9, 1992 | accessdate=14 January 2025 | author=Jaramillo, Brian | pages=D1, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sacramento-bee/163055624/ D5]}}</ref> His brother Ken Sale played college football at El Camino College and the University of Texas at El Paso, and professionally in the World League of American Football and the AFL.<ref name="cool"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/s/sale00100.html | title=Ken Sale | publisher=Pro Football Archives | accessdate=15 January 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[http://www.justsportsstats.com/footballstatsindex.php?player_id=saleniu001&defensesort=6 Stats Crew profile]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sale, Niu}} Category:Living people Category:1969 births Category:Players of American football from Torrance, California Category:American football wide receivers Category:American football linebackers Category:American football safeties Category:American football return specialists Category:American football defensive backs Category:El Camino Warriors football players Category:Missouri Tigers football players Category:Sacramento Attack players Category:Miami Hooters players Category:Massachusetts Marauders players Category:St. Louis Stampede players Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:20th-century American sportsmen