Paid to Play

Professional athletes often say they love to play the game, but the best of them get paid very well to have fun. Here’s the latest balance sheet on 21 athletes currently in the major leagues who were either born in Hawaii or played college sports here. To research the salaries, we used the Spotrac website (www.spotrac.com), a well-regarded aggregator of sports contract information.

Note: MLB contracts are guaranteed; NFL contracts are not, so players can be cut before they are paid their full contracts.

Major League Baseball

Scott Feldman

Relief pitcher,

Chicago Cubs

Born: Kailua, Oahu (grew up in California)

One-year contract:

$6 million in 2013

Brandon League

Relief Pitcher, Los

Angeles Dodgers

Saint Louis School

Three-year contract

(2013-2015): $22.5 million

$4.5 million in 2013

Kurt Suzuki

Catcher, Washington Nationals

Born: Wailuku, Baldwin HS

Four-year contract

(2011-2014): $16.25 million

$6.45 million in 2013

Shane Victorino

Outfielder, Boston

Red Sox

Born: Wailuku, St.

Anthony HS

Three-year contract

(2013-2015): $39 million

$13 million in 2013

Jerome Williams

Pitcher,

Los Angeles Angels

Born: Honolulu,

Waipahu HS

One-year contract:

$2 million in 2013

National Football League

Al Afalava

Safety, Tennessee Titans

Born: Laie, Kahuku HS

Two-year contract

(2012-2013): $1.17 million

$630,000 in 2013

Tyson Alualu

Defensive Tackle,

Jacksonville Jaguars

Born: Honolulu

Saint Louis School, UH

Five-year contract

(2010-2014): $28 million

$1.822 million in 2013

Davone Bess

Wide Receiver, Miami

Dolphins

UH

Four-year contract

(2010-2013):

$9.03 million

$2.633 million in 2013

Alex Green

Running Back,

Green Bay Packers

UH

Four-year contract

(2011-2014):

$2.577 million

$555,000 in 2013

Phil Loadholt

Tackle, Minnesota Vikings

Born: Honolulu

Four-year contract

(2013-2016): $25 million
$2.9 million in 2013

Kaluka Maiava

Linebacker, Oakland

Raiders

Born: Honolulu,

Baldwin HS

3-year contract

(2013-2015), $6 million

$630,000 in 2013

Mat McBriar

Punter, Philadelphia Eagles

UH

Two-year contract

(2012-2013): $1.665

million

$840,000 in 2013

Kealoha Pilares

Wide Receiver,

Carolina Panthers

Born: Honolulu

Damien Memorial School, UH

Four-year contract

(2011-2014):

$2.225 million

$555,000 in 2013

Dominic Raiola

Center, Detroit Lions

Born: Honolulu,

Saint Louis School

Four-year contract

(2010-2013): $20 million

$1 million in 2013

Greg Salas

Wide Receiver,

Philadelphia Eagles

UH

Three-year contract

(2012-2014): $1.665 million

$555,000 in 2013

Samson Satele

Center, Indianapolis Colts

Born: Kailua, Oahu,

Kailua HS, UH

Three-year contract

(2012-2014): $10.8 million

$2.7 million in 2013

Mana Silva

Safety, Buffalo Bills

Born: Hilo

Kamehameha Schools-Hawaii, UH

Two-year contract

(2012-2013): $1.02 million

$555,000 in 2013

Isaac Sopoaga

Defensive tackle,

Philadelphia Eagles

UH

Three-year contract

(2013-2015): $11 million

$1 million in 2013

Max Unger

Center, Seattle Seahawks

Born: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii Preparatory Academy

Five-year contract

(2012-2016): $25.5 million

$4.9 million in 2013

Major League Soccer

Brian Ching

Forward, Houston

Dynamo

Born: Haleiwa,

Kamehameha Schools

$192,000 in 2012

Zach Scott

Defender, Seattle

Sounders FC

Born: Haiku-Pauwela, Maui HS

$46,314 in 2012

Andrew Dykstra

Goalkeeper, D.C. United

Born: Honolulu

$44,004 in 2012