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CNMI’s own Sports Hall of Fame OK’d
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Posted on Jan 29 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta has signed into law a bill authorizing the creation of the Northern Marianas Sports Hall of Fame in efforts to recognize the sports community’s achievements and contribution to the Commonwealth.
Babauta signed on Friday House Bill 14-94, authored by Rep. Ramon Tebuteb, which mandates the Northern Marianas Amateur Sports Association to establish the Sports Hall of Fame.
“The administration fully supports this, as this will not only commemorate the accomplishments of individuals [who] have set high standards in their respective fields, it will also promote increased participation in sports and related activities by the people of the Commonwealth,” said Babauta.
He said such recognition would promote greater participation from the community and lead to a healthier population.
“It will give our young people the opportunity to take part in positive social activities that will enhance and strengthen our community,” he said.
The bill becomes Public Law 14-57.
NMASA named at least four individuals to the NMI Sports Hall of Fame during its Athlete of the Year banquet last year.
It honored basketball’s Tony Rogolifoi and swimming’s Mike Villagomez in the category for athletes, as well as long-time Saipan Swim Club mentors Bill and Jean Sakovich in the category for coaches.
Rogolifoi was honored after reigning as the islands’ Mr. Basketball for three decades. Villagomez, for his part, distinguished himself by putting the CNMI on the map during regional swimming competitions in the 1980s.
The dynamic Sakovich husband-and-wife team coached the NMI national swimming team to a total of 22 medals in the South Pacific Games since 1987. The couple is credited for helping in the creation of NMASA in 1978 and for reviving the Micronesian Games in 1990.
