FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- It began with a text message with an invitation to dinner. It was the start of a friendship set up by Shane Victorino.
At the time, the two-time Philadelphia Phillies All-Star outfielder didn't know Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota and UFC featherweight Max Holloway had never met. Victorino did know they were two of the best in the world at what they did, from the same island state they all come from in the middle of the Pacific Ocean.
In Hawai'i, when you're that good at something there's an unspoken connection.