Saturday, March 16, 2024

NFL 2024

3/16/24 - Pittsburgh acquire Justin Fields from Chicago for sixth round pick
3/16/24 - Rams sign Garoppolo to back up Stafford
3/13/24 - Calvin Ridley signs with Tennessee for four years, $92 million
3/13/24 - Raiders release Garoppolo
3/12/24 - Mariota headed to Washington on one-year deal
3/12/24 - Derrick Henry to sign with Baltimore for two years, $16 million
3/11/24 - Saquon Barkley agrees to terms with Philadelphia for three years, up to $46.75 million
3/11/24 - Kirk Cousins leaving Minnesota for Atlanta for $180 million, four years
3/5/24 - Denver to part with Russell Wilson
2/1/24 - Commanders hire Dan Quinn as head coach
1/31/24 - Seattle hire Mike Macdonald as head coach 
1/26/24 - Falcons hire Raheem Morris as head coach
1/25/24 - Carolina hires Dave Canales as head coach 
1/24/24 - Chargers hire Jim Harbraugh as head coach
1/24/24 - Titans hire Brian Callahan as head coach
1/29/24 - Las Vegas to promote Antonio Pierce to head coach
1/12/24 - Patriots name Jerod Mayo to succeed Belichick
1/11/24 - Belichick out as Patriots head coach after winning six Super Bowls
1/10/24 - Pete Carroll out as Seahawks head coach after 14 seasons

Saturday, March 09, 2024

Bobby Curran is grateful

[12/13/22, posted 12/15/22] There are days when the pain, on a scale from 1 to 10, is at bullet-biting.

These days, the routine is, with chin on chest, to practice hard swallowing.

But with each deep breath, sportscaster Bobby Curran is grateful.

“How can you not feel good when so many people are rooting for you?” said Curran, 67, who underwent a life-saving, double-lung transplant on Nov. 17 in Phoenix.

It has been a week since Curran was released from St. Joseph’s Hospital &Medical Center. He is staying in a rented two-story house a few miles from the hospital’s rehabilitation unit where he undergoes “clinics” — testing and treatment — four times a week. Two friends from New York are serving as 24-hour caregivers, helping infuse the 20 medications a day into his feeding tube, with his wife and elder son set to take turns after that.

Curran has been awash in emotion from the texts, emails and calls from Hawaii and across the country. University of Hawaii basketball coach Eran Ganot has been a regular texter. Last week, UH athletic director David Matlin, between meetings on the mainland, spent two hours talking story at Curran’s rental.

Norman Nakanishi, a pastor who holds volunteer sermons for UH players, has been leading a prayer group for Curran at Pearlside Church.

“I wasn’t initially a very religious person, but some of the things that are happening here, you have to see a heavenly hand in it,” Curran said. “I don’t think this could have happened else-wise.”

Earlier this year, Curran became friends with Bob Kessner, who also had undergone a lung transplant at St. Joseph’s. Kessner explained his experience with the surgery and what to expect in the aftermath. Kessner was scheduled to attend a fund-raising event in Phoenix a day ahead of Curran’s surgery. “The night before the surgery, I hadn’t heard from him,” Curran said.

As Curran regained consciousness a few days after the surgery, he remembered feeling a sense of calmness. Later, Curran had learned, Kessner “had come into ICU when they took me out of surgery and stayed by the bedside and held my hand. He’d been through this whole thing, and he wanted to help me.”

It was in June when Curran, who quit a smoking habit several years ago, was told he needed a double-lung transplant to treat an aggressive stage of emphysema. Doctors recommended Curran as a candidate at St. Joseph’s, which performed 120 lung transplants in 2021. During the application process, which resulted in several rejections, Curran was told that without the transplant, his life expectancy probably would not exceed this Christmas.

The day ahead of when a 30-person committee would review his application, Curran met with a top St. Joseph’s doctor. There were thresholds and data, and only one of three applicants is approved, but the doctor asked Curran: tell me your story. The next day, Curran was approved as the fortunate one-third.

Curran spent weeks of evaluations and testing before a donor was found. Recipients are not told about a donor’s background, but the presumption is it is person younger than 40. “According to all doctors, surgery went really well,” Curran said.

Curran passed two markers: his body accepted the two lungs and they fit his chest cavity.

Medications and “food” are administered through one of the three tubes inserted into his abdomen. He has progressed to being allowed ice chips and four ounces of pureed snacks four times a day. Because of the risk of chewed food going down the “wrong pipe,” which can cause aspiration, Curran is practicing hard-swallowing techniques. If he passes a swallowing test either this Friday or next week, the food tube can be removed and he can expand his menu and take medication orally.

There always is the risk his condition can turn, for no apparent reason, and that he will need some anti-rejection and anti-infection medicines for life. But he remains hopeful in his continued progress. The five-year survival rate is 54%, although updated data could increase the projection to 58%. There are more recipients who have lived 10 post-surgery years and, even, 15.

“If I get 10 extra years, I’ll be dancing on clouds,” Curran said.

The timeline used to be a year in which recipients stayed in the area after surgery. But several have been able to move home after six months. Curran’s goal is to be able to attend his younger son’s high school graduation in May. His older son is a sophomore at UH. His wife Jo has balanced taking care of their sons, serving as first vice president of a commercial real estate company, and assisting Curran.

“It’s been really hard on her,” Curran said. “She’s special. … What I’m really trying to do now is give my wife a few years to take the pack off and rest easy, and to get my boys to the next level in their lives. That’s my goal.”

***

[7/20/23] HONOLULU, HI – aio and ESPN Honolulu are pleased to announce the return of one of its long-time radio personalities and beloved hosts; Bobby Curran. Following a successful double lung transplant last November, Curran will make his return to ESPN Honolulu broadcasting later this month. 

“The Bobby Curran Show” will return to the air starting July 24 from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m., Monday through Friday.

“We are thrilled to have Bobby back at ESPN Honolulu and with our aio ohana,” said Matt Apana, ESPN Honolulu General Manager. “We know he has been missed dearly by our listeners and fans, many of whom called in, written letters and emails, and posted on our social media channels, sending him their aloha and well wishes.”

“The Bobby Curran Show” has been a staple on ESPN Honolulu since 1994, while Curran’s career broadcasting University of Hawaii sports has spanned more than three decades. His last show aired in July 2022 prior to taking time off to prioritize his health. After his surgery last November, he took several months of intensive rehabilitation and treatment in Arizona. 

Once cleared by his medical providers, Curran returned to the island in May 2023 to attend his son’s high school graduation from Mid-Pacific Institute. With his strength returning, Curran is eager and excited to be back on the Hawaii airwaves. 

“I would first like to extend my appreciation and aloha to everyone who sent their well wishes and kind words throughout this journey – the support and prayers have been overwhelming and have been instrumental in my return,” said Curran. “There is still a road to recovery, but I’m so happy to be back on air doing what I love. During the more challenging times, I found solace and motivation in getting back to Hawaii and being on air talking about Hawaii sports.” 

Listeners can tune in to ESPN on FM 92.7, AM 1420, online at www.espnhonolulu.com, or our app Sideline Hawaii (available for IOS or Android).

[7/23/23 - Dave Reardon: Mornings are fabulous again with Curran back]

[3/9/24] Currant to call last game

Friday, March 01, 2024

University of Hawaii Football 2024

3/1/24 - June Jones inducted into UH Circle of Honor
2/24/24 - 2024 Recruiting breakdown
2/11/24 - Roman Sapolu, Jacob Yoro leaving Hawaii (for Miami Dolphins and Missouri) 
1/28/24 - How Dennis Thurmond wound up as Hawaii's defensive coordinator
1/24/24 - Anthony Arceneaux hired as running backs coach
1/23/24 - KJ Hallums, offensive lineman, accepts 2025 scholarship
1/20/24 - Hawaii hires Dennis Thurmond, Dan Morrison, Jeff Reinebold / Chris Brown promoted, Kel Crowdus, wide receiver, transfers from Kentucky
1/18/24 - Boogie Henderson, offensive lineman, commits to Hawaii
1/17/24 - Raiola and Alejado back in Hawaii for Polynesian Bowl
1/9/24 - Hawaii back to age-old plan for hiring coaches
1/8/24 - Hawaii is eyeing Thurmond, Morrison, Reinebold / Cam Barfield, RB, transferring from Boston College, Fabian Ross, defensive back, transferring from USC
1/3/24 - Hawaii won't retain three coaches
12/24/23 - Schager withdraws from transfer portal and will return to Hawaii
12/21/23 - 14 sign to play with Hawaii

Tuesday, February 06, 2024

New sports streaming platform coming in Fall 2024

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Fox Corp (FOXA.O), opens new tab, Walt Disney's (DIS.N), opens new tab ESPN and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD.O) said on Tuesday they were set to release a sports streaming platform later this year, in a bid to capture younger audiences and save costs.

The media behemoths own a broad portfolio of sports rights including those for FIFA World Cup, Formula 1 and National Football League, which present an opportunity to reach a younger audience.

The CEOs have been discussing a collaboration for some time, one person with knowledge of the situation said.

The platform would be made available via a new app, the companies said, adding that the service would have a new brand and an independent management team.

The new app is a recognition that there is an increasingly large market for sports outside of traditional TV. This platform is designed to address that market.

The product will bring sports linear networks and Disney's direct-to-consumer ESPN+ together, the statement said.

Formation of the streaming platform, scheduled to launch in the fall of 2024, is subject to negotiation of agreements among the companies, they said.

Early last year, Iger had suggested that Walt Disney wants to keep ESPN and will look for strategic partners to form a joint venture or buy a stake in the sports network to help take it directly to consumers.

Activist investor Nelson Peltz believes Disney can achieve profitability in streaming by bundling its ESPN+ online service with a larger player interested in sports, according to media reports from last month.

Saturday, January 27, 2024

NCAA Football 2024

1/26/24 - Michigan promotes Sherron Moore to head coach
1/22/24 - San Jose State hires Ken Niumatalolo as head coach
1/17/24 - Arizona hires Brent Brennan away from San Jose State to be head coach
1/14/24 - Washington hires Jedd Fisch away from Arizona to be head coach
1/12/24 - Alabama hires Kalen DeBoer away from Washington to be head coach
1/10/24 - Nick Saban retires as Alabama head coach after 17 seasons
1/6/24 - Niumatalolo to coach tight ends for UCLA
1/6/24 - Taulia Tagovailoa enters transfer portal
12/9/23 - Dillon Gabriel to transfer to Oregon

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

NBA 2023-2024

1/24/24 - Doc Rivers to be hired as new Milwaukee head coach
1/23/24 - Adrian Griffin fired by Milwaukee after going 30-13
1/23/24 - Terry Rozier reportedly traded from Charlotte to Miami for Kyle Lowry and first round pick
1/18/24 - Pascal Siakam traded from Toronto to Indiana for Bruce Brown and two first round picks
11/29/23 - Mark Cuban selling majority stake of Mavericks
10/31/23 - James Harden, PJ Tucker, Filip Petrusev traded from Philadelphia to Clippers for Nicolas Batum, Marcus Morris, Robert Covington, KJ Martin, and multiple draft picks (2028 first round pick, 2024 second round pick, 2029 second round pick, first-round pick swap, and a 2026 first round pick from Oklahoma City)
10/23/23 - Giannis signs three-year $186 million extension
10/14/23 - Celtics hire Jeff Van Gundy as senior consultant
10/1/23 - Jrue Holiday traded from Portland to Boston for Malcolm Brogdon, Robert Williams, 2024 first round pick (via Golden State) and 2029 first round pick
9/27/23 - Damian Lillard traded from Portland to Milwaukee.  Portland receives Jrue Holiday (from Milwaukee), Deandre Ayton (from Phoenix), Toumani Camara (from Phoenix), Milwaukee's 2029 first-round pick, and Milwaukee swap rights in 2028 and 2030.  Phoenix receives Jusuf Nurkic (from Portland), Grayson Allen (from Milwaukee), Nasir Little (from Portland), Keon Johnson (from Portland)
9/6/23 - Christian Wood signs with Lakers for two years, $5.7 million
8/4/23 - Anthony Davis to remain with Lakers for three years, $186 million
7/31/23 - ESPN lays off Mark Jackson too
7/25/23 - Jaylen Brown signs 5 year, $304 million extension, richest in NBA history
7/8/23 - Patty Mills went from Brooklyn to Houston to Oklahoma City to Atlanta in 10 days
7/2/23 - Russell Westbrook stays with Clippers for the biggest pay cut in history
6/30/23 - Middleton re-signs with Bucks for three years, $102 million
6/30/23 - D'Angelo Russell to remain with Lakers for $37 million, 2 years
6/30/23 - Lakers re-sign Austin Reaves for $56 million, 4 years
6/30/23 Lakers re-sign Rui Hachimura for $51 million, 3 years
6/30/23 - Jerami Grant returns to Portland for $160 million, five years
6/30/23 - Draymond Green to remains with Warriors for $100 million, four years
6/30/23 - Gabe Vincent leaves Heat for Lakers for $33 million, three years
6/30/23 - Toronto signs Dennis Schroder $26 million, two years
6/30/23 - Fred VanVleet leaves Toronto for Houston for $130 million, three years
6/30/23 - Bruce Brown leaves Nuggets for Pacers for $45 million, two years
6/30/23 - ESPN cutting Jeff Van Gundy and Jalen Rose
6/26/23 - Atlanta trading John Collins to Utah for Rudy Gay and a future second-round pick
6/25/23 - Minnesota keeps Naz Reid for $42 million three-year contract
6/22/23 - Washington to trade Chris Paul to Golden State for Jordan Poole, 2030 first-round pick and 2027 second-round pick
6/22/23 - Portland takes Scott Henderson with the third pick
6/22/23 - Charlotte selects Brandon Miller with the second pick
6/22/23 - San Antonio selects Victor Wembayana with the first pick of the 2023 NBA draft
6/22/23 - Bradley Beal, Isaiah Todd, Jordan Goodwin traded from Washington to Phoenix for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, first round pick swaps in 2024, 2026, 2028, 2030, second round picks in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028, 2030, and cash
6/21/23 - Three team trade: Boston receives Porzingis from Washington, no. 25 pick from Memphis, 2024 first round pick (via Warriors), Memphis receives Marcus Smart from Boston, Washington receives Tyus Jones from Memphis, Gallinari from Boston, Muscala from Boston, no. 35 pick from Boston.
6/16/23 - Golden State names Mike Dunleavy Jr.. as new GM
6/16/23 - Michael Jordan to sell majority stake in Charlotte Hornets
6/16/23 - NBA suspends Ja Morant 25 games
6/13/23 - Toronto unveils Darko Rajaković as next head coach
6/2/23 - Suns to hire Frank Vogel as next head coach
6/1/23 - Monty Williams to be head coach of Detroit for $78 miPollion, 6 years 
5/30/23 - Bob Myers to step down as president and general manager of Golden State
5/30/23 - Philadelphia to hire Nick Nurse as head coach
5/29/23 - Three possible paths for the Lakers
5/28/23 - Milwaukee to hire Adrian Griffin as head coach
4/25/23 - Rockets name Ime Udoka as new head coach

Monday, January 08, 2024

NCAA Football 2023

1/8/24 - Michigan defeats Washington to win National Championship
1/1/24 - Washington gets by Texas to advance
1/1/24 - Michigan edges Alabama in overtime
12/9/23 - Jayden Daniels wins Heisman Trophy
12/4/23 - Dillon Gabriel enters transfer portal
12/3/23 - Texas, Alabama, Washington, Michigan chosen for College Football Playoff, leaving out undefeated Florida State and Georgia
12/2/23 - Alabama upsets Georgia for the SEC title
11/17/23 - Pac-12 could be the Pac-2 in 2024
11/12/23 - Texas A&M fires Jimbo Fisher and pay $76 million buyout
9/1/23 - Stanford, Cal, SMU moving to ACC in 2024
8/4/23 - Big Ten confirms that Washington and Oregon are leaving Pac-12 to join too
7/27/23 - Colorado leaving Pac-12 to return to Big 12 in 2024

NFL 2023

1/11/24 - Belichick leaving New England after 24 seasons
1/10/24 - Seattle moves on from Pete Carroll as head coach after 14 seasons
1/8/24 - Washington fires Ron Rivera after four seasons
1/7/24 - Atlanta fires Arthur Smith
12/15/23 - Chargers fire Brandon Staley
11/27/23 - Carolina fires Frank Reich in first season
11/1/23 - Raiders fire head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager David Ziegler
10/31/23 - Washington trades Chase Young to 49ers for third round pick / more trades
9/7/23 - Joe Burrow becomes NFL's highest paid player after signing $275 million, five year contract extension
9/6/23 - Nick Bosa signs five-year, $170 million extension to become highest paid NFL defensive player in history
8/25/23 - 49ers trade Trey Lance to Cowboys for fourth round pick
5/26/23 - Cardinals release DeAndre Hopkins
4/27/23 - Bryce Young, CJ Stroud, Will Anderson Jr., Anthony Richardson top NFL Draft
4/27/23 - Lamar Jackson signs 5-year $260 million contract with Ravens
4/24/23 - Packers trade Aaron Rodgers, first round pick (15th overall), fifth round pick to Jets for first round pick (13th overall), second round pick, sixth round pick and conditional 2024 second round or first round pick (if Rodgers plays 65% of snaps this year).
4/18/23 - Jalen Hurts signs 5-year, $255 million extension
3/17/23 - Mariota signs with Eagles for $8 million, 1 year
3/15/23 - Rams trade Jalen Ramsey to Dolphins for third round pick and Hunter Long
3/14/23 - Falcons signing Taylor Heinecke for 2 years, up to $20 million
3/14/23 - Raiders trade Darren Waller to Giants for third round pick
3/14/23 - Garoppolo to sign with Raiders for three years, up to $67.5 million
3/7/23 - Daniel Jones re-signs with Giants for four years, $160 million
3/6/23 - Derek Carr agrees to 4-year contract with New Orleans
2/28/23 - Falcons cut Marcus Mariota
2/17/23 - Eric Bieniemy leaves Kansas City to become OC / assistant head coach for Washington
2/14/23 - Arizona hires Philadelphia DC Jonathan Gannon as head coach
2/14/23 - Colts hire Philadelphia OC Shane Steichen as head coach
2/1/23 - Tom Brady says he is retiring for good
1/31/23 - Broncos and Saints agree to trade to make Sean Payton Denver's head coach 
1/31/23 - Houston hires 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans as new head coach
1/26/23 - Carolina hires Frank Reich as head coach

Saturday, December 09, 2023

Wednesday, December 06, 2023

University of Hawaii Football 2023

12/6/23 - Brayden Schager enters transfer portal
12/5/23 - June Jones and Rich Miano deserve to be honored
11/28/23 - College Football Bottom 10 (final), Hawaii no. 25 in Bottom 25, no. 109 in CBS Sports rankings
11/25/23 - Hawaii defeats Colorado State 27-24 in season finale
11/18/23 - Wyoming flattens Hawaii 42-9
11/15/23 - No-vada is no. 8 in Bottom 10.  Hawaii down to no. 20 in Bottom 25, up to no. 115 in CBS Sports rankings, Air Force down to no. 37, Wyoming is no. 50
11/11/23 - Hawaii shocks Air Force 27-13, attendance 10,777
11/8/23 - Hawaii falls off the waiting list of the Bottom 10, drops to no. 11 on Bottom 25, jumps up to 126 in CBS Sports rankings, Nevada down to 129, Air Force is 28 (down 12)
11/4/23 - Hawaii 17, Nevada 0 (what?  calm down it's only halftime) / Hawaii wins 27-14 for Chang's first road win
11/2/23 - Huh-why-yuh is now on the waiting list of the Bottom 10, only up to number 8 in Bottom 25, down to 129 (of 133) in CBS Sports Rankings, Nevada 124
10/28/23 - Hawaii embarassed by San Jose State 0-35 / attendance 9205
10/25/23 - Hawaii up to no. 9 in Bottom 25, down to 127 in CBS Sports rankings, New Mexico is 118, San Jose State is 95
10/21/23 - New Mexico deflates Hawaii 42-21
10/17/23 - Hawaii up to no. 14 in Bottom 25,  down to 123 in CBS Sports rankings, New Mexico is 125
10//14/23 - Hawaii 34, San Diego State 41, attendance 8296
10/13/23 - Hawaii moves up to no. 15 in Bottom 25, down to 120 in CBS rankings, San Diego State is down to 94
10/5/23 - Remembering Bob Wagner
10/4/23 - Hawaii moves up to no. 16 in Bottom 25, down only to 117 in rankings, UNLV up to 77,  San Diego State is 90
9/30/23 - Hawaii beaten at UNLV 20-44     
9/26/23 - Hawaii moves down to no. 20 in Bottom 25, moves up to 115 out of 133, UNLV is 86, New Mexico State is 113
9/23/23 - Hawaii pulls out 20-17 victory over New Mexico State, attendance 8382
9/20/23 - Hawaii moves up to no. 11 in Bottom 25, remains no. 120 out of 133, New Mexico State is 112, Oregon is now 10
9/16/23 - Hawaii blown out by Oregon 55-10
9/13/23 - Hawaii falls out of Bottom 10 and Bottom 25, now ranked 120 out of 133 (up 5).
9/9/23 - Hawaii 31, Albany 20 / attendance: 7646
9/6/23 - Hawaii fails to crack Week 1 Bottom 10, no. 22 in Bottom 25
9/1/23 - Hawaii 24, Stanford 37
8/26/23 - Hawaii falls short at Vanderbilt 28-35
8/25/23 - Warrior preview: Brayden Schager, Tylan Hines, Chuuky Hines, Matthew Shipley, Cam Stone, Logan Taylor, Andrew Choi, Sergio Muasau, pushing for more power
8/20/23 - Reardon predicts 5-8
8/11/23 - Hawaii and the Run and Shoot
7/23/23 - Scouting the Mountain West
7/20/23 - CFN preview of the Warriors
7/20/23 - Warriors picked to finish 10th in the Mountain West
7/16/23 - Timmy Chang believes in the run and shoot
7/10/23 - DeVon Rice, RB, Bishop Gorman accepts 2024 scholarship offer 
7/9/23 - Gary Allen remembered
6/27/23 - The iconic 2011 staff
6/25/23 - Titan Lacaden, St. Louis slotback, commits for 2025
6/21/23 - Warriors sign basketball player, Travion Williams, to play tight end
6/18/23 - Noah Wily (St. Louis), Alika Cavaco-Amoy (Punahou) accept 2024 scholarship offers
6/12/23 - Nazaiah Caravallo commits to Hawaii for 2024
6/11/23 - Angelos' goal is to be out in the community
6/10/23 - Steve Irwin expected to replace Abraham Elimimian as cornerbacks coach
5/25/23 - Q&A with Craig Angelos
5/18/23 - Craig Angelos approved to be the next athletic director
5/12/23 - Lassner recommends Craig Angelos to be the next athletic director
4/2/23 - Warriors get 2024 committment from Bishop Gorman QB Micah Alejado
2/28/23 - Gaylord Carreira was an inspiration
1/6/23 - Timmy Chang going all-in on run-and-shoot
1/5/23 - David Matlin's legacy as athletic director
12/31/22 - Hawaii football is 2022's top sports story
12/22/22 - Hawaii inks 26 players on National signing day
12/20/22 - Fastest man in South Pacific, Eddie Osei-Nkeitia, RB/WR from New Zealand joining Warriors, Zoram Petelo, DE/OLB from Layton (Utah) Christian Academy, Junior Fiaui, LB, from Saint Francis High in Mountain View, Calif.
12/18/22 - Cam Stone, CD/RET to transfer from Wyoming, Steven McBride, WR, from Kansas
12/16/22 - Sauce Williams, NT/DT from Trinity Valley College and Patrick Hisatake, OLB, from Cal accept scholarship offers
12/13/22 - Kuau Peihopa, DT, to transfer from Washington, Josh Jerome, DT, from Eastern Washington, KT Jackson-Carter, OL, from Desert Edge High, CJ Williams, DB, from Shasta JC
12/9/22 - Elijah Robinson, DE, to transfer from East Carolina

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Hawaii High School football 2023

11/30/23 - Ron Lee steps down as St. Louis coach
11/24/23 - Kahuku edges Mililani 21-19 to win third straight state title
11/17/23 - Kahuku gets by Punahou 28-16 in HHSAA semifinal
11/4/23 - Mililani upsets Kahuku 28-21 for OIA Open title
9/17/23 - Kahuku upsets St. John Bosco

Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Ripper Collins

11/11/23 - Remembering Ripper Collins

Roy Lee Albern known by the ring name Ripper Collins, was an American professional wrestler, who primarily wrestled for 50th State Big Time Wrestling, also known as NWA Hawaii.

He made his debut for 50th State Big Time Wrestling in 1965, finding success there for most of his career as a heel, and would often compete in mixed tag team matches with his wife Barbara.

On January 4, 1966, Collins and Johnny Barend defeated Bearcat Wright and Luther Lindsay to win the NWA Hawaii Tag Team Championship.

He won the titles for a second time with King Curtis Iaukea on May 3, 1967.

Collins would hold the tag team titles twelve more times with different partners including "Crazy" Luke Graham, Buddy Austin, Mad Dog Mayne, and Ed Francis.

On November 28, 1973, Collins and Johnny Valentine won the titles by defeating Sam Steamboat and Peter Maivia, but the titles were then vacated and remained inactive until 1977.

In 1978, Collins won the titles for the fourteenth and final time with Whipper Watson Jr. and dropped the titles in 1979.

On January 19, 1966, Collins defeated Ron Reed to win the NWA Hawaii Heavyweight Championship.

On October 29, 1969, Collins won the championship from Pampero Firpo, and had reigns with the title over the next two years, whilst engaging in a feud with Sam Steamboat.

Collins had his first reign with the NWA Pacific Northwest Heavyweight Championship on May 12, 1967, defeating Tony Borne.

He next held the title after defeating Jimmy Snuka on January 12, 1974.

In 1976, he wrestled for Stampede Wrestling in Calgary, where on February 20, Collins and Don Gagne defeated Ed and Jerry Morrow to win the Stampede Wrestling International Tag Team Championship they held it until April 2, when they lost to Lumberjack Luke and Prince Tapu.

However, Collins and Bobby Bass defeated Luke and Tapu a week later to win back the titles, before dropping them on May 7 to Gama Singh and Crary Stevenson. 

He last held the tag team titles with Larry Sharpe which they had won from the Morrows on September 24, before dropping it back to them in October.

In 1980, Collins spent the final part of his career for NWA Polynesian Wrestling, winning the NWA Polynesian Pacific Heavyweight Championship.

Albern died at the Straub Hospital in Oahu, Hawaii on November 12, 1991, at the age of 58.  He had been suffering from melanoma, a form of skin cancer which had started in his armpits.

Friday, September 15, 2023

Chuck Leahey

Three months ago I wrote about Al Michaels, the great sportscaster whose early professional years were in Hawaii. When he moved here in 1968, he often worked with Chuck Leahey, who founded a three-generation broadcasting legacy with son Jim and grandson Kanoa.

Re-creating baseball games was regarded as a broadcasting art form, and Hawaii served as a training ground for numerous exceptional play-by-play announcers, thanks to the presence of the Hawaii Islanders.

“Les Keiter and Harry Kalas were among the great ones,” Gene Kaneshiro said. “However, I believe our own Chuck Leahey was the most entertaining because of his very relaxed style. He used to describe the scenery, the weather and the people in the stands, along with the players and the game.

“When Al Michaels arrived in 1968, he and Chuck became broadcast partners, and they re-created games together for a couple years, with Chuck showing Al the ropes, and eventually they both excelled in bringing the games to us.”

During the broadcast, usually around the third or fourth inning, Kaneshiro, who owned the Columbia Inn, would bring a thermos of coffee and sometimes a light snack up to the studio to keep them happy. “They allowed me to stay to watch and enjoy their re-creation.

“After the broadcast, one of them or both would stop by the bar to return the thermos and have a cold one. That’s how I got to know Al Michaels and Chuck Leahey.”

[read the article for much more]

Linsanity

9/15/23 - Jeremy Lin to join brother on New Taipei Kings
12/29/22 - Jeremy Lin returning to the U.S. to rest and reset
12/2/22 - Jeremy Lin fined by China over COVID comments
10/13/22 - Jeremy Lin wasn't always comfortable with Linsanity / but now is
10/9/22 - Linsanity was close to never happening
10/7/22 - GQ interview with Jeremy Lin
10/6/22 - Jeremy Lin with Dan Patrick
10/4/22 - Jeremy Lin remembers Steph Curry
10/3/22 - Jeremy Lin never looked the part / Lin questions the end of his NBA career
9/22/22 - HBO picked the right time to take a look back at Jeremy Lin’s 15 minutes of fame
9/21/22 - Mike D’Antoni was desperate
9/21/22 - 38 at the Garden will be released on October 11 on HBO (trailer)
9/5/22 - Lin signs with Guangzhou Loong Lions
8/12/22 - Jeremy Lin tried to run away
8/12/22- 38 at the Garden will hit HBO in October
6/29/22 - Jeremy Lin wants to redefine love
4/20/22 - A new documentary: 38 at the Garden
4/14/22 - D'Antoni didn't see it coming
4/14/22 - Lin punted on talking back to Kobe
4/12/22 - Mike D'Antoni calls Linsanity the greatest time ever
2/4/22 - The legacy of Linsanity, 10 years later
6/12/21 - Jeremy Lin to return to Beijing Ducks next season
5/26/21 - Jeremy Lin speaks at Harvard
5/18/21 - Jeremy Lin apparently says farewell to the NBA
5/12/21 - Jeremy Lin says he proved himself in the G League
4/14/21 - Jeremy Lin still waiting for an opportunity
2/23/21 - Jeremy Lin speaks out on hate crimes
2/17/21 - Jeremy Lin on finding peace
2/13/21 - Lin hits seven threes for 29 points
2/10/21 - Lin gets 18 points in G League opener
2/10/21 - Eli Pemberton has a guide
2/8/21 - Lin says people think he's crazy for choosing the G League
2/6/21 - Linsanity remembered nine years later
2/4/21 - Jeremy Lin excited to play in the G League
2/3/21 - Jeremy Lin encouraged by Steph Curry after day 1 of G League training camp
2/3/21 - Jeremy Lin Makes History as the First Asian American to Get Signature Basketball Shoes
1/11/21 - Jeremy Lin officially signs with Santa Cruz
1/8/21 - Jeremy Lin writes to Chinese fans
1/7/21 - Jeremy Lin to sign with G League after all
1/5/21 - Jeremy Lin reportedly willing to return to Beijing
12/30/20 - NBA proposes Jeremy Lin rule
12/20/20 - Jeremy Lin unable to get clearance from Chinese Basketball Association in time to join Golden State Warriors 
12/18/20 - Jeremy Lin reportedly signing with Golden State
12/17/20 - Jeremy Lin leaves Ignite team
12/14/20 - Jeremy Lin practicing with G League Ignite
11/11/20 - Jeremy Lin spotted working out with Steph Curry; Durant, Kyrie Irving
9/14/20 - Jeremy Lin leaving Beijing to seek return to NBA
8/13/20 - Jeremy Lin post-season interview (video)
8/10/20 - Jeremy Lin hospitalized after semi-final defeat
8/3/20 - Jeremy Lin has answered critics in China
4/25/20 - Linsanity returning to MSG (network)
3/20/20 - Jeremy Lin returns to China to resume league play
3/19/20 - Jeremy Lin objects to the term "Chinese virus"
1/13/20 - Jeremy Lin scores 41 in All-Star game
1/6/20 - Jeremy Lin saddened at the passing of Kobe
11/9/19 - Blood, sweat, and tears in Jeremy Lin's first week
11/8/19 - Jeremy Lin vs. Shanghai (26 points, 4 assists)
11/6/19 - Jeremy Lin vs. Shandong (24 points, 6 assists, 8 rebounds)
11/4/19 - Jeremy Lin CBA debut vs. Tianjin (25 points, 9 assists)
10/13/19 - Lin scores 40 in Beijing debut
9/27/19 - Jeremy Lin addresses Chinese media
8/30/19 - An ode to Jeremy Lin
8/27/19 - Jeremy Lin signs to play in China
8/21/19 - Jeremy Lin's route could be to China and back
8/20/19 - Beijing Ducks reportedly offer Jeremy Lin $3 million
8/19/19 - Nothing is official until I say something
8/18/19 - Jeremy Lin reportedly negotiating with Beijing
8/13/19 - Five actors we'd like to see playing Jeremy Lin in a movie
8/10/19 - What went wrong for Jeremy Lin?
8/10/19 - Jeremy Lin open to moving to China
8/6/19 - The next Stephon Marbury?
8/6/19 - Jeremy Lin defends getting emotional
8/6/19  - Carmelo and Jeremy Lin back in the news
8/4/19 - Nick Young tells Jeremy Lin to bring back the dreads
8/4/19 - Could Jeremy Lin be Stephen Curry's backup?
8/4/19 - Jeremy Lin getting support from VanVleet
8/4/19 - Could the Clippers pick up Jeremy Lin?
8/3/19 - Five potential landing spots for Jeremy Lin
8/2/19 - Jeremy Lin turned down Moscow
8/1/19 - Jeremy Lin is not a failure
7/30/19 - Jeremy Lin was The Great White Hope
7/29/19 - Jeremy Lin now tops the list (of remaining free agents)
7/28/19 - Jeremy Lin feels like the league has given up on him
7/12/19 - Jeremy Lin back to the Hornets?
7/6/19 - Jeremy Lin makes it to the top 10 (of free agents)
7/6/19 - Jeremy Lin's season with the Raptors

[6/15/19] Jeremy Lin predicted his championship fate in 2013
[2/27/19] Jeremy Lin: bittersweet
[2/22/19] Jeremy Lin: Miracle from God

[11/24/18] Jeremy Lin trade ideas
[10/24/18] Jeremy Lin on Freakonomics podcast
[7/31/18] What to expect from Jeremy Lin

[6/19/17] Podcast with David Nurse

[12/15/16] D'Antoni remembers Linsanity

[10/27/16] Second act for Jeremy Lin and Kenny Atkinson

[4/29/16] Jeremy Lin's impact in Charlotte on NBA GameTime

[4/21/16] Jeremy Lin, solid NBA player

[3/22/16] Jeremy Lin, role player

[10/31/15] Lin finds ideal locale in low-key Charlotte

[9/26/15] Five answers from Jeremy Lin

[7/13/15] Jeremy Lin in search of stability

[6/9/15] Jeremy Lin working out with Steve Nash

[3/29/15] Missed it by 8 weeks (from Isolation Play, an ESPN the Magazine story)

[2/17/15] Jeremy Lin's time in Los Angeles hasn't been smooth

[10/3/14] Anything but Linsanity

[10/9/13] Linsanity hits the Phillipines

[8/26/13] Coming in October

[4/16/13] NBA sensation Jeremy Lin chats with Shira Lazar at SXSW about his brand new documentary, "Linsanity" the movie, appearing in various YouTube videos and the overall message he wants fans to take away from his new film.

Linsanity on 60 Minutes
[4/5/13] The movie

[12/17/12] Jeremy Lin is playing terrible this season

[6/9/12] Training with Jeremy Lin (pre-Lin-Sanity)

[4/22/12] Jeremy Lin tops the Time 100

[3/31/12] NEW YORK >> Linsanity won't be around for a playoff push.

Jeremy Lin is instead heading for left knee surgery that is expected to sideline him six weeks, possibly ending his amazing breakthrough season and leaving the New York Knicks without their starting point guard as they fight for a postseason spot.

Lin had an MRI exam this week that revealed a small, chronic meniscus tear and he has elected to have surgery next week in New York.

With the regular season ending April 26, the biggest story in basketball this season is probably done unless the Knicks make a deep playoff run.

[3/22/12] One-on-One with Ahmad Rashad

[3/22/12] Coca-Cola wants a piece of "Linsanity." Knicks fans will soon see Coke ads in Chinese on the rotating courtside signs at Madison Square Garden. Coca-Cola spokeswoman Susan Stribling said Coke has a long-standing partnership with the NBA and already displays ads at The Garden, but wants to take advantage of the enthusiasm surrounding NBA sensation Jeremy Lin and the Knicks.

[3/20/12] Jeremy Lin signs with Volvo

[3/14/12] Fact or Fiction? Are the Knicks better without D'Antoni?

[3/14/12] Mike D'Antoni resigns

[3/14/12] Trouble in New York

[2/22/12] Two straight SI covers (article, article) (new links: 2/20/12, 2/27/12)

[2/19/12] Linsanity is too good to be true

[2/17/12] Lin-Sanity responsible for return of MSG to Time Warner Cable?

[2/16/12] Jeremy Lin added to Rising Stars lineup

[2/16/12] Today's Jeremy Lin story

[2/16/12] Jeremy Lin finds an apartment

[2/13/12] The latest tribute video

[2/12/12] Somehow, the most improbable story in NBA history found himself in the most improbable place on Friday night: The ball in his hands, Madison Square Garden on its feet, and the fourth quarter genius of Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant determined to obliterate this burgeoning mythology. Out of Bryant, had come a barrage: twisted, contorted fades, a self-pass off the backboard, the A-list arsenal out of the world’s most gifted scorer.

Somehow, Jeremy Lin never flinched. Somehow, Jeremy Lin never let himself become a spectator, never stopped to wonder what in the world he was doing out here. The ball was so safe, so snug, in his hands. There was such an easy effortlessness to the downright diabolical manner with which he dismantled the Lakers and Bryant. Sheer hysteria had thundered down on the Garden floor, a phenomenon called Linsanity, and the most polished, most poised, presence happened to be Lin.

This kid out of nowhere – out of Harvard University, out of the Reno Bighorns and Erie Bayhawks – had done it again, done it with a devastating 38 points, seven assists, four rebounds and two steals in the Knicks’ 92-85 victory over the Lakers.

*** [2/5/12 - the beginning of Lin-Sanity]

Jeremy Lin cut through the Nets' defense all night before he was finally surrounded.

As teammates hugged him at center court while Pearl Jam's ''Jeremy'' blasted through the arena, it was clear the New York Knicks had finally found a spark.

Lin scored a career-high 25 points and the Knicks salvaged the finale of a back-to-back-to-back set by the New Jersey Nets 99-92 on Saturday night.
 
[video highlights]

***

Landry Fields couch

Top Ten Jeremy Lin puns of the week

Jeremy Lin: most added player of the week

Jeremy Lin: True Hollywood story

Jeremy Lin: American story

Jeremy Lin fever begins

Sunday, July 09, 2023

Michelle Wie

7/9/23 - Michelle Wie was fearless
7/5/23 - It went fast for Michelle Wie
8/22/22 - Michelle Wie acknowledges her struggles
8/9/22 - Michelle Wie still having an impact
6/3/22 - Wie West misses cut at U.S. Open, has one tournament left
5/27/22 - Michelle Wie West stepping back from LPGA