The University of Hawai'i Rainbows

New University of Hawaii athletic director Ben Jay has decided that, beginning in June, the men's athletic teams will be called Warriors. The women's teams will be Rainbow Wahine.

Personally, I'm a little miffed. The Rainbow nickname goes back 90 years. That's a long time. Let's look at how we came by that nickname and what the teams were called before that.

On Jan. 1, 1923, Oregon State University traveled to Hawaii for a game at Moiliili Field. Late in the fourth quarter, the score was tied 0-0 when a rainbow appeared over the grounds. UH soon scored, and the sports writers began calling the team the "Rainbows." Fans believed we would win if a rainbow appeared.

Other UH teams have had similar experiences. Maui Diver's Cole Slater recalls a sailing race 15 years ago on a lake in Santa Barbara. "The UH women's team had gotten off to a slow start in some stormy weather and were not doing as well as usual.

"In the last leg of the race, the bad weather began to clear and a rainbow spanned the course. The winds shifted, which gave a huge advantage to the UH team, and they won the race."

Assistant UH sailing coach Jesse Andrews also remembers several instances where UH victories were associated with rainbows.

In recent years some teams have used Rainbows, others Warriors and some a combination of the two.

KHON2 newscaster Joe Moore was not happy when football coach June Jones dropped Rainbows in 2000.

"Since former coach June Jones took it upon himself to drop ‘Rainbow' from the name Rainbow Warriors, I have not liked the change. When I expressed my opinion on the air, Jones phoned me and said he couldn't recruit the quality players he needed if they were called Rainbows.

"When I asked why, he said, ‘Because they don't think it's manly or tough enough.'

"When I asked if he didn't consider it part of his job to enlighten his recruits about the uniqueness and significance of the rainbow in the school's history and Hawaiian culture, he said, ‘Good luck with that.'

"As a UH fan since high school," Moore continues, "they'll always be the 'Bows, no matter what one coach or athletic director has proclaimed is the official name."

***

[5/15/13] Ben Jay decides to keep the Rainbow after all.

[6/6/13] How about a Rainbow field?

Neil Everett's secret to success

Neil Everett says he owes his career as an ESPN anchor to his years in Hawaii, and expresses his thanks by peppering his national broadcasts with island phrases

In the promotions leading up to his talk at Downtown Athletic Club, ESPN anchor Neil Everett was described as a local boy who made it big. This brought up the expected question: Does the Portland-born and Spokane-raised journalist qualify for the coveted title of “local boy”?

For anyone who has heard him speak of his time in Hawaii and how those 15 years shaped his future, the answer is a resounding yes!

Neil Everett Morfitt – yes, that’s his real name – first arrived in Hawaii while a student at Willamette University. At the time, Williamette was the Northwest campus of choice for many Hawaii residents, and the affable Everett connected with the displaced local boys. Former UH offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Tommy Lee was the football coach, Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan was the Bearcats’ quarterback, there was a Hawaiian club on campus and his frat brother was a Kaiser High alum who invited him to visit for the summer.

“I couldn’t find Hawaii on a map, and then when I landed it was like, ‘God, why doesn’t everybody live here?’” says Everett with an ever-present smile and boisterous laugh.

Within three years he was back in Hawaii looking to make the 808 his permanent home. He had recently graduated from the University of Oregon and had gotten a “dream job,” making $600 a month at an upstart radio station in the coastal town of Florence, Ore. It was there, while working as the news director at KGBU during the day and bartending at night, where the Neil Everett secret to success blossomed: Work hard and be nice to people. It’s not that hard.

***

Neil Everett, Rob DeMello's mentor

25 years of Bob Hogue

Perhaps it means I’m getting older, but it struck me the other day that 2013 marks the 25th year I’ve been writing for MidWeek. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it (since 1988), and I hope I get to do it for another 25 years!

So, in recognition of a quarter century of covering Hawaii sports — for MidWeek, and on television and radio — here are some of my favorite moments during that time:

-- Bob Hogue, MidWeek, January 30, 2013

Hawaii NFL Legends

During the National Football League’s Pro Bowl Jan. 27 at Aloha Stadium, for the first time the NFL will honor former players from Hawaii. Dubbed the Hawaii NFL Legends, the seven were chosen by the local Pro Bowl host committee, based on performance, accomplishment and character on the field and off it. MidWeek is pleased to have the exclusive on this inaugural class of honorees:

Wally Yonamine
Herman Wedemeyer
Charlie Ane
Arnold Morgado
Jim Nicholson
Blane Gaison
Leo Goeas

Where's Russ Francis and Jesse Sapolu?

Jerry Buss

Few have ever succeeded at making such a daunting climb, from the nightmarish depths of utter poverty and hopelessness to the soaring heights of unimaginable wealth and power.

At the age of 4, Jerry Buss was standing in a bread line on the frozen soil of Evanston, Wyo., a gunny sack in hand, waiting for the food that would keep him and his single mother, Jesse, alive for another day.

It was 1937, the lingering effects of the Great Depression still gripping parts of the nation.

By the time he had turned 6, Buss' duties had expanded to include trekking around town in search of old telephone books or other paper products that could be stuffed into the fireplace to provide warmth in a house devoid of heat.

By the time he was 34, exactly three decades after he had stood in that bread line, Buss had made his first million.

By the age of 46, Buss and his business partner, Frank Mariani, had parlayed that million into a real-estate empire that was spread over three states – California, Nevada and Arizona – and was worth an estimated $350 million.

 Buss died Monday at the age of 80. For most men, such a swift and impressive rise would have been enough to savor for a lifetime.

Not Jerry Buss. He had his eyes on bigger prizes.

That same year, 1979, he pulled off arguably the most complicated and lucrative transaction in sports history.

Buss' savvy real-estate investments helped make him a fortune.

Supported by an army of approximately 50 lawyers and accountants, Buss purchased the Lakers, the Kings hockey team, the Inglewood Forum and the 13,000-acre Raljon Ranch in the Sierra Nevada mountains from Jack Kent Cooke for $67.5 million. The deal broke down to $33.5 million for the Forum, $16 million for the Lakers, $10 million for the ranch and $8 million for the Kings.

Cooke, in exchange, received the lease to the Chrysler Building in New York, and properties in Virginia, Massachusetts and Maryland.

When the deal was done, 12 separate escrows finalized, Buss spent his first day at the Forum inspecting the crown jewel of his properties.

As the workday ended and the arena emptied out, he lingered, surrounded by only a few security people.
With no event that night at the Forum, Buss took a chair and walked down to the empty floor where he was surrounded by silence and darkness, except for a few scattered lights.

He sat down at what would be mid-court or center ice, took out a cigarette, lit it and inhaled the magnitude of his surroundings.

In his mind's eye, he could see the seats packed, his Lakers and Kings moving up and down the floor or ice, his championship banners on the wall.

Smiling, Buss told himself, "You’ve come a long way, baby."

***

Jerry Buss remembered at memorial service (video, video2).

Billy Hunter out

Billy Hunter was ousted from his job as executive director of the union in a unanimous vote by NBA players who said Saturday they will "no longer be divided, misled, misinformed."

"This is our union and we have taken it back," players' association president Derek Fisher said.

Fisher said it was a day of change for the union, which has seemed inevitable since a review of the union last month was critical of Hunter's leadership and urged players to consider whether they wanted to keep him.

They didn't.

"We want to make it clear that we are here to serve only the best interests of the players," Fisher said. "No threats, no lies, no distractions will stop us from serving our memberships."

Hunter had led the union since 1996, guiding the players through three collective bargaining agreements and helping bring their average salaries to more than $5 million, highest in team sports. But Fisher pushed for the review after a falling out between the two leaders, and though it found Hunter wasn't guilty of any criminal activity involving union funds, it cited a number of conflicts of interests and poor choices that led the players to remove him.

details, details

At MMA events, there is rarely anything to pay attention to besides the fight. It's not like an NBA game, where there are cheerleaders and mascot races and dance squads and staring at Derrick Rose's knee to will it towards healing. (Maybe that was just my last trip to an NBA game.) At fights, you watch fights, and maybe the big screen at bigger UFC or Bellator events.

The singularity of events means you really shouldn't miss a knockout. Even if you look down for a minute and miss the punch, you generally don't miss the fighter laying on the ground and medical staff tending to him. You don't miss it, unless you're this woman employed to be a ring card girl.

Oscar Pistorius charged with murder

South African police have charged Olympic star Oscar Pistorius with the murder of his girlfriend, who was shot in the sprinter's home Thursday.

Pistorius, 26, kept weapons at his gated, luxury South African home as a means of protection against his country's soaring crime rate, according to a British writer who had exclusive access to the Olympic sprinter.
In the early hours of Thursday morning, the 400 meter runner – the first man to compete in the Olympics and Paralympics – is believed to have used part of his weapons collection to tragically gun down his girlfriend, Reeva Steenkamp.

Early reports had the alleged incident being reported as an accident, but police spokesperson Brigadier Denise Beukes told the Associated Press that information did not come from police and that "it would be very premature and very irresponsible of me to say what actually has happened."

According to those initial reports, Pistorius mistook Steenkamp, a 30-year-old television personality and model, for an intruder as she entered his residence at 3 a.m. and allegedly shot her four times in the arms and head.

According to the Associated Press, police said there had "previously been incidents and allegations of a domestic nature at the home of Mr. Oscar Pistorius."

According to British writer Jonathan McEvoy, who was given unprecedented access to Pistorius in a broad-ranging 2011 Daily Mail interview, the athlete held serious concerns for his personal safety, perhaps unsurprisingly given his nation's appalling record of violence.

Steenkamp and Pistorius, known as the Blade Runner for the prosthetic blades on his legs that allowed him to compete, are understood to have met in November and embarked upon a whirlwind romance. The actress' Twitter account painted the picture a joyful relationship when she asked her followers what they were planning for Valentine's Day.

Pistorius reached the semifinals of the 400m and the final of the 4x400m relay at the London Olympics, before later adding his fifth and sixth Paralympic golds.

LeBron is hot

LeBron is on a hot streak with 6 straight games scoring over 30 points and shooting over 60%.

But there have been even hotter streaks in the past.

Seriously, LeBron is playing on another level right now, even by his own ridiculous standards. But this has been done before, at least in some form or fashion. Wilt Chamberlain played in this realm on a daily basis. And Oscar Robertson did average a triple double for about five straight seasons. And Michael Jordan had stretches throughout his career where he reached this sort of statistical craziness. I go back to Jordan’s 1988-89 season (I know I’m dating myself here) from March 25 to April 14 and he had a 10-game stretch where he was playing like he was in “Space Jam”; triple-doubles in 10 of 11 games.

Preposterous!

Hawaii's top football prospects

Paul Honda lists Hawaii's top prospects based on college potential.

Here's the University of Hawaii potential signees:

John Wa'a, Kahuku, 6-3, 281 — Versatile in Kahuku's mix of power, stretch and toss sweep plays. A quiet, effective leader. Committed early to UH and never wavered. (10)

Aofaga Wily, Kahuku, 5-10, 212 — The Star-Advertiser All-State offensive player of the year rushed for 1,744 yards and 27 touchdowns for the state champion Red Raiders. Has power, finesse and excellent hands, but is also being looked at as a linebacker, his position as a JV player. (7) [commits to Hawaii]

Athlete Keelan Ewaliko, Baldwin, 6-0, 175 — An early-season rib injury curbed his statistical contributions, but he is among the most promising of the versatile seniors in this class. Ewaliko's speed and escapability were spectacular as a quarterback. At the next level, he could — and probably will, per UH coach Norm Chow — play multiple positions on offense, defense and special teams. (15)

Kennedy Tulimasealii, Waianae, 6-1, 286 — Tremendous explosion, a pocket wrecker even against double-team blocks. He finished a close second in the voting for all-state defensive player of the year. UH has kept tabs on Tulimasealii, but now that he's on the verge of academic qualification, other schools are jumping on the bandwagon. (2)

Ualesi Sale, Aiea, 6-3, 225 — Opposing coaches raved about Sale's playmaking ability. (11)

Rashaan Falemalu, Kahuku, 6-1, 192 — His rangy play, good closing speed and excellent anticipation made him perfect to play outside 'backer for Kahuku's lockdown unit.

(In parentheses are the Star Advertiser's rankings of the top 15 players from Hawaii.  Isaac Savaiinaea is the no. 1 ranked player from Hawaii. He finally decided on UCLA.)

***

Expected signees

[2/7/13] Meet the Warrior recruits / and the others

The Sapolu Story

The story of Jesse Sapolu could have been a sad memoir, a cautionary tale for the toughest of men.
Simply put, Sapolu risked his life to play football.

The choices he made against the reality of a heart defect could have served as a warning for others. Instead, Sapolu, a Costa Mesa resident who starred as an offensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, serves as an inspiration. That was his primary intent.

The Sapolu story is not sad at all. You can read about him in his new book, "I Gave My Heart to San Francisco."