Raymond Felton

One of the Knicks players, Raymond Felton, was arrested for carrying a concealed gun. That makes him the first openly stupid player on the Knicks.

The cops had to arrest Felton because the only person on the Knicks allowed to shoot is Carmelo Anthony.

-- David Letterman, 2/27/14

Jason Collins opens the door

LOS ANGELES (AP) -- History? Pressure? Jason Collins would have none of it after becoming the NBA's first openly gay player.

After all, there was a game to play.

"Right now I'm focusing on trying to learn the plays, learning the coverages and the game plan and the assignments. So I didn't have time to really think about history," Collins said at a crowded press conference less than an hour before his Brooklyn Nets faced the Los Angeles Lakers on Sunday night.

Collins signed a 10-day contract with the Nets earlier Sunday and played 10 scoreless minutes with two rebounds and five fouls in the Nets' 108-102 victory.

"I know that I can play in the NBA and it felt good to be out there tonight," he said afterward.

The 35-year-old center revealed at the end of last season he is gay, but he was a free agent and had remained unsigned.

Collins said he was aware of the magnitude of his signing, which made him the first openly gay player in the four major U.S. professional sports leagues, but repeatedly said he was most concerned with learning the Nets' schemes.

"The pressure is playing in an NBA game tonight and last time I played in an NBA game was last April," Collins said. "So I think that's enough pressure right there."

With a need for another big man, the Nets turned to the 7-foot Collins, who helped them reach two NBA Finals in the early 2000s.

"The decision to sign Jason was a basketball decision," general manager Billy King said in a statement. "We needed to increase our depth inside, and with his experience and size, we felt he was the right choice for a 10-day contract."

Collins entered the game with 10:28 left in the second quarter and the Nets leading 35-26 after Nick Young made the first of his two free throws. The crowd welcomed him with a nice ovation when public address announcer Lawrence Tanter announced his name.

Finally Hulk Hogan has come back

to the WWF (well the WWE anyway).

Hulkamania is running wild again in the WWE.

Hulk Hogan, perhaps the biggest star in the company's 50-year history, is set to bring the red-and-yellow back to the sports entertainment behemoth and will host the April 6 WrestleMania in New Orleans.

Hogan returns to the WWE after a six-year absence and will be on Monday's ''Raw'' on the USA Network. Hogan will also bring the muscle for the WWE's launch of its own network: He will appear on ''WWE Raw Backstage Pass,'' airing live on WWE Network at 11:05 p.m. on Monday night.

''I definitely want to stay here in the WWE,'' Hogan told The Associated Press on Friday. ''I just can't see myself ever being anywhere else. This is home. It always has been home. In the twilight of my career, what a great way to be part of the final hurrah for Hulk Hogan and all the Hulkamaniacs.''

The 60-year-old Hogan's return is perfectly timed for both the 30th WrestleMania and the new network, which debuts Monday as a streaming service for $9.99 per month with a six-month commitment and will include all 12 pay-per-view events.

Hogan last appeared on WWE's flagship show ''Raw'' in December 2007.

Hogan was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years in WWE's signature event, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and, yes, company chairman Vince McMahon. He's in shape and could be ready to mix it up, if needed, at the Superdome.

But no WrestleMania match is scheduled.

''Right now, it's not in the plans,'' Hogan said. ''But like they say in the WWE, never say never.''

Hawaii NFL Legends 2014

For the second year, Pro Bowl in Hawaii also means the unveiling of a new class of inductees into the Hawaii NFL Legends.

They are Rockne Freitas, Olin Kreutz, Rich Miano and Chris Naeole.

They join year-one inductees Wally Yonamine, Herman Wedemeyer, Charlie Ane, Jim Nicholson, Arnold Morgado Jr., Blane Gaison, Jesse Sapolu and Leo Goeas.

Circle of Honor, Class of 2013

HONOLULU – The University of Hawai'i Athletics Department is proud to recognize seven outstanding individuals as the newest inductees into the UH Sports Circle of Honor. The Class of 2013 includes Reydan "Tita" Ahuna (volleyball), QiongJie (Huang) Drew (diving), Diane (Sebastian) Pestolesi (volleyball), Rose (Thomas) Jones & Rosie (Vera Cruz) Bareis (tennis), and Falaniko "Niko" Noga & Alapati "Al" Noga (football).

This year's class represents the very best of UH Athletics including one national champion and five All-Americans. Drew is the first diver inducted into the circle while Jones and Bareis are the first tennis players to enter. Ahuna and Pestolesi are the ninth and 10^th women's volleyball players and both are part of teams – 1987 and 1979, respectively, who have already been inducted. The Noga brothers are the 29^th and 30^th football players among the 116 individuals and teams who are honored in the circle.

the no. 4 in Hawaii basketball history

If you’re a numbers guy like I am, it’s amazing how much fun you can have looking through old media guides. I’ll admit I had forgotten about the significance of this year in the history of University of Hawaii basketball until I recalled a game from the 1993-94 season that led me to flipping through the UH men’s basketball media guide.

The moment happened 20 years ago at Blaisdell Arena, when Hawaii’s mercurial guard Trevor Ruffin, who was playing yet another one of his “unforgettable games of a lifetime,” dribbled up court in the final seconds under heavy pressure against archrival BYU and banked in an off-balance three-pointer from near the top of the key to win the game.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Jim Leahey was heard yelling on the TV broadcast, as the Blaisdell erupted in celebration.

That 1993-94 season was one of many memorable moments that occurred in years ending in four. In 1963-64, UH hired a lanky Hilo native by the name of Red Rocha, and then later that same year, Rocha’s team opened what would become the Blaisdell. It was known as Honolulu International Center (HIC) back then. Yes, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the building that has seen everything from Elvis Presley and great concerts to Rocha’s Fabulous Five teams and a host of spectacular high school and college contests.

Ten years later, in the 1973-74 season, the Rainbows showcased one of their greatest all-Americans ever in hot-shooting guard Tom Henderson. It was that team that set a UH record by opening the season with 11 straight wins; and then they finished the year by making it all the way to the NIT quarterfinals. After the season, Henderson was the highest UH draft pick ever – selected seventh overall by the Atlanta Hawks.

Twenty years later, the 1993-94 season was one of the most incredible roller-coaster rides in UH history. Riley Wallace’s team opened that season with three straight lopsided losses in Alaska, losing by an average of 48 points a game. By the time I caught up with the team to announce a game at the University of North Carolina, Riley wondered if he could ever turn things around. He did right there in Chapel Hill. Led by a tremendous effort by Jarrin Akana, the ‘Bows impressed even the great Tar Heel coach Dean Smith.

Then, with 7-footer Tony Maroney dominating the middle and Ruffin shooting lights out off and on throughout the year, including a 42-point outburst against Louisville, the ‘Bows raced to the WAC Tournament title and improbably into the NCAA Tournament. They lost to Syracuse in the first-round matchup, but Ruffin even got accolades from top Orangemen players after yet another dazzling shooting performance.

By the end of 1994, the ‘Bows were playing their home games at the newly opened Stan Sheriff Center. Yes, 2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the building originally named simply UH Special Events Center.

Ten years ago, the 2003-04 season saw another milestone. Michael Kuebler was a coach’s dream, and he led the ‘Bows with his deft three-point accuracy. That Hawaii team, which also starred Haim Shimonovich, Jeff Blackett and Phil Martin, won 20 games and earned the ‘Bows their only road win ever against a nationally ranked team when Hawaii upset No. 25-ranked Utah State in the first round of the NIT. Kuebler and his teammates then knocked off powerful Nebraska.

May the “Fours” be with you, and the ‘Bows, too!

Don and Scott Robbs feel lucky

Don and Scott Robbs have partnered for University of Hawaii baseball broadcasts in the past, but they'll be a team on a nightly basis now.

They feel fortunate to work together -- and both feel lucky to be alive.

Since August, Don, 77, has dealt with bypass surgery, a stroke, surgery to clear blockage in a carotid artery and hernia surgery. The veteran of 37 years as the voice of UH baseball is close to fully recovered, and ready to resume duty on Friday when the Rainbow Warriors open their season against Oregon at Les Murakami Stadium.

It will help Don that Scott, who has been there with him through his recovery, will also be in the booth.

"When this first happened, he told me 'I think my baseball career is over,' " Scott said. "But that's what helps keep him going."

And today, Scott, 47, publicly reveals his own serious health challenges.

"I went through a physical thing," Don said Sunday. "He went through a mental thing."

Scott Robbs has salvaged his career, marriage and possibly his life in the past four years by taking positive steps to deal with panic disorders, severe depression and alcohol abuse. You might not know it if you didn't see him every day, because Scott was good at putting up a lighthearted front.

"I was good at masking. But I hit my bottom, I couldn't take it anymore. My life was a mess and couldn't handle it anymore," he said. "I knew if I didn't do something about it, I was in real trouble. Had I kept on going the way I was going, I don't think I'd be here. Maybe not alive."

There were work difficulties, too. Scott was the UH volleyball play-by-play broadcaster, but due to agoraphobia (anxiety in open or crowded areas) he feared flying. On one trip, a panic attack kept him in his hotel room in El Paso, Texas, and he had to reschedule his flight home to the next day.

Finally, on a day in Nov. 2010, when he was supposed to get on a plane to broadcast the WAC volleyball tournament, Scott instead checked himself into Castle Medical Center.

"It got to a point where I knew I can't keep doing this, I'm going to die and I didn't want to die. I told (Dori) I was going to Castle. She revealed that if I'd gone on that trip she was going to leave me."

Scott said he knew something was wrong from the time he was 18. But it took the sixth therapist and the third medication for effective treatment. He got both of them on the three-day visit to Castle four years ago.

Don now lives with Scott, Dori, Iliahi and Oliana, and Don credits them with helping him recover well and soon enough to return to his perch above the diamond.

Through it all, they've kept their sense of humor.

"I can hear him snoring, he can hear me snoring," said Scott.

"If you DON'T hear me snoring, come check on me," his father replied.

-- Dave Reardon, Star-Advertiser

Ralph Kiner

RANCHO MIRAGE, Calif. (AP) -- Ralph Kiner, who slugged his way into the baseball Hall of Fame and enjoyed a half-century career as a popular broadcaster, died Thursday. He was 91.

The Hall said Kiner died at his home in Rancho Mirage with his family at his side.

Kiner hit 369 home runs during his 10-year career, mostly with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He made his debut in 1946 and his power quickly became the talk of baseball - he won or tied for the National League lead in homers in each of his first seven seasons.

''Kiner's Korner'' was already a fixture on the New York Mets' airways when he was inducted into the Hall in 1975. He was elected with just one vote to spare in his 15th and final year on the Baseball Writers' Association of America ballot.

The six-time All-Star still ranks sixth all-time with a home run every 14.1 at-bats. He averaged more than 100 RBIs per season and hit .279 with the Pirates, the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland.

Hawaii's top college football prospects

[2/6/14]  Signing Day: Tuileta goes to USC.
University of Hawaii recruiting capsules

***

It might be the so-called "off" or "sandwich" years, like this one, which, despite an absence of heralded four-star prospects or can't-miss All-Americans like Manti Te'o, still could produce 12-18 major college scholarship recipients, pending final academic results.

"That's a lot of kids," said Kapolei High coach Darren Hernandez, who figures to have three of them — defensive tackle Kalani Vakameilalo (Oregon State), defensive end Kingston Fernandez (Washington State) and offensive tackle Micah Kapoi (Wisconsin) —signing Wednesday on National Letter of Intent Day.

Vakameilalo, a 6-foot-4, 300-pounder, "looks like he might be the most college-ready of the bunch," said a coach who regularly recruits Hawaii.

UH said it snared six of the seven local players it has targeted, apparently missing out on only Lamone Williams, a Kahuku defensive end bound for Oregon State.

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Star-Advertiser 2013 All-State football team