Nunes TKO's Rousey

Ronda Rousey is one of the biggest superstars in MMA history and turned into a crossover celebrity over the past few years. She made her reputation with dominant performances inside the cage, finishing opponent after opponent in extremely short order. Then Holly Holm came along. Last November, Holm shattered Rousey's aura of invincibility, her title run and her undefeated record. Rousey entered into seclusion and has largely avoided the public and the media since. Now she returns to recapture her title with questions abound about her mental state following the shocking upset loss. Nunes is a powerful striker and high quality jiu jitsu artist who tends to do better earlier in fights than later. She won the title with a dominant stoppage of Miesha Tate at UFC 200. This is far and away the biggest fight of her career and it's hard to imagine there will ever be another contender.

Round 1. Nunes throws some big punches early and connects well to the jaw of Rousey. She hurt Rousey with punches and has her in big trouble by the cage. Nunes is pummeling Rousey and Herb Dean has to step in. That was a one sided destruction.

Winner: Amanda Nunes, TKO, round 1.

The time of the stoppage came at 48 seconds. Most of that time involved Rousey getting punched in the face. Rousey leaves the Octagon after the defeat without saying anything. This has been such a strange and interesting path for Rousey. She rose to prominence in dominant fashion but clearly struggled greatly with her first MMA defeat just like she did when she lost in the Olympics. There are so many different angles as to why this fight went the way it did but regardless of whether it was about the style matchup, preparation, psychology or something else it was emphatic, violent and short. It seems unlikely Rousey will fight again given the options she has but it will take time to sort out the story of Ronda Rousey in general. Her fall as an athlete, just like her rise, was spectacular.

***

Champion Nunes earns $100,000, Rousey gets $3 million.

2016 Rainbow Warrior Football

1/2/17 - Rolovich not satisfied, plans to evaluate everything

12/24/16 - Hawaii Bowl: Hawaii 52, Middle Tennessee State 35
12/4/16 - Hawaii to play Middle Tennessee State in Hawaii Bowl.

11/26/16 - Hawaii hangs on to beat Massachusetts 46-40 (6-7)
11/25/16 - CBS has Fresno State at no. 128, UMass is 125, San Jose State 121, Arizona 114, Nevada 109, Hawaii 97, UNLV 95, Cal 78, New Mexico 67, Air Force 45, San Diego State 28, Boise State 18, Michigan 4.
Team Rankings has it: UMass 120, Fresno State 118, Hawaii 117, Nevada 114, San Jose State 108, UNLV 99, New Mexico 92, Arizona 91, Air Force 71, California 68, San Diego State 39, Boise State 29. Michigan 3.
Campus Insiders: Fresno State 128, San Jose State 124, UMass 121, UNLV 109, Hawaii 107, Nevada 101, Arizona 96, New Mexico 81, Cal 64, Air Force 45, San Diego State 26, Boise State 14, Michigan 3.
Massey: Fresno State 125, Massachusetts 122, Nevada 117, San Jose State 113, UNLV 103, Hawaii 100, Arizona 97, New Mexico 73, California 68, Air Force 55, San Diego State 38, Boise State 18, Michigan 3.
11/25/16 - Fresno State is now no. 1, no. 3, no. 1 / UMass is no. 6, no. 6, no. 4
11/19/16 - Hawaii barely survives at Fresno State to stay alive in bowl picture (5-7)
11/15/16 - Fresno State ranked no. 1, no. 2, no. 4
11/12/16 - Hawaii 16, Boise State 52 (4-7)
11/5/16 - San Diego State 55, Hawaii 0 (4-6)
10/29/16 - Hawaii 21, New Mexico 28 (4-5)
10/22/16 - Air Force somehow loses to Hawaii 27-34 in 2 OT (4-4)
10/15/16 - Hawaii outscored by UNLV 38-41 (3-4)
10/8/16 - Hawaii juices past San Jose State 34-17 on the road (3-3)
10/1/16 - Hawaii energizes past Nevada 38-17 (2-3)
9/17-16 - Arizona dries up Hawaii 47-28 (1-3)
9/10/16 - Hawaii wins ugly over UT-Martin 41-36 (1-2)
9/3/16 - Hawaii 3, Michigan 63 (0-2)
9/3/16 - Michigan is a have
9/2/16 - Rolo at the Downtown Exchange Club
8/26/16 - Hawaii 31, California 51 in Rolo's first game (0-1)

8/24/16 - Preview: Rolovich, Woolsey, Harris, Kemp, Allen, Rasmussen, Tavai, Rogers, Sanchez
8/24/16 - Ferd Lewis predicts 5-8
7/27/16 - Media picks Hawaii last too
6/9/16 - Magazines pick Warriors last
3/27/16 - Warriors add six walk-ons before spring practice, to try out QBs and kickers
3/27/16 - A look at the Warriors before spring practice
3/3/16 - Mayur Chaudhari hired as special teams coordinator
2/18/16 - Jake Cookus leaves program for Oregon State as quality control analyst
1/30/16 - Rolovich picks Craig Stutzman to replace Zak Hill
1/28/16 - Zak Hill, offensive coordinator, leaves Hawaii for Boise State
1/27/16 - Josh Hauani'o, OL, Iolani commits to Hawaii
1/26/16 - Keala Santiago, DB, Kahuku commits to Hawaii
1/21/16 - McKenzie Milton decommits, will attend Central Florida
1/11/16 - what has Mouse Davis been up to?
1/10/16 - June Jones named offensive coordinator ... at Kapolei
1/9/16 - Max Hendrie, versatile athlete from Australia, commits to Hawaii
1/6/16 - A defense with no name
1/6/16 - Zach Wilson, CB, Upland (CA) commits
1/6/16 - Larry Tuileta to transfer from USC to Hawaii
1/4/16 - Norm Chow in a flower shop
1/1/16 - Kevin Lempa hired as defensive coordinator
12/20/15 - Legi Suiaunoa hired as defensive line coach
12/11/15 - Zak Hill hired as offensive coordinator
12/9/15 - Fred Ulu-Perry and Brian Smith expected to join Warriors
12/8/15 - Rolovich to retain Jake Cookus
12/6/15 - Stephen Tsai's coaching staff suggestions
12/5/15 - Dino Babers hired as Syracuse head coach
12/2/15 - Rolovich hires Naeole and Elimimiam
12/1/15 - A bold statement?
12/1/15 - Rolovich recalls awful days / Chow gets an assist
11/30/15 - Rolovich will be the lowest paid coach in the MWC
11/30/15 - UH football awards
11/29/15 - Looking forward to Rolo
11/28/15 - Hawaii 28, Louisiana Monroe 26
11/28/15 - Hawaii to open 2016 in Australia against Cal
11/27/15 - Nick Rolovich hired as the next University of Hawaii head coach

Craig Sager

Longtime Turner Sports broadcaster Craig Sager has died at the age of 65, the network confirmed in a statement.

"Craig Sager was a beloved member of the Turner family for more than three decades and he has been a true inspiration to all of us," Turner president David Levy said in a statement. "There will never be another Craig Sager. His incredible talent, tireless work ethic and commitment to his craft took him all over the world covering sports.

"While he will be remembered fondly for his colorful attire and the TNT sideline interviews he conducted with NBA coaches and players, it's the determination, grace and will to live he displayed during his battle with cancer that will be his lasting impact. Our thoughts and prayers are with Craig's wife, Stacy, and the entire Sager family during this difficult time. We will forever be Sager Strong."

Known for his colorful and distinctive suits during his more than 40-year career, the legendary sideline reporter battled acute myeloid leukemia since he was first diagnosed in 2014.

Sager was admitted back into the hospital in late November 2016.

In a statement, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said teams will observe a moment of silence in Sager's memory.

After his initial diagnosis, Sager, who worked for Turner for more than 30 years, missed the 2014 and 2015 NBA playoffs and part of the 2014-15 regular season, as well as the 2015 NCAA men's basketball tournament. During the 2014 NBA playoffs, his son Craig Sager Jr. did the sideline interview with Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, whose interviews with Sager had become must-watch television.

"You did a great job," Popovich said to the younger Sager, "but I'd rather have your dad standing here. Craig, we miss you, you've been an important part of all of this for a long time doing a great job. We want your fanny back on the court, and I promise I'll be nice."

Through a partnership between Turner Sports and ESPN, Sager worked his very first NBA Finals game in June, sideline reporting with ESPN's Doris Burke for Game 6 between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors, which the Cavaliers won.

2016 High School Football

12/18/16 - Tagovailoa, Kaniho top All-State team
12/14/16 - Amosa Amosa not retained as Campbell head coach
12/13/16 - Tua Tagovailoa named the 2016 Gatorade Hawaii Player of the Year
12/3/16 - June Jones to oversee athletics at St. Louis
12/2/16 - Nelson Maeda let go as Castle head coach after 20 years
11/23/16 - Cal and Ron Lee don't know if they're return to coach next season
11/19/16 - Tagovailoa leads St. Louis over Kahuku to win Open Division title
10/21/16 - St. Louis defeats Punahou in the rubber match to win ILH title
9/29/16 - Punahou gets redemption over St. Louis
9/9/16 - Kahuku 83, Radford 0
9/9/16 - St. Louis 64, Punahou 44
9/9/16 - Clash of the ILH titans

Holloway wins interim UFC featherweight title

An interim belt will have to suffice for now for Waianae’s Max Holloway.

Holloway joined B.J. Penn as the only fighters from Hawaii to win a UFC world title with a third-round TKO of Anthony Pettis in the main event of UFC 206 on Saturday night at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto.

Holloway, whose 10-fight win streak ties Royce Gracie for the fifth-longest in UFC history, was awarded the interim 145-pound featherweight title.

He is expected to unify the belts against champion Jose Aldo in a fight next year and wasted no time just moments after the victory over Pettis to call out Aldo.

“Meet me in Brooklyn in February,” an-amped up Holloway yelled to the crowd. “Let’s get the (expletive) real (world title).”

Holloway improved to 17-3 overall and 13-3 in the UFC by becoming the first fighter to finish Pettis (19-6, 6-5) in 25 professional bouts.

Pettis, who failed to make the 145-pound weight limit and was forced to give up 20 percent of his fight purse to Holloway, refused to touch gloves when Holloway extended his hand before the fight. Holloway earned a performance of the night bonus of $50,000.

After a close first round, Holloway took control with an early knockdown in the second round and poured it on from there.

Holloway scored two takedowns in the third round and then finished the fight with a series of punches to the face and body that forced Pettis to turtle up against the cage.

Referee Yves Lavigne stopped the fight at the 4:50 mark of round 3.

Pettis said after the fight he broke his right hand early in the first round. He also said he will move back up to lightweight (155 pounds) because the weight cut is too tough.

“Max Holloway is a beast. Give the dude credit,” Pettis said. “He stepped in there and did his thing.”

Lamar Jackson wins Heisman Trophy

Lamar Jackson was trying to remember the last time he cried. He was pretty sure it involved losing a little league football game.

On Saturday night, Louisville's spectacular sophomore quarterback found out winning can get a guy choked up, too.

Jackson became the first Louisville player to win the Heisman Trophy, beating out preseason favorite Deshaun Watson of Clemson despite some late-season struggles.

Watson, who finished third last season, was a distant second. Baker Mayfield finished third and Oklahoma teammate and fellow finalist Dede Westbrook was fourth. Michigan's Jabrill Peppers was fifth.

Early in the season, Jackson leapt over a loaded field of Heisman contenders that included five of the top seven vote-getters from 2015 to become the front-runner. By the time he slowed down nobody could catch him.

Jackson accounted for 51 touchdowns and averaged 410 yards per game in total offense in his first season as Louisville's full-time starter.

"He surpassed everything I thought he could do," Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said.

Jackson ultimately won the Heisman going away, with 2,144 points to Watson's 1,524. By percentage of possible points received, Jackson's victory was the seventh largest in Heisman history. He also became the youngest winner at 19 years, 337 days, a few days younger than 2013 winner Jameis Winston of Florida State.

He provided a signature moment against Syracuse , hurdling a defender on his way into the end zone, and then played his best against Louisville's toughest competition.

In a romp over Florida State and a close loss at Clemson , Jackson threw for 511 yards, ran for 308 and accounted for eight touchdowns. After ripping apart Florida State in September, he earned the stamp of approval from his idol, former Virginia Tech and NFL star Mike Vick.

Jackson continues a recent trend of breakout stars winning the Heisman. He is the sixth player to win the award as either a redshirt freshman or sophomore, all since 2007, joining Manziel (redshirt freshman), Winston (redshirt freshman), Mark Ingram (sophomore), Sam Bradford (sophomore) and Tim Tebow (sophomore).

Jackson came to Louisville as a three-star recruit from Boynton Beach High School in Florida. Some colleges were not sold on him as a quarterback, but Jackson was such a dynamic talent that Petrino altered his offense to accommodate Jackson's speed and elusiveness.

Jackson flashed brilliance as a freshman, but with so many well-established stars from Watson and Mayfield to running backs Christian McCaffrey of Stanford, Dalvin Cook of Florida State and Leonard Fournette of LSU, he entered this season with little fanfare.

every All-State selection since 1972

The 2016 Honolulu Star-Advertiser All-State football team will be released this month, adding a new group of talented players to the list of greats going all the way back to the first All-State team published by the Honolulu Advertiser in 1972.

Five years later, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin released its first All-State team in 1977. Prior to that, the Bulletin published only all-league teams using the rational that they hadn’t seen enough neighbor-island teams to accurately choose the best.

Here is the list of every All-State first teamer, you can sort by columns or if you are interested in a single team just type the school name in the search box.

I'll just list the Players of the Year (Offense and Defense)

2015 - Vavae Malepeai (O), Keala Santiago (D)

2014 - McKenzie Milton (O), Rex Manu (D)

2013 - Larry Tuileta (O), Kelii Padello (D)

2012 - Aofaga Wily (O), Kawahena Johnson (D)
2011 - Kenan Sadanaga (O), Benetton Fonua (D)
2010 - not listed, but Marcus Mariota was the QB
2009 - Ryan Ho (O) / Andrew Manley (O), Hauoli Jamora (D,D) / Beau Yap (D) [why are there 3 Ds?]
2008 - Andrew Manley (O,O) / Robby Toma (O), Mani Teo (D,D)

Forget it, it's confusing.  Why does 2010 have no players of the year and 2009 has three defensive player of the year awards?  You can look for yourself..

OK, I now see I have a post below on the 2010 All-State team.  Mariota was indeed the offensive player of the year, while Juda Parker was the defensive player of the year.  Parker went on to play at Colorado.

College Football Playoff

12/4/16 - After months of debate and 14 weeks of games, the committee came down with its final decision Sunday.  No. 1 Alabama will play No. 4 Washington in the Peach Bowl.

No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Ohio State will face off in the Fiesta Bowl.

The decision, as with other years past, is sure to create controversy.

The Buckeyes are the first non-conference champion to make the playoff in the three years of the current system. The Huskies, while winners of the Pac-12, had a non-conference schedule of Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State.

“The strength of schedule of Washington has been a concern for this selection committee,” chairman Kirby Hocutt said. “But what we talked about this morning was the quality wins Washington has this year. They’ve played good teams and they’ve beaten good teams.”

Penn State at 11-2 was left out as the fifth choice of the committee. The Nittany Lions won their last nine games, including defeats of Ohio State and Wisconsin, to capture the Big Ten title.

Michigan finished 10-2 and beat Penn State by 39 points along with Colorado and Wisconsin.

Oklahoma also finished with nine consecutive victories after a 1-2 start that included losses to Houston and Ohio State. The Big 12 champions beat West Virginia and Oklahoma State by a combined 46 points in its final two games.

All three were included in the line of the other Big Six bowls:

Orange Bowl: Michigan vs. Florida State
Cotton Bowl: Western Michigan vs. Wisconsin
Rose Bowl: Penn State vs. Southern California​
Sugar Bowl: Oklahoma vs. Auburn

Western Michigan earned the Group of Five spot after going unbeaten and taking the MAC championship. It's the first major bowl bid for the Chippewas.