R.I.P. 2023

12/14/23 - George McGinnis

11/1/23 - Bob Knight

10/5/23 - Dick Butkus, Chicago Bears

10/4/23 - Bob Wagner

10/2/23 - Russ Francis

10/1/23 - Tim Wakefield

9/26/23 - Brooks Robinson

9/6/23 - Adnan Al-Kaissy (Chief Billy White Wolf)

9/4/23 - Eric Kadooka

8/24/23 - Bray Wyatt

8/23/23 - Terry Funk

7/25/23 - Johnny Lujack

7/9/23 - Gary Allen

6/17/23 - Bob Brown

6/14/23 - Homer Jones

6/14/23 - Jim Yagi

6/7/23 - Alex Kaloi

6/7/23 - The Iron Shiek

5/19/23 - Jim Brown

5/18/23 - Superstar Billy Graham

5/9/23 - Denny Crum

5/9/23 - Joe Kapp

5/7/23 - Vida Blue

3/31/23 - John Brockington

3/21/23 - Willis Reed

3/11/23 - Bud Grant

2/27/23 - Gaylord Carreira

2/16/23 - Tim McCarver

2/15/23 - Greg McMackin

1/30/23 - Jim Leahey

1/26/23 - Billy Packer

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

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

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.

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]

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

Cal Lee retires

This time, there is no ambiguity.

“I’m officially retired,” said Cal Lee, 76, the most successful coach in the history of Hawaii high school football.

Two months ago, Lee hinted that it was time to put away his clipboard, whistle and game-day stare. This time, Lee said, he has walked away from a coaching career spanning more than 50 years, the last two as Saint Louis School’s defensive coordinator.

“I enjoyed coaching, but you need the energy, the giddy-up, all that stuff,” Lee said. “After 50-plus years, like anybody else, you know when it’s time. It’s time.”

In two stints covering 27 years as Saint Louis’ head coach, Lee compiled a record of 296-41-5. From 1986 through 1999, Lee led the Crusaders in winning 13 consecutive Oahu Prep Bowls and then the inaugural state tournament. With brother Ron Lee as head coach and Cal Lee as defensive coordinator, Kaiser High won the 1979 Oahu Prep Bowl. Lee also was on the University of Hawaii coaching staff for eight seasons.

Among the Crusaders he coached were UH head coach Timmy Chang, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa of the Miami Dolphins, offensive linemen Dominic Raiola and Olin Kreutz, and running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma‘afala.

“He is, in one word, the definition of legend,” Chang said. “He’s the winningest coach in Hawaii football. He’s the reason why a lot of kids from around the state grew up playing for Saint Louis. My family has a great relationship with him. We’re very indebted to him for everything he’s done for me in my playing career, as well as my coaching career. He’s always been there for me.”

Lee said: “I look at myself as being fortunate I got to coach good players. Shoot, they were all good players. It’s all about timing, and I kind of hit it that they were there when I was there, and good things happened.”

Lee said there are too many standout players and games to fully acknowledge. But Lee said one of his fondest memories was a 1983 game against Kamehameha. With no score entering the final quarter, Kamehameha needed a victory to remain in contention for the ILH title and accompanying berth in the Prep Bowl. But with 14 seconds left, Saint Louis’ 5-foot-5, 160-pound nose guard Shawn Nakakura and 177-pound defensive tackle Dana Paikai sacked Kamehameha quarterback Garrett Awai for the game-winning safety in a 2-0 victory.

A year after struggling in his initial Saint Louis season as head coach, the Crusaders went undefeated in 1983 with an under-sized squad. Nakakura, who was named to the All-State first team, embodied that defense. Lee said Nakakura, pound for pound, was the strongest and one of the quickest Crusaders.

Lee, with a defense-sided view, also marveled about two of his former backs. Boyd Yap transferred to Kaiser in 1979, and helped lead the Cougars to the 1979 Prep Bowl title.

“I was really impressed with Boyd,” Lee said. “He was quiet, worked hard, never said much. I was thinking: what the heck did he do to get kicked out (of Kamehameha)? He was the nicest kid I ever met. I tell you what, he was one of the best players I ever saw. Boyd would run for 80 yards and come out and it was like nothing. He just played the game. He never celebrated. He acted like it was what he was supposed to do.”

Lee said George Ornellas was comparable to Yap. Ornellas was the state’s player of the year as a Saint Louis junior and senior. At one point, he averaged a touchdown ever three times he caught a pass or carried the ball, according to Honolulu Star-Advertiser historian Jerry Campany.

“That guy, I’m not kidding, I couldn’t get him tired,” Lee said of Ornellas. “He would go out there and play hard and he never once said, ‘Coach, I need a break.’ He could play 48 minutes non stop. A great player.”

Of his time at UH, where he coached the linebackers, he listed Solomon Elimimian, Corey Paredes, Adam Leonard and Blaze Soares as among the memorable. Elimimian holds the UH record with 434 tackles in a career.

“Solomon is another guy I was fortunate enough to coach,” Lee said. “He would do everything you told him to do. He was a great athlete. He was MVP in the Canadian Football League. He was gifted. I was fortunate to be there when they were there. When you have good players, you become a better coach. That’s all it is. I had good players.”

Lee said he is in good health. “You slow down, like everybody else, you’re not going 100 mph like before,” he said of retirement. “When you retire, you just can’t sit down. Everybody thinks you’re just going to relax. You can’t. You’ve got to move around.”

He said he and his wife plan to travel. He also has regular pickle ball games with older brother Ron, who will continue to coach at Saint Louis.

“I’m very fortunate,” Lee said of his coaching career. “The way things went, you have to be fortunate. It’s like when you’re on the craps table and you’re rolling and the numbers come out. That’s how it goes. And all of a sudden you have a good year. And then another one. All those guys — the players, the coaches — I really appreciate all the work they did. It was a good experience, and I’m very fortunate.”

Al Michaels remembers Hawaii

What follows are the stuff for the Hawaii sports archives — Michaels’ time in Hawaii, how things seemed to come full circle, his recollection of a flamboyant Islanders pitcher and his initial meeting of President Barack Obama.

Coming to Hawaii

“I went over there in ’68. When Jack brought me in and what happened was he had an announcer Marty Chase … and Marty’s reserve unit (Hawaii National Guard at Schofield) was called up.

“I had flown over to Honolulu and met with Jack Quinn, in 1968, early in February.

“It was arranged by a mutual friend named Frank Valenti. Frank set me up and I flew over and met with Jack in the bowels of Termite Palace. And I left him a tape, reel-to-reel tape. I had gone to Arizona State. When I went to Arizona State and I’m announcing games on the campus station. … And among the players I’m talking about on the tape are Sal Bando, Rick Monday and a new freshman coming up, Reggie Jackson. (All future World Series winners.)

“I’m in school with all those guys at the same time and that’s on the tape.

“So Jack says if anything happens, blah, blah, blah, we’ll keep you in mind. And sure enough on the eve of the season or shortly after the season had started, I got a call from Jack. ‘Hey listen, can you come over and do a few games’ because he didn’t know what Marty’s situation was going to be down the line.

“He said, ‘How soon can you be here.’ I said, ‘Next plane.’”

“So (I) flew over, got on the air and wound up doing that whole season, and University of Hawaii football and basketball, and then all ILH football and basketball games. And I’m on television twice a day, that time was KITV, with Chuck Henry and Ken Kashiwahara.”

Jim Brown

Jim Brown, one of the greatest professional and college football players of all time, has died. He was 87.

His wife, Monique, announced Brown's death in an Instagram post Friday afternoon. She said Brown "passed peacefully" Thursday night in their home in Los Angeles.

"To the world he was an activist, actor, and football star," the post read. "To our family he was a loving and wonderful husband, father, and grandfather. Our hearts are broken..."

In 2020, Brown was selected to the NFL 100 all-time team and also was ranked as the No. 1 all-time player on the College Football 150 list to celebrate those sports' anniversaries. He was named the greatest football player ever by the Sporting News in 2002.

Brown, who was selected in the first round of the 1957 draft, played nine seasons for the Cleveland Browns (1957-65) and led the league in rushing eight of those years. He rushed for 12,312 yards and held a 5.2 yards per carry average over his career. He also was named a Pro Bowler every year he played. He led the Browns to the league championship game three times, winning the title in 1964, and was named MVP three times.

He ran for at least 100 yards in 58 of his 118 regular-season games, never missing a game. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven seasons, including 1,527 yards in one 12-game season and 1,863 in a 14-game season.

"It's impossible to describe the profound love and and gratitude we feel for having the opportunity to be a small piece of Jim's incredible life and legacy," the Browns said in a statement. "We mourn his passing, but celebrate the indelible light he brought to the world.

"Our hearts are with Jim's family, loved ones, and all those he impacted along the way."

Brown retired at 30, at the top of his career. He was filming the movie "The Dirty Dozen" during the offseason in 1966, and production went long because of bad weather. Browns owner Art Modell threatened to suspend Brown's pay if he didn't report to training camp on time. Brown opted to retire, saying he wanted to focus on his movie career and social issues.

Since his retirement, no Browns player has worn his No. 32 and a statue of him went up outside of FirstEnergy Stadium in 2016.

SC Feature presents: 'The Future' - Victor Wembanyama

5/7/23 - Take a look into Victor Wembanyama's journey to becoming a global phenom with an opportunity to become the first Frenchman to be drafted No. 1 overall.

5/18/23 - French NBA players see Victor Wembanyama’s potential to inspire

NBA 2022-2023

5/16/23 - Philadelphia fires Doc Rivers

5/13/23 - Phoenix fires Monty Williams

5/11/23 - All NBA Team: Embiid, Tatum, Antetokounmpo, Doncic, Gilgeous-Alexander

5/4/23 - Bucks fire Mike Budenholzer

5/2/23 - Embiid wins MVP over Jokic and Giannis

4/21/23 - Nick Nurse out as Toronto head coach

2/27/23 - Hawks give Quin Snyder 5-year deal to become head coach

2/22/23 - Hawks fire Nate McMillan

2/9/23 - Trade deadline recap

2/9/23 - Hornets trade Mason Plumlee to Clippers for Reggie Jackson and second-round pick

2/9/23 - Lakers acquire Mo Bamba from Magic for Patrick Beverly and future second-round pick

2/9/23 - Clippers acquire Eric Gordon from Houston, Grizzlies receive Luke Kennard from Clippers, Rockets receive John Wall from Clippers, Danny Green from Grizzlies, three second-round picks from Grizzlies

2/9/23 - Golden State trades James Wiseman to Pistons, Pistons trade Saddiq Bey to Hawks and Kevin Knox to Warriors, Hawks send five second-round picks to Golden State / Then Golden State trades five second-round picks and Knox to Portland for Gary Payton II

2/9/23 - Spurs trade Jakob Poeltl to Toronto for Khem Birth and first round pick and two second round picks

2/9/23 - 76ers trade Matisse Thybulle to Blazers, 76ers receive Jalen McDaniels and two second round picks, Hornets receive Svi Mykhailuk and second round pick

2/9/23 - Thomas Bryant traded by Lakers to Denver for Davon Reed and future second-rount pick

2/9/23 - Jae Crowder headed to Milwaukee from Nets, Pacers receive George Hill, Serge Ibaka, Jordan Nwora, three second-round picks, Bucks send two second round picks to Nets and three second round picks to Indiana

2/9/23 - Nets trade Kevin Durant and T.J. Warren to Phoenix for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first round picks

2/8/23 - Westbrook, Toscano-Anderson, Damian Jones and first round pick traded by Lakers to Jazz, Jazz send Mike Conley and Nickeil Alexander-Walker to Minnesota, Minnesota sends D'Angelo Russell, Malik Beasley, Jarred Vanderbilt to Lakers / Westbrook expected to be bought out

2/8/23 - Josh Hart traded to Knicks for Cam Reddish, Ryan Arcidiacono, Svi Mykhailuk and future first round pick

2/7/23 - LeBron breaks Kareem's record for most points scored

2/5/23 - Kyrie Irving and Markieff Morris traded to Dallas for Dinwiddie, Finnie-Smith, 2027 (2029?) first-round pick and two second round picks

12/21/22 - Mat Ishbia to buy Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury for $4 billion

11/8/22 - Dwight Howard headed to Taiwan

11/3/22 - Kyrie Irving suspended for at least 5 games

11/1/22 - Brooklyn and Steve Nash agree to part ways

9/30/22 - Blake Griffin signs with Celtics

9/22/22 - Celtics suspend Ime Udoka for the season

9/22/22 - Jazz trade Bojan to Pistons for Olynyk and Saben Lee

9/21/22 - Sarver selling Suns and Mercury after being suspended

9/16/22 - Dennis Schroeder signs one-year deal with Lakers for minimum

9/13/22 - Suns owner Robert Sarver suspended for 1 year and fined $10 million

9/1/22 - Utah trades Donovan Mitchell to Cleveland for Sexton, Markkanen, Abbaji, three first round picks (2025, 2027, 2029) and two pick swaps (2026 and 2028)

8/25/22 - Chet Holmgren to miss season with foot injury

8/25/22 - Lakers trade Talen Horton-Tucker and Stanley Johnson to Utah for Patrick Beverley

7/3/22 - Bruce Brown to sign with Denver

7/1/22 - Rudy Gobert traded from Utah to Minnesota for Malik Beasley, Patrick Beverley, Jarred Vanderbilt, Leandro Bolmaro, no. 22 pick Walker Kessler, and first round picks in 2023, 2025, 2027, and 2029

7/1/22 - Jokic signs record $264 million extension

6/29/22 - Will Hardy to become new coach of Utah Jazz

6/29/22 - Harden declines $47.3 million option

6/29/22 - Beal declines $36.4 million option

6/29/22 - Spurs trade Dejounte Murray to Hawks for Gallinari and three first round picks

6/28/22 - John Wall agrees to buyout from Rockets, to join Clippers

6/23/22 - Orlando takes Paolo Banchero first in the NBA draft

6/5/22 - Quinn Snyder resigns as head coach of Utah Jazz

5/31/22 - Cavaliers hire Luke Walton as assistant coach

5/28/22 - Lakers hire Darvin Ham as new head coach

5/24/22 - All NBA Team: Giannis, Luka, Jokic, Booker, Tatum (though Embiid had more voting points than Tatum)

5/11/22 - Nikola Jokic repeats as Most Valuable Player (followed by Embiid and Antetnokounmpo) 

4/23/22 - Scottie Barnes edges Evan Mobley for rookie of the year

4/22/22 - Hornets fire James Borrego after four seasons

4/11/22 - Lakers fire Frank Vogel

Circle of Honor 2023: Bobby Curran, Nani Cockett, Bobbie Perry, Katie Spieler, David Matlin

For a rare instance, sportscaster Bobby Curran struggled for words.

During a phone call notifying him of his selection to the University of Hawaii’s Circle of Honor, Curran recalled saying … nothing.

After a long pause, he recalled, “I actually asked, ‘Are you kidding?’ I thought they wanted to make me feel good. But it wasn’t. It took me a second to wrap my head around it. I just thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

Curran, who is in Arizona recovering from a double-lung transplant performed two months ago, is among five inductees of the Circle of Honor’s 2023 class. The other inductees are:

>> Nani Cockett, who is No. 2 on the Rainbow Wahine basketball program’s career scoring list.

>> Barbara “Bobbie” Perry, who played for the United States volleyball team in the 1968 Summer Olympics.

>> Katie Spieler, a two-time, All-America beach volleyball player who competes professionally and runs a beach volleyball club in Santa Barbara, Calif.

>> David Matlin, who is retiring as UH athletic director this June.

The inductees were chosen by a panel that includes alumni, community leaders and the media.

The 2023 class will be honored in a banquet in March at the Sheraton Waikiki.

Curran said he hopes to receive medical clearance to attend the event.

Curran, 67, was the play-by-play announcer for UH basketball and football games for 32 years. He also was host of a popular morning radio show on KKEA, 1420-AM. But Curran, who was a long-time smoker before quitting 17 years ago, went on hiatus from his radio jobs after being diagnosed with an aggressive stage of emphysema last year.

In June, Curran was told he needed a double-lung transplant. In October, with his health deteriorating, Curran was told that without the transplant his life expectancy probably would not exceed this past Christmas.

After a rigorous screening process, including an evaluation from a 30-person committee and several invasive tests, Curran was approved as an organ recipient. A donor was found, and Curran underwent the transplant on Nov. 17 at St. Joseph’s Hospital &Medical Center in Phoenix.

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

After several setbacks, including injuries he suffered during a fall, he has made a remarkable recovery. “My pulse ox(imetry) — which is your oxygen saturation — is 100%,” Curran said. “Before I had the surgery I was at 88%, and that was on 5 liters of oxygen.”

Curran, who has to remain in Arizona during his recovery, had set a goal of attending his youngest son’s high school graduation in May. After that, he hopes to resume as host of the morning show and to call UH basketball games.

Curran, who grew up in Long Island, N.Y., recalled wanting to pursue a career in broadcasting sports soon after moving to Hawaii in 1983 to complete his studies. Curran, who is a UH graduate, started as a once-weekly host at KTUH, the school’s student radio station. He eventually met Rick Blangiardi, whose television station had the rights to UH sportscasts. Curran called twice a week for four months before Blangiardi responded. The offer: 20 hours a week, $1,000 a month, all the knowledge Curran could absorb. That eventually led to Curran’s long ties in radio.

There have been days, Curran recalled thinking, “I can’t believe I get to do this. It’s been a dream job for me.”

Jim Leahey

HONOLULU — Legendary sportscaster Jim Leahey, who was the voice of University of Hawaii sports for decades, died early Monday morning, his family said. He was 80.

Leahey, who retired in 2018, had battled health issues in recent months.

His instantly recognizable voice was the soundtrack to many of the biggest moments in UH sports history on both radio and television, spanning thousands of games. He called much of the Rainbow Warrior football team’s unbeaten 2007 regular season and its cherished victories over BYU in 1989 and 1990. He had some memorable calls of buzzer-beaters such as his “How sweet it is!” for Tes Whitlock’s basketball winner over the Cougars in 1995.

Leahey was inducted into the UH Sports Circle of Honor in 2016. He won Hawaii Sportscaster of the Year 19 times.

A former schoolteacher, he would often summon and emphasize uncommon, multisyllable words in the flow of a game.

Leahey, the son of legendary local sportscaster, Chuck Leahey, transferred his passion to a third generation. His son, Kanoa, is now the primary play-by-play voice of UH sports for Spectrum Sports.

The Leahey family put out a statement: "Today we lost the patriarch of our family. A man known by his supreme talents for storytelling, an unrelenting passion for Hawaii and the teams and athletes that represent it, and a lifelong love for the craft of sports broadcasting.

"Jim Leahey was also a loyal and loving husband, father and grandfather, who placed his family and his faith above all.

"He took tremendous pride in supplying the narration for some of the University of Hawaii’s greatest athletic achievements, and cherished seeing the community come together, united, to root for the home team.

"We thank everyone for their well wishes and support at this mournful time.

"As our dad would always say to close his broadcasts, 'malama pono kekahi i kekahi.'"

From a young age, Jim Leahey followed in the footsteps of his father. At his retirement party in August 2018, he recalled filling in for him on the radio for the first time at just 15 years old at a boxing match at Schofield Barracks.

Jim Leahey graduated from Saint Louis School and attended Chaminade University, where he is a member of the Hall of Fame. He graduated from the University of San Francisco and went on to serve in the Vietnam War.

Upon his return, he taught at Campbell High School for 10 years, then entered the broadcasting industry full time for KITV and KGMB.

He took over radio play-by-play duties on KGU from his father in 1973. He became the official voice of UH sports on television in 1984 on KGMB, then KFVE and OCSports (the precursor to Spectrum Sports).

Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi was a former broadcast partner of Leahey's for UH football games, and for a period his supervisor in the broadcasting industry. Blangiardi said in a statment: “I feel very privileged to be able to say Jim Leahey and I were more than just friends. We shared 13 unforgettable football seasons doing University of Hawaii games on radio and television. Jim had a very rare and special ability to connect with people, especially in capturing the pride of Hawaii’s people with the success of our teams, not just in football, but in every sport!

“Jim could stir your emotions, and that made every game a worthwhile experience, no matter the score. In a business where champions are revered, Jim Leahey was a champion, and his legacy and many contributions to Hawaii’s sports will never be forgotten!”

In his later career, Leahey gradually transferred play-by-play duties for sports like men’s basketball and women’s volleyball to his son.

For nine years starting in 2006, Jim and Kanoa Leahey appeared on the PBS Hawaii sports talk show, Leahey & Leahey and hosted a wide range of local personalities to “talk story” over a representation of the family kitchen table.

The two Leaheys frequently joked that given their verbose nature, the guest could rarely get a word in.

Leahey is survived by his wife, Toni, three children and one grandchild. Services are pending.

***

Stephen Tsai

Dave Reardon

Jerry Company

3/12/23 - Jim Leahey, watching over UH sports

3/13/23 - Jim Leahey remembered for touching many lives

2022 NFL

1/19/23 - Tampa Bay fires offensive coordinator Byron Leftwich

1/9/23 - Texans fire Lovie Smith after one season (3-13-1)

1/9/23 - Kliff Kingsbury fired by Arizona after going 4-13

12/27/22 - Denver fires Nathaniel Hackett after going 4-11

12/7/22 - Rams claim Mayfield

12/5/22 - Carolina waives Baker Mayfield

11/7/22 - Colts fire Frank Reich and name Jeff Saturday as interim head coach

11/1/22 - Trade deadline deals include Bradley Chubb to Dolphins, Chase Claypool to Bears, TJ Hockenson to Vikings, Roquan Smith to Baltimore, Calvin Ridley to Jaguars, 

10/20/22 - Carolina trades Christian McCaffrey to San Francisco for second-round, third-round, fourth-round, and fifth-round draft picks

10/10/22 - Matt Ruhle fired as Carolina head coach

9/27/22 - Pro Bowl to go flag football

8/18/22 - Deshaun Watson suspension extended to 11 games

8/1/22 - Deebo Samuel signs three-year $73.5 million extension

8/1/22 - Deshaun Watson suspended six games

6/21/22 - Gronkowski retiring again

3/30/22 - Bruce Arians unexpectedly retires as head coach of Tampa Bay and will move to front office

3/29/22 - NFL changes playoff overtime rules

3/23/22 - Tyreek Hill reportedly traded to Dolphins for first round pick and more, gets four-year extension worth $120 million

3/23/22 - Al Michaels joins Amazon for Thursday Night Football / Mike Tirico to team with Chris Collinsworth for Sunday Night Football / ESPN poaches Buck and Aikman from Fox

3/21/22 - Falcons trade Matt Ryan to Indianapolis for third round pick, sign Mariota for two years, $18.75 million

3/18/22 - Houston to trade Deshaun Watson to Cleveland for three first round picks and a third rounder

3/18/22 - Davante Adams traded by Packers to Raiders for first and second round picks, agrees to sign for five years, $141.25 million

3/15/22 - Aaron Rodgers to remain with Packers for $151 million

3/13/22 - Brady unretires

3/12/22 - Dallas trades Amari Cooper to Cleveland for fifth and sixth round picks

3/11/22 - Chicago to trade Khalil Mack to Chargers for second-round pick and 2023 sixth-round pick

3/9/22 - Indianapolis reportedly trades Carson Wentz to Washington for draft picks

3/8/22 - Seattle to trade Russell Wilson and fourth round pick to Denver for two first round picks, two second round picks, fifth round pick, Drew Lock, Noah Fant, and Shelby Harris

2/6/22 - Miami hires Mike McDaniel as head coach

2/2/22 - Washington Football Team is now the Washington Commanders

2/1/22 - Brady officially announces retirement

1/31/22 - Josh McDaniels named head coach of Raiders

1/29/22 - Tom Brady to retire (according to sources)

1/27/22 - Bears name Matt Eberflus (Colts defensive coordinator) as head coach

1/27/22 - Ben Roethlisberger retires after 18 season with the Steelers

1/24/22 - Sean Payton announces retirement

2022 Hawaii All-State Football Team

The 2022 football season was a constant of highlight, instant-classic games with a bit of a twist.

More of the state’s top public-school teams and players emerged in the spotlight. The same is true of the Star-Advertiser Football All-State selections by coaches and media.

Kahuku linebacker Liona Lefau repeated as Defensive Player of the Year, eking out the honor ahead of teammates Leonard Ah You and Brock Fonoimoana. Punahou linebacker GianCarlo Rufo was also a contender for DPOY.

Offensive Player of the Year honors went to Waipahu’s multiple-position standout Tama Uiliata.

Coach of the Year voting was tight, with Brad Uemoto of Konawaena outpointing Kyle Linoz of Waimea and Sterling Carvalho of Kahuku.

Uemoto has scheduled his Division I program against behemoth Kahuku in recent seasons.

“I feel that Lefau, Ah You and Fonoimoana are all deserving of being recognized as the best defensive player in the state,” Uemoto said. “Each player had such an effect on the game individually that it could have gone to any of them.

“Lefau playing in the middle of that defense made it tough for opponents to avoid him. He was involved in every play being so athletic and instinctual. His ability to play sideline to sideline while being physical between the tackles is what separated him,” he added.

Lefau was one of five Kahuku seniors to sign National Letters of Intent in early December. He inked his letter with Texas. Ah You signed with Oregon State and Fonoimoana signed with Utah. Defensive lineman Stanley Raass, another first-team selection, also signed with Utah.

Last year’s offensive POY, Kainoa Carvalho, missed significant playing time as a senior due to a foot injury before returning for the postseason. He also signed with Utah.

Uiliata began the season at wide receiver and racked up eye-popping numbers, then shifted to quarterback after starter JJ Manu suffered a season-ending injury. The shifty playmaker moved back to wideout as freshman Eli Mendoza took the helm in the OIA D-I title game against Aiea.

During Waipahu’s state-tournament opener against Kapaa, the Marauders trailed 35-13 when Uiliata moved again to QB, sparking a wild 49-41 comeback win. He led Waipahu to a semifinal win over ‘Iolani but suffered an ankle injury in the state final and limped his way to a gutty effort in a loss to Konawaena.

Across the board, voters cast their ballots for the 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior. Punahou quarterback John-Keawe Sagapolutele, Campbell quarterback Jaron-Keawe-Sagapolutele and Konawaena quarterback Keoni Alani were also in the running.

Uiliata signed with Hawaii after finishing the season with 1,256 yards and 13 touchdowns through the air, throwing just two interceptions in 143 attempts. He also rushed for 597 yards (6.7 per carry) and 10 TDs. As a pass catcher, Uiliata had 69 receptions for 980 yards and 10 TDs. In all, he accounted for 2,833 yards and 33 TDs from scrimmage while also playing some cornerback and returning kicks.

In five games on defense, Uiliata came up with four interceptions, one returned for a TD.

A few years back, Konawaena was a somewhat reluctant climber in the BIIF’s classification reshuffle. The Wildcats were promoted from from D-II to D-I after losing a wild seven-overtime 75-69 thriller to Lahainaluna in the 2017 state final.

Five years later, Uemoto guided his team to an 11-1 season. The Wildcats opened the season with a 30-7 loss to Granger in Utah, then returned home and embarked on a long win streak with total domination of the BIIF. Konawaena averaged 61.9 points per game in league play, outscoring opponents 557-20.

In the state tourney, Konawaena edged Aiea 27-24, then outscored Waipahu 38-28 in the final for its first football state crown.

Linoz was a close second after lifting Waimea to a 9-2 season and its first D-II state title. The Menehune did it with a disciplined wing-T offense that goes back more than a half-century.

Bryson Carvalho of Waipahu, Nate Kia of Punahou, Kili Watson of Nanakuli and Tyson Valle of King Kekaulike also earned votes from the panel.

The ongoing recession-era phenomenon of private-school athletes transferring to public schools — and elite public-school athletes opting to stay home and play for their hometown teams — is reflected on the ballots of coaches and media. The All-State first-team offense is comprised of 10 public-school players and just three from private schools.

The first-team defense has nine public schoolers and four from private schools. All three state championship teams — Kahuku, Konawaena and Waimea — are from public schools.

ALL-STATE

Offensive Player of the Year: Tama Uiliata, Waipahu

Defensive Player of the Year: Liona Lefau, Kahuku

Coach of Year: Brad Uemoto, Konawaena

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

OL Preston Taumua Aiea 6-5 315 Jr.

OL Josiah Timoteo Waianae 6-4 290 Sr.

OL Roebeck Rupp Kahuku 6-4 350 Sr.

OL Iapani Laloulu Farrington 6-2 358 Sr.

OL Brayden Mailo Kahuku 6-2 309 Sr.

RB Va’aimalae Fonoti Kahuku 5-10 193 Jr.

REC Astin Hange Punahou 5-9 165 Jr.

REC Jayden Chanel Aiea 6-2 190 Jr.

REC Zedekiah Anahu-Ambrosio Konawaena 5-9 180 So.

REC Raymond Roller Mililani 5-6 160 Sr.

QB John-Keawe Sagapolutele Punahou 6-2 210 Sr.

U Tama Uiliata Waipahu 5-9 176 Sr.

K Jordan Kapisi Punahou 6-0 190 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

DL Kekai Burnett Punahou 6-3 235 Jr.

DL Stanley Raass Kahuku 6-1 290 Jr.

DL Julian Savaiinaea Saint Louis 6-3 230 Sr.

DL Logan Rouse Aiea 6-3 235 Sr.

LB Liona Lefau Kahuku 6-1 215 Sr.

LB Leonard Ah You Kahuku 6-3 201 Sr.

LB GianCarlo Rufo Punahou 6-2 215 Sr.

DB Brock Fonoimoana Kahuku 6-0 185 Sr.

DB Aiden Manutai Kahuku 5-11 176 So.

DB Travis Ross Punahou 5-10 175 Sr.

DB Gavin Hunter Mililani 6-2 190 Sr.

U Kamu Kaaihue Roosevelt 6-3 215 Sr.

P Yosei Takahashi Saint Louis 5-8 167 Sr.

RET Kaimana Carvalho Kahuku 5-10 156 So.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

OL KJ Hallums Punahou 6-2 270 So.

OL Isaac Maugaleoo Campbell 6-7 310 Sr.

OL Houston Kaahaina-Torres Saint Louis 6-3 265 So.

OL Vaea Ikakoula Kahuku 6-4 295 So.

OL Kamilo Raass Kahuku 5-11 256 Jr.

RB Ala‘i Williams Punahou 6-0 215 Jr.

REC Tana Togafau-Tavui Campbell 6-1 175 So.

REC Kaimana Carvalho Kahuku 5-10 156 So.

REC Titan Lacaden Saint Louis 5-7 160 So.

REC Geronimo Ulgraran Aiea 5-6 160 Sr.

QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Campbell 6-2 210 So.

U Makana Naleieha Kaiser 6-1 180 Sr.

K Allison Chang ‘Iolani 5-5 151 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

DL Hyrum Moors Kahuku 6-0 252 Jr.

DL Jabiel Lauvao Mililani 6-1 217 Jr.

DL Iosefa Tapeni Kapolei 6-3 275 Sr.

DL Tristan Waiamau-Galindo Kamehameha 6-3 220 Jr.

LB Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu Campbell 6-2 220 Sr.

LB Iona Purcell Saint Louis 5-10 201 Sr.

LB Alika Cavaco-Amoy Punahou 6-1 215 Jr.

DB Shaun Niu Kahuku 6-1 180 Sr.

DB Jordan Fetu Mililani 5-10 165 Sr.

DB Kela Moore Campbell 6-1 185 Jr.

DB Madden Soliai Kahuku 5-10 160 Fr.

U Romeo Tagata Waipahu 6-1 245 Sr.

P Kaimana Carvalho Kahuku 5-10 156 So.

RET Coby Tanioka Castle 5-8 155 Sr.

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

OL Caleb Rhinelander Punahou 5-8 270 Jr.

OL Max Rouse Aiea 6-4 270 Sr.

OL Teancum Moeai Kahuku 6-2 270 Sr.

OL Kimo Moniz-Kekumu King Kekaulike 6-0 360 Jr.

OL Tuineau Muti Punahou 6-2 310 Jr.

RB Anieli Talaeai Waipahu 5-8 150 Jr.

REC Mason Muaau Campbell 6-5 215 Sr.

REC Onosa’i Salanoa Mililani 5-11 170 So.

REC Taniela Taliauli ‘Iolani 6-0 182 Jr.

REC David Kalili Nanakuli 5-8 150 Sr.

QB Keoki Alani Konawaena 5-10 160 Jr.

U Nakoa Ige Konawaena 5-10 210 So

K Elijah Dinkel KS-Hawaii 5-10 167 Sr.

DEFENSE

Pos Name School Ht Wt Yr

DL Anelu Lafaele Saint Louis 6-3 220 Jr.

DL Viliami Vakalahi Maui 6-3 300 Jr.

DL Ha‘aheo Dela Cruz ‘Iolani 6-2 218 Sr.

DL Howie Iongi Kahuku 6-1 298 Sr.

LB Aizik Mahuka Aiea 6-1 200 Jr.

LB Robbie Correa Waimea 5-8 170 Sr.

LB Jacob Gaudi ‘Iolani 5-10 188 Sr.

DB Ezekiel Rodrigues Mililani 6-1 185 Sr.

DB Bishop Foumai Aiea 5-6 150 Sr.

DB Terahiti Wolfe Punahou 5-10 180 Jr.

DB Ro‘onui Satta-Ellis Konawaena 6-0 175 Sr.

U Jeremiah White Kaimuki 6-1 175 Jr.

P Jordan Kapisi Punahou 6-0 190 Sr.

RET TItan Lacaden Saint Louis 5-7 160 So.

HONORABLE MENTION

QUARTERBACKS

Waika Crawford, Kahuku

Kini McMillan, Mililani

Kekahi Graham, Saint Louis

Ezekiel Olie, Aiea

Liatama Amisone, Kapolei

Easton Yoshino, Kaiser

Kayman Lewis, Roosevelt

RUNNING BACKS

Michael Hayslett, Radford

Ofa Vehikite, Kaimuki

Kaimana Lale-Saole, Aiea

Jamal Plunkett, Waianae

Nathan Pele-Tukumoeatu, Nanakuli

Aukai Emayo, Waimea

Keao Kawa‘akoa, ‘Iolani

Iosepa Lyman, Punahou

Kapono Na-O, Kapaa

Piercen Evans, Maui

Clyde Taulapapa, Kahuku

Christian Asinsin, Nanakuli

Braeden Togafau, Waipahu

Kawelu Kaiawe, Konawaena

Lincoln Tihada, Lahainaluna

Tysin Zackious, King Kekaulike

RECEIVERS

Rowen Bucao, Campbell

Noah Macapulay, Punahou

Kainoa Carvalho, Kahuku

Tai Aipia-Barrett, Waipahu

Chazen Rodillas-Vesido, Waipahu

Eric Stephens, Moanalua

Bradley Kansou, Pearl City

Jayden Montgomery-Gaopoa, Roosevelt

Jacob Ah Mook Sang, Konawaena

Frank Abreu, KS-Maui

Donovan Reis, Kaiser

Chris Holt, Kalani

OFFENSIVE LINE

Zack Vigilia, Waimea

Tayson Tiitii, Punahou

Skyden Hanisi, Punahou

Kealii Dikilato, Kamehameha

Salesi Anitema, Maui

Kanai Aguilar, Kapaa

Joshua Tavui, Campbell

Nui Crozier, King Kekaulike

Terrance Pemasa, Kamehameha

Dylan Bugayong, Waimea

Bula Montgomery, Lahainaluna

Dallas Sagapolutele, Campbell

Blaze Manley, Mililani

Sone Sanerivi, Saint Louis

Oakland Viliamu, Waipahu

DEFENSIVE LINE

Sila Unutoa, Aiea

Kielan Siamani, Punahou

Nitus Auelua, Kahuku

Joshua Sagapolutele, Saint Louis

Colby Casinas, Moanalua

Chray Flanary, Konawaena

Alaka‘i Molina, Saint Louis

Nazaiah Caravallo, Kamehameha

Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole, Campbell

Noah Wily, Saint Louis

Maximum Fonoimoana, Kahuku

Roy Ma‘afala, Saint Louis

Vincent Tautua, Saint Louis

Solomone Malafu, Kapaa

LINEBACKERS

Elijah Nua, Mililani

Keawe Navas-Loa, Konawaena

Trez Uemoto, Konawaena

Ofa Falekaono, Maui

Lamana Tapusoa, Kahuku

Sylas Alaimalo, Damien

Tysic Puni, Campbell

Zion Junk, ‘Iolani

Josiah Ko‘o Kia, Punahou

Blayne Shiraki, Punahou

Rhaziah Tacub-Taniguchi, Waimea

Brennan Dupio, Kamehameha

Charles Correa, Saint Louis

Kamaehu Roman, Mililani

Faleali‘i Atuaia, Kahuku

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Vili Toilolo, Kahuku

Aiden Takuma, Punahou

Kaonohi Casco, Kamehameha-Maui

Zanden Willis, Saint Louis

Ana Monteilh, Saint Louis

Agenhart Ellis, Punahou

Thomas Marcellino, Hilo

Jeremy Garner, Moanalua

Keegan Gantala, KS-Maui

Cyprus Rombawa-Kai-Rivera, Nanakuli

Chansen Nicodemus-Garcia, Kahuku

Isaiah Iosefa, Mililani

UTILITY

Blade Kaululaau, Pac-Five

Makel Paiva, Mililani

Allen Mahoe III, Nanakuli

Kainalu Davis, Roosevelt

Tyson Apau, Waialua

Kaleopono Wong, King Kekaulike

Hezekiah Anahu-Ambrosio, Konawaena

KICKERS

Bryson Boyea Quiton, Aiea

Sevy Scofienza, Maui

Marcus Rodriguez, Pearl City

Journey DePeralta, Roosevelt

Xavier Transfiguracion, Waipahu