All NBA 2018-2019

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Houston Rockets guard James Harden have been unanimously selected to the 2018-19 All-NBA First Team.

Antetokounmpo and Harden both received All-NBA First Team votes on all 100 ballots to finish with 500 points each.  This marks the first All-NBA First Team honor for Antetokounmpo, a two-time Second Team member.  Harden earns his fifth First Team nod, including his third in a row as a unanimous selection.

The 2018-19 All-NBA First Team also features Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (482 points; 91 First Team votes), Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George (433 points; 71 First Team votes) and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić (411 points; 59 First Team votes).

Curry is an All-NBA First Team selection for the third time.  George, a four-time Third Team honoree, makes his First Team debut.  Jokić has been named to his first All-NBA Team.

Antetokounmpo, Harden and George are the three finalists for the 2018-19 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player Award.  The winner will be revealed at the 2019 NBA Awards presented by Kia on Monday, June 24 at 9 p.m. ET on TNT.  The third annual NBA Awards, honoring this season’s top performers, will take place at Barker Hangar in Los Angeles.

The 2018-19 All-NBA Second Team consists of Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid (372 points), Warriors forward Kevin Durant (358), Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (306), Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (242) and Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving (195).

The 2018-19 All-NBA Third Team is made up of Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (178 points), Detroit Pistons forward Blake Griffin (115), Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (111), Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (89) and Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker (51).

James has tied the NBA record for most All-NBA selections with 15, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.  Walker, an eight-year veteran, has earned his first All-NBA honor.

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Snubbed: Klay Thompson, Bradley Beal, Karl-Anthony Towns

just a bit outside

possibly the worst first pitch in history

Bart Starr

Bart Starr was an ordinary quarterback until teaming with Vince Lombardi on the powerhouse Green Bay Packers teams that ruled the 1960s and ushered in the NFL as America’s most popular sport.

The quarterback’s graceful throws helped turn a run-heavy league into a passing spectacle, yet it’s a run for which he’s most famous: the sneak that won the famed “Ice Bowl” in 1967.

Starr died Sunday at age 85 in Birmingham, Alabama, the Packers said. He had been in failing health since suffering two strokes and a heart attack in 2014.

Starr is the third of Lombardi’s dozen Hall of Famers to die in the past eight months. Fullback Jim Taylor died in October and offensive tackle Forrest Gregg died last month.

The Packers selected Starr out of the University of Alabama with the 200th pick in the 1956 draft. He led Green Bay to six division titles, five NFL championships and wins in the first two Super Bowls.

“Bart Starr was one of the most genuine, sincere people I knew,” NFL Commissioner Roger Godell said in a statement. “He personified the values of our league as a football player, a family man, and a tireless philanthropist who cared deeply about helping at-risk kids. Above all, he was a wonderful human being who will be remembered for his kindness and compassion.”

Until Brett Favre came along, Starr was known as the best Packer ever. The team retired his No. 15 jersey in 1973, making him just the third player to receive that honor. Four years later, he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.

After losing the 1960 NFL title game in his first playoff appearance, the Packers never lost another playoff game under Starr, going 9-0, including wins over the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders in the first two Super Bowls.

Starr was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and two-time All-Pro. He won NFL titles in 1961, ’62, ’65, ‘67 and ’68. He was the 1966 NFL MVP and was named to the 1960s All-Decade team. He also was named MVP of the first two Super Bowls.

When Starr retired following the 1971 season, his career completion rate of 57.4 percent was tops in the run-heavy NFL, and his passer rating of 80.5 was second-best ever, behind only Otto Graham.  But the play he was most famous for was a run.

In the NFL championship on Dec. 31, 1967, Starr knifed into the end zone behind guard Jerry Kramer and center Ken Bowman with 16 seconds left to lift the Packers over the Dallas Cowboys 21-17 in what became known as the “Ice Bowl.”

The Packers had spent $80,000 for a heating coil system that was to have kept the field soft and warm, and forecasters said not to worry because the approaching cold front wouldn’t arrive until after the game.

“It was 20 degrees the day before,” the late Tom Landry once recalled. “It was great. Vince and I were together that night and we talked about how good the conditions were and what a great game it would be.”

They were half-right. When the grounds crew rolled up the tarpaulin, a layer of condensation had formed underneath and, with 40 mph wind, the field promptly froze like an ice rink. Packers running back Chuck Mercein would later compare the ground to “jagged concrete.”

With a temperature of minus-14 and a wind chill of minus-49, it was the coldest NFL game ever recorded. The wind chill had dipped another 20 degrees by the time the Packers got the ball at their 32 trailing 17-14 with five minutes left.

With one last chance for an aging dynasty to win a fifth NFL title in seven seasons, Starr took the field as linebacker Ray Nitschke hollered, “Don’t let me down!”

Starr wouldn’t, completing all five of his passes and directing one of the most memorable drives in NFL history.

Dick Couch

Dick Couch, a four-time state sportswriter of the year at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, died Thursday at his home in Honolulu from complications due to pneumonia, his son, Richard, said. He was 83.

Couch, who lived most of the past 50 years in Kailua, worked at the Star-Bulletin from 1971 to his retirement in 2001.

He was best known for writing about University of Hawaii sports as the program ascended to Division I status. Couch covered the “Fabulous Five” basketball teams of the early ’70s, and the improving football and baseball teams.

NBA Draft 2019

5/14/19 - New Orleans beats the odds and wins the Zion Williamson lottery.

June Jones agrees to join XFL

Former University of Hawaii football coach June Jones has been named head coach and general manager of the XFL’s Houston franchise.

”It’s a great opportunity,“ Jones told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser today.

Jones was approached about a month ago. He said he decided about a week ago and finalized the agreement on a two-year contract today.

Jones said he will begin organizational plans in Houston this month. The fledgling XFL will begin its first season in February 2020.

By joining the XFL, Jones is resigning as offensive coordinator of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League. Jones was with Hamilton for two years. At the end of the 2018 season, Jones volunteered to move from head coach to offensive coordinator.

Jones said the XFL’s season is considerably shorter than the CFL’s schedule. “I can spend six months in Hawaii,” Jones said.

This will be Jones’ fifth head coaching job. Before serving as UH’s head coach for nine seasons, culminating with the 2007 team that reached the 2008 Sugar Bowl, Jones was the head coach for the Atlanta Falcons and San Diego Chargers. He also was Southern Methodist’s head coach.

The XFL has franchises in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Washington DC. The league has secured national television deals with ESPN and Fox.

***

[6/13/19]  Norm Chow joins XFL as Los Angeles offensive coordinator

Dick Tomey

Football coach Dick Tomey, one of the University of Hawaii’s most beloved athletic figures, died Friday night at the age of 80, according to his family in Tucson, Ariz.

Tomey was diagnosed with lung cancer in December. He died 9:30 p.m. Friday surrounded by his family in Arizona.

“As a family, we rarely talk about how many games Dick Tomey won — we talk about how many hearts he won… including all of ours,” Tomey’s family said in a statement.

Tomey went 63-46-3 in 10 seasons at UH (1977-‘86) during which he resuscitated a languishing football program and led the Rainbow Warriors into the Western Athletic Conference while playing before large crowds at Aloha Stadium.

Under Tomey’s guidance, the ‘Bows drew their first sellout crowd at the 50,000-seat stadium in 1978 losing to eventual national champion USC, 21-5, after trailing, 7-3, into the fourth quarter. Gritty defense and solid special teams play were hallmarks of his tenure at UH.

A native of Indiana, Tomey came to UH from UCLA where he had been an assistant coach to take over an independent Rainbow team that had gone 3-8 and was in turmoil with large numbers of players departing.

He went 5-6 in his inaugural season and then reeled off five consecutive winning seasons including a 9-2 finish in 1981 during which UH climbed as high as No. 19 in the Associated Press poll.

Tomey left after the 1986 season as UH’s all-time winningest coach (later surpassed by June Jones) to take over Arizona, where he coached for 14 years. Tomey also became the Wildcats’ winningest coach (995-64-4).

He later spent five seasons at San Jose State going 25-35 and served as an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers (2003) and University of Texas (2004). His final coaching job was a one-year stint as UH’s special teams coach in 2011.

The Tomey family said a memorial service is envisioned for July in Hawaii, though no date as yet been set.

In lieu of flowers, the family said the Dick Tomey Legacy Fund has been established through the nonprofit organization Positive Coaching Alliance. According to the organization, “100% of these funds will go directly to providing scholarships and programming for underserved youth in the markets where Dick spent the majority of his years in the community as the head football coach.”

If you are interested in donating to the Dick Tomey Legacy Fund, visit positivecoach.org/TomeyFund to designate the Hawaii, Arizona, or Bay Area chapter as the beneficiary.

***

5/12/19 - Dick Tomey lived aloha

5/12/19 - Former players, coaches, associates remember Tomey

***

6/4/19 - Hawaii and San Jose State will play for a trophy honoring Dick Tomey

NBA transactions 2018-2019

5/4/19 - Monty Williams agrees to become Suns head coach
4/25/19 - NBA and Sacramento Kings investigating allegations against Luke Walton
4/23/19 - Suns fire Kokoskov after one season
4/13/19 - Kings quickly sign Luke Walton to multi-year deal
4/12/19 - Lakers and Luke Walton agree to part ways after three seasons
4/12/19 - Sacramento fire Dave Joerger
4/11/19 - Larry Drew and Cavaliers agree to part ways
4/9/19 - Magic Johnson steps down as Lakers president of operations
3/1/19 - Pau Gasol to join Bucks after Spurs buyout
3/1/19 - Bledsoe agrees to stay with Bucks for four years, $70 million
2/15/19 - New Orleans to part ways with GM Dell Demps
2/14/19 - Markieff Morris to sign with Oklahoma City
2/13/19 - Enes Kanter chooses to sign with Portland
2/11/19 - Jeremy Lin to join Toronto from Atlanta after buy-out
2/8/19 - NBA Trade Deadline Roundup
2/7/19 - Wesley Mathews to be released by Knicks and will sign with Indiana
2/7/19 - Clippers trade Mike Muscala to Lakers for Michael Beasley and Ivica Zubac
2/7/19 - Philadelphia trading Markelle Fultz to Orlando for Jonathan Simmons, first-round pick (Oklahoma City) and second-round pick (Cleveland)
2/7/19 - Memphis trades Garrett Temple and JaMychal Green to Clippers for Avery Bradley
2/7/19 - Toronto lands Marc Gasol from Memphis for Jonas Valaciunas, Delon Wright, CJ Miles, and 2024 secound-round pick
2/7/19 - Rockets trade Nick Stauskas and Wade Baldwin to Pacers and a second round pick to get below the luxury tax.  Pacers will waive Stauskas and Baldwin
2/7/19 - Milwaukee trades for Nikola Mirotic from New Orleans for Stanley Johnson and Jason Smith and four second-round picks / Detroit trades Stanley Johnson to Milwaukee for Thon Maker / So Milwaukee gets Mirotic (from New Orleans).  Detroit gets Maker (from Milwaukee).  New Orleans gets Stanley Johnson (from Detroit) and Jason Smith and four-second rounders (from Milwaukee).
2/6/19 - Chicago is trading Jabari Parker and Bobby Portis to Washington for Otto Porter
2/6/19 - Dallas trades Harrison Barnes to Sacramento for Justin Jackson and Zach Randolph
2/6/19 - New Orleans trades Wesley Johnson to Washington for Markieff Morris
2/6/19 - Detroit trades Reggie Bullock to Lakers for Svi Mykhauiluk and future second round pick
2/6/19 - Houston receives Iman Shumpert from Kings and Nick Stauskas and Wade Baldwin from the Cleveland.  Cavaliers receive Brandon Knight and Marquese Chriss from the Rockets.  Kings receive Alec Burks and second round pick from Cleveland.
2/6/19 - Miami trading Tyler Johnson and Wayne Ellington to Phoenix for Ryan Anderson (and his contract)
2/6/19 - Clippers trade Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, Mike Scott to Philadelphia for Wilson Chandler, Mike Muscala, Landry Shamet, 2020 first-round (lottery protected), 2021 first-round (unprotected), 2021 second round, 2021 second round.
2/4/19 - Cleveland trades Rodney Hood to Portland for Nik Stauskas and Wade Baldwin and two future second rounders
1/31/19 - Knicks trade Porzingis, Courtney Lee, Tim Hardaway Jr., Trey Burke to Dallas for Dennis Smith Jr., DeAndre Jordan (expiring contract), Wes Matthews (expiring contract), and two future first-round draft picks
1/28/19 - Anthony Davis says he won't re-sign with New Orleans and requests trade
1/21/19 - Rockets to pay Chicago to take Carmelo Anthony (who will then waive him) [and rights to Jon Diebler] / and get rights to Tadija Dragicevic
1/6/19 - Minnesota fires Tom Thibodeau as president head coach (why?)
1/3/19 - Chicago trades Justin Holiday to Memphis for Marshon Brooks, Wayne Selden, 2019 and 2020 second round picks / Chicago waives Cameron Payne
12/24/18 - Rockets sign Austin Rivers
12/15/18 - Wizards trade Kelly Oubre and Austin Rivers to Suns for Trevor Ariza
12/7/18 - Bucks trade Dellavdova, John Henson, 2021 first and second round pick for George Hill and Sam Dekker / Wizards trade Jason Smith and second round pick to Milwaukee for Dekker
12/4/18 - Bulls fire Fred Hoiberg
11/28/18 - Kyle Korver traded by Cleveland to Utah for Alec Burks and two second-round picks
11/15/18 - Houston to part ways with Carmelo Anthony
11/10/18 - Minnesota trading Jimmy Butler and Justin Patton to Philadelphia for Robert Covington, Dario Saric, Jerryd Bayless, and 2022 second-round pick
11/5/18 - Jeff Bzdelik to return to Houston as defensive coordinator
11/3/18 - Tyson Chandler to be bought out by Phoenix and is headed to the Lakers
10/28/18 - Tyronn Lue fired after going 0-6
10/11/18 - Tex Winter passes away at 96
10/8/18 - Suns fire G.M. Ryan McDonough
9/23/18 - Six intriguing players
9/22/18 - Karl-Anthony Towns signs 5-year, max extension ($158 million - $190 million)
9/17/18 - Dwyane Wade will return
9/10/18 - Luol Deng agrees to minimum deal with Minnesota
9/7/18 - Hall of Fame highlights: Ray Allen, Steve Nash, Grant Hill, Tina Thompson, Don Nelson
9/1/18 - Lakers reach buyout agreement with Luol Deng
8/30/18 - Rockets send Ryan Anderson and D'Anthony Melton to Suns for Marquese Chriss and Brandon Knight
8/30/18 - David West retires
8/28/18 - Ginobili retires
8/7/18 - Carmelo verbally agrees to joins Rockets / it's official
7/27/18 - Clint Capela to re-sign with Houston for five years, $90 million
7/26/18 - Vince Carter to join Hawks for 1 year, $2.4 million
7/24/18 - Kevin Love signs 4 year, $120 million extension with Cleveland
7/22/18 - Alex Len to sign with Atlanta for two years, $8.5 million
7/21/18 - Montrezl Harrell to remain with Clippers for two years, $12 million
7/20/18 - Michael Beasley to join Lakers for one year, $3.5 million
7/19/18 - Carmelo Anthony and protected first round pick traded from Oklahoma City to Atlanta for Dennis Schroder and Mike Muscala / Muscala will then go to Philadelphia, Justin Anderson will go the Hawks, Carmelo will be bought out, Luwawu-Cabarrot will head to OKC
7/19/18 - Marcus Smart agrees to stay with Celtics for four years, $52 million
7/18/18 - Spurs trade Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green to Toronto for DeMar DeRozan, Jakob Poetl, and protected first-round pick
7/17/18 - Sacramento trades Garrett Temple to Memphis for Ben McLemore, Deyonta Davis, future second-round pick
7/14/18 - Jabari Parker agrees to $40 million, two year deal with Bulls
7/14/18 - Nets to sign Shabazz Napier to two year deal
7/14/18 - Channing Frye headed back to Cleveland for the minimum
7/12/18 - Isaiah Thomas headed to Denver for 1 year, minimum deal
7/12/18 - Jeremy Lin and future second round pick traded from Nets to Atlanta for future second round pick and rights to Isaia Cordinier
7/12/18 - Denver sends Kenneth Faried, Darrell Arthur, 2019 first round pick, future second round pick to Nets for Isaiah Whitehead (clearing $21 million in salary for Nuggets)
7/918 - Luc Mbah a Moute re-signs with Clippers for 1 year, $4.3 million
7/8/18 - Brook Lopez signs with Bucks for 1 year, $3.4 million
7/8/18 - Zaza Pachulia to join Pistons for 1 year, $2.4 million
7/7/18 - Three team trade: Biyombo from Orlando to Charlotte, Mozgov from Charlotte to Orlando, Jerian Grant from Chicago to Orlando, Julyan Stone from Charlotte to Chicago
7/7/18 - Suns sign Devin Booker to max extension of five years, $158 million
7/7/18 - Jazz waive Jerebko, to sign with Warriors
7/6/18 - Bulls to match Kings four year, $80 million offer sheet for Zach LaVine
7/6/18 - Kyle Anderson signs four year, $37 million offer sheet with Grizzlies / Spurs won't match
7/6/18 - Nurkic staying with Portland for four years, $48 million
7/6/18 - Tony Parker to join Hornets after 17 seasons with Spurs
7/3/18 - Dwight Howard to sign with Washington for tax MLE
7/3/18 - Jeff Green to join Wizards for 1 year, $2.5 million
7/3/18 - Tyreke Evans signs with Indiana for 1 year, $12 million
7/3/18 - Denver trades Wilson Chandler and future second-round pick to Philadelphia to save $50 million
7/3/18 - Keeping up with the Lakers
7/2/18 - Avery Bradley to re-sign with Clippers for two years, $25 million
7/2/18 - DeMarcus Cousins to sign with Golden State for 1 year, $5.3 million / Lakers passed?
7/2/18 - J.J. Redick re-signs with Philadelphia for 1 year, $12-$13 million
7/2/18 - Derrick Favors re-signing with Utah for 2 years, $36 million
7/2/18 - Julius Randle to sign with New Orleans for 2 years, $18 million
7/2/18 - Rajon Rondo to sign with Lakers for 1 year, $9 million
7/2/18 - Nerlens Noel signs with Oklahoma City for two years at the minimum
7/1/18 - Elfrid Payton signs one year deal with New Orleans
7/1/18 - JaVale McGee signs with Lakers for 1 year, minimum
7/1/18 - Aaron Gordon re-signs with Magic for four years, $84 million
7/1/18 - Mario Hezoja signs with Knicks for 1 year, $6.5 million
7/1/18 - Lance Stephenson signs with Lakers for 1 year, $4.5 million
7/1/18 - Kentavious Caldwell-Pope re-signs with Lakers for 1 year, $12 million
7/1/18 - LeBron decides to sign with Lakers for 4 years, $153 million
6/30/18 - DeAndre Jordan agrees to go to Dallas for one year, $24.1 million
6/30/18 - Trevor Ariza leaving Rockets for Suns for one year, $15 million
6/30/18 - Rudy Gay to re-sign with Spurs for one year, $10 million
6/30/18 - Ersan Ilyasova to join Bucks for three years, $21 million
6/30/18 - Chris Paul returning to Rockets for four years $160 million
6/30/18 - Will Barton to remain with Denver for four years $50 million
6/30/18 - Kevin Durant agrees to stay with Warriors for two years $61.5 million
6/30/18 - Paul George agrees to re-sign with OKC for four years $137 million
6/29/18 - Enes Kanter exercises $18.6 million player option to remain with Knicks
6/27/18 - Clippers trade Austin Rivers to Wizards for Marcin Gortat
6/25/18 - Denver to re-sign Nikola Jokic to five-year $146.5 million max contract / $148 million
6/20/18 - Atlanta trades Dwight Howard to Brooklyn for Timofey Mozgov and two future second-round draft picks
6/15/18 - Toronto promotes Nick Nurse to head coach
6/11/18 - Detroit and Dwayne Casey agree on five year deal
6/7/18 - Bryan Colangelo and 76ers part ways over twitter controversy
5/17/18 - Budenholzer agrees to become Milwaukee's head coach
5/12/18 - Toronto fires Dwayne Casey
5/11/18 - Atlanta hires Philadelphia assistant Lloyd Pierce as head coach
5/10/18 - Charlotte hires James Borrego as new head coach
5/7/18 - Pistons part ways with Stan Van Gundy
5/3/18 - David Fizdale agrees to become Knicks head coach
5/2/18 - Phoenix hires Igor Kokoskov as head coach
4/25/18 - Atlanta and Mike Budenholzer agree to part ways

Kameron Ng accepts the challenge

In one move, Kameron Ng fulfilled a childhood dream and accepted a basketball challenge.

Ng of St. Francis School will join the University of Hawaii men’s basketball team. He said he received his acceptance letter from UH last week.

“It was exciting to finally make a decision where I’m playing next year,” said Ng, who was the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s All-State player of the year for the 2018-19 season. “For it to be at home, in front of my friends and family, it’s even more special. I’m excited.”

Ng had been exploring the options of enrolling at Loyola Marymount, Portland or a prep academy. Instead, he decided to accept an offer to join the Rainbow Warriors as a walk-on. “UH is the best spot for me,” Ng said.

2019 NFL Draft

4/27/19 - Seattle selects John Ursua in the seventh round
4/26/19 - Jahlani Tavai taken in second round by Detroit
4/25/19 - Kyler Murray, Nick Bosa, Quinnen Williams, Clelin Ferrell, Devin White top picks in draft
4/24/19 - Jahlani Tavai is nearing his dream
4/23/19 - John Ursua hoping to catch on
4/22/19 - Three round mock draft

2020 commitments

4/23/19 - Jordan Botelho, LB, St. Louis orally commits to Notre Dame

Zion Williamson named AP player of the year

Duke big man Zion Williamson might not win a national championship, but he’s going to end the year with plenty of awards. In a not-so-shocking decision, Williamson was named the men’s basketball player of the year by the Associated Press on Friday.

The voting was not particularly close. In fact, in its tweet announcing the news, the Associated Press called Williamson’s win a landslide.

Williamson claimed 59 of 64 possible votes from AP Top-25 voters. His teammate, R.J. Barrett, earned two votes. D’Andre Hunter, Cassius Winston and Ja Morant each received one vote.

The decision should come as no surprise considering the 18-year-old Williamson dominated college basketball throughout the season. He averaged 22.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game during his freshman year at Duke.

Williamson isn’t expected to remain at Duke for long. He’s considered the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA draft.

Despite Williamson’s strong season, Duke came up short in the NCAA tournament. The team made it to the Elite 8 before dropping a tight 68-67 game against Michigan State.

$430 Million Dollar Man

The Los Angeles Angels never had any intention of letting Mike Trout hit free agency following the 2020 season, and the massive contract extension they have reportedly agreed to with the star outfielder proves that.

ESPN’s Jeff Passan reports that Trout and the Angels are finalizing a 12-year contract that is worth an eye-popping $430 million. The deal is the largest for any player in professional sports history. Trout will be paid an average annual salary of around $36 million, which tops Zack Greinke’s previous record average of $34.4 million with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The total dollar value is $100 million greater than the 13-year, $330 million deal Bryce Harper just signed with the Philadelphia Phillies.

Trout’s new deal will add 10 additional years to the two he has remaining on the six-year, $144.5 million deal he previously signed.

The Angels have made the playoffs just once during Trout’s eight major league seasons, and there was some concern that he might consider leaving the team because of that. Harper had been openly recruiting him to Philadelphia, which is located fairly close to Trout’s hometown in New Jersey.

Trout is perennial MVP candidate and arguably the best player in baseball. The 27-year-old has a career batting average of .307, 240 career home runs, and a career OPS of .989.

***

underpaid?

June Jones in Canada (and Johnny Manziel)

[3/17/19] Manziel to play in AAF

[2/27/19] Manziel released by Montreal

[12/11/18] June Jones steps aside to allow Orlondo Steinauer to become head coach

[7/22/18] Manziel traded to Montreal

[6/16/18] Hamilton Tiger-Cats begin season with Manziel on the bench

***

[8/2/17] Former University of Hawaii head football coach June Jones has been named the assistant head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League.

“It’ll be fun,” Jones told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser this morning.

Jones said he departs for Canada on Thursday night.

He will remain as the athletic director of development for Saint Louis School, a position he began in December.

Ryan Blangiardi, who was named associate athletic director two weeks ago, will continue to handle the day-to-day operations at Saint Louis.

Jones was UH’s head coach from 1999 through the Warriors’ 2008 Sugar Bowl appearance.

[8/24/17] June Jones promoted to head coach after three weeks on the job

[8/28/17] Art Briles to join Hamilton staff

[8/29/17] Art Briles will not be joining Hamilton staff

[8/29/17] Hamilton worked out Johnny Manziel (but it didn't work out)

[9/14/17] June Jones, 2-0

[12/28/17] CFL opens door for Johnny Manziel

[5/19/18] Johnny Manziel signs with Hamilton (and June Jones)

[5/26/18] Manziel is only the latest project for June Jones

MLB rule changes

Major League Baseball and the MLB Players Association have reached an agreement on several rules changes that will be implemented over the next two seasons, the two organizations announced Thursday.

A single trade deadline, an All-Star game election day and a $1 million Home Run Derby prize will be introduced in 2019. The 2020 season will then bring a new roster structure designed to give more players a chance to shine, while lessening wear and tear on others. The much-talked-about three-batter minimum? It’s not coming this year, but it could in 2020.

Michelle Wie engaged

Michelle Wie is engaged!

On Sunday, the golfer, 29, announced that her boyfriend Jonnie West popped the question.

“My person for life!!!!!!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ #WieGoesWestthis link opens in a new tab @jonniewest4” Wie captioned a slideshow of photos from the moment West — the son of former Lakers star Jerry West — proposed in San Francisco.

In the first photo, West, 30, can be seen smiling up at Wie while down on one knee.

In the next photo, both Wie and West smiled at the camera, with the golf star showing off her massive engagement ring by placing her hand over West’s shoulder.

For the last shot, the lovebirds shared a sweet embrace with a beautiful garden of pink and red flowers in the background.

Rivera, Halladay, Martinez, Mussina voted into Hall of Fame

All-time saves leader Mariano Rivera became the first person to earn unanimous selection to the Baseball Hall of Fame when he was named on all 425 ballots submitted by the National Baseball Writers’ Association of America.

The voting tabulations were announced Tuesday by Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson on the MLB Network.

Rivera was joined by starting pitchers Roy Halladay and Mike Mussina and designated hitter Edgar Martinez as part of the 2019 class to be inducted in Cooperstown, N.Y. on July 21.

“Amazing, amazing,” Rivera said in an interview on the MLB Network. “I have to say thank god for that. It was a beautiful, long career, and to end up with this is amazing.”

Rivera and the late Halladay both made the Hall of Fame on their first attempt. Halladay and Martinez each received 85.4 percent of the votes while Mussina was named on 76.7 percent of the ballots. The requirement for induction is 75 percent.

Mussina was chosen in his sixth time on the ballot, while Martinez was chosen on his 10th and final season on the BBWAA ballot.

Rivera recorded a record 652 saves, Halladay pitched the second no-hitter in postseason history, Mussina won 15 or more times in 11 seasons, and Martinez topped a .300 batting average in 10 full seasons.

Halladay’s life tragically ended at the age of 40 on Nov. 7, 2017, in a plane crash near Tampa, Fla. A report by the National Transportation Safety Board stated the plane Halladay was piloting climbed sharply in the final seconds before plunging into the water.

The quartet joins outfielder/designated hitter Harold Baines and right-handed reliever Lee Smith in the 2019 induction class. Baines and Smith were chosen by the Today’s Game Era Committee in December.

Among those falling short of induction were pitchers Curt Schilling (60.9 percent) and Roger Clemens (59.5 percent) and outfielders Barry Bonds (59.1 percent) and Larry Walker (54.6 percent).

The candidacies of both Clemens and Bonds have been controversial due to suspicions they used illegal performance-enhancing drugs during their careers.

The right-handed Rivera was part of five World Series championship teams with the Yankees during a career that spanned 19 seasons from 1995-2013.

Rivera went 82-60 with a 2.21 ERA in 1,115 appearances (10 starts).

The 13-time All-Star saved 40 or more games on nine occasions, topped by 53 in 2004.

Rivera stepped up his performance in the postseason with a microscopic 0.70 ERA and 42 saves in 96 appearances. He had 11 saves and a 0.99 ERA in 24 World Series appearances.

His rise into the best reliever in baseball history nearly never happened as he grew up in Panama and was working on his father’s fishing boat. At age 20, he was signed by a Yankees scout and began his trek toward the majors.

“There will be many more great and talented relief pitchers, but there will never be another like him,” Yankees managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. “This is another incredible achievement for Mariano, and a day like today brings me great pride knowing he wore the Pinstripes for each and every game of his remarkable career.”

Halladay went 203-105 with a 3.38 ERA and 2,117 strikeouts in 416 games (390 starts) for the Toronto Blue Jays (1998-2009) and Philadelphia Phillies (2010-13). The eight-time All-Star tossed 67 complete games, including 20 shutouts.

Halladay is one of just six pitchers to win the Cy Young Award in both leagues. The right-hander won the American League honor with the Blue Jays in 2003 and the National League award with the Phillies in 2010.

Halladay threw a perfect game against the then-Florida Marlins in 2010. His postseason no-hitter occurred against the Cincinnati Reds in the 2010 NL Division Series.

Halladay’s widow, Brandy, released a statement through the Phillies shortly after learning of her late husband’s upcoming enshrinement.

“His goal was to be successful every single day of his 16-year career,” Brandy Halladay said.
“Tonight’s announcement is the end result of that effort. If only Roy were here to personally express his gratitude for this honor, what an even more amazing day this would be. I would like to extend special thanks to the baseball writers for the overwhelming percentage of votes that Roy received in his first year on the ballot. It means so much to me, (and sons) Braden and Ryan.”

The only other pitcher in postseason history to throw a no-hitter in the postseason is Don Larsen, who threw a perfect game for the Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956.

Martinez spent his entire 18-year career with the Seattle Mariners from 1987-2004 and was a seven-time All-Star.

Martinez won two AL batting crowns — hitting .343 in 1992 and .356 in 1995 — and drove in more than 100 runs six times. He established career highs of 37 homers and 145 RBIs in 2000.

Martinez was primarily a designated hitter beginning with the 1995 campaign, and that affected his candidacy in previous years.

“I had nervous energy all day, I had to go work out,” a relieved Martinez said on MLB Network. “When you’re expecting something of this magnitude, it works in your mind pretty much all day.”

Overall, Martinez had 2,247 hits, 309 homers and 1,261 RBIs in 2,055 games with Seattle.
Mussina went 270-153 with a 3.68 ERA and 2,813 strikeouts in 18 seasons with the Baltimore Orioles (1991-2000) and New York Yankees (2001-08).

“Surprising somewhat. It was a pretty big jump from last year to this year,” Mussina said on MLB Network of earning induction. “I knew it was going to be close, but it’s pretty cool.”

Mussina was a five-time All-Star — all with the Orioles — and also won seven Gold Glove awards. He finished his career with a lone 20-win campaign when he went 20-9 for the Yankees at age 39, his final season.

“Moose was the most intelligent pitcher I ever caught,” former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada said in a statement. “He made catching fun because he was so well prepared. When we took the field together, he was always two steps ahead of everyone else wearing a uniform. This special recognition is well deserved. Congrats Moose.”

Baines accumulated 2,866 hits, 384 homers and 1,628 RBIs in a career (1980-2001) in which he served as designated hitter for 1,643 of 2,830 games played. He spent the first 9 1/2 seasons of his career with the Chicago White Sox (he later had two more stints with the club) and also played for the Texas Rangers, Oakland Athletics, Orioles and Cleveland Indians.

Smith pitched in the majors from 1980-97, and his 478 career saves rank third all-time behind Rivera and Trevor Hoffman (601). He spent his first eight seasons with the Chicago Cubs and also pitched for the Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, California Angels, Cincinnati and the Montreal Expos.

UFC 232: Nunes stuns Cyborg, Jon Jones stops Gustafsson

Amanda Nunes pulled off one of the most surprising wins in mixed martial arts history when she left the world’s most feared female fighter face-down on the canvas.

Jon Jones merely did exactly what everyone expects him to do whenever he manages to get out of his own way.

Nunes knocked out Cris “Cyborg” Justino 51 seconds into the first round at UFC 232 on Saturday night, ending the featherweight champion’s 13-year unbeaten run in spectacular fashion.

Jones also reclaimed his light heavyweight title in his return from a 17-month cage absence. The two-time champ stopped Alexander Gustafsson with strikes on the ground in the third round.

Nunes (17-4), the UFC’s bantamweight champion, made history after she fearlessly moved up 10 pounds to challenge Justino (20-2), widely considered the most accomplished female fighter in MMA.

The undersized underdog dominated her fellow Brazilian from the start, buckling Justino’s knees and knocking her down twice before landing the overhand right that ended it.

“Nothing was going to stop me from what I wanted to do tonight,” Nunes said. “When she connected with a couple of punches, I just said, ‘I’m going to walk right through her.’”

Nunes is the third fighter in UFC history to hold two title belts simultaneously, joining Conor McGregor and Daniel Cormier.

“I knew this was happening, I told you all!” Nunes said. “I’m the new ‘champ-champ.’ I said that before, and now I’m just achieving this dream.”

Just six days after the UFC moved the entire 232 card from Las Vegas to the famous Forum south of downtown Los Angeles, Jones (23-1, 1 no-contest) closed the show with a methodical dismantling of Gustafsson (18-5). The bout was a rematch of Jones’ toughest fight, a thrilling decision in 2013 over Gustafsson.

But in Jones’ first bout since completing his second drug-related suspension, the star picked apart Gustafsson with kicks in the first two rounds. He got a takedown in the third and finished the fight with several brutal shots to Gustafsson’s head on the ground.

“It was always about being the champion again,” Jones said. It was never about the opponent, nothing personal. I’m just happy with my belt, and for now I want to go back to the gym and improve my game.”

The UFC made the extraordinary decision to move its show 280 miles to California during a holiday week just to keep Jones on the card. The former champion recently tested positive for low levels of a banned steroid, but California regulatory officials didn’t consider the result serious enough to keep the long-troubled star out of the octagon, while Nevada’s commission did.

The 31-year-old Jones had fought only twice in the previous 47 months, losing an enormous chunk of his fighting prime due to his misbehavior. He held the UFC’s 205-pound title twice before, but had it stripped both times.

Jones returned from his first doping suspension with a stoppage of Cormier in July 2017 to reclaim his light heavyweight title, but lost the belt again after testing positive for steroids.

A capacity crowd of 15,862 in Southern California watched another groundbreaking achievement by Nunes, the ferocious brawler who calls herself “The Lioness.” Nunes also knocked out Ronda Rousey in less than a minute two years ago, and she has victories over bantamweight champion Miesha Tate and future 125-pound champion Valentina Shevchenko.

Nunes’ punching power is often too much for her male sparring partners, and she carved up Justino with astonishing ease despite a size disadvantage. Justino had won 20 consecutive fights since her MMA debut in 2005, and she had dominated since the inception of the UFC’s 145-pound division, which was created largely as a showcase for Cyborg’s talent.

“I know I hit hard, but sometimes you never know,” Nunes said. “When I hit her, I could see she got rung a little bit. I’m thinking, ‘I’m going to be fast, I’m going to move my head, and I know I’m going to get a knockout.’”

Earlier, Australian featherweight prospect Alexander Volkanovski (19-1) won his 16th straight bout in the PPV opener, stopping veteran Chad Mendes with right hands in the second round of a back-and-forth bout. Michael Chiesa also won his welterweight debut with a second-round submission of former champ Carlos Condit, who lost his fifth straight fight.

Former UFC lightweight champion BJ Penn tapped out for the first time in his MMA career, losing to Brazilian jiu-jitsu whiz Ryan Hall on a heel hook in the first round. Penn (16-13-2), an MMA pioneer who turned 40 this month, is 0-6-1 in his last seven fights since 2010.

Despite the late move to LA, the UFC sold out the Forum after just six days of ticket sales. The crowd included Justino friend Halle Berry, Dolph Lundgren, David Spade, NL MVP Christian Yelich of the Milwaukee Brewers, Travis Barker, Mick Foley and Amber Valletta.

NFL trades and deals 2018

12/31/18- Six head coaches fired on Black Monday: Marvin Lewis (Cincinnati), Adam Gase (Miami), Vance Joseph (Denver), Steve Wilks (Arizona), Dirk Koetter (Arizona), Todd Bowles (New York Jets)
12/3/18 - Packers fire head coach Mike McCarthy
12/1/18 - Kansas City releases Kareem Hunt after video surfaces
11/4/18 - Arizona releases Sam Bradford
10/30/18 - Detroit trades Golden Tate to Philadelphia for third round pick
10/30/18 - Denver trades Demaryius Thomas to Houston for fourth round and seven round pick
10/29/18 - Cleveland fires Hue Jackson
9/1/18 - Khalil Mack traded by Oakland to Chicago for two first-round picks / to sign six-year $141 million extension
8/29/18 - Jets trade Teddy Bridgewater to Saints
8/29/18 - Aaron Rodgers signs four year extension worth $134 million
7/25/18 - Baker Mayfield signs four year rookie contract for $33 million
7/25/18 - Todd Gurley signs extension for four years, $60 million ($45 million guaranteed)
4/4/18 - Ravens sign RG3
4/3/18 - Rams trade first round and sixth round picks to New England for Brandin Cooks and fourth round pick
3/28/18 - NFL simplifies the catch rule
3/17/18 - Jets trade up to no. 3 (first round) sending no. 6 (first round), two second-round picks and a second-round pick in 2019 to Indianapolis
3/17/18 - Michael Crabtree signs with Baltimore for three-years, $21 million
3/16/18 - Detroit signs LeGarrette Blount
3/15/18 - Jordy Nelson signs with Raiders for two years, $15 million, release Michael Crabtree, sign Doug Martin
3/15/18 - Kirk Cousins signs with Vikings for three years, $84 million
3/14/18 - Bills sign A.J. McCarron to two-year deal
3/14/18 - Teddy Bridgewater signs with Jets
3/13/18 - Packers release Jordy Nelson, to sign Jimmy Graham
3/13/18 - Sam Bradford to sign with Arizona
3/13/18 - Case Keenum to sign with Denver
3/10/18 - Richard Sherman signs with 49ers for three years, $39 million
3/10/18 - Tyrod Taylor traded from Buffalo to Cleveland for third round pick
3/9/18 - Jarvis Landry traded from Miami to Cleveland for 2018 fourth round pick and 2019 seventh round pick
2/8/18 - 49ers sign Garoppolo for five years $137.5 million, (a new record of $27.5 million per year)
1/31/18 - Chiefs trade Alex Smith to Washington

2018 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football

12/25/18 - John Ursua to go pro
12/22/18 - Hawaii stymied by Louisiana Tech in Hawaii Bowl [8-6]
12/20/18 - 13 sign with Hawaii: Zach Bowers LB, Zach Daniel QB, Cortez Davis CB, Steven Fiso U, Tauivi Ho Ching LB, Arasi Mose OL, Darius Muasau LB, Tiger Peterson DB, James Phillips SB, Jared Smart WR, Melquise Stovall Rec, Mason Vega DE, Kaimana Bubba Wa'a OL
12/17/18 - Arasi Mose, OL, St. Louis and Mason Vega, DL, Chaffey College commit to Hawaii
12/10/18 - Hawaii to face Louisiana Tech in Hawai'i Bowl
11/30/18 - Ursua named All-Mountain West
11/24/18 - San Diego State upset by Hawaii in OT 30-31 [8-5]
11/19/18 - Should Cordeiro play Saturday?
11/17/18 - Cordeiro leads Hawaii to miracle comeback over UNLV 35-28 [7-5]
11/17/18 - Warriors looking to qualify for Hawaii Bowl on senior night
11/16/18 - The Hawaii senior class
11/4/18 - Jahlani Tavai out for season with shoulder injury
11/4/18 - Vince Manuwai dies at 38
11/3/18 - Hawaii run over by Utah State 56-17 [6-5]
10/30/18 - Hawaii hosts nationally ranked Utah State
10/27/18 - Fresno State overwhelms Hawaii 50-20 [6-4]
10/20/18 - Hawaii executed by for Nevada 22-40 [6-3]
10/17/18 - Rolovich appreciates Nevada
10/14/18 - Hawaii hosts Nevada
10/13/18 - BYU blows out Hawaii 49-23 [6-2]
10/13/18 - It's Rolo's turn to try to beat BYU in Provo
10/8/18 - Chevan Cordeiro never wavered in his pledge
10/6/18 - Cordeiro leads Hawaii past Wyoming 17-14 [6-1]
10/6/18 - Memorable victories at Aloha Stadium
10/4/18 -  Tuileta the scout
9/29/18 - San Jose State outlasted by Hawaii 41-44 in 5 OTs [5-1]
9/22/18 - Hawaii 42, Duquesne 21 [4-1]
9/21/18 - Current Warriors remember 2007
9/17/18 - Hawaii hosts Duquesne in homecoming game
9/15/18 - Army 28, Hawaii 21 [3-1]
9/8/18 - Hawaii 43, Rice 29 [3-0]
9/1/18 - Hawaii 59 Navy 41 [2-0] (youtube / highlights)
8/31/18 - Ivin Jasper couldn't be more thankful / The Jasper family went through a difficult time
8/30/18 - There is little stopping Navy's Malcolm Perry
8/29/18 - Once We Were Rainbow Warriors by Brian Derby
8/27/18 - Hawaii hosts Navy / CFN prediction
8/25/18 - Hawaii holds off Colorado State 43-34 [1-0] / McDonald breaks Rolovich record (youtube)
8/22/18 - Colorado State's miracle stadium
8/21/18 - Warriors open season at Colorado State at 14-point underdogs
8/21/18 - The run and shoot was hard to stop (video)
8/20/18 - How Larry Price stopped the run and shoot
8/19/18 - Welcome back, run and shoot
8/19/18 - Ron Lee had seen enough
8/15/18 - Borden, Hensley, Choi, Tavai voted as captains
8/13/18 - position preview: Running Backs
8/10/18 - position preview: Offensive Line
8/9/18 - Corey Batoon has begun Phase 3
8/8/18 - position preview: Receivers
8/6/18 - position preview: Special Teams
8/6/18 - Warriors football TV schedule
8/5/18 - Warriors go back to move forward
8/3/18 - position preview: Defensive Line
8/3/18 - Colt Brennan stops by
8/1/18 - position preview: Secondary
7/31/18 - Mouse Davis invited to consult
7/31/18 - position preview: Linebackers
7/29/18 - Mountain West capsules
7/29/18 - Joseph Ward comes out of nowhere
7/29/18 - Media Guide: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015
7/22/18 - Rolo steers back for a fresh start to 2018
6/26/18 - Timoteo no longer on scholarship
6/13/18 - Rolovich ranked 113 (out of 130) college head coaches / 108
5/31/18 - UH is in the second group
3/22/18 - First day of practice
3/18/18 - New look Warriors head into spring ball
3/16/18 - Ghobrial to succeed Chaudari
3/3/18 - Viane Moala has transferred to Utah
2/23/18 - Billy Ray Stutzmann hired as intern for the offense
2/13/18 - Mayur Chaudhari leaving Hawaii for Atlanta Falcons
2/10/18 - Warriors sign 10, but Faumui defects to Virginia
2/7/18 - Warriors get commitments from Ernest Moore, OT and Justus Tavai, DT
2/7/18 - Dru Brown headed to Oklahoma State
2/4/18 - Vanasio "Solo" Vaipulu, C, to sign with Hawaii
2/1/18 - Manase Time, S, commits to Hawaii
1/31/18 - Aaron Faumui, DL, accepts scholarship from Hawaii
1/30/18 - Gene Pryor, OL, to accept offer from Hawaii
1/27/18 - Keala Santiago leaving UH too
1/27/18 - Thomas Wade, OL, from California verbally commits
1/23/18 - Dru Brown to leave UH for family reasons
1/18/18 - Rolovich to reload the run-and-shoot
1/17/18 - Rolovich ranked no. 108
1/16/18 - Dylan Collie to transfer to earn a graduate degree after graduating in May
1/16/18 - Andre Allen hired as receivers coach, Ricky Logo hired as defensive line coach
1/16/18 - Marc Weber to be named offensive line coach
1/5/18 - Mark Banker expected to be named assistant head coach
1/5/18 - Corey Batoon loves coaching
12/31/17 - Before and after New Orleans
12/31/17 - Rolo reflects
12/30/17 - Corey Batoon hired as defensive coordinator
12/27/17 - Sean Duggan, linebackers coach, won't be returning
12/19/17 - Warriors await National Letters of Intent Day
12/21/17 - Rolovich blows the conch shell on signing day
12/18/17 - Legi Suiaunoa and Kefense Hynson to leave Hawaii for Oregon State