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FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Friday Forecast Time on Leahey & Leahey Live...

1. Rainbows vs. Sacramento State Series Record
2. Spurs vs. Hornets (Game 1 - Saturday)
3. Magic vs. Pistons (Game 1 - Saturday)
4. Technical Fouls in Cavaliers/Wizards Game 6
5. Kentucky Derby Horse
6. Saint Louis vs. Punahou Baseball

Pops: Bows 3-1, Hornets, Pistons, one (David Stern), Big Truck, Crusaders
Kanoa: Bows 4-0, Spurs, Pistons, one, Cool Coal Man, Buffanblu
Rob: 2-2, Spurs, Pistons, two, Col. John, Buffanblu
Rev. Felipe: Bows 3-1, Spurs, Pistons, Eight Belles, Buffanblu

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

It's time for the Draft Weekend Edition of Friday Forecast!

1. Green vs. Black (Warrior Spring Game) (Green = Graunke/Black = Funaki)

2. Spurs Record vs. Suns this weekend (2 Games)

3. LeBron James Over/Under 40 Pts. vs. Wizards

4. Hawaii Players drafted into the NFL

5. Jason Taylor

6. Parker McLachlin Top 15 Finish

Pops: Green, 0-2, Under (39), 4, Not Traded, Yes (1st Place)

Kanoa: Black, 0-2, Over (41), 3, Traded, Yes (1st Place)

Rob: Green, 1-1, Over (42), 4, Traded, Yes (2nd Place)

Rev. Felipe: Black, 1-1, Under (35), 4, Traded, No (17th Place)

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Chaaaaa-Hoooooo!

Friday Forecast Time on Leahey & Leahey Live!

Can DeMello win again and hear his theme music this time?

1. Rainbows vs. Nevada Baseball (4 Game Series)

2. Parker McLachlin or Dean Wilson Top 25 Finish?

3. Team Aloha Victories at Arizona Spring Classic (As many as 6, as few as 4)

4. LeBron James Over/Under 40 Pts. vs. Washington (Game One)

5. Suns @ Spurs (Game One)

6. Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra (UFC Welterweight Title)

Jim: 3-1, Yes (both), 4, Under (39 pts), Spurs, Fight will be Raided and Cancelled

Kanoa: 3-1, Yes (Parker), 4, Over (43), Spurs, GSP

Rob: 3-1, Yes (Parker), 3, Over (52), Spurs, GSP

Rev. Felipe: 2-2, No, 6, Under (29), Suns, GSP

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

It's April 11th, Felipe's Girlfriend is coming into town and it's time for Friday Forecast!!!!

1. Tiger Woods Score at the Masters
2. Rainbow Homeruns vs. New Mexico State
3. Yankees vs. Red Sox (3 Game Series)
4. Castle vs. Moanalua Baseball
5. Dallas @ Seattle (NBA Sunday)
6. Spurs @ Lakers (NBA Sunday)

Pops: -8, 1 HR, Yankees, Castle, Mavericks, Lakers
Kanoa: -8, Zero, Yankees, Castle, Mavericks, Spurs
Rob: -6, 1 HR, Boston, Castle, Seattle, Lakers
Felipe: -7, Zero, Yankees, Moanalua, Mavericks, Lakers

TIGER THE TOUGHEST?

As debated on Monday's Edition of Leahey & Leahey Live, CNNSI.COM released their list of the 25 Toughest Athletes...

Topping their list was the World's Top Ranked Golfer Tiger Woods...

Also on their list was Saint Louis Grad and Chicago Bears Center Olin Kruetz.

Who has the "Perfect Mix" of Mental and Physical Toughness?

Who is your "Toughest Athlete?"

Leave your pick on the Comments Page Below...

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Friday Forecast Time on Leahey & Leahey Live!...

1. North Carolina vs. Kansas

2. UCLA vs. Memphis

3. UH Baseball Series vs. San Jose State (4 Games)

4. Dean Wilson Top 20 Finish @ Houston Open

5. Poai Suganuma vs. Jared Hammond (Elite XC Saturday Night)

6. Warriors vs. Hornets (Sunday)

Jim: UNC, UCLA, 1-3, No, Poai, Warriors

Kanoa: UNC, UCLA, 3-1, Yes, Poai, Hornets

Rob: UNC, Memphis, 0-4, Yes, Poai, Hornets

Felipe: UNC, UCLA, 0-3, No, Poai, Warriors

Hawaii's "Greatest Hi-Lite" FINALS: Mamea vs. "Iceman"

And then there were two...

It all comes down to this boys and girls...

Leahey & Leahey Live's Greatest Hi-Lite Tournament has narrowed down to Michael Mamea's Walk-Off Homerun in 2005 to beat Curacao, giving Ewa Beach the state's only Little League World Series Championship vs. Dan Kelly's Game Winning Field Goal to beat Nevada in Reno, keeping their Perfect Season alive in 2007.

Who ya' got? Voting will run throughout the weekend...

Be sure to tune into Leahey & Leahey Live on Monday for the results and hear from representitives of both the Winner and Runner-Up.

Leave your Vote on the Comments Page Below.

UPDATE: MICHAEL MAMEA'S HOMERUN EARNS THE TITLE OF HAWAII'S GREATEST HI-LITE, EARNING 55% OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP VOTE!

MAHALO FOR VOTING AND SUPPORTING LEAHEY & LEAHEY LIVE

Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite: Semi-Finals (Iceman vs. Niko)

Leahey & Leahey Live's search for Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite continues with the Semi-Final Match-Up between Dan Kelly's Game Winning 45 Yard Field Goal to beat Nevada in 2007 against Falaniko Vitale's Knockout of Masanori Suda to claim the Icon-Sport World Middleweight Championship.

Winner meets Michael Mamea's Walk-Off Homerun to win the Little League World Series in 2005...

Who ya got? Leave your pick on the comments page below...

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Heads Up Folks!....

It's time for another edition of Friday Forecast...

1. Dean Wilson Top 10 Finish?

2. UH Baseball Series Record vs. Sacramento State

3. Rockets vs. Spurs (Sunday)

4. North Carolina vs. Louisville

5. Floyd Mayweather vs. The Big Show (Wrestlemania)

6. Frank Shamrock vs. Cung Lee (Elite XC)

Pops: No, 1-3, Spurs, UNC, Mayweather, ???

Kanoa: Yes, 2-2, Spurs, UNC, Big Show, Cung Lee

Rob: No, 3-1, Rockets, UNC, Mayweather, Shamrock

Rev. Felipe: No, 2-2, Spurs, UNC, Mayweather, Shamrock

Leave your picks on the Comment Page Below...

YATES TRADED TO PIRATES...

Right-hander Tyler Yates, a hard-throwing reliever who probably wasn't going to make the Atlanta Braves' opening day roster, was traded today to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Double-A right-hander Todd Redmond.
The 30-year-old Yates, a Kaua'i High and Hawai'i-Hilo alum, will be used as one of the Pirates' setup men, an unexpected addition to a bullpen that has been overly crowded all spring with more than a dozen relievers competing for jobs.
The Braves had the same problem, which meant Yates probably wasn't going north with them.
"They have a couple of guys out of options, (right-handers Chris) Resop and (Blaine) Boyer, who have really throw the ball well for them this spring and, as a result, they had extra pitching and we benefited from that," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said.
Yates has thrown his fastball from 92-97 mph this spring, his slider from 87-90 mph and will give the Pirates another of the power arms Huntington likes.


"He can get a strikeout and can overpower people," Huntington said.


Yates, who broke into the majors with the Mets in 2004, has a 6-12 record in three seasons. He was 2-3 with a 5.18 ERA in 75 games last season after going 2-3 with a 3.96 ERA in 56 games in 2006.

Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite: SEMI-FINALS (Tes vs. Mamea)

Auryte!...We are now into the Semi-Finals of "Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite" on Leaheyradio.Com

After getting past Tadd Fujikawa's Eagle putt on 18 at the 2007 Sony Open, Tes Whitlock's Buzzer-Beater to beat BYU in 1995 now goes up against Michael Mamea's Walk-Off homer to claim the 2005 Little League World Series Title, who beat Benn Agbayani's Walk-Off "Jack" in the 2000 N.L.D.S.

Who ya' got? Winner moves on to the Final...

Leave your Pick on the Comments Page Below.

UPDATE: MAMEA MOVES ON TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP ROUND CLAIMING 52% OF THE VOTE!

Good Friday Forecast

This week's Friday Forecast (Good Friday Edition)

1) Washington St. vs. Notre Dame
2) Will Duke Make it to Sweet 16?
3) How many more games do the baseball Rainbows win vs. Fresno St. (4 game series)?
4) How many more hits for Vinnie Catricala?
5) Does Tiger Woods win the CA Championship (would be his 6th straight PGA victory)
6) Spurs vs. Mavericks (ABC featured game)

Pops : ND, Yes, 3, 3, Yes, Mavs
Kanoa: Wazzu, Yes, 2, 3, Yes, San Antonio
Rob: Wazzu, No, 3, 5, Yes, San Antonio
The Rev: Wazzu, Yes, 2, 2, Yes, Mavs

Congratulations to last week's winners...Kaimuki Boy and Wild Wahine...both going 4-2!
Thanks for the support...and keep voting for Hawaii's Greatest Sports Highlight.

Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite: Round One (Niko vs. Costas)

The earch of Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite Continues on Leaheyradio.Com and Leahey & Leahey Live. The Final opening round match-up pits Mixed Martial arts against Men's Volleyball...As Falaniko Vitale's "Superman" Knockout of Masanori Suda in 2004 to claim the Icon Sport World Middleweight Title goes up against Costas Theochardis' Aloha Ball KILL to beat Pepperdine, Claiming the 2002 National Championship (Title was later stripped)

Who ya Got? Leave your pick on the comments page below

UPDATE: Niko moves on by K.O. earning 63% of the votes!

Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite Round One: (Iceman vs. Lan)

The Pursuit for Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite Continues with our next Round One Match-Up...


Dan "The Iceman" Kelly's 45 Yard Game-Winning Field Goal over Nevada in 2007 vs. Robert Lan's Game-Winning Fumble Return vs. Air Force in 1988.



Who ya' got?

Leave your vote on the Comment Page Below...

UPDATE: Dan Kelly moves on! earning 73% of the votes

WAIANAE WORLD CHAMPION...Kala Defeats Baroni!

Waianae is now the HOME of a WORLD-CHAMPION.
In what went down as arguably the GREATEST-MAIN-EVENT in this State's HISTORY...
Kala Kolohe Hose (6-1), the Overwhelming UNDER-DOG defeated U-F-C and Pride Veteran, Phil Baroni (10-9) to claim the Icon-Sport World-Middleweight-Championship-Tonight at the Blaisdell.
Feature-Bout on Icon's To Hell and Back Card, Went 5-Rounds...
With the LOCAL-BOY DOMINATING to snag the Vacant World-Championship STRIPPED of the Injured "RUTHLESS" Robbie Lawler.
The EPIC-Finish came 1-Minute-49-Seconds into the 5th and Final-Round when the referee stepped in...
Crowning the Former Waianae Searider-FULL-BACK as the new Icon-Sport WORLD-Middleweight Champion.
Courtesy: KITV News

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

It's that time Hawaii!

Another Edition of Friday Forecast.

1. WAC Men's Basketball Tournament Champion

2. Washington State or Field in Pac-10 Tournament

3. Chaminade/BYU-Hawaii advance to NCAA-D II Finals?

4. UH Baseball Series Record vs. #8 UC-Irvine

5. Phil Baroni vs. Kala Kolohe Hose

6. Rockets vs. Lakers (Sunday)

Pops: New Mexico State, Field, Yes, 0-3, Kala, Lakers

Kanoa: Utah State, Field, Yes, 1-2, Kala, Lakers

Rob: Boise State, Field, Yes, 1-2, Baroni, Lakers

Rev. Felipe: New Mexico State, Washington State, No, 0-3, Kala, Lakers

Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite: Round One (Benny vs. Ewa Beach)

The Pursuit for Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite Continues with our next Round One Match-Up...
Benny Agbayani's 13th Inning Walk-Off Homerun to beat San Francisco in Game 3 of the 2000 NLDS vs. Michael Memea's Walk-Off Blast to beat Curacao in the 2005 Little League World Series

The Winner faces-off with Tes WHitlock's Game-Winner vs., BYU in 1995 in the Semi-Finals...

Who ya' got? Leave your vote on the Comments Page Below.

UPDATE: Michael Mamea's Homerun Moves On! (68%)

Natasha Kai scores Goal in U.S. Women's Soccer Win!...

Hawai'i's Natasha Kai scored the United States' first goal en route to a 4-0 victory over Norway today to reach the final of the Algarve Cup in Alvor, Portugal.
The U.S. women will play Denmark Wednesday in their sixth Algarve final.
Kai, a Kahuku High and University of Hawai'i alum, got the scoring started in the second half, catching the Norwegian goalkeeper off guard. The goalkeeper placed the ball on the ground to kick it away. But Kai, stole the ball away and buried it into the net in the 55th minute.
Two minutes later, Abby Wambach tallied her second goal of the tournament. Heather O'Reilly scored in the 66th minute and Amy Rodriguez in the 90th minute.
Courtesy: Honolulu Advertiser

Round One (Tes vs. Tadd)

Leahey & Leahey Live's "Hawaii's Greatest Hi-Lite" Tournament has Officially started!

The very first Round One Match-Up pits Tes Whitlock's Game Winning 3-Pointer to beat BYU in 1995 up against Tadd Fujikawa's Eagle on 18 in Round 2 of the 2007 Sony Open, becoming the youngest player in 50-years to make the cut in a PGA Event.

Place your vote on the comments page below...

Tes or Tadd WHO YOU GOT?

UPDATE: Tes Whitlock's Buzzer-Beater Moves on after claiming 76% of the Vote.

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Friday Forecast Time on Leahey & Leahey Live...

1. UH Men's Basketball vs. New Mexico State

2. Matt Gibson Pts. vs. Aggies

3. Derrick Low Pts. on "Senior Night" vs. Washington

4. #1 North Carolina vs. #5 Duke

5. UH Baseball Series Record vs. Long Beach State (3 Games)
6. Spurs vs. Suns (Sunday)

==================================

Pops: 67-60 Aggies, 18 Pts, Duke, 5 Points, No Comment, Suns

Kanoa: 71-60 Aggies, 21 Pts, Carolina, 16 Pts, 2-1 UH, Spurs

Rob: 81-65 Aggies, 22 Pts, Duke, 24 Pts, 3-0 UH, Spurs

Rev. Felipe: 68-65 UH, 11 Pts, Duke, 10 Pts, 2-1 LBSU, Suns

Leave your picks on the Comment Page Below...

Congratulations Kaimuki Boy for winning his 2nd straight "Friday Forecast" Title!...Looks like you gotta bring some competition to Leaheyradio.Com!

Hawaii's "Greatest Hi-Lite"

Leahey & Leahey Live is trying to find out what you think is the Greatest Sports Hi-Lite in Hawaii History...Monday on L&L we took calls to see what Hi-Lite will enter the tournament.

On the comments page below please leave your choices...

Friday Forecast Time on LEAP YEAR!

1. UH Hoops vs. Boise State

2. Bobby Nash pts. vs. Broncos

3. Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson (UFC Middleweight Title)

4. State Wrestling Boys Title Champion: OIA or ILH

5. Dallas Desperados vs. Georgia Force (Arena Football)

6. Mavericks vs. Lakers

Pops: UH 68-52, 16 Pts, Silva, ILH, Dallas, Lakers

Kanoa: UH 62-55 UH, 14 Pts, Henderson, ILH, Georgia, Lakers

Rob: UH 80-69, 22 Pts, Henderson, OIA, Dallas, lakers

Rev. Felipe: BSU 77-73, 18 pts, Silva, ILH, Dallas, Mavericks

CHEE-HOOO!

Please leave your pics on the comments page below and Good Luck!

Congrats to Andrizzles for going 5-1 last week.

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

It's Friday Forecast Time @ Leaheyradio.Com!!!

Here's the Rundown:

1. Michelle Wie will have a Top 10 Finish at LPGA Fields Open

2. Iolani vs. Punahou - Div. I Girls State Basketball Championship

3. Punahou or the Field in D-I Boys State Basketball Championship (Moanalua, Kamehameha-Big Island, and Konawaena)

4. #1 Memphis vs. #2 Tennessee

5. UH Baseball Series Record vs. San Francisco (4 Game Series)
6. Pistons @ Suns (Sunday)

Jim: Yes, Iolani, Field, Memphis, Split, Detroit

Kanoa: Yes, Iolani, Field, Tennessee, Split, Suns

Rob: Yes, Punahou, Punahou, Memphis, 3-1 UH, Suns

Rev. Felipe: No, Punahou, Field, Memphis, Split, Suns

Place your picks on the Comments Page Below!

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

In the first Friday Forecast with Felipe as a Minister...
"BLESS YOU IN THIS CHALLENGE!"

1. OIA Red Division Boys Hoops Title Game: Moanalua vs. Mililani

2. UH Hoops vs. Utah State Score

3. Kimbo Slice vs. Tank Abbott (Exite XC MMA)

4. Slam Dunk Championship: Rudy Gay, Dwight Howard, Jamario Moon, Gerald Green)

5. East vs. West (NBA All-Star Game)

6. UH Baseball Series vs. UH-Hilo (Combined Hits and Runs in 3 Game Series for Rainbows)

Pops: Moanalua, USU 67-63, Tank, Rudy Gay, West, 54 Hits/32 Runs

Kanoa: Mililani, UH 64-59, Kimbo, Rudy Gay, West, 46 Hits/37 Runs

Rob: Moanalua, UH 77-63, Kimbo, Jamario Moon, West, 42 Hits,/28 Runs

Rev. Felipe: Moanalua, UH 66-55, Tank, Tank, Gerald Green, West, 30 Runs/22 Hits

Congratulations to Tombo Ahi and Big Mikey for their Victory Last-Week...

Leave your Friday Forecast Picks on the Comments Page Below...

WHAT A BABOOZE! X 2

If you really thought about it long enough, you probably could have seen this coming...FOX-TV Channel 12 in Portland is reporting that Former Warrior Defensive Line Coach and current Portland State Head Coach, Jerry Glanville (Fred von Appen Jr.) has called Kevin Hart's Fernley High School near Reno requesting film footage. Hart is the Offensive Lineman explained in a Feb. 1 school assembly that he would sign a letter of intent with Cal. But Cal never recruited him, nor did anyone else.
Hart had originally claimed that he had been duped into believing that both Cal and University of Oregon were recruiting him but later admitted it was a lie.

Is it just me or does it seem like Jerry is trying too hard to be like June and give players a "second chance" I'm pretty sure Hart is not the next Colt Brennan, Pisa Tinoisamoa, or Davone Bess.

Youtube Clip above is the AP Story of Hart's "Big Day"

WWE RETURNS TO THE "ALOHA STATE"

With the WWE making a return to the islands on Wednesday at the Blaisdell...Here's a clip of what many call the "greatest" cage match in pro-wrestling history. La'ie Boy Jimmy "Superfly" Snuka vs Sunset Beach Native, Don "The Rock" Muraco from 1983 at "the mecca" Madison Square Garden. Both wrestlers have since been inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame and both are currently living here in the 5th State.

Here are a few Confirmed Matches for Wednesday's WWE Raw Live Event (Tickets still avilable at The Blaisdell Box Office)

WWE Title Match:
Randy Orton (Champion) vs. Chris Jericho

Degeneration X (Triple H & Shawn Michales) vs. Umaga and Mr. Kennedy

ROOKIE RUNS WILD ON AFC...

They could have played this Pro Bowl on the beach with flag football rules. All of which was to the liking of Terrell Owens and Adrian Peterson.

Making up for early sloppiness, Owens caught two touchdowns passes, including a 6-yarder from Tampa Bay's Jeff Garcia for the winning points in the NFC's comeback 42-30 victory over the AFC on Sunday.

Owens was aided by Offensive Rookie of the Year Peterson, whose 129 yards rushing was the first performance of more than 100 yards since Marshall Faulk had 180 and Chris Warren added 127 in 1995. The Minnesota running back scored twice as the NFC rallied from a 24-7 deficit, earning himself MVP honors.

STRIKE UP THE BAND!...HAWAII 5-0 IS BACK!

So according to New Warrior Head Football Coach, Greg McMackin, Hawaii Five-0 will make a long awaited return to the University of Hawaii Pre-Game. Coach says he loves the song and it represents what he and his staff are trying to accomplish at UH. SO where do you stand on this? Did you like the packaged intro music created by June Jones and Mike Post? Or are you anxious to see The Warriors storm out of the Halawa Tunnel to the sound of the band ripping the Hawaii 5-0 tune?

FEARLESS LEADER ON THE WORLD WIDE LEADER...

Here's the OTL Feature on The Warrior Football Program A.J. (After June) aired on Friday...
Pretty good story despite Shelly Smith saying Ohana = Home

OTL Scavanger Hunt: Give yourself a pat on the back if you can find these things in the feature...

1. Robert Kekaula

2. Count how many times Smith mispronounces McMackin's name

3. Count how many times in the JJ interview that you wish UH would play SMU next season.

RAINBOWS ROUGHED UP IN RENO...

The University of Hawaii men's basketball team found the going rough in Reno, falling to Nevada, 88-68, Saturday afternoon at the Lawlor Events Center. The loss snapped UH's three-game win streak and dropped the Rainbow Warriors (10-12, 6-4 WAC) to fifth-place in the crowded Western Athletic Conference standings.Hawai`i remained winless in 11 all-time trips to Reno, while falling to the Wolf Pack (15-8, 7-3) for the fifth straight time.
Nevada rode the sweet stroke of its star shooting guard early, then wore down the depleted 'Bows inside in the second half. Marcelus Kemp scored 20 of this game-high 25 points in the first half to lead the Wolf Pack to a double-digit lead at the break. JaVale McGee, meanwhile, tied his career high, scoring 12 of his 20 points in the second frame as Nevada extended its lead to as many as 24 points in the second half. The sophomore also added 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Matt Gibson finished with a team-high 23 points for UH and reached a milestone during the game. Gibson's free throw with 7:49 left in the game gave him his 1000th career point as he became just the 13th player in program history to accomplish the feat. Bill Amis also gave a strong effort for the 'Bows while holding up the frontcourt with the absence of P.J. Owsley. Amis tied his career-highs with 16 points and nine rebounds and also added three blocks.
After going back-and-forth in the first five minutes, Nevada went up for good on a Kemp three-pointer at the 14:28 mark of the first half. UH hung tough for most of the half, but Kemp scored eight straight points for the Wolf Pack in the final 82 seconds to extend the Nevada lead to 44-33 going into the locker room. The 6-5 senior guard, who scored a season-high 29 points in Honolulu earlier this year, drained four three-pointers and shot 7-of-9 from the floor in the first half alone.
UH held Kemp in check in the second half, but the UH offense fizzled, scoring just four points in the opening 7:31 of the second frame. The Wolf Pack, meanwhile, went to the foul line 20 times in the second half and built its lead to as many as 24 points as they cruised to victory.
Nevada shot 61 percent from the floor and drained 11 three-pointers for the game. Hawai`i, meanwhile, shot 44 percent, but missed 13 of its 17 three-point attempts.
UH next returns home to host first-place Utah State on Saturday, Feb. 16. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawaiiathletics.com

FRIDAY FORECAST...

"And Brackets will be BUSTED!"
Another Week...Another edition of Friday Forecast!

Here's the Rundown:

1. UH Hoops vs. Nevada
2. Matt Gibson Pts vs Wolfpack
3. Parker/Dean/Tadd make cut at Pebble Beach Open
4. AFC vs. NFC (Pro Bowl)
5. Terrell Owens/Jeff Garcia completion?
6. Celtics vs. Spurs (Sunday)

Pops: Nevada, 15 Pts, Yes, NFC, Yes, Celtics
Kanoa: UH, 19 pts, Yes, NFC, No, Spurs
Rob: Nevada, 17 Pts, Yes, NFC, No, Spurs
Felipe: UH, 21 Pts, No, AFC, No, Celtics

Leave your picks on the comment page below...Congrats to Rob's Wife "Caramello" for taking Friday Forecast last week for her 2nd Career "W"

FRIDAY FORECAST...

It's the First of the Month!
And it's time for Friday Forecast!

1. UH Hoops vs. La. Tech Score
2. Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
3. Dean WIlson TOp 15 Finish @ FBR Open?
4. Giants vs. Patriots Super Bowl Score
5. Plaxico vs. Randy Moss Receiving Yards
6. Super Bowl MVP

Jim: UH 74-56, Frank Mir, Yes, 39-20 Pats, Moss 106 yds, Tom Brady
Kanoa: UH 78-61, Brock Lesnar, Yes, 35-31 Patriots, Plaxico 93 yds, Wes Welker
Rob: 63-55 UH, Brock Lesnar, No, 31-28 Patriots, Moss 48 Yards, Kevin Faulk
Felipe: 80-69 UH, Brock Lesnar, No, 42-24 Patriots, Plaxico 101 Yds, Tom Brady

SITE NEWS...

leaheyradio.com is currently undergoing construction...
We will return better than ever on February 10th.

Friday Forecast will still be updated though...So check-back on Friday!

BRENNAN STRUGGLES AT SENIOR BOWL...

Former Warrior Quarterback Colt Brennan elected "Team Captain" of the South team by his temmates, Struggled at The Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama Today. Brennan went just 2/6 for 29 yards throwing 1 interception and dropped for 2 sacks. Brennan, who drew heavy criticism for his recent weight loss (185 lbs.) has not thrown a touchdown pass in his final 2 games. Up Next for Brennan, more workouts in hopes of reaching his 205 lbs. goal before the NFL Combine in February.

KOLOHE KNOCK OUT!...

Waianae Boy Kala "Kolohe" Hose (6-1) knocked Frederic Belleton out at 4:32 of the first round at the Elite XC's SHowtime Card on Friday Night. Belleton showed a good chin but a straight right from Hose knocked Belleton straight out. Hose kept the fight standing and landed a lot of bombs before the final shot. Kala is now expected to get a "big time fight" against a top-notch middleweight on March 15th at the Blaisdell.

* We all know where Uncle Jim stands on this topic...But how do you feel about the rise of MMA in Hawaii?

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Another Week, another edition of Hawaii's Favorite Game: FRIDAY FORECAST!

1. PGA Buick Invitational Higher Finish: Dean Wilson or Parker McLachlin

2. Mililani/Roosevelt - OIA Boys Soccer Title

3. Derrick Low Over/Under 20 Pts. vs. Arizona State

4. UH Hoops vs. Idaho
5. Maria Sharapova/Ana Ivanovic (Australian Open Women's Final)

Pops: Parker, Roosevelt, Under, UH, Ivanovic

Kanoa: Parker, Mililani, Over, UH, Sharapova

Rob: Parker, Mililani, Under, UH, Sharapova

Charlie: Wilson, Mililani, Under, UH, Sharapova

Place your picks on the Comment Page Below!!!

Chow Hired as Bruins New Offensive Coordinator

After being fired by the Tennesee Titans as offensive coordinator, Chow is expected to take the same position with UCLA, say sources close to the situation. The hire is not official yet but an announcement is not expected until tomorrow.

Chow looks to improve on the Bruins passing offense that ranked last in the Pac-10.

PENN CLAIMS LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE!...

BJ Penn won the vacant UFC lightweight belt in his third attempt, breezing past a bloody Joe Stevenson in the second round tonight.
The Hilo, Hawai'i mixed martial arts star, who picked up the welterweight title in 2004, joins Randy Couture as the only two-division champions in UFC history after dominating and finally choking Stevenson (33-8) to take the 155-pound crown.
Stevenson was pummeled from the start, with Penn taking just 5 seconds to land a right uppercut that sent the Californian crashing to the mat.
"I thought I would ice him right there. I thought that was it," Penn said. "But he came back stronger."
With chants of "Easy! "Easy!" booming around the Metro Arena, Stevenson offered little resistance, with futile elbows.
"I was trying to put him away," Penn said. "He stayed strong and he was punching me real hard from back and punching hard from back.
Penn tried to finish off the former reality TV star off with a flurry of hooks, and a right elbow drew blood from Stevenson's hairline.
With blood splattered across the octagon, Stevenson — on the back of a four-win streak — adopted a dogged approach.
The wound partially cleaned up, Penn, who defied the critics who doubted his fitness, was biding his time before landing the fatal blow. Stevenson remained on his feet for 2:40 until he was sent crashing down with a left uppercut.
Both fighters were soaked in blood by the time Penn grabbed Stevenson's neck and put him in a choke hold at 4:02 at the climax of a brutal beating.
In 2002, Penn lost to Jens Pulver in a five-round bout, and the following year, nothing could separate him from Caol Uno.
Penn (13-4-1) immediately vowed to defend his title against Sean Sherk, who is serving a six-month ban after being stripped of the lightweight belt for a positive steroids test.
"He's not a bad person, there's nothing personal," Penn told reporters. "This is my life, this is my dream and I was just disappointed when all that went down .... he will be back stronger than ever."
That bout is likely to take place in Las Vegas in May when the California State Athletic Commission ban will have expired.
Sherk earlier entered the cage to say: "I don't have any respect for BJ."

On the undercard, Maui's Kendall Grove lost to Jorge Rivera of Massachusetts by TKO in the first round of a middleweight (185 pounds) bout.
Rivera scored a takedown of Grove early in the bout, then unloaded a series of punches. Grove got back to his feet, but then got dropped by a left-hand punch from Rivera.
The referee stopped it, 1:20 into the first round.
Grove, who won The Ultimate Fighter 3 reality television series, dropped to 10-5 with his second consecutive loss in the UFC. Rivera improved to 15-6.

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Another Week, Another Edition of Friday Forecast...
Here's the Rundown:

1. UH Hoops vs Fresno State
2. Kevin Love vs. OJ Mayo (Who score more on Saturday?)
3. Pearl City vs. Mililani (OIA Red Division Soccer Championship)
4. BJ Penn/ Kendall Grove in UFC (Record on Saturday)
5. NY Giants vs. Packers
6. Chargers vs. Patriots

Jim: UH, Love, Pearl City, Hates MMA!, Packers, patriots
Kanoa: UH, Mayo, 2-0, Mililani, Giants, Chargers
Rob: UH, Mayo, 2-0, Mililani, Packers, Chargers
Felipe: FSU, Love, 1-1, Pearl City, Packers, Chargers

Reinebold leaves for SMU

Hawai'i defensive line coach Jeff Reinebold yesterday accepted a job on June Jones' coaching staff at Southern Methodist.
Reinebold said he will depart for Dallas today. For now, his wife and children will keep their rental unit in Waimanalo.
Reinebold is the fourth assistant from last year's UH staff to join SMU, following Dan Morrison, Wes Suan and Dennis McKnight.
Reinebold recruited nearly the entire 2007 UH secondary — safety Jacob Patek, cornerbacks Myron Newberry and Gerard Lewis, and nickelback Ryan Mouton.

Courtesy: honoluluadvertiser.com

Norm Chow Fired by Titans

Norm Chow was fired today by the Tennessee Titans after three seasons with the team, despite earning their first trip to the playoffs since 2003. The former offensive coordinator at USC, BYU and NC State was a name mentioned for the vacant head coaching job at the University of Hawaii, though he never officially applied for the position. Had the Titans fired Chow three or four days earlier, it may have had an impact on the decision for the universities search for the next head coach.

Chow ran the 21st overall offense in the league with the Titans with 311 yards per game and nine touchdowns during the regular season.

McMackin and Lumpkin Final Two Candidates

Veteran assistant football coaches George Lumpkin and Greg McMackin were scheduled to interview today as the finalists for the Hawaii head coach position vacated by their former boss, June Jones, a source close to the situation said.
McMackin, who was Jones' defensive coordinator in a 9-4 season in 1999 and 12-1 this past year, is widely considered the leading candidate.
Lumpkin has coached at UH 35 years. The associate head coach handled the Warriors defensive ends last season. He has previously served as defensive coordinator at UH twice, and was acting head coach for several months in the offseason when Jones nearly died in a 2001 car accident. UH will likely announce a choice tomorrow.

Courtesy: starbulletin.com

Life After June: Reasons to be Optimistic in 2008

By: Joe Udell

Joe is a friend of leaheyradio.com and his column will appear in the January 18 edition of The Hawaii Herald

It has been one week since University of Hawai'i head football coach June Jones, displeased by 11th hour contract negotiations and the program's meager budget and deteriorating facilities, left the islands to become the new head football coach at Southern Methodist University. Seven days have passed since the entire state, upon hearing news of Jones' departure, bolted upright from the peaceful trance of a dream football season. And yet, contrary to initial doomsday reactions, life does go on. UH football lives on. That's not to say that Jan. 7, the day Jones' announced that he was defecting to SMU, wasn't a terrible day for everyone in Warrior Nation. The thousands of fans who were captivated by the team's perfect run to the Sugar Bowl could only shake their heads at the team's sudden fall from grace. Had Jones been offered a contract extension after the 11-and-three 2006 season, or even prior to the team's Sugar Bowl appearance this year, the Warriors would be gearing up to defend their Western Athletic Conference title, not scrambling for a new football coach. 'How could this happen?' the entire state wondered, shocked by the drastic turn of fortunes. 'What will happen to the program?'Fast forward through the protests at Kahala Mall and Bachman Hall, beyond the innumerable, scathing criticisms towards the university, past the heckling of former athletic director Herman Frazier and there is a pulse. UH football fans share many qualities: passion, cynicism and, sometimes, doubt. But their most endearing trait is their resiliency. After all, this is a group of fans that endured 10 straight defeats at the hands of Brigham Young University and 18 consecutive losses from 1997 to 1998. Ask any die-hard UH fan and he will tell you that if he can survive through the Fred vonAppen years, he can survive through anything. And that's precisely what Hawai'i fans are doing right now: Surviving. If the Jones snafu has reaffirmed anything, it is that rainbows still do appear after a rain storm (a slightly ironic thought considering it was Jones himself who abolished the endearing Rainbow moniker). It may have taken a fortnight for the UH faithful to realize it, but it has become apparently clear that the football program is not a team in disarray.This is not 1998, when the school was praying for a football savior in the wake of a winless season, and it is a far cry from the debate on whether or not the program should drop down to the Division II ranks; rather, the Warriors are coming off a Bowl Championship Series game and a full season as a nationally ranked squad. Quarterback Tyler Graunke and receivers Malcolm Lane, Greg Salas, Michael Washington and Aaron Bain are ready to take over the offense. On the other side of the ball, linebackers Blaze Soares, Adam Leonard and Solomon Elimimian will anchor a defense that was ranked second last season in the WAC. Jones, the architect of the Warriors, may be gone, but the team he built is still in a position to be successful.However, in order for the UH program to continue improving, the next head coach must follow the blueprint that Jones developed for winning in Hawai'i: Embrace the local culture, hire assistants with strong Hawai'i connections, recruit heavily in the islands and American Samoa and continue to court players with local ties as well as high character, second-chance athletes on the mainland. Mix in a handful of talented recruits who followed the team during its national television appearances and there is no reason why Hawai'i can't compete for the WAC crown on a consistent basis. For the moment, it seems that the university is following that strategy. The list of candidates for the vacant head coaching position are all qualified suitors with strong ties to Hawai'i: UH defensive coordinator Greg McMackin, former San Diego Chargers head coach Kevin Gilbride, assistant head coach at the University of Texas Duane Akina, offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans Norm Chow and UH linebackers coach Cal Lee. Along with Jones' assistant coaches Rich Miano, Ron Lee, George Lumpkin and Jeff Reinebold, who will likely remain in the islands, the 2008 Warrior squad should have every opportunity to maintain a strong semblance of continuity from the Jones-era. Of course, as Herman Frazier proved this year, having a talented coach amounts to little if the athletic director is not proactive enough to fill out a football schedule and extend coaching contracts. What is encouraging, at least, is that UH looks like it has learned its lesson from Frazier's disastrous reign. Unlike Frazier, who never acclimated himself to Hawai'i during his five-year tenure, all the candidates for the AD position are prominent Hawai'i sports figures who understand the local dynamics: former UH head coach Dick Tomey, Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director Keith Amemiya, Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl executive director Jim Donovan, KGMB senior vice president and general manager Rick Blangiardi and Hawai'i Community College Chancellor Rockne Freitas. Any of those candidates could guide UH's athletic programs into the next level and still operate seamlessly within the island culture. Whoever the future AD is, he will have a prime opportunity to restore credibility to the athletic department. Frazier's mishandling of Jones' contract, the 2007 football schedule and the Sugar Bowl ticket distribution alienated so many fans that his successor need only communicate with the media and display both competence and pro-activity - traits which should be no problem for the list of AD candidates - to regain the trust of Warrior Nation. Most importantly, the football program's slim budget and outdated facilities - issues which contributed mightily to Jones' exodus and have been the bain of the program's recruiting efforts - caused such an outrage among the fan base that it would be disastrous for the school administration and the state lawmakers not to address them. In what should be seen as a beacon of hope for Hawai'i, Jones declared in his widely-read farewell email to Frazier that 'the next guy will get everything that I have wanted as it will wake up those that have to make those decisions.' Because public sentiment is almost unanimously in favor of undoing Frazier's missteps, the tasks of the next AD will be markedly easier. The combination of a new football coach and a new athletic director will undoubtedly change several aspects of the football program. Understandably, many UH fans are concerned about the continuation of the program's tradition. Will Villi the Warrior remain in place during contests at Aloha Stadium? Will the program retain the Nike-sponsored uniforms? Will the haka and ha'a continue to be performed before kickoff? Indeed, Jones carved out a unique football culture which is now in jeopardy. While the answers to those questions still remain in limbo, whatever the atmosphere is like in the post Jones-era, the mood of Warrior Nation will be determined on the field. As long as UH continues its winning ways, which, as discussed earlier, is completely realistic, it is safe to say that whatever traditions are carried over and formed in the coming years will be met with approval by the Hawai'i faithful. Anyone who is still skeptical of the future of the Warrior program need not look further than one of Jones' lasting lessons at Manoa: Change can be a good thing. After all, Jones was the one who barred the UH fight song after Hawai'i touchdowns, who introduced the 'Warriors' to the public and who reconstructed the school logo and team uniforms. These changes may not have carried the same uncertainty as the head coaching vacancy does, but they were met with an equal amount of shock and outrage by the UH fan base. Eventually, time and winning paved the way for acceptance as Jones' Warrior culture earned a nation of believers. If history has proven anything, it is that UH football will live on. It may not live on in the same aerial, run-and-shoot form that Jones championed, but it will survive nonetheless. There is talent thriving in Manoa, lessons to be built upon and an entire state ready to offer support. Now that Hawai'i has proven that it can reach college football's brightest stage, there is no reason to believe that history can't repeat itself.

Question of the Week

Carl Clapp was named as Acting Athletic Director of the University of Hawaii replacing Herman Frazier amid public outcry for Frazier’s removal from his post. The pressures on as Clapp and the administration are expected to announce a new head coach soon, reviewing over 30 applications for the job. Add to that, the fact that the facilities have been under a microscope and Clapp certainly has his work cut out for him.
We got a great deal of responses for Theo Jones’ blog, concerning the AD position, “The Other Side” with most (if not all) people calling for the head of Herman Frazier. So, since everyone had strong feelings about the recent events at UH and (as Theo put it) the community seems to have some AD experience, we pose the question of the week:

What would be your first major move if you were named the University of Hawaii’s Athletic Director?

McLACHLIN OPENS 2008 WITH TOP 10 FINISH...

Honolulu's Parker McLachlin birdied his final hole for an even-par 70 today and finished tied for 10th in the Sony Open in Hawai'i at Waialae Country Club.
McLachlin, in his second season on the PGA Tour, finished at 6-under 274. K.J. Choi shot a 71 to finish at 266, three strokes ahead of Rory Sabbatini (68).
After a roug start — a double-bogey on the par-4 No. 3 and a bogey on the par-3 No. 7 — McLachlin settled down to birdie the par-5 No. 9 and the par-4 No. 12. He sank a four-foot birdie putt on No. 18.
McLachlin, a Punahou School and UCLA alum, was the only golfer with Hawai'i ties to play the weekend.
McLachlin's best finish on the PGA Tour was a tie for fifth at the Turning Stone Resort Championship at Verona, N.Y., last September. It was his fourth start in the Sony Open after finishing tied for 59th in 2006 and missing the cut in 2000 and 2007.
Courtesy: honoluluadvertiser.com

D-LOW GOES OFF...COUGARS LOSE

Iolani-Grad, Pre-Season All-American-Guard Derrick Low and his 4th-Ranked Washington State Cougars, were handed their first loss of the Season today, falling to Number 5 U-C-L-A, 81-74.
Pride of the Islands, Straight-Up BALLED in the 2nd-Half-Though...D-Low, held SCORELESS in the FIrst-Frame, Dropped a Team-High-24-Points, including dropping 16 straight at one point in the 2nd half.
Cougz fall to 14-1, Bruins are 16-1.

Leaheyradio.Com Question:

Is Derrick Low "good enough" to play in the NBA?

UH Releases Letter to Coach Jones

The University of Hawaii released a letter sent by the administrators to June Jones as an attempt to keep him with the Warriors football team. Sources say the letter was written after a meeting between Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, President David McClain and the former Warriors coach. Jones announced he would coach the SMU Mustangs in Dallas next season.

Here is the letter from the administrator’s to Jones:

Dear June,
We want to assure you that the ability to address your concerns quickly can be accomplished at this time - the "Manoa Moment" is real and it is now. The community, from the business sector to the government to the Board of Regents and most importantly to all the citizens of our State, has never been more supportive, thanks to the remarkable success of this year’s Warriors, and your leadership for the past 9 years.
The Chancellor, President and AD are committed to making change happen that fulfills your vision. We understand and respect your frustration over the years of the slowness, and even absence of change, but this truly is a new time for UH Manoa.
Let us give you some examples of our commitments:

1. Your office renovations are already supported by AKA and will be done quickly via the UH Foundation approach, similar to the approach used by Jay Shidler at the business school, to accomplish a quality project rapidly. Your success and this different approach offer a great window of opportunity that hasn't existed in the past but does now.

2. The overall facilities situation is now more addressable than ever in that the legislature and the community are supporting our efforts. Moreover, facilities repairs are the top priority for the chancellor. This would include, of course, renovation of the football locker room. The AD has already been instructed to initiate replacement of the turf on Cooke field so it can move forward this summer. The legislature is most likely at this moment to remove barriers that have challenged the university, including the football program, in the past.

3. Generating new resources - efforts are currently underway to manage Aloha Stadium in a different way to generate new resources for the Athletics Department. A different approach is on the table with regard to the licensing opportunities that can definitely be more fully realized for the benefit of athletics.

4. Your team has been a success because of you and your coaches -- so we are committed to reviewing the salaries of your team to ensure they are competitive as well.

5. Recruiting – additional resources will permit a major expansion of the recruiting budget.

6. Your vision of the Asian connection and its potential to leverage us into greater regional and national prominence is exciting to the chancellor and she wants to work with you on developing that approach. With the expertise and connections at UH Manoa, this is a natural and valuable extension for our campus.

7. Streamlining processes is a passion you share with the chancellor. This is again a time this agenda can be moved forward. One idea she has is an Athletic Board with alumni, faculty, staff and supporters in one body that focuses on the financial, academic, staff issues and considers new approaches so that issues can move forward more quickly and be considered by more minds.
We appreciate the professionalism with which you and Leigh Steinberg have conducted these discussions, and we sincerely believe that by remaining in Hawai‘i and fulfilling your vision you will have the opportunity to transform the lives of thousands of student-athletes and create a Paterno-esque legacy known across the nation and around the world.
We realize this decision is a momentous one, and stand ready to elaborate and clarify this commitment, either by phone, email or when you return to Honolulu.

With best wishes and Aloha,
David McClain, President, University of Hawai‘i System
Virginia Hinshaw, Chancellor, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa
Herman Frazier, Director of Athletics, UH Manoa

Courtesy: starbulletin.com

Chancellor Appoints Selection Committee For New UH Football Coach

The members of the selection committee for the new head football coach at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa were announced today by Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw. "We will move quickly to select the best possible candidate to serve as our Head Football Coach. The new coach must be someone who can lead a smooth transition for current team members, who appreciates the special connection between UH athletics and the people of Hawai'i, and who will continue to produce successful student-athletes," said Chancellor Hinshaw.
"The members of the selection committee were chosen for their understanding of the relationship between UH athletics and our community," she said.

Committee Co-Chairs will be Associate Athletics Director Carl Clapp and Chancellor Hinshaw. Other members are:
* Tony Guerrero, Chair of Ahahui Koa Anuenue and Vice Chair of First Hawaiian Bank

* Debra Ishii, Executive Assistant to the Chancellor, UHM

* Adam Leonard, UHM student-athlete and football team member* Dee Jay Mailer, CEO of the Kamehameha Schools

* Peter Nicholson, UHM Professor and Faculty Athletics Representative

* John K. Tsui, Chair of Towne Realty Development and former President and Chief Operating Officer of First Hawaiian Bank

* Artie Wilson, Partner and Realtor, Prudential Locations

The committee will meet early next week. The current advertisement for the position of Head Football Coach can be found Here

FRIDAY FORECAST!...

Another Week...ANother edition of Friday Forecast!

1. Will any Local Boys Make the Cut in the Sony Open?

2. Jaguars vs. Patriots

3. Chargers vs. Colts

4. Seahawks vs. Packers

5. Giants vs. Cowboys

6. Rainbow Warriors vs. Nevada (Saturday Night)

The Boys' picks will be up here later TOnight, Until then, post your picks in the comment page below and best of luck!

Congrats to Tombo Ahi for winning last week, Running off a 5-1 Record.

McMackin Possible Head Coaching Candidate

Warriors Defensive Coordinator Greg McMackin is now reportedly in the running for the vacant head coaching job at the University of Hawaii and some sources are considering the former Oregon Tech head coach as a front runner for the position. McMackin was originally reported to join June Jones, Dan Morrison and Wes Suan at SMU. With recruiting resuming very soon and national letter of intent set for February 6th the university is expected to make a decision next week. The list of other possible replacements still up for the head coaching position are: Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, co-defensive coordinator at the University of Texas Duane Akina, New York Giants defensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, San Jose State Head Coach Dick Tomey and Warriors linebackers Coach Cal Lee.

Adam Stays and Ryan Goes

First team All-WAC wide receiver Ryan Grice-Mullen declared himself eligible for the 2008 NFL Draft, sources say. He has also, reportedly, hired an agent which will not allow him to return to the college ranks for next season. NFL scouts have the wide-out projected as high as the fourth round.
Grice-Mullen compiled 1,372 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season. He also recorded the lone touchdown for the Warriors in the Sugar Bowl on a 16 yard pass from QB Tyler Graunke.
A bit of good news for the 2008 Warriors, linebacker Adam Leonard is reported to return for his senior season with Hawaii and forego the upcoming NFL draft.
Leonard is coming off a season where he had 105 tackles, two sacks and four interceptions, with two of those interceptions being returned for touchdowns.

THE OTHER SIDE...

By: Theo Jones
Theo is a Producer at KITV and a friend of "Leaheyradio.Com"
Is it just me, or....?
... is Herman Frazier not completely getting a fair deal?
Hear me out.
The town folk are storming the UH Manoa Athletics Department with pitchforks and torches, calling for Herman's head... and for what?
Soap?
From what I understand, the lack of soap in the team shower is not exactly a recent development. (Granted, credible Athletics Departments should provide soap in their showers, but is it really a deal breaker?)
The handling of the basketball search?
I liked Riley, but... if you're truly trying to go in a different direction, why would you hire someone who's only worked as an assistant at one university, for two coaches, and primarily the one you're replacing? How do you know you're not going to just get more of the same?
I'll admit it's not fair to make assumptions about Bob Nash's coaching philosophy or ability, but it's fair to hold an expanded search and interview people with head coaching experience on their resumes.
Or maybe it's the weak Football schedule?
Granted it was weak. (Only two opponents with winning records.)
But Michigan State backed out. Primarily because even though officials CAN call holding on every play, it doesn't mean they SHOULD. (Yes I'm saying it, Michigan State had something of a case here. The holding calls were excessive at best... criminal at worst.)
Michigan preferred to open with Appalachian State because they were easier. (How'd that work out for them?)
And admittedly, Herm played his cards a little to close to his vest.
However, it's possible that his primary mistake was not so much the teams he approached, but thinking he used when he approched them.
He over played his hand thinking that BCS Conference schools wanted to play a quality opponent outside of their conference schedules. (For the record, they don't. They want cupcakes, and Hawaii IN Hawaii was no longer one of those. Hence, no one was trying to play them, much less promise them a home and home.)
And I know: This could have been done years in advance, but I believe Frazier's reach exceeded his grasp.
He sacrificed a good schedule for a great one... and got neither.
Sometimes it's better to be lucky than good, because, honestly, hindsight being 20/20: If UH had a tougher schedule, they quite possibly wouldn't have even made it to the Sugar Bowl.
And there goes $4.2 million out the window.
Now it's the handling of the June Jones contract.
This could have been handled long before the situation reached critical mass; but I'm assuming that Herman would require the some kind of permission from the University president and chancellor to make an offer of any kind to June.
It's quite possible that your educational elitists are chaffing at the thought of increasing the salary of the COACH who is ALREADY the state's highest paid public employee. Having previous work experience in an athletics department setting, I assure you, it's high school all over again: Jocks vs. Nots.
I'm not apologizing for Herm... Primarily because I don't think he owes a lot of apologies to anyone... aside from the soap thing, maybe.
He has an impossible job.
Everyone wants blood from a turnip, to use an old expression.
People have stormed the fort with problems, but no solutions.
Everyone (Colt, June, and the masses who love them) want facility upgrades (let's let the soap go for now).
Yet, how many of those people want their taxes raised to facilitate the improvements? Or how many students would like to see their tuition increased?
Come on, we all have to make sacrifices, right?
Where else would the money come from?
UH made $7 million in football revenue this year, and a lot of people would argue that's the most successful year ever for the program.
Let's do the math: Minus $1 million for travel, equals $6 million.
Then the actual academic institution needs it's cut... Minus $2.5 million, equals $3.5 mill.
Not to mention that the UH Athletics Department is not just the UH Football Department. There are other sports to consider, some that don't generate enough money annually to cover their own expenses, much less add to the department revenue.
How much does it take to cover soccer, swimming, track and field, Wahine Softball and Basketball, and such? (Football is the cash cow for every university. It's where the majority of the Athletics Department's money is generated.)
On the low end, lets say Minus $2 million.
Now there's $1.5 million left... just enough to give the head coach a raise.
And by now you should see the dilemma.
That BCS berth was primarily because of Colt. There was tremendous national curiosity to see the Heisman candidate that rebuilt his life in the islands after going through trials and tribulations in Colorado. Add a sprinkle of the Haka and Polynesian culture and America's love for the underdog, and you can build a production around this. This is good TV.
But with only a couple hundred thousand dollars left in the coffers, coming off of a less than fulfilling bowl performance, and no story to build around for next year, there are some lean years coming for Warrior Football... even with June Jones.
Where is the money for facility upgrades suppose to come from?
This is a monumental task.
Granted, I'm not privy to the books, and my math could be off, but I have worked in an athletics department before, and these are the type of things they have have to consider.
The truth of the matter is, June Jones's contract situation is putting undue pressure on a University that has many missions. Football being just one of them. And in the big picture a small one.
When professional athletes hold up teams to provide for their families and their futures, fans clamor to remind them that money isn't everything. (See: Rod, A-).
Maybe someone should tell that to June.
But I think this would be an ideal time for Herman Frazier to buy some soap for the showers... as much as a couple hundred grand will get you.
I'm just saying...

JONES SAYS HE IS GONE...

Hawaii coach June Jones is resigning from his position as coach of the Warriors.
Jones is leaving because of "a lack of loyalty and commitment from athletic department leaders," among other things, according to the report. The Warriors were 12-1 this season, their only loss coming to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
Jones, who was 75-41 at Hawaii, en route to Dallas to discuss the SMU job, according to the Advertiser. His Hawaii contract was set to expire on June 30. <{P>Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg, said SMU had made an offer and Jones had received a counteroffer from Hawaii. Steinberg did not discuss specifics, but said Jones also was considering an NFL job.
National reports have said SMU has offered Jones up to $2 million a year. He receives $800,000 a year from Hawaii under a five-year contract that expires June 30.
Jones, the winningest coach in Hawaii history over his nine seasons, said he met with University of Hawaii president David McClain on Thursday and with athletic director Herman Frazier on Friday.
Jones' Warriors were the nation's only undefeated college team this season before they lost to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Before the loss, Hawaii had won 22 of its previous 23 games and 13 straight, the longest streak in major college football.
In his first season at Hawaii, Jones took over an 0-12 team and directed the biggest turnaround in college football history, going 9-4 in 1999 and taking Hawaii to its first bowl game since 1992.
SMU announced Oct. 28 that head coach Phil Bennett would step down when the season ended.
Jones, 54, was accompanied by Hawaii defensive coordinator Greg McMackin, a former Texas Tech coordinator, according to a report on the Dallas Morning News website.
Jones received permission from Hawaii to explore options before Christmas.
SMU athletic director Steve Orsini has said he wants the school's next coach to demonstrate the school is serious about winning again. The Mustangs were 1-11 this season and have had only two non-losing seasons since 1989.

Courtesy: Sportingnews.com

BESS DECLARES FOR NFL DRAFT...

Hawaii junior slotback Davone Bess said today he will enter the upcoming NFL draft.
"I'm ready for the next phase of my life," Bess told ESPN.com. "I got a second round grade. I'm not just a receiver. As a returner what I bring to the NFL is that second dimension."
Bess caught passes for more than 1,000 yards in all three of his seasons at UH. He is a three-time all-WAC selection.

Courtesy: Starbulletin.com

FRIDAY FORECAST...

It's that time of the week again!....

1. June Jones accepts SMU job over the weekend?

2. Jaguars/Steelers

3. Titans/Chargers

4. Redskins/Seahawks

5. Giants/Bucs

6. Hawaii/SJSU Men's Basketball

Jim: Yes, Jaguars, Chargers, Seahawks, Giants, SJSU

Rob: No, Jaguars, Chargers, Seahawks, Giants, UH

Augie T: Yes, Steelers, Chargers, Redskins, Bucs, UH

Felipe: No, Jaguars, Chargers, Redskins, Bucs, SJSU

Post your picks on the comment page below and Best of Luck!

Congratulations to Vaimana all the way in Florida, for winning last weekend!

JJ TO SMU?

Courtesy: Dallasmorningnews.com

SMU has offered Hawaii coach June Jones between $1.7 million and $2 million to become its football coach, according to two sources.
Jones emerged as a candidate in late December, and SMU's pursuit has picked up since Hawaii closed its 12-1 season Tuesday with a 41-10 loss to Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
Hawaii has yet to make an offer to extend Jones' contract, which ends June 30, though the university's chancellor released a statement Thursday confirming the school's intent to do so. Calls to Jones and Leigh Steinberg, Jones' agent, were not returned.
SMU athletic director Steve Orsini declined to comment on any candidate but said SMU has not made any ultimatums to candidates.
"That's not how you conduct a quality search," he said.
Jones, who has coached Hawaii for nine seasons, is reportedly taking time to consider his future – which includes interest from a college and an NFL team, according to The Honolulu Advertiser.
SMU, the first Bowl Subdivision school to make a coaching change, has the only remaining open job after West Virginia hired Bill Stewart on Thursday. SMU fired Phil Bennett nearly 10 weeks ago. During that time, Orsini has raised $10 million toward a new coach.
"Time is of the essence, we're aware of that," said Orsini, noting the recruiting cycle.
Hawaii at Manoa chancellor Virginia Hinshaw released a statement Thursday that included:
"I know that there is a great deal of interest in ensuring that June Jones remains here as our football coach – and that is definitely our goal as well. ... It has always been our intent to make Coach Jones a firm offer that will keep him here, and I want to assure everyone that athletics director Herman Frazier is moving expeditiously to do just that."