Warrior Beat

Coaches frown on their players doing what would be considered “dangerous” activities during the offseason, like riding motorcycles or working with forklifts. Middle linebacker Jake Heun apparently has found a loophole. He is competing as a heavyweight in a mixed-martial arts card Saturday in the Blaisdell Arena. It should be a good performance. Former UH running back Nate ilaoa and his wife set aside a date night each week. Ilaoa convinced his wife to spend it at the fight. * […]

Thanks again to All-America third baseman Melissa Gonzalez of the Rainbow Wahine for joining our blog chat today. * * * * * The Warriors had unsupervised passing drills today. Quarterback Bryant Moniz made his first on-field appearance since missing the final three weeks of spring training while on “personal leave.” * * * * * At the other end of the Ching Athletic Complex field, the offensive linemen worked out: Laupepa Letuli Brett Leonard (r) Austin Hansen (r)

It’s been pretty surreal entering a new newsroom. But the old Star-Bulletin guys have been really welcoming, especially Paul Arnett, Dave Reardon, Paul Honda, and the desk guys. And I’m reunited with some of my old UH pals — Nadine Kam, George Lee, Dennis Oda, Lucy Oda, etc. Sounds like there’s going to be a strong push to have a lot of UH football coverage. I’ll be the football beat guy, but Jason Kaneshiro, Billy Hull, “Ferd” Lewis and Reardon […]

Avis selects 808Ike as the winner of the John Wooden-autographed book. Text me at 256-0223 to collect. * * * * * I apologize. I’m just not very good at saying goodbye. That and the fact that for some reason I always get an allergic reaction — once it was chili peppers, I insisted — that  makes me tear up, coincidentally, whenever it’s time to say farewell.  My kids call it: “Dad’s chili-pepper moments.” Or, as my son might say: […]

I first met John Wooden when . . . OK, OK. I didn’t know John Wooden, who is arguably — and I think “arguably” is arguably the dumbest sports phrase — the greatest coach. But it was in 2000, I think, when UH played UCLA at Pauley Pavilion. During pre-game warmups, while I was pretending to read my notes I noticed … wait … could it be … that Wooden was sitting across the court. So I raced to the […]

“The Dance” Looking back on the memory of The dance we shared ‘neath the stars above For a moment, all the world was right How could I have known that you’d ever say goodbye? And now. I’m glad I didn’t know The way it all would end, the way it all would go Our lives are better left to chance I could have missed the pain But I’d of had to miss the dance Holding you I held everything For […]

Traci Yoshikawa hit a two-run, opposite-field homer in the seventh to boost the Rainbow Wahine to a 3-2 victory over Missouri in the opening round of the College World Series. Alex Aguirre, who opened the season as a courtesy runner, has to be the most unheralded Rainbow Wahine. Her second-inning solo homer gave UH a 1-0 lead. She also made a diving catch in left in the seventh inning. * * * * * Baseball commissioner Bud Selig has decided […]

Third baseman Melissa Gonzalez today was named to the Louisville Slugger/National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I All-America first team. Centerfielder Kelly Majam, a second-year freshman  who leads the nation with 30 home runs,  was named to the second team. * * * * * Las Vegas selected former UH wideout Jovonte Taylor in the fifth round of the UFL draft. The UFL, which serves as a developmental league for the NFL, begins play in September. * * * * * […]