It's Game Week of UH versus Michigan and I am en route to Detroit with a 1-day layover in Vegas.
Reading about the progress of Hurricane Madeline in Hawaii and I'm glad that it is reportedly on a rapid decline in strength.
Hoping for equally favorable reports about Hurricane Lester as it approaches Hawaii this weekend.
Also hoping for some good fortune today in the casino!
More to come...
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Saturday, August 27, 2016
Get Chance!
It's an old skool island expression, actually an expression with two sides...
Perhaps more often stated is the negative version..."No mo chance!"
Loudly stated when confronted by those who question the loyalty of a sports fan, this phrase reflects an obstinate view that all is lost, there is no doubt that we are outmatched, outclassed, out of our wits and otherwise should be left out on the curb for collection.
OTOH, "Eh, get chance!" represents the hope of "punchers" everywhere that given just the right circumstances, confluence of fortune, and general "dog luck" a victory (or series of them) is within grasp.
Over the past several years, and in particular the past two seasons I freely admit to have been in the former camp. Dutifully, attending home games quickly became more of an obligation than entertainment. (Eh, we already bought the season tickets...might as well go!) Weeks became weaks and then weakers as the UH football program sank deeper into its morass.
Then came the change(s) that most wanted to see happen and in comes Nick Rolovich and his coaching staff. With memories of past glory being pushed to the forefront by his "we can be great again" mantra many fans were buoyed as the team went through Spring football and Fall camp.
Having attended a spring practice and the Spring Fling thing I was not totally sold on the whole "greatest turnaround season" thing of a past coaching turnover episode. The difference this time was that the outgoing regime seemed to not have had the recruiting acumen to spot, nor the desire to actively recruit football talent. In other words, and as no slight on the players that were on board, the cupboard was bare. Pile on that as Rolo would relate the returning players were psychologically beaten as "Chow Time" came to a close.
But given the time he and his staff has had since taking up residence in the Quarry, I began to see the things that Rolo was doing to get the buy-in from the returnees and I got a sense of the hope that he was selling to the newcomers.
Much of it could be seen on the TV from the Sydney Cup yesterday. A group of Tsaikos gathered at my home to watch and I could sense everyone's apprehension prior to game time about what to expect this season.
Perhaps more often stated is the negative version..."No mo chance!"
Loudly stated when confronted by those who question the loyalty of a sports fan, this phrase reflects an obstinate view that all is lost, there is no doubt that we are outmatched, outclassed, out of our wits and otherwise should be left out on the curb for collection.
OTOH, "Eh, get chance!" represents the hope of "punchers" everywhere that given just the right circumstances, confluence of fortune, and general "dog luck" a victory (or series of them) is within grasp.
Over the past several years, and in particular the past two seasons I freely admit to have been in the former camp. Dutifully, attending home games quickly became more of an obligation than entertainment. (Eh, we already bought the season tickets...might as well go!) Weeks became weaks and then weakers as the UH football program sank deeper into its morass.
Then came the change(s) that most wanted to see happen and in comes Nick Rolovich and his coaching staff. With memories of past glory being pushed to the forefront by his "we can be great again" mantra many fans were buoyed as the team went through Spring football and Fall camp.
Having attended a spring practice and the Spring Fling thing I was not totally sold on the whole "greatest turnaround season" thing of a past coaching turnover episode. The difference this time was that the outgoing regime seemed to not have had the recruiting acumen to spot, nor the desire to actively recruit football talent. In other words, and as no slight on the players that were on board, the cupboard was bare. Pile on that as Rolo would relate the returning players were psychologically beaten as "Chow Time" came to a close.
But given the time he and his staff has had since taking up residence in the Quarry, I began to see the things that Rolo was doing to get the buy-in from the returnees and I got a sense of the hope that he was selling to the newcomers.
Much of it could be seen on the TV from the Sydney Cup yesterday. A group of Tsaikos gathered at my home to watch and I could sense everyone's apprehension prior to game time about what to expect this season.
- how bad was it going to be?
- will the defense be any better?
- could the offense be any worse?
No one was saying these things but I'm sure most were thinking them.
With the attempted onside kick to open up the game came immediate interest because it was a signal that things were NOT gonna be the same. A quick score by Cal and I did not sense from anyone that "oh no, here we go again" feeling. And it was a good thing...a quick TD for Hawaii and the Rolo Era seems to be on its way along with the feeling that...
EH, GET CHANCE!
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