Friday, July 31, 2009

McMackin and his f word

Greg McMackin embarked on his trip back to Hawaii yesterday trailed by a most unwelcome spotlight.

In the hours after the Hawaii football coach used a gay slur during a press conference at the Western Athletic Conference Football Preview, news of his remarks and subsequent apologies spread swiftly across the country and drew strong reactions back home.

Speaking to print reporters from around the conference, McMackin used the slur to describe a cheer the Notre Dame football team performed at last year's Sheraton Hawaii Bowl banquet.

During his press conference, McMackin discussed this year's team and was asked about the end of last season and the loss to Notre Dame. McMackin was speaking about how dueling chants at the Hawaii Bowl banquet may have inspired the Fighting Irish for the game when he described the Notre Dame cheer as "this little f----- dance."

A moment later, he repeated the term when asking the reporters in the room to "cover" for him, and continued with his comments on this year's team.

After finishing his remarks, McMackin returned to the interview room to apologize. He later made a more formal statement before heading to the airport for his return flight to Honolulu.

"I would sincerely like to apologize for the inappropriate verbiage and words that I used," McMackin said in his second apology. "I have nothing against the University of Notre Dame. I don't talk like that, I'm really ticked off at myself for saying that. I don't have any prejudices and it really makes me mad that I even said that. I'm disappointed in myself.

"What I was trying to do was be funny and it wasn't funny."

McMackin was in transit as school officials issued statements on the matter and what action the university might take upon his return hadn't been determined as of yesterday. McMackin is expected to meet with UH athletic director Jim Donovan first thing this morning.

Donovan declined to comment on possible disciplinary action yesterday, citing it as a personnel matter.

"Coach McMackin is a good man and cares for the University of Hawaii and the football program. He made a statement he shouldn't have made," Donovan said.

Gov. Linda Lingle said the remark was inappropriate and that the second-year coach realizes that.

"I think anybody who's in public life that talks a lot in public faces this problem," Lingle said. "I've certainly said things I wish I could take back and I know the Coach is feeling that way right now.

"Nobody's going be harder on him than he's going be on himself in this situation. I read his remarks in the paper. I know he's just kicking himself right now about it. I believe him when he says this is not who he is as a person and his players have backed that up."

* * *

[8/1/09] Choked with emotion, a tearful University of Hawai'i football coach Greg McMackin accepted a 30-day suspension without pay and a 7 percent cut in his salary, and vowed to "show leadership in dealing with both the football program and rebuilding respect for all people in our community" after using an anti-gay slur in making a disparaging remark about the Notre Dame team.

With more than 30 of his players crowding into yesterday's press conference at the Stan Sheriff Center to show support, UH announced that McMackin will coach the Warriors on a "volunteer" basis during his suspension and will also participate in activities with the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Student Services on the Manoa campus.

He also will participate in a public service announcement on how words can hurt, and part of the money from his salary reduction will be used to support a student intern for the LGBT community to assist in campus awareness training.

UH still awaits word of what action the Western Athletic Conference might take under its sportsmanship policies.

"I felt this needed a strong reaction, a conclusive one and a swift one," said Manoa Chancellor Virginia S. Hinshaw.

McMackin is expected to forfeit approximately $169,000 from his $1.1 million annual salary for offensive remarks he made Thursday at the WAC Football Media Review in Salt Lake City that drew national attention.

Athletic director Jim Donovan said McMackin "felt strongly that regardless of what the penalty was he wanted to continue to coach and, in no way whatsoever did he want his players or the team to be (penalized). That indicates what kind of a guy he is."

Hinshaw said, "We didn't want to punish the wrong group in this situation. He felt strongly — and we did, too — that it would hurt the players, the team and the university. We thought that was a good resolution."

McMackin, who entered the press conference battling his emotions, stared solemnly as Donovan laid out the disciplinary action. Then McMackin attempted to hold back tears as he read a brief statement.

"I just made a big mistake," McMackin said. "I apologize to everyone and anyone I offended. I'm committed to do whatever I can as a life lesson to learn from my mistake.

"When we make mistakes, we have to learn from it and make better people of ourselves. ... (I'm) sorry I said something so hurtful and I am so remorseful."

McMackin added that "I offended the gay and lesbian community and now I want to work with the LGBT community on campus to use this as a teachable moment for me and hopefully others."

At that point, McMackin broke down and struggled to finish.

"(I am) very pained and disappointed in myself," he continued. "I hope to make up for some of the pain ... I made a mistake and now I have to show the leadership in dealing with both the football program and building respect for all people in our community."

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Phelps beaten by Bidermann

The winner draped himself triumphantly on the lane rope, thrusting his right hand in the air to celebrate a world record.

It's a familiar scene for Michael Phelps. This time, all he could do was watch.

Germany's Paul Biedermann handed Phelps his first major individual loss in four years — and snatched away his world record, too — with a stunning win in the 200-meter freestyle at the world swimming championships on Tuesday.

Virtually unknown outside his country before this meet, Biedermann has now erased Ian Thorpe from the record book with a win in the 400 free and knocked off the winningest Olympian in history — all in the space of three days.

Both triumphs are sure to stir even more debate about the high-tech bodysuits that are being banned by the sport's governing body beginning in 2010. Biedermann wore an Arena X-Glide, one of those polyurethane suits that is generally considered faster than the Speedo LZR Racer, the once-revolutionary suit Phelps wore.

* * *

[7/29] After loss, Phelps sets world record.

* * *

[7/31] Cavic takes world record ahead of Phelps showdown

* * *

[8/1] Phelps sets world mark in beating Cavic again in 100 butterfly

Monday, July 27, 2009

LPGA commissioner resigns

Under pressure by the women golf tour's top stars, Carolyn Bivens has resigned as LPGA commissioner. Her exit is a positive move at trying to reverse the tour's dwindling schedule of events and bring it back to Hawaii.

Bivens made the decision after 15 tour members, including Lorena Ochoa, Christie Kerr, Paula Creamer and Se Ri Pak, presented the demand to the LPGA's board of directors. Bivens was believed to be negotiating a buyout from her contract, which was due to expire next year.

The LPGA tour consisted of 35 events in 2005 but has only 10 title contracts for 2010, having lost seven, including all three tournaments in Hawaii, in the past year alone. The major reason has been the downward economy, but Bivens had been unwilling to negotiate with sponsors on purse sizes and the cost of tournaments, asking them to contribute more to the cost of maintaining tournaments and rejecting their wishes to reduce the purse, which has averaged $1.77 million.

Bivens, a former advertising executive, has stumbled since her first year as LPGA commissioner. She talked about hoping to "turn the buzz and the interest and the conversations into a commercial success," with a youth movement led by Creamer and Hawaii's Michelle Wie. Instead, she demanded at the 2006 Fields Open that media yield proprietary rights to their stories and photos to the LPGA, causing the Star-Bulletin and, most notably, the Associated Press to withdraw their reporters and photographers from the tournament.

Bivens caused more anger when she introduced a proposal that foreign-born players be proficient in English or face possible suspension. She dropped the proposal after severe criticism. Fewer than half of this past week's U.S. Women's Open players are Americans. More than 40 tour members are from South Korea, including Eun Hee Ji, who won the Open on Sunday and spoke to the media through a translator.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

How the WNBA got its start

As irked as Stern gets now about gender equity - the ho-hum reaction the U.S. women got for winning their fourth straight gold medal in Beijing compared to the adulation showered on the men's team is "enough to make you into a feminist" - it was economics that drove the creation of the WNBA.

The original WNBA franchises were initially affiliated with their local NBA teams, giving owners a new revenue stream and keeping their arenas occupied in the summer. Regional TV networks got additional programming. Everyone was looking for new ways to capitalize on women's buying power, which was steadily increasing.

The players didn't care what the reasoning was. They just knew they had their own league and it was built for the long haul.

Ads trumpeting "We Got Next" outnumbered Dennis Rodman's tattoos during the 1997 NBA finals, and the WNBA was on TV from the very first tip. Not some random channel at 3 a.m., either, but the big-time, NBC and ESPN. In its second season, the league averaged an impressive 10,800 in attendance.

* * *

(I'll know the WNBA has hit mainstream when we get fantasy WNBA on Yahoo.)

Sunday, July 12, 2009

Lesnar defeats Mir at UFC 100

Brock Lesnar behaves like a professional wrestler (i.e. unprofessionally) after defeating Frank Mir at UFC 100.

Wednesday, July 08, 2009

Kurt Nino

Maybe it's just this picture, but Kurt Nino looks like Tiger Woods to me.

Sunday, July 05, 2009

The Centurions

Ranking the 100 greatest football players in University of Hawaii History

100 - Craig Stutzmann
99 - Jack Ingram
98 - Alex Kaloi
97 - Rusty Holt
96 - Larry Price
95 - Tala Esera
94 - Mat McBriar
93 - Don Botelho
92 - Dan Kelly
91 - Steve Lehor
90 - Mike Akiu
89 - John Estes
88 - Matt Harding
87 - Wilbert Haslip
86 - Dane McArthur
85 - Kaulana Noa
84 - Jimmy Asato
83 - Jim Cruikshank
82 - Ed Riewerts
81 - Abraham Elimimian
80 - Larry Arnold
79 - Nate Jackson
78 - Chris Brown
77 - Eddie Klaneski
76 - Sol Kaulukukui
75 - Tom Tuinei
74 - Colin Scotts
73 - John Woodock
72 - Heikoti Fakava
71 - Jack Johnson
70 - Larry Cole
69 - Charles Araki
68 - Hal Stringert
67 - Darrick Branch
66 - Alvis Satele
65 - Kynan Forney
64 - Larry Khan-Smith
63 - Tony Morse
62 - Jim Kalili
61 - Walter Briggs
60 - Golden Richards
59 - Chris Roscoe
58 - Mark Kafentzis
57 - Nuu Fa'aola
56 - David Toloumu
55 - Adrian Klemm
54 - Nate Ilaoa
53 - Adam Leonard
52 - Pump Searle
51 - Bill Wise
50 - Ron Hall
49 - Hercules Satele
48 - Isaac Sopoaga
47 - Jim Mills
46 - David Maeva
45 - Larry Sherrer
44 - Ryan Mouton
43 - David Veikune
42 - Amosa Amosa
41 - Cliff Laboy
40 - Nolle Smith
39 - M.L. Johnson
38 - Harry Kahuanui
37 - Ryan Grice-Mullins
36 - Travis Laboy
35 - Walter Murray
34 - Dan Robinson
33 - Travis Sims
32 - Ma'a Tanuvasa
31 - Solomon Elimimian
30 - Nick Rolovich
29 - Mark Odom
28 - Rich Miano
27 - Leo Goeas
26 - Joe Onosai
25 - Skippy Dyer
24 - Pisa Tinoisamoa
23 - Jason Rivers
22 - Dana McLemore
21 - Jeff Sydner
20 - Jeff Ulbrich
19 - Vince Manuwai
18 - Raphel Cherry
17 - Davone Bess
16 - Timmy Chang
15 - Michael Carter
14 - Samson Satele
13 - Ashley Lelie
12 - Blane Gaison
11 - Garrett Gabriel
10 - Jeris White
9 - Chad Owens
8 - Levi Stanley
7 - Niko Noga
6 - Jesse Sapolu

The Top Five
New York knew about Al Noga
The Centurions project
The final countdown

5 - Gary Allen
4 - Tommy Kaulukukui
3 - Al Noga
2 - Jason Elam
1 - Colt Brennan

Federer outlasts Roddick at Wimbledon for 15th Slam

WIMBLEDON, England, July 5 -- It was a day for making history.

Roger Federer, who was reduced to tears after losing last year's Wimbledon final, exulted on the same patch of Centre Court Sunday after winning his 15th Grand Slam title -- one that breaks his tie with Pete Sampras for the most career majors.

Federer prevailed in the longest Grand Slam final in men's history, turning back a determined challenge by American Andy Roddick, 5-7, 7-6 (6), 7-6 (5), 3-6, 16-14.

With the victory, which took 4 hours 18 minutes, Federer claimed his sixth Wimbledon title and reclaimed the No. 1 ranking he lost to Spain's Rafael Nadal last August.

Sampras, who won seven Wimbledon titles before retiring in 2002, was among the former champions looking on from the front row of the Royal Box, with Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg sitting just to his left. The trio boast 16 Wimbledon singles titles among them, and they rose in unison to pay tribute to Federer's sixth.

Federer hailed a teary-eyed Roddick as "an unbelievable guy" and unbelievable player during his post-match remarks and urged him not to lose faith he would win Wimbledon one day.

"Today, I was on the lucky side," said Federer, who finished with 107 winners, 50 aces yet not once managed to break Roddick's serve.

Roddick bore his disappointment admirably, telling the capacity crowd of 15,000 who honored him with a standing ovation, "I'm one of the lucky few that gets cheered for."

After congratulating Federer on a well-deserved title, Roddick turned to the Royal Box and apologized to Sampras, half in jest, for not being able to keep the Swiss from overtaking his career mark. "I tried to hold him off," Roddick said.