UH’s Circle is incomplete … Pal’s pick
By dreardon
Softball pitcher Brooke Wilkins was long overdue for inclusion in UH’s sports Circle of Honor, so it’s great to see she’s been voted in. Soccer star Natasha Kai is deserving, too, though maybe it’s a little soon after her UH career considering some of the other athletes who should also be in. Gender equity pioneer Patsy Mink Takemoto — who never played college sports — is also being inducted this year. But where is Nani Cockett, the best all-around player in the history of the women’s basketball program more than a decade after the end of her career? Still not in the Circle of Honor.
I also agree wholeheartedly with Stephen Tsai, who points out the glaring omission of so many great football players. Even if ”honor” is a large part of the criteria, many of those excluded have proven over the course of time they are just as good as people as they were as athletes at UH (Michael Carter, Ashley Lelie and Chad Owens quickly come to mind) and should be in.
If a goal of UH’s Circle of Honor is to acknowledge and spread the legacy of its athletes’ greatest achievements, perhaps it needs to revisit its criteria and process for enshrinement. And maybe there should be two circles: One strictly for the athletes (take the word honor out if that would help) and one for the coaches, administrators, boosters, etc.
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Pal Eldredge called to get the word out about the Variety School’s fundraising golf tournament. It’s set for Thursday, Nov. 10, at Ewa Beach Golf Club. Cost: $450 for team of 3, or $150 individual, buffet dinner to follow. Call 732-2835 for more info.
Of course, if you talk to Pal Eldredge the day the World Series starts, you gotta get his take, right?
“I’m an American League guy, so I’m leaning to the Rangers. They’ve been tough all year. Even though the starting pitchers haven’t been good in the playoffs, the depth of their bullpen is very good. If Josh Hamilton isn’t the best player in the game, he’s very close.”
Thanks, Pal.
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Today’s column is about UH basketball player Zane Johnson and leading by example.
Quick Reads
October 19th, 2011 at 8:43 pm
Is the suggestion then that because “honor” is part of the equation, UH greats like Bess and Brennan will never get in because of mistakes they made in the past? Everyone knows the great things Davone does off the field, because you guys are pretty good at reporting it. Let’s hope one day he would be considered “honorable” enough to get in.
October 19th, 2011 at 8:51 pm
What is the criteria to be nominated or selected to the hall of honor? Who can nominate someone? Who makes the selection? Two classes of hall of honor makes sense, but the criteria should be stringent enough to nominate and select only the deserving; if the criteria is too lenient, then anyone can make it and it becomes a farce, that is why it is called the hall of honor instead of the hall of recognition. True, there are many great athletes come throught the UH Manoa program, but the intent is only to recognize those are truly outstanding, not only on the field but endeavours oustside as well. Especially those athletes that go on to professional leagues, olympics, outstanding community service, successful non-athletic career, coaching, etc. should be recognized. Just outstanding performance on the field while a UH manoa athlete should not be the sole criteria. Those that are not directly involved in actual athletics, the criteria should be based on their contribution to athletics at Manoa and/or their contribution to athletics in general, that is extraordinary.
October 20th, 2011 at 8:20 am
I know that at least some of those mentioned completed degrees at UH, but if not, I think that should be a requirement for inductment (at least for the athletes).
October 21st, 2011 at 12:36 pm
new post is up. why the big gap?
December 2nd, 2011 at 1:36 am
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March 2nd, 2012 at 6:16 am
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