Sports Illustrated on 13 Year Old UH “Recruit”

Sports Illustrated ran an article today about the 13 year old UH Recruit I blogged about earlier.  I’m pretty sure this is what the NY Times article was based upon.

…Koehler, a 6-foot-4, 280-pound eighth-grader from Kaneohe, Hawaii, was always too heavy to play Pop Warner football. But Koehler, the 13-year-old brother of Arizona freshman offensive lineman Solomon Koehler, impressed Hawaii coach Greg McMackin so much during drills at the school’s camp this past summer that McMackin extended a scholarship offer.

The offer isn’t binding, and Hawaii can’t make a written offer until Koehler is a junior in high school, but for now, Koehler may just be the most sought-after prospect in the class of 2013. He could receive more interest after Sunday, when he plays his first regulation, 11-on-11 game in pads in the Football University Youth All-American Bowl at the Alamo Dome. The game will be streamed live at footballuniversity.org …

More here

13 Year Old Gets Full Ride Scholarship Offer with UH Football Team

I previously blogged about  the 16 year old that got a scholarship

The New York Times is reporting a 13 year old now has one:

At age 13, the 6-foot-3, 280-pound Reeve Koehler is so big that he has never been allowed to play organized football. Despite that, he already has a full scholarship offer from the University of Hawaii…

13 year old Reeve Koehler (left) on Cooke Field at a 2007 summer camp

Beast of the East Next Weekend – Volcano

I dropped by the Pahoa Skateshop this afternoon to check things out and see what that incense smell was coming from.

Entering the store and it had an interesting Rastafari Vibe to it.

Having  skated when I was younger, I dug the interior and appreciated the sign on the wall.

Asked the counter keeper Sara DiLallo and her son Elijah “Wasssup?”.

They mentioned that there was a skate contest next weekend at Volcano Skate Park, Saturday December 27, sign ups begin at 10:00 am.

The kids in the shop were fine tuning there skateboards and getting the latest scoops on things.

Tyson Lively 8, Shandon Cuba 10, Triston Kimball 11, Alex Bond 12 and Jesse Rodrigues Aste 11

Sarah’s husband and owner of Pahoa Skate Shop, Mark, said that the reason why skate contests aren’t being done at the Pahoa Skate Park is because construction is not complete.  Once construction is completed, they are looking forward to having contests there.

I didn’t get the chance to ask about the completion date, however, skateboard park legend “Carter” was hoping that it would be sooner then later.

Next weeks contest includes a Skateboard Contest, BBQ Feast, Best Trick Contest, Afterparty and Video Premiere.

It is great that kids of all ages are using this skate park.

And it’s also great to see the young wahine out there shredding these days too, which you didn’t ever see during the days when I skated.

12 year old wahine Taylor Ma'inaa'upo rides with the best of them

Sponsors of next weeks contest at Volcano Skate Park include:

Oasis Skate Boards, Volcano Skatepark Organization, Pahoa Skate Shop, KRU, Freeride Union, 808 Empire, Dynamic, Poetree, Lomsbread, Pacific Skates, Orca Skateboards, Hart Mind Soul, XXXVII Aparell, Lowcard, BDK Skate, LOST, Basic Image, Green Bottle Productions, Total Deniability, Bamboo SK8, Sponge and Son, Lightsleepers, JADD, The Cutlery, Savage Beast, Big Island Surf, Hubba, Lucky City Venture.

FFL: I SUCK!

This is the first year that I participated in a Fantasy Football League.  The season is now over for me now as I didn’t make the playoffs.

I started out the season great going UNDEFEATED… for the first 2 games.

I’ll let you folks figure out who I am on this leader board:

*1. Satan’s Demons 10-4-0 .714 990.02 L-1 6 23
*2. Big Bamboo 9-5-0 .643 939.44 W-3 4 39
*3. East Side!! 8-6-0 .571 913.96 L-1 3 20
*4. Forest Hills Farts 8-6-0 .571 893.55 W-2 9 44
5. Big Island VOG 8-6-0 .571 886.56 W-1 1 8
6. nanawale alala’s 7-7-0 .500 876.21 W-1 12 19
7. Bel Air Dakotas 7-7-0 .500 841.88 W-2 2 15
8. DUI Cannabis 7-7-0 .500 795.09 L-2 10 40
9. hilo honus 6-8-0 .429 805.49 L-2 7 19
10. Dago Ballers 6-8-0 .429 786.39 W-1 8 36
11. Brain On Cocaine 4-10-0 .286 829.78 L-1 11 43
12. DaPunaSeahawks 4-10-0 .286 786.20 L-3 5 27

Punahou’s Te’o Finishes Season as 8th Best Player in the Nation

At the beginning of this football season, I mentioned to everyone to watch for Punahou football player Manti Te’o on my blog here.

Rivals sports today declared him the 8th best player in the NATION!

Wish him the best of luck in college… just wish he would stay home and play for the WARRIORS!

Notre Dame to Play UH in Hawaii Bowl… CONFIRMED

…Officials said the NCAA gave its blessing to the match-up this afternoon…

And you heard it here first!

I called it more then 10 days ago!

Remember… You Heard it Here First: Notre Dame vs. UH in Hawaii Bowl?

I was the first in Hawaii to mention that I thought Notre Dame would play Hawaii in the Hawaii Bowl and I mentioned it here.

Today’s Honolulu Advertiser has the following:

The University of Notre Dame is believed to be strongly considering an appearance in the Sheraton Hawai’i Bowl against the University of Hawai’i football team on Dec. 24…

More Here

Governor Lingle’s West Hawaii Liaison and Former House Candidate Andy Smith Running Basketball Camp

When I lived on campus at UH Hilo, I lived with some guys on the basketball team.  I had the opportunity to make friends with a few of them that I still keep in contact to this day.

At today’s County Inauguration, I bumped into one of them.  Andy Smith played at UH Hilo where he was known as a tall man that was a deep three point threat!  I haven’t seen a tall guy shoot from outside like that since at UH Hilo.  I used to party with him during the off-season, so it was very surprising to me when I was on Oahu when I learned that he had gotten into politics.

Andy Smith at the Hawaii County Inauguration

Andy is now Governor Lingle’s East Hawaii Liaison and recently ran a close race for the State House.

He gave me his card and let me know that he is running a Basketball Camp called Hawaii Island Hoops.

If anyone is interested in setting up a camp with Mr. Smith, I urge you to give him an email at andysmith1@hawaiiantel.net

Andy is a great guy, and I would trust my own son in his hands.

Chaminade Almost Upsets the Hoosiers in Basketball… Remembering THE GAME

Chaminade almost upset the Indiana Hoosier 81-79 in tonights game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Tom Pritchard had 19 points and nine rebounds for Indiana, which held on for an 81-79 victory over Chaminade on Wednesday in the seventh-place game of the EA Sports Maui Invitational.

Pritchard was nearly the goat for the Hoosiers (3-2) as he missed three of four free throws in the final 46 seconds. He made the second of two with 4.7 seconds left to give Indiana an 81-79 lead…

I so wish I was at the game back in 1982 when Chaminade upset the then ranked #1 team of Virginia with Ralph Sampson which is considered by many, one of the greatest sports upsets EVER.

Post Thanksgiving Fun Run/Walk on Sunday

What a great way to burn off those extra pounds gained during this Thanksgiving break.

Coming up Sunday is the Post Thanksgiving 5K Run/Walk, hosted by the Big Island Road Runners. The 3.1-mile event is meant to shed some of those unwanted pounds gained during the Thanksgiving Holiday. Beginning at 7:30 a.m. at the entrance to Moku Ola ( Coconut Island ) in Hilo , both runners and walkers of all ages and abilities will traverse the beautiful Hilo Bay coastline out to the lighthouse and back to Moku Ola.

There is a nominal $2 charge to non-club members with proceeds going to help support the BIRR college scholarship program. Just show up half hour prior to the event and sign in.

For more information about the BIRR, you can go to their web site at: www.bigislandroadrunners.org or call the club president at 969-7400.

Today’s KO

The reason why I didn’t teach my soccer team fancy  “Throw-in’s”

Audio a must:

Notre Dame Tells Students to Back Off of Punahou’s Te’o… Aloha Shirts Allowed

…Manti Te’o, a Honolulu native and a prized linebacker recruit in the Class of 2009, will make a very long trip to visit Notre Dame this weekend.

Notre Dame had to take action this week to ensure Te’o could make a return trip if he so chooses.

Some Notre Dame students hatched a plan to distribute about 8,000 leis outside Notre Dame Stadium at Saturday’s game against Syracuse in honor of Te’o’s visit, posting that plan on an Irish fan website and even campaigning for help.

The problem? A concerted, organized effort such as that could be construed as an NCAA violation in which Notre Dame was publicizing a recruit’s visit to campus and encouraging that recruit to attend the school.

Once the Notre Dame compliance office received a missive about the plan, it bid the idea aloha…

…Signs, videos and messages over a public address system or printed T-shirts are among other no-nos as they relate to advertising a recruit’s visit to campus. There is only so much Notre Dame can control, however, and Karwoski indicated a mass banishment of anyone wearing a Hawaiian shirt is unlikely to occur…

More Here

New on My Blogroll… “Polynesian Power”

I’m always looking for good local blogs.

I try to stay focused mainly on Big Island Blogs.

Recently, the Jodatoa Blog out of Oahu, has caught my attention.

Mainly because of my love for football, but also because it features Polynesian Football Players.

There aren’t many people that focus their blogs on this aspect of Polynesian culture.

I’ve added his link to my blogroll, so stop on by and check out some Polynesian Power!

Jodatoa Blog

New Local Blog Devoted to Polynesian Football Players

I just stumbled across this fairly new blog that is devoted to Polynesian Football players.

Depending on how often the blog is updated, I might just add it to my blogroll.

Check out Jodatoa’s Blog for a good insight on some up and coming polynesian players.

More on Te’o

Back in August I said that Manti Te’o would be the next big thing out of Hawaii!.

I still stand by those words.

I just stumbled across this well put together youtube video of his 2007 Highlights… I guess I’m the last to view it since some 86,000 + people across America have viewed it already. ;)

Female NASCAR Driver Has Big Island Ties… Race to Save the Planet

A professional race car driver is taking her environmental campaign to Hawaii’s roads. She’s known as one of the fastest women in the NASCAR and Indy Car scene and has returned here to her mom’s home state for her ‘Race to Save the Planet‘ Hawaii tour.

Leilani Munter’s mission is to raise awareness about a situation she says is dire and requires our urgent attention.

Sports Illustrated calls her one of the top ten female race car drivers in the world…

…“My mom is from Hawaii. She was born and raised in Holualoa on the Big Island so I have family ties here,” she said…

Blast From the Past: Ichiro Suzuki and Hilo Baseball

When I was attending UH Hilo, I was fortunate enough to meet this Japanese Baseball player that came over from Japan and was supposedly pretty good.  I knew very little about Japanese baseball and the only reason I went is because I was with some exchange students from Japan that wanted to see the game.

Because I was with these Japanese exchange students, they were introduced to the player and then he came back and partied with them at their house for awhile…(Of course flirting and hitting on the Japanese girls that were there)  I didn’t realize why all these Japanese students were so “Giddy” to be “Partying” with some “Minor League” Baseball player.

Well it turns out this player was Ichiro Suzuki who of course later went on to become famous in Major League Baseball.

A few years later:

BJ Penn, Georges St. Pierre and Dana White Appearing LIVE in Waikiki

New NIKE Shoe Inspired by “Surf, Sun and Sand” in Hawaii

NIKE has a new shoe coming out.  It was designed by a 17 year old Oregon girl who was inspired by Hawaii to design it:

…Another Oregon City resident, Emily Giersch, 17, designed a shoe for Nike, but was unavailable for comment. Her design, a Nike Free Mary Jane slip-on inspired by the surf, sun and sand of Hawaii, will also go on sale on Nov. 14….

More Here

Today’s KO

You ever played H-O-R-S-E with a basketball.

Half Court Shot!