Sports Watch
You have the Los Angeles Lakers with Shaquille O'Neal, the NBA's $120-million man, making their preseason debut tonight against the Denver Nuggets at the University of Hawaii's Special Events Arena. They'll meet again Saturday.
The Hawaii Winter Baseball League opens tomorrow with games over the weekend as well.
The Rainbow Wahine, the No. 1 volleyball team in the nation, will try to make it 16-0 against Wyoming tomorrow.
The football 'Bows play San Diego State tomorrow at Jack Murphy Stadium, where the San Diego Padres almost coulda, woulda, shoulda. The game will be on TV, so it's close-your-eyes time. It could get ugly.
Also, St. Louis meets Punahou in a battle of ILH unbeatens Saturday night at Aloha Stadium. There's hydroplane racing at Pearl Harbor for powerboat fans and the Molokai-to-Oahu canoe race on Sunday for those who like their water sports without a motor.
If that's not enough, there's the Midnight Ohana on Monday - or 12:01 Tuesday morning - for the Rainbow men's and women's basketball teams.
All of this with the major league championship series going full bore. I'm already sick of Atlanta's tomahawk-chop chant.
Let's begin with tonight when the Lakers launch the Shaq Era. Understandably, all eyes will be riveted on O'Neal, who alone is worth the price of admission. Other Lakers will get some attention, notably Nick Van Exel, the newly appointed team captain.
YOU have to feel a little for the Nuggets, who have been relegated to play the role as the Lakers' Washington Generals in the two games here.
They lost Dikembe Mutombo to free agency (5-year, $58 million to Atlanta) and Antonio McDyess to injuries. Also gone from Denver is Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. You know the guy. He was involved in that National Anthem controversy last year.
Like the Lakers, the Nuggets have a rash of new faces on their roster - including Ervin (not Earvin) Johnson, Ricky Pierce and Sarunas Marciulionis. Talk about the need to develop team chemistry. It'll be Chemistry 101 out there.
Then, things will really pick up tomorrow with winter baseball, feel-good Wahine volleyball and not-so-feel-good Rainbow football.
Halloween is coming early for the football 'Bows, I'm afraid. What can happen tomorrow - in UH's first Friday night game, home or away, since playing an all-collegiate schedule - is too scary to contemplate.
Suddenly, San Diego State's only loss (42-37) of the year against Pac-10 California doesn't look so shabby. Not after the Golden Bears knocked off Southern Cal last week to remain undefeated.
UH's best hope to avoid getting embarrassed again (remember Wyoming, 66-0?) is for its offense to move the ball against the Aztecs, who are 105th nationally in total defense, yielding 468.3 yards a game. At least you hope the 'Bows will finally score in a WAC road game.
DON'T be surprised if Aztec quarterback Billy Blanton or wide receiver Az Hakim becomes the offensive player of the week in the WAC's Pacific Division.
It's not coincidental if someone from a team that plays the 'Bows wins the award. Last week, Colorado State defensive back Eason Ramson won the award after making 10 tackles and an interception in the Rams' 28-16 victory. He's the son of the former San Francisco 49er tight end.
Then, wrapping up the hectic five-day sports span, will be the admission-free Midnight Ohana at the Special Events Arena and the joint will literally be jumping, according to men's basketball coach Riley Wallace.
Among the pregame festivities starting at 9 Monday night, will be a guest appearance by rap star Ice-T.