Sports Watch

By Bill Kwon

Tuesday, December 24, 1996

Santa Kwon pulls out
his bag of goodies

A last-minute Christmas wish list for:

Dave Shoji and his University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball team that captured Hawaii's heart and imagination: An even better season in 1997, plus a national title this time.

Mike Wilton and the Rainbow men's volleyball team: Ditto.

Rainbow football coach Fred vonAppen: That Stanford transfer quarterback Tim Carey runs the West Coast offense like it should be run. That and several huge offensive linemen to protect Carey from getting blitzed. Also, a contract rollover.

Star-Bulletin sports writer Paul Arnett: A chance to cover a winning UH football team for a change.

UH athletic director Hugh Yoshida: A million-dollar-a-year television contract with anybody. And soon.

Rainbow "voice" Jim Leahey: A lucrative contract with whoever gets the TV deal.

UH president Kenneth Mortimer: A book on Division I college football.

UH baseball coach Les Murakami: A Nebraska road map to show him the way to Omaha and the College World Series.

Rainbow basketball coach Riley Wallace: A winning season with at least $1.2 million in ticket sales to make his job secure.

Star-Bulletin columnist/basketball writer Mike Fitzgerald: The Riley Wallace Good Guy Award.

Jane Sheriff: That 1997 will finally be the year when the UH arena will be named after her late husband, Stan Sheriff. It's too long overdue.

FOR the University of Hawaii: A course in library studies so that a North Carolina company need not be hired to buy books for local libraries.

Wahine basketball coach Vince Goo: A shot at No. 1 Stanford, preferably in an NCAA regional.

Hawaii Pacific University's Tony Sellitto: Another NAIA national basketball championship.

UH-Hilo's athletic director Bill Trumbo: A television contract to keep his preseason Big Island Invitational basketball tournament going.

The Hawaiian Open: A yes by Tiger Woods that he'll play next February at the Waialae Country Club.

David Ishii and Guy Yamamoto: Another chance to play in the Masters.

Lenore Rittenhouse: Another victory on the LPGA Tour. The Hawaiian Ladies Open at Kapolei would be neat.

Jesus Salud: Another world title shot.

Farrington coach Skippa Diaz: The OIA football championship and a chance to play St. Louis in the Prep Bowl.

Sid Fernandez: The National League comeback-of-the-year award after a big year with the Houston Astros.

Former Kahuku star Itula Mili of BYU: A speedy recovery and a chance to play in the National Football League.

Boxing commission executive secretary Mike Machado: Some fight promotions to keep him from getting bored.

FOR the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl: A sunny Christmas Day and a wide-open offensive show between California and Navy tomorrow at Aloha Stadium.

Former UH and soon ex-Navy offensive coordinator Paul Johnson: A national Division

I-AA championship at Georgia Southern when he takes over next year.

Navy's offensive-coordinator-to-be, Kenny Niumatalolo, the former Rainbow quarterback: Lots of touchdowns and a victory over Army.

Former Rainbow Jason Elam: Kicking the winning field goal for Denver to beat the Green Bay Packers in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.

Maa Tanuvasa, another

ex-Rainbow with the Broncos: A Super Bowl ring for him, too.

And to all: A great year of sports in 1997.