PUTTING 'em up from all over the court: UH football fortunate
to have LindseyUniversity of Hawaii football fans can breathe a little easier. All those whispers about assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Don Lindsey considering leaving his post for a job somewhere else have no truth to them -- at least for the time being.
"I'm not looking anywhere and no one's coming after me," Lindsey said earlier this week. "There's got to be one before you get one. And there weren't that many coaching changes around the country this year."
Still, you get the feeling that if Lindsey were to put out the word, there would be plenty of jobs available for him. Who wouldn't want a defensive coordinator who has coached for four national championship teams, a guy with more than 30 years in the business, starting with Bear Bryant at Alabama, with stops at USC for their glorious '70s and then Arkansas under Lou Holtz?
In his two years with the Rainbows, Lindsey has drawn on all that experience to get the very most out of a game but thin Hawaii defense. It's certainly not his fault the Rainbows have just five victories the past two seasons.
Lindsey -- like the rest of the Hawaii football staff -- is busy with recruiting duties as letter of intent day looms. Considering what he did with a defense built with little more than guts and duct tape, watch out when Lindsey gets some studs into the fold and they develop.
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Waikiki office clerk Colin Chock isn't leaving his job soon, either. But if the Professional Fencing League takes off, Chock, 34, might someday be able to turn his hobby into his vocation.
Competing in the foil, Chock recently placed ninth of 33 competitors in the first-ever PFL event, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. He won $100.
"But I put myself into debt so I could go to it," Chock said without regret. "I've also eliminated myself from Olympic possibilities."
Chock said it was worth it to be part of the first "overtly" professional fencing competition ever in the U.S.
Too bad there's not too much money to be made in fencing yet -- at least the legal kind.
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Speaking of hot goods, right before the 1996 Summer Olympics, we sadly reported that Hawaii swimming legend Keo Nakama's house was broken into and many of his medals, trophies and other mementos were stolen.
Nakama called recently with better news.
"A lady called me on Christmas Eve and told me she had some things for me," Nakama related. "I met her in Waikiki and she gave me 10 medals, some of my national collegiate championship and AAU medals. It wasn't everything, but it was a nice Christmas present."
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Penny Hardaway could give Rod Strickland a deserved gift by giving up his spot on the East squad in the NBA all-star game. Hardaway has done nothing to warrant being in the game (despite the fans' votes) and is just coming off an injury now. Meanwhile, Strickland is playing some of the best basketball of his career.
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Nani Cockett seems to be at the peak of her powers, too. She does whatever is needed in a particular game for the University of Hawaii to win. Last night it was scoring, but on others it's defense, rebounding, blocks, assists and/or steals. Cockett is the most complete basketball player I've seen in a Rainbow uniform. It's too bad that she will probably be overlooked for All-American honors because of a lack of exposure.
The Wahine shot 33 free throws compared to four for Fresno State last night. Surprise -- the game was played at the Bulldogs' house. There's a theory that Hawaii gets a lot of home cookin' from the refs when playing here. Well, those numbers should indicate that the Wahine are simply quicker and more aggressive than most of their opponents -- and that's why they get the calls. Even on the road.
Dave Reardon is a magazine editor and freelance
writer who has covered Hawaii sports since 1977.
He can be reached via the Star-Bulletin or
by email at dreardon@hmsa.com.
