Associated Press
Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, and
Tara Lipinski get together for a photo session.
NAGANO, Japan -- Tara Lipinski knew there would be big moments at her first Olympics -- but THIS big? The beauty
Associated Press
meets the beast
The tiny U.S. figure skater stared in wonder today as she encountered the immense Japanese sumo wrestling grand champion Akebono in a staged-for-TV show.
She is 15 and so small -- 4-foot-8 and 82 pounds -- she almost could be weighed on a postage meter. He's so big -- 6-8 and 516 pounds -- that he would dwarf any NFL lineman.
"Ahh, it's beauty and the beast," Akebono, or Chad Rowan from Hawaii, said as they exchanged flags and smiles -- if not training table secrets -- in a segment taped for the CBS-TV show "48 Hours."
Lipinski couldn't get over Akebono's size, repeatedly looking up at him, smiling, then shyly dropping her eyes.
Would Lipinski like to be Akebono's size for just a day?
"Uhh, maybe -- if I wasn't so-o-o-o big," she said.
The fifth-ranked University of Hawaii men's volleyball team looks for its fourth conference win in a row tonight when the Rainbows travel to Loyola Marymount. Volley'Bows go for fourth
consecutive conference victoryThe match will be broadcast live on KCCN radio 1420-AM at 5 p.m. HST. It is the lone crossover meeting for the two teams.
Hawaii is 5-1 overall, 3-0 in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. The Lions are 1-2 overall and in conference.
Rainbow coach Mike Wilton is 101-47 in his sixth year. He needs just six more wins to tie Alan Rosehill as UH's winningest coach.
PAGE, GOO CITED: The University of Hawaii women's basketball team swept the monthly honors from the Honolulu Quarterback Club.
Sophomore forward Kylie Page was named the female sportsperson of the month and coach Vince Goo the male selectee. Hawaii (19-1) is ranked 18th nationally.
SPORTS MEDICINE CLASSES: The Office of Continuing Education and Training at Kapiolani Community College is offering a series of sports medicine classes designed for the serious athlete and taught by professionals in the medical and endurance training fields.
The series consists of three classes -- "The Psychology of Winning," "Nutrition to Optimize Human Performance" and "Adaptation and Endurance."
The first class will be offered on Saturday, Feb. 28, from 1-3 p.m., the second on the same date from 3:15-5:15 p.m. The fee for each is $12.
"Adaptation and Endurance" is a five-week course consisting of two-hour sessions each Tuesday beginning on Feb. 17. The fee is $60.
To register, call 734-9211.
