Sidelines
’Tis the season to count
our blessingsMAYBE it's the eggnog talking, or the annual viewing of "A Charlie Brown Christmas." But I've been swept up in the spirit of the season. Merry Christmas. I'm on the Hawaii Bowl bandwagon.
It is a Christmas gift, this game. Even with the searches and the traffic, and unknown opponent, and unknown attendance, and inconvenient timing and the ridiculousness of a bowl game on your own home field.
Yeah, all that is true. But it's still a gift, one more football game on Christmas Day.
Who hasn't played catch with a new football on Christmas?
And it occurred to me, as my heart soared, after watching "The Grinch," that this is the perfect time to take a look at all the everyday gifts sports give us. To remember all the blessings that don't come wrapped up in pretty packages.
>> Watching June Jones take a receiver aside in a quiet moment and carefully explain the intricacies of pass defense and the offensive blueprint that can beat it. It's a pleasure to watch this guy actually coach.
>> Phil Martin's defense. Tony Akpan's energy. Carl English's confidence.
>> The expressions on his teammates' faces when English gets on a roll in the postgame interview room.
>> Christen Roper's hook shot.
>> Riley Wallace's haircut.
>> Siuaki Livai's public speeches. He should be the No. 1 guest on the Conan O'Brien show.
>> The UH football hype machine, in which anyone who walks through the door could be the best ever coached, or at least play on Sundays.
>> Les Keiter, and his radio show, and his weekly gravelly intonations at the Honolulu Quarterback Club.
>> High school state championships on the neighbor islands.
>> High school state championships in the big city.
>> Keith Amemiya's incredible ability to get things done (brought to you in part by his corporate partners).
>> Chad Owens' moves. Travis LaBoy's burst. Timmy Chang's smile.
>> The Star-Bulletin's Division II page.
>> The big guy near courtside at Rainbow basketball wearing a leprechaun hat with an "H" on it.
>> Margaret Vakasausau's fervor. Kim Willoughby's fire. Lily Kahumoku's laid-back brilliance, to the beat of her very own drum.
>> The volleyball fan who holds up a big sign that says "ROOF" on it after every play, no matter what had just happened.
>> Jones' "Call the Coach" radio show, in which perhaps overcome with relief after staying so closely guarded with the media, he just might let loose and say anything.
>> That Cal Lee's retirement lasted about 11 minutes.
>> Faded, but still a jewel. Les Murakami's Rainbow Stadium. And a Sunday afternoon in the cheap seats.
>> Dew on the grass at an early morning UH football practice.
>> Postgame leis. Postgame hugs. Postgame tears.
>> The old rainbow, still alive, still kicking.
>> The passion and panic of the crazy UH fans on the Internet, who write every sentence with four exclamation points!!!! Or in ALL CAPS!!
>> Nearly every major UH sports event on television, and hosted by Jim Leahey and the expert KFVE crew.
>> The new hope that comes with each new season for every team in every sport.
>> Football in the sunshine, on Christmas Day.
>> And of course, my favorite gift from the world of sports: television commercials starring famous athletes, and "ALF."
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com