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Editors Scratchpad
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Whose side are you on, anyhow?
Roughing the fans. University of Hawaii administration. Automatic first-rate clowns.
For arguably the most important athletic event in the history of Hawaii, with a game on the line in hostile territory that geographically favors the opposing team's fans, and with our team needing every advantage it can get, including the hallowed "12th man," Herman Frazier and Co. decided to punt. On second down.
What could possibly have been occupying their collective minds in making the decision to turn away 4,000 tickets to the Sugar Bowl? It couldn't have been the potential risk of losing money from unsold tickets. The Warriors berth in that game secured gobs of it -- about $4.5 million. And in the age of Craigslist and eBay?
For the sake of argument, say that thousands of UH fans suddenly had other plans for New Year's Day. (About as likely as Spam pulling out of the Hawaii market.) How hard would it have been to unload those tickets over the Internet, or through a middle-man, and recoup beaucoup bucks? Worst-case scenario they might become souvenir items at the Rainbowtique, and UH would net $4 million instead of $4.5 million. Our Warriors need every advantage they can get, and that includes as many crazy, go-for-broke fans as possible. It doesn't help when the 12th man gets clipped before the game even starts.