UH fans warmed New Orleans

I wanted to thank the wonderful University of Hawaii fans who attended the Sugar Bowl and the positive spirit that was shared in New Orleans. We joked about the cold weather and that it felt like a summer morning at Haleakala.

My wife and I drove down from North Carolina for the game and we loved the experience. Thanks to coach June Jones and the Warrior team for a great year!

Warriors have reason to hold heads high

As a lifelong Georgia Bulldog, I'd like to apologize to the people of Hawaii and the wonderful players of the University of Hawaii for the tasteless conduct of the Georgia fans at the Sugar Bowl. There is no way any college team in the NCAA goes undefeated in regular season by being "overrated." UH earned that trip to the Sugar Bowl and deserved to be there more than my beloved Dawgs, who lost two games to teams much weaker than Hawaii on its worst day.

The players of UH should hold their heads high with pride for making it to one of the most prestigious bowl games in the country. The Sugar, Rose, Orange and Gator bowls are reserved for the cream of the crop. Simply being able to appear in one says that not only Hawaii fans, but coaches, sportswriters and even the BCS computers all thought that Hawaii deserved to be there. You can't fool that many people regardless of what your schedule looks like.

UH is an outstanding team, and I wish the Warriors all the luck in the world. Next year, when you open against our arch rival, Florida, I'll be rooting for the Warriors! Where can I buy a hat?

UH athletic program needs more support

There was much aloha and kindness expressed between Warrior supporters, N'awlins natives and Georgia fans alike. We had a great time. All this was heartwarming, sorely needed in the frigid climate and after our team's painful loss to Georgia.

During the game, players gave their all; we should be proud of them. However, we were somewhat outmatched. The resounding loss illustrated that the University of Hawaii athletic program is in dire need of increased funding for training and playing facilities. We are all aware of the UH infighting about what to do with the income earned by the team for making it to a BCS bowl. If the UH leadership decides a BCS bowl championship team is one of their objectives, then they need to support the program accordingly.

Thanks to fans who were gracious guests

As a longtime resident of New Orleans, I am writing to thank all of the Warrior fans who visited our city for the Sugar Bowl. Multiple merchants, cabdrivers, bartenders and wait staff mentioned that the Hawaii fans were some of the best to ever visit our city for the Sugar Bowl.

With everything that has happened during the past couple of years, it was so refreshing interacting with genuinely nice people.

I am an LSU fan and alum, so I always root for the SEC, but I can honestly say that we very much enjoyed having you in our city. I hope you enjoyed it as well. It was good to see you, and I hope we see you again.

Team deserves better than bad attitudes

I'm shocked and appalled at all of the negative attitudes that are coming out after Hawaii's loss in the Sugar Bowl. That is not how this team deserves to be treated. We went further than could be expected with what we had. So what if we lost? Sports is not just about winning. It's also about how you comport yourself under the worst of circumstances, and this team never gave up. Fans of winning teams forget: Life is not just about winning, and sports can teach us about that, too.

We're lucky to have had June Jones and this team. Thanks for the ride.

Football just 1 benefit of living in Hawaii

Having just returned to our home in Memphis from the Sugar Bowl, I would just like to say "thank you" to all the fans who traveled from Hawaii to support the University of Hawaii Warriors. Your dedication was apparent to the end. And your patience with the University of Georgia fans was quite impressive. Apparently the Dawgs need to go to obedience training. As a former Pearl City resident, I was embarrassed and offended by some of the comments and actions of the UGA fans. But, after considering the situation, I remembered that UH fans were able to return to Hawaii ... and UGA fans got to return to Georgia. Who is the winner there? Continue your spirit of aloha. Many of us appreciate it.

Adoring fans go to unreal lengths

Not long ago I was watching a game show in which a contestant was winning a lot of money. He said that the game show experience had to be one of the two biggest highlights of his life. The game show host asked him what the other one was, and he replied that it came during a trip to Hawaii many years before when he had the opportunity to meet actor Harrison Ford during the filming of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and get his autograph. This type of mentality -- one in which the unreal has become the real -- has given rise to a celebrity-worshipping society. Actors who simply portray real people are idolized and paid millions of dollars, while the people they portray are just real people.

I thought about this when I read in the Star-Bulletin that people were lined up and prepared to pay for autographs of members of the University of Hawaii football team. It's one thing for kids to be seeking autographs of sports heroes, but quite another for adults to be lined up, gawking at a bunch of football players and actually paying for their autographs. Considering the fact that athletics arose from conditioning for war, athletes are simply pretend combatants, pretend warriors. Why aren't people asking the members of our military, the real warriors, for autographs?

And why are we concerned about paying coach June Jones millions of dollars? Our military generals make a fraction of that.

The world is becoming increasingly unreal.

Warriors really were undefeated ... in 2007

I am so proud of the Warriors. As our ohana sat around after the Sugar Bowl, here in Renton, Wash., someone made a comment that now they have a loss for the year. I said no, they only have one loss for this year ... last year (2007) they were undefeated. Everyone laughed and agreed with me.

As I watched the game, my heart was bursting with pride. Never in UH history has a team done what they accomplished. And the fans were spectacular with their support, their smiles and most of all aloha.

Colt, you are still my hero. I shared your frustration throughout the game, and I felt every hit you took. When I saw you nearly in tears on the sideline, I too became tearful as I felt your pain.

Keep your head up, Colt. You and the rest of the team deserve all the love and adoration for what you've accomplished. You truly represent the Hawaiian spirit, so you must be Hawaiian. Imua & a hui hou.

Apply common sense to plastic problem

Apparently plastic bags make excellent fuel for the HPOWER garbage-to-energy facility, so why not just burn all the plastic bags there instead of burying so many of them?

Everyone benefits this way: Customers will have a fresh, hygienic bag and only require as many as needed each time they shop; retailers will still have a cost-effective, easily stored bag, which will ultimately be converted back into energy for Hawaii; and plastic bag litter will be greatly reduced.

Did taunted tiger follow trail of blood?

My theory on the recent tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo: One news source described how the tiger followed the trail of blood from one of the victims to launch another attack. With his appetite whetted, it pursued the wounded prey. Thus, the smell of a trace of an injury might have been on the victim, and in combination with teasing might have aroused the animal. I'm sure the forensics experts will pick this up. The important thing is that this factor should be included in future zoo design.

Transaction tax might be easy remedy

All the presidential candidates are talking about changes in the tax structure, so perhaps the time has arrived for a major revision. One candidate is even proposing a national sales tax, which would make it possible to eliminate all other federal taxes.

The notion of a single tax is an old one, and there is much to be said for the idea. Unfortunately, this particular proposal is hideously regressive.

A real remedy would be to impose a transaction tax instead. If all transfers of value were taxed -- sales, wages, interest, investments, savings -- the amount of the tax could be 1 percent or less. Collecting it would be relatively simple. Most important, everyone would pay it.

It's something to think about.

Night park closures are much appreciated

I bought a new home in Sea Country, Maili, three years ago. I love the Leeward side for its beauty and climate, but I finally gave up on using the beaches because they were crowded with illegal campers, poorly maintained and unsafe.

I moved downtown a few months ago. I still own my house in Maili. It's encouraging to read that progress is being made on closing the parks at night, and I might someday be able to return to enjoy the beaches. Once the beaches are under control, they have to be monitored. They can be cleaned up for public use, but after a few weeks, without follow-up control, the beaches return to the illegal campers.