Keeping Score
THIS is almost as much fun as bodysurfing at Kalama Beach. And there's no worry about getting slammed into the sand. Sports Web site for
women worth the surfSurfing the Internet leaves you drier, less sunburned and - hopefully - better informed than those nice sets generated lately by Hurricane Dora. Some days you just happen upon that perfect wave, and this one comes in the form of the Web site SportsForWomen.com.
Unlike Sports Illustrated's somewhat condescending approach with its SI for Women magazine, this Web site is informative, relevant, comprehensive and fun. And it's as good as some of the other sports sites such as CNNSI.com and ESPN.com.
SportsForWomen tries to cover it all ... and does it successfully. There are links to pro, Olympic and NCAA sports, pages for training tips and trivia, and even birthdays (sorry, just missed Midori Ito's 30th, but former Texas volleyball player Demetria Sance turns 22 on Thursday).
You've got to like a site where the products "Store'' is temporarily closed for remodeling. Or one that calls its look "feminine with adrenaline.''
And there's not many places that have taken a serious look at what Brandi Chastain did for the humble sports bra with her public peeldown after her match-winning goal in the World Cup.
While the statement that the sports bra "was as important to the growth of women's sports as the passage of Title IX'' is a little extreme, the undergarment has made life more comfortable for athletes who used to resort to wearing bathing suits for support. And it's not every day that you learn that the first Jogbra ever sold is in the Smithsonian Institute/Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Collection.
Check it out: http://www.SportsForWomen.com.
SPORTS Illustrated was none too kind to the University of Hawaii football team and the Western Athletic Conference.
The Rainbows, with the nation's longest losing streak (18), are ranked No. 109 out of 114. Only Arkansas State, SW Louisiana, Kent, Middle Tennessee State and Buffalo are rated lower.
And what does it say for the WAC when even the Independents - which include SW Louisiana and Middle Tennessee State - are ranked higher as a group. At least the WAC, at No. 10, is ahead of the Big West (No. 12 and last).
"I haven't seen the rankings and I don't really look at them,'' said new Rainbow coach June Jones. "I don't care about those things. You are what you are.''
And the feeling here is Hawaii is a lot better than 109.
On a brighter note, former Hawaii kicker Jason Elam was named to the All-Century collegiate team in the latest issue of Sports Illustrated. Elam, who is on the verge of breaking numerous records for the Denver Broncos, is No. 2 on the list for placekickers.
Edging Elam out was Georgia's Kevin Butler (1981-84), who went on to play for the Chicago Bears.
There's sure to be plenty of Letters to the Editor on this one. I, for one, can't believe they overlooked Lance Alworth (Arkansas) as a wide receiver.
The Hawaiian Canoe Racing Association executive board was in a no-win situation Friday when it had to decide what to do about the unfinished state canoe regatta.
Not to award division titles was probably the right decision but maybe not the fairest. One has to feel for Hawaiian Canoe Club, which had never won a state title and was leading after 33 of the 35 races.
Those division trophies are made of wood. But they will forever be tarnished by the controversy.
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.
