Hawaii
THIS is the time for sports magazines, among others, to name its men or event of the year or century or millennium, choose one. While I expressed surprise that the original announcement from Sports Illustrated failed to include Hawaii's Olympic gold medalist weight-lifter, Dr. Peter George, in Year end lists not
always topsits Top 10, that was before the magazine came out and George isn't even in the Top 50! And just check out the people who are, most of whom couldn't carry his gym bag or any of the equipment kept in it. Somebody forget about him? And Tommy Kono? ... Ron Jacobs was more than thrilled to see that No. 100 in the Sporting News list of the century's most powerful figures was the San Diego Chicken. It was Jacobs who created the mascot, then the KGB Chicken for the radio station where he was program director. He hired Ted Ginnolous, a station intern, to wear the suit and the rest is history ...
MY favorite recognition of Hawaii athletes was in ESPN magazine, which singled out the St. Louis Crusaders football team as a real dynasty. It points out the school's 14 straight state championships, eight alums per year on average entering Division I football programs, and three grads picked in the 1998 pro draft: Olin Kreutz, Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Viliami Maumau. It marked the first time it's happened to one high school in 30 years. "Oh, yes," the magazine adds, "Last year, following a win in Vegas, some players were put on probation when a party went awry -- strippers, smashed beds, mayhem. What better sign that these kids are pro material?" ...
Tribute to Gabby
GUITAR man Jim West, whose versatility enables him to play mellow slack key in Hana and bizarre licks with Weird Al Yancovic on the road, managed to get his hands on the guitar used for many years by his idol, the late Gabby Pahinui. Seems West's friend, Steve Seigfried, and his partners had bought a Martin 12-string for Gabby back in 1974, but when Gabby died, it disappeared from the house. Later, Seigfried discovered it on the wall of the Hard Rock Cafe in Lahaina, which got it from a guy who bought it at a swap meet. Seigfried's lawyer called the Hard Rock and he got it back with no problem, and was holding it for safe-keeping. He show ed it to West, who found it in terrible shape, unplayable in fact, and he agreed to take it to L.A. to get the best people in the business to restore it. When finished, West plans to record a slack-key piece with it -- a tribute to Gabby -- before returning it ...IT took a year, but I finally made it to Chef Mavro's for dinner, and his culinary eloquence has never been better stated. A staple with Mavro's menu is the fact that selected wines by the glass are suggested to go with each dish. If no wine is desired, the price reflects that. Don't leave without trying the lilikoi malassadas with coconut ice cream ...
Jim can't Carrey load
I ENJOYED Jim Carrey in "Man on the Moon" more than I usually do -- his mugging seemed more atuned to the strange humor of the man he impersonates, the late Andy Kaufman. But neither he, Danny Devito, nor the convoluted screenplay was enough to create the kind of comic madness that made Kaufman so beloved in certain circles. The ending was particularly troubling, suggesting perhaps that Kaufman had somehow faked his death. You might do better by watching some "Taxi" reruns and seeing the real thing ...
Dave Donnelly has been writing on happenings
in Hawaii for the Star-Bulletin since 1968.
His columns run Monday through Friday.Contact Dave by e-mail: ddonnelly@starbulletin.com