Not much aloha from staff at stadium

As a longtime University of Hawaii football fan, I have seen a number of changes in the past few years at Aloha Stadium. Unfortunately, not all of these changes have been positive. As the number of fans attending goes down, fewer cars are now coming in to tailgate. This last weekend, our group was tailgating at 4:30, in a mostly empty section of the parking lot, when a stadium employee zoomed up on his little golf cart and told us to move the canopy we had between two of our cars, as it was forbidden to "save spaces." We told him we were not saving a space, merely providing shade for the group, and that if it got really crowded, we'd happily tighten up. He told us to open the space, or he'd "call the cops," then zoomed over to scold another group down from us, who just laughed him off. We backed one of our cars under the shade; however, he came back again and shoved a list of unauthorized actions at us, which includes frisbee tossing and loud music. For some reason he didn't address the cars whose music could be heard several rows away.

We have been tailgating for ages, and it seems the only time there is interaction with stadium parking staff now, it is negative. They certainly haven't been helpful on the days there are a lot of tailgaters and parking is hard to find. Instead of assisting fans by helping with parking, when asked for assistance, they say it isn't their job. More and more, it seems they feel their job is to zoom around in their golf carts and hassle fans.

Management at Aloha Stadium needs to remind staff that their duties are to assist their customers -- the fans.

Jones gets failing grade for leadership

After staggering losses recently by the University of Hawaii Warriors football team, many Warrior fans might be wondering if the problem is the offense or the defense. The answer is actually more basic: The real problems with the Warrior team are discipline and leadership.

Have you ever watched the Warriors on the sidelines while they are getting their clocks cleaned? You'll see players smiling, laughing and having a grand time while their teammates are being beaten on almost every play. Do you see this on other sidelines of losing college football teams? You be the judge. Pick a team and watch as they cut away to the sidelines. You will then have your answer. As you watch UH players getting out-muscled and out-hustled, their buds on the sidelines are having a great time. These ingredients all add up to poor discipline and leadership.

Records are great. I am sure than people are impressed with Timmy Chang's NCAA passing record. How about the record for the most interceptions? How about having almost 140 points scored against your team by two WAC opponents on national TV? Cool stuff, huh?

Have you ever watched a June Jones interview after one of these defeats? He is almost incoherent. It doesn't get any better by Tuesday. He breaks it down as a player issue. If only player X or Y would have made a play. Come on, June, a single play doesn't result in a 60-point differential. When is it going to be a coaching issue?

Jones treats the Warrior players like they are professional athletes rather than what they are. They are scholar-athletes who are 19 and 20 years old. They need discipline and leadership.

We have a saying here in the islands to demonstrate true leadership: "Eddie would go." Maybe it is time for Jones to demonstrate his leadership. Perhaps the athletic director should tell coach, "June should go."

Warriors should turn to mainland players

I support June Jones as University of Hawaii football coach. Developing a consistent, quality football program is a long-term process during which there will be good years and bad years. June has had more good seasons than mediocre ones, as measured by wins and losses. We, the public, need to practice patience.

Nevertheless, I believe that Jones needs to correct certain program tendencies that seem counterproductive. One apparent tendency I would question is an excessive recruiting of local athletes at positions, such as receiver, that require speed. Local athletes do not have the speed of mainland, inner-city athletes, and I believe that June and his staff should look primarily to the mainland for players to fill the speed positions. Hawaii does not produce many Ashley Lelies, not surprisingly. Ashley is not originally from here.

I wonder if there is, in general, a tendency to look excessively to recruiting local players, with the belief that fans will come out to watch whether or not the team does well. I believe that UH should recruit the best players it can get, no matter where these players come from. If they come from Timbuktu, that's great; if they come from Hawaii, that's great, too. If UH does not get the best players it can get, it does a disservice to the team and the fans. Only with the best players will we win as many games as possible. In the end, winning is what counts.

Case doesn't endanger state med-pot laws

Your story on the Supreme Court medical marijuana case, Ashcroft v. Raich ("High Court to decide fate of Hawaii's medical-pot laws," Nov. 26), misstated one key point: This case will not decide "whether states have the right to adopt" medical marijuana laws. The federal government has never challenged the right of states to pass such laws, and their validity is not at issue now. The only question before the court is whether these laws also give patients protection from enforcement of federal marijuana laws.

If this sounds like a narrow, technical distinction, remember that the federal government makes only 1 percent of all marijuana arrests. Ninety-nine percent are made by state and local police acting under state law.

While 99 percent protection from arrest isn't perfect, it's a huge step forward for seriously ill patients. There is no danger of state medical marijuana laws being overturned, and states considering similar proposals do not need to worry that the federal government can somehow invalidate them. It can't.

High school teams create family division

Go, Iolani Raiders! Go, Campbell Sabers! So, which side should the ohana sit on when one son plays for the Raiders team and the other son attends Campbell?

Next mayor should keep Brunch plate full

The events that have been available to tourists and locals -- Brunch at the Beach, Sunset at the Beach, Aloha Friday concerts at the Mission Memorial Auditorium -- are all such a beautiful gift to the community and so representative of the best of aloha. We really hope that with the new administration these events can be funded so that they can continue.

Moderates don't share religious right's ideals

I hope the religious right gets everything it wants. I want our government to become a theocracy based on the Holy Bible. I want most abortions criminalized and all violators -- both the provider and the mother -- to be executed. I want the teaching of evolution replaced by creationism. I want all scientific research that experiments with anything resembling human life be prohibited. I want the Ten Commandments posted in every government building and daily public prayers be required. I want homosexuals and atheists be told to shape up or ship out. I want James Dobson, Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Gary Bauer and others of their ilk appointed to important government positions.

If I get my wish, I'm sure the evangelicals will be thrilled, but maybe the moderates who voted for Bush might say, "Hmm, maybe I made a mistake."