A few people are naturally gifted in learning languages. The rest of us must slog along to absorb even the basics.

Maybe Dwain Williams is one of the fortunate few. Maybe he's as talented linguistically as he is with his jump shot and he doesn't need to attend class to pick up the finer points of reading, writing and speaking Samoan.

I mean, he could be a savant in Samoan. He's certainly articulate in English.

But, somehow, I doubt it. I think he probably needs to go to class regularly to learn a new language, or to get a passing grade for trying, the way I had to (or tried to). I discovered the hard way that I couldn't fake it in Spanish. Some college courses you can pass or even get a good grade without attending class and by cramming for the tests; this is not advisable, especially in foreign languages.

So Williams took offense at being suspended indefinitely from the University of Hawaii basketball team for missing one Samoan language class. He says he's being treated unfairly.

Really, now. I can't help but be incredulous over Williams' incredulity.

Actually, he's lucky he's kept his spot on the roster this long.

Anyone who has followed the Rainbows this year knows the junior transfer has been given all kinds of chances, but has found all kinds of ways to get on the wrong side of his coaches.

There was that two-game suspension early on, over “;miscommunication,”; according to Williams. Team insiders say it was about Williams' unwillingness to conform to the Rainbows' system.

More recently there was the two-week bereavement period after his cousin died. We can't begrudge anyone for grieving a loved one. But the fact remains that while Williams was MIA the Rainbows backcourt broke down like a car with a warranty that just expired.

Now, I've known Bob Nash, the UH coach, long enough to believe he is anything but unfair. He may be too nice to his players. I've never seen him treat any of them with anything less than respect. Yes, he's had some closed-door practices where I'm fairly certain there was some yelling going on, and some high-decibel halftime speeches.

But believe it ... Bob Nash is a sincerely nice guy and good person. Perhaps too nice for his job at times. So it's good to see him dish out some serious discipline to a player whose track record indicates he sorely needs it.

An indefinite suspension is the right move. It gives the coach all the leverage (anyone who was grounded until further notice as a kid knows what I'm talking about).

I was tipped off yesterday morning that Williams was kicked off the team, pau already. The indefinite suspension indicates a final chance for Williams to get it together.

It's too late to salvage this season. And if Williams has played his last game as a Rainbow, Nash will deserve a good amount of heat for recruiting him. Williams was supposed to take some of the scoring burden off Rod Flemings and help the Rainbows become winners.

Judging from the body of work—or non-work—does anyone really expect to see Dwain Williams suit up for UH again?

It's easy to see this is about a lot more than one missed class.

Reach Star-Bulletin sports columnist Dave Reardon at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), his “;Quick Reads”; blog at starbulletin.com, and twitter.com/davereardon.