UH projected near bottom of Mountain West
There isn’t a ton of faith in the University of Hawaii football program at the moment, at least not in the eyes of the media. At Tuesday’s Mountain West Media Summit in Las Vegas, season predictions were announced with Boise State a unanimous choice to win the Mountain Division and Fresno State a narrow choice to win the West Division.
Hamilton’s inclusion adds to spirit of inaugural Surf Ranch Pro
As she continues to check off boxes, we continue adding superlatives to her feats. Another is on the horizon as Bethany Hamilton has been invited to participate as a wild card in the first-ever Surf Ranch Pro, Sept. 6-9 in Leemore, Calif.
Do we care about fair play, or just exciting play?
The World Cup concluded Sunday with a final matchup that had a bit of everything. It had some great possession builds — mostly by Croatia, it had some wonderful French strikes from distance, it had a penalty on an unfortunate but correct video review, it had a borderline own goal from each side and it had a couple of protesters who were apparently hoping to send an anti-Kremlin message, which seems to be a rarity these days.
Top 3 well-defined as Gilmore regains yellow jersey
In years past, it was a top four that seemed to separate itself from the rest of the women’s leaderboard. This season, there is a pretty clear top three with a couple of different names who have been attempting to stake their claim to the 2018 women’s world title.
Warriors stay winning even in free agency
As the dominoes continue to fall in another blockbuster summer of free agency, it still feels like the more things change, the more they stay the same for the current NBA landscape.
Toledo captures crown, women now getting first crack at J-Bay
With his second contest win of the season, Filipe Toledo has claimed the No. 1 spot on the men’s Championship Tour rankings, pulling off the victory at Jeffreys Bay. The result moves him ahead of Julian Wilson and he’ll take the yellow jersey into the next stop at Teahupoo.
Parkinson, Slater each announce upcoming retirement plans
The future of the men’s Championship Tour is beginning to become a bit clearer as some present-day stars are announcing they will soon be part of its past.
Moniz eyeing qualification after semifinal showing at Ballito
The top of the Qualifying Series leaderboard looks a lot different after Saturday’s conclusion of the Ballito Pro in South Africa. One of the big movers was Oahu’s Seth Moniz, who got all the way to the semifinals at this first QS 10,000 contest of the year.
Moniz, Mamiya among Hawaii crew into round 3 at Ballito
Ramping up to next week’s stop at Jeffreys Bay, South Africa is hosting another major event this week as the QS 10,000 Ballito Pro is underway with the biggest potential Qualifying Series haul on the line for world tour hopefuls.
WSOP adventures complete with some mixed results
Three full weeks in Vegas can change a person. Just 12 hours in Vegas can change a person, but spending 21 days in this otherworldly environment that may as well be a suburb of the sun certainly leaves a lasting impression.
Marks is money in Cabo; Tati takes second
In a matchup of two future potential world champions, Caroline Marks picked up her second QS 6,000 contest win of the season by defeating Tatiana Weston-Webb in the Los Cabos Open of Surf final.
Blanchard into round of 16 in Cabo return
In her return to competitive surfing, Alana Blanchard is demonstrating some of her best traits that originally got her a spot among the world’s elite wahine on the Championship Tour. As one of the toughest events on the annual Qualifying Series schedule, the Los Cabos Open of Surf has been the stage for Blanchard to again put on the jersey for the first time since delivering her baby, Banks, a little over eight months ago.
Cashing in the Marathon, which was true to form
There’s very little else that can torment your body and mind, but also be as much fun as heading to Vegas for the World Series of Poker. Each summer, I try to make the trip out to the land of bright lights and cold rooms on what typically feels like the center of the sun. This year has been interesting, as usual.
Oh so close again for Tati as Defay wins Uluwatu
Beautiful waves and striking scenery set the stage for the Uluwatu contest, which concluded the event that had been canceled earlier this year at Margaret River. It was a very different environment and it produced two new event winners this year as Johanne Defay won the women’s event and rookie Willian Cardoso captured the men’s title Saturday in Bali, Indonesia.
Freesurf injury is latest setback for John John
It’s really hard to identify what has been happening with John John Florence this season. He appears to still be the same laid-back but destructive competitor that we’ve come to expect during his past two world championship crowning campaigns. The results, however, have not been there as he’s fallen in early stages to much less accomplished opponents.
Peterson takes Keramas title in terrific Bali debut
Say what you will about some of the changes to the World Surf League, both implemented or just announced, but the addition of Bali to the Championship Tour schedule has been one of the clear highlights of 2018.
Call and response: the LeBron edition
As is usually the case, writing about LeBron James sparked more feedback than just about any other topic I have penned an opinion on in the past. So with James now getting the Cavs into the NBA Finals for what will be his eighth straight appearance, I wanted to share some counterpoints I heard and my reaction to those.
Why all the hate? LeBron critics lack substance
There are people who, for one reason or another, don’t want to give LeBron James the credit he deserves. Or they begrudgingly give him credit, but insist that they don’t like him.
Bali promises to add a fresh look to CT
We all like new stuff. A new shirt, a new hat, a new car, whatever the product, we like its newness — unless it’s a phone or laptop update, then I’m all about that “remind me tomorrow” button.
Toledo shows full repertoire in 2nd career Rio title
Forget your turns, forget your carves, it was all about the barrel for finals day at the Rio Pro. They weren’t showing up for everyone, but Friday’s theme was essentially “get the barrel, get the score.”