Hawaii Warriors vs Washington State Cougars

September 13th, 2009 kNuke

The Hawaii Warriors defeated the Washington State Cougars 38-20, giving Hawaii its first road victory over a BCS conference opponent in seven tries. Hawaii lead the game from wire to wire with the teams combining for 11 turnovers (4 for Hawaii).

Offense: Greg Alexander was 26-36 for a career best 453 yards and 3 TDs. Greg Salas will challenge him for WAC player of the week honors with 7 catches for 195 yards and a TD. Rodney Bradley looked good again with 7 catches for 150 yards and 2 TDs.

The first half gives all Warrior Nation hope. Alexander looked calm as he went through his progressions, carving up the Cougar secondary. The offensive line provided solid protection and even helped Alex Green bust a 44-yard TD run. Hawaii was up 35-6 at halftime.

The second half wasn’t as spectacular as Hawaii only mustered 3 points. It looked like Hawaii took their foot off the gas, which would explain the ineptness; fumbling twice didn’t help either.

Overall, the offense played well, but they need to work on holding on to the football; four turnovers against better competition will not cut it. Don’t get too excited about the offense just yet, because the Cougars had no pass rush and didn’t look very talented. On a side note, it’s not really a Wildcat-type package until Inoke Funaki actually throws the ball.

Defense: The defense is playing much better than expected. Three of the seven turnovers can’t be attributed to the defense, but four turnovers is still a great game. The defense is still susceptible to running plays and passing plays into space, but they are keeping the scoring at a minimal and that’s what counts. Just like the offense, don’t get too excited about the defense just yet as the Washington State QBs are terrible.

Special Teams: Nothing much to talk about here. Kickoffs were good, kickoff returns were okay, there was one nice punt, but one really bad punt, punt returns were subpar, and Enos made his lone FG; that about sums it up.

Coaching: Looks like the staff had a great gameplan and the players were ready to play from the get-go. The second half adjustments and intensity are question marks, but being up 35-6 at halftime ain’t bad.

Final Word: The offense looked good and the defense was solid again, but Washington State does not have PAC-10 talent. Still, it’s a win on the road; Warrior Nation will sleep well tonight.

Helmet Stickers:
Greg Alexander – 453 yards, 3 TDs
Greg Salas – 195 yards, TD
Rodney Bradley – 150 yards, 2 TDs
Tuika Tufaga – Sack, fumble
Paipai Falemalu – Sack, fumble
Mana Silva – 2 INTs

Posted in NCAA Football | No Comments »

Central Arkansas Bears vs Hawaii Warriors

September 4th, 2009 kNuke

The Hawaii Warriors football season kicks off today against Central Arkansas.  The only problem is that today is Friday!  Since I have to go to work, I had to put together a makeshift tailgate.

Healthy huh?  On to the game…

The Hawaii Warriors defeated the Central Arkansas Bears 25-20 at Aloha Stadium.  The Warriors pulled ahead on an 8-yard TD pass from Greg Alexander to Rodney Bradley with 1:22 remaining in the game.  A controversial fumble on the Bears last drive sealed the ugly win for the Warriors.

Offense: Greg Alexander was 21-32 for 304 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT.  I had high hopes for Alexander being able to change his style, but it looks like last year all over again; 1 read and run.  He lacks pocket presence and the ability to slide around while keeping his eyes upfield.  I don’t mind the running, but I’d rather he use that as a last resort and not his second option.

The offensive line looked bad, but that has become the norm the past few years. If those are the best players, I’m not sure what can be done. At least there were very few penalties; that’s a step in the right direction.

I liked what I saw from the WRs; Greg Salas (minus the alligator arms) and Rodney Bradley look like a formidable duo.  Kealoha Pilares looked like he had a little extra giddy up in his step.  If Royce Pollard and Javonte Taylor get more involved, Alexander will have a lot options.

Overall, the offense had too many turnovers and looked out of sync.  It was the first game and typically it takes a couple of games to get the offense oiled up, but this performance was not expected. I was expecting a slow first half, but at least 40 points by the end of the game.

Defense:  The defense played as expected; good enough to win.  There is absolutely no pass rush and better rushing teams will run straight to the second level before being touched.  The secondary looked slow and the overall tackling was mediocre.  The defense doesn’t look fast or strong.  The team lost a lot on the defensive side of the ball and it showed; like expected, it could be a long year for this defensive unit.

Special Teams: Scott Enos did make a FG, but he looked shaky in everything he did, especially kickoffs. Ryan Henry looked good returning punts, very natural.  Making most FGs inside the 40 and zero turnovers equals a job well done; anything above that is icing on the cake.

Coaching:  I did like the absence of penalties, but there is no excuse for not planning to go for the Two-point conversion after the go-ahead TD.  It’s the first game so I’m giving all the coaches a pass.

Final Word: A win is a win, even if it’s against a Division I-AA team.  This is the exact reason Hawaii should always schedule a weak opponent for the season opener.

Helmet Stickers:
Greg Salas – 180 yards, TD

Posted in NCAA Football | 1 Comment »

University of Hawaii Fantasy Football Roster

August 19th, 2009 kNuke

For all you University of Hawaii alumni… It’s actually almost possible to field a starting lineup.

QB: Colt Brennan, Redskins
RB: Nate Ilaoa, Unsigned (He’s the best i could come up with)
RB: Reagan Mauia, Cardinals
WR: Ashley Lelie, Chiefs
WR: Davone Bess, Dolphins
WR: CJ Hawthorne, Bills
TE: Ikaika Alama-Francis, Lions (He’s a DE, but could play some TE)
K: Jason Elam, Falcons

And if you’re playing in an IDP league:

DE: Isaac Sopoaga, 49ers
LB: Pisa Tinoisamoa, Bears
DB: Ryan Mouton, Titans

Let me know if you got others!

You can check out my Fantasy Football Draft Guide for some real Fantasy Football advice.

Posted in Hawaii, NFL | No Comments »

Trade Targets and Bait

August 14th, 2009 kNuke

For most Yahoo leagues, it’s trade deadline time.  I always believe it’s a good idea to get your trade offers in before the weekend, so today is your last chance.

Here are a few players to think about on the Trade Market.

Adrian Gonzalez, 1B (Bait)
Gonzalez is a solid producer, but playing in San Diego with that junk around him will hurt his value. I’d use him to shore up other holes in your lineup and pickup a guy like Billy Butler to fill in at 1B.

Ben Zobrist, 2B/SS/OF (Bait)
Zobrist has been producing like a madman all year, but I think his production will start to tail off; Sell high, but only if you can get a solid return, because he provides a lot of position flexibility.

Ian Kinsler, 2B (Target)
Kinsler is injured right now, but he’ll be back soon. An impatient or skiddish owner might trade him away on the cheap.

Gordon Beckham, 3B/SS (Bait)
Beckham has been on fire for the past month, but he’s starting to cool.  If you can package him, I’d say go for it. Try to find an owner that loves college baseball.

Jermaine Dye, OF (Target)
Dye hasn’t been hitting, but he’s a proven veteran. Even with the addition of Alex Rios, I still think Dye will get his. You may want to bench him for the time being, but he’s an HR and RBI addition that could take your team to the top.

Jason Bay, OF (Target)
That lineup has to start producing again, it’s just too good. I would expect Bay to be right in the middle of the resurgence. He won’t come cheap, but he’ll be worth it.

Torii Hunter, OF (Bait)
I’d use this opportunity to trade him before he comes back. An owner might take the gamble. I’ve never been high on Hunter’s fantasy value. Maybe a Bay for Hunter swap?

Jake Peavy, SP (Bait)
Peavy looks to be coming off the DL in a few weeks. You should be trying to unload him right now. He may come back and win some games for the White Sox, but I think he’s worth more to your team right now if you can get good value in return.

John Lackey, SP (Target)
Lackey’s season numbers are pretty good, but his second half has been impressive. An owner may be willing to part with him if given the right players in return. I’d give it a try.

Cole Hamels, SP (Target)
Hamels has not been very good, but I keep believing he’ll get better. Most owners won’t let him go for nothing, because of his reputation, but I’d throw a deal at it.

Johan Santana, Dan Haren, Roy Halladay, SP (Bait)
Their respective teams are pretty far out of the race. All of these guys will continue pitching for the duration of the season, but I’m not sure they’ll get a lot of victories if their teams start playing different guys. Right now is a great time to use their name and #1 SP status to load up for the stretch run.

Kevin Gregg, Matt Capps, Kerry Wood, Mike MacDougal, RP (Bait)
Owners in need of Saves may overpay for one of these guys. I’d throw fliers out to Save-strapped owners.

These are just a sample of guys to think about on the Trade Market. In reality, you should evaluate your entire roster. If you have a specific situation, post it up or drop me a line and I’ll be happy to help you out.

Posted in MLB | No Comments »

2009 Fantasy Football Draft Guide

July 28th, 2009 kNuke

The 2008 Fantasy Football Draft Guide helped hundreds of Fantasy Football players compete against co-workers, friends, and family!  This guide can help you compete and win.

Here’s what the Draft Guide gives you…

• Simple framework for the first 10 Rounds of your draft.
• Each round is broken down for you to make the draft process as effortless as possible.
• Great tool for beginner Fantasy Football players.
• Included with the guide are Waiver Wire updates and trade advice throughout the season.

Read what people said about last year’s guide…

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Houston, TX

I hope nobody else in my league buys this guide or else I’ll lose my edge.

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Honolulu, HI

Simplest guide I’ve seen on the market.  It’s so easy, a caveman could do it!

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San Diego, CA

Usually I finish near the bottom in my league, but last year I actually came in second.  Now I walk around the office as the “Fantasy Guru.”

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San Francisco, CA

Thank God for the guide.  Last year, I looked like a genius!

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New York, NY

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Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Posted in NFL | 1 Comment »

Fantasy Baseball All-Stars

July 5th, 2009 kNuke

As MLB announced its All-Stars today, it’s only fitting to unveil my Fantasy Baseball All-Star Selections.

C: Brandon Inge. Mauer and Victor Martinez will have better numbers at the end of the year, but right now, I give Inge the nod.

1B: Albert Pujols. If you need an explanation why, go crawl back under that rock.

2B: Aaron Hill. I wouldn’t argue against Utley or Kinsler, but Hill is helping his owners the most.

3B: Mark Reynolds. You think I’m crazy? Go check Reynold’s statistics. He’s helping in every category and his average isn’t hurting the team.

SS: Hanley Ramirez. Hanley has not disappointed one bit.

OF: Carl Crawford. Finding a guy who consistently steals bases while not hurting your team in other categories is hard to find; Crawford may be the only one.

OF: Ryan Braun. Behind Pujols, Braun is the best hitter in the game.

OF: Torii Hunter. Known more for his glove, Hunter is having a marvelous year; hitting for average and power, driving in runs, and stealing a few bases.

SP: Zach Greinke. Greinke has slowed down a bit since his torrid start, but what a surprise he’s been.

SP: Tim Lincecum. You’re getting what you expected when you drafted Lincecum, but 141 Ks in 121 IP is ridiculous.

RP: Jonathan Broxton. Even though Broxton gave up 3 runs today, he’s still the best closer right now.

RP: Ryan Franklin. Franklin doesn’t strike a lot of guys out and he’ll make you sweat, but he’s been nails. He, Aardsma, and Bailey are at the front of the “Best RP off the Waiver Wire” award line.

P: Chris Carpenter. Carpenter stumbled a little bit as of late, but he’s been a big time steal for any owner that drafted him. I was also thinking of Edwin Jackson here, but I gave the nod to Carpenter.

There you have it; not your list of usual suspects huh? I’m sure there are many other players that could be included on this list. If you think I missed someone, post a comment and state your case.

Posted in MLB | No Comments »

“Akebono” Chad Rowan

July 5th, 2009 kNuke

Chad Rowan was born May 8, 1969 in Waimanalo, Hawaii.  Rowan relocated to Japan early in 1988, joining the Azumazeki stable.  He made his sumo debut under the name Akebono in March 1988.  On January 27, 1993, Akebono became the first ever foreign born wrestler to reach Yokozuna, the highest rank in sumo.

Akebono retired from sumo after 13 years with a record of 566-198, winning 11 tournaments, which ranks 7th All-time.

Hawaii Athletes Status: Alii, 2009

Posted in Hawaii | No Comments »

Duke Kahanamoku

June 10th, 2009 kNuke

Duke Kahanamoku was born August 24, 1890 in Honolulu, Hawaii, the first of nine siblings.  He is best known as the “Father of modern Surfing” and winner of five Olympic swimming medals.  He was the first person to be inducted into both the Swimming Hall of Fame and the Surfing Hall of Fame.  Also, he is a member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame.

In the 1912 Stockholm Olympics, Kahanamoku won the gold medal in the 100m freestyle and the silver in the 4×200m relay. World War I canceled the 1916 Olympics, but during the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, he won gold medals in both the 100m freestyle and the 4×200m relay. He won his last medal in the 100m freestyle, finishing second in the 1924 Paris Olympics.

Kahanamoku travelled around the globe, delighting crowds with swimming and surfing exhibitions.  Many people believe that these exhibitions were the main cause for increased popularity with modern surfing.

Duke Kahanamoku has a statue located on Kuhio Beach in Waikiki.

Medal Breakdown:
1912 – Gold, 100m freestyle
1912 – Silver, 4×200m relay
1920 – Gold, 100m freestyle
1920 – Gold, 4×200m relay
1924 – Silver, 100m freestyle

Hawaii Athletes Status: Alii, 2009

Posted in Hawaii | No Comments »

Hawaii Click It or Ticket Campaign

May 27th, 2009 kNuke

I wear my seat belt every time I get into the front seat of a car; I figure that’s what it’s for.  Do we really need to spend resources reinforcing this?  I understand the campaign is targeted at young drivers, but shouldn’t they learn to wear a seat belt in Driver’s Education?

If a driver doesn’t want to wear a seat belt, I’m fine with that, it’s their choice.  If they are in an accident, it only causes harm to them.  If they’re willing to take that risk, that should a choice up to the driver.

Hell, people smoke, get lung cancer, give others lung cancer, and burden the Health system, which causes pain to the entire island.  Maybe Hawaii should start a Quit It or Ticket Campaign for Smokers?  Sounds pretty ridiculous huh?  Exactly…

Posted in Hawaii | 2 Comments »

First Quarter Fantasy Baseball Awards

May 18th, 2009 kNuke

We’ve pretty much closed the book on the first quarter of this year’s baseball season so I’ll hand out my First Quarter Fantasy Baseball Awards.

MVP: Raul Ibanez and Aaron Hill.  Ibanez is tearing it up right now batting .357 with 13 HR and 35 RBI while Hill ain’t too shabby either batting .345 with 11 HR and 34 RBI; Both Classic Sell High candidates.

Cy Young: Zack Greinke.  He’s got 65 Ks in 60 IP to go along with 7 W, 0.60 ERA, and 0.83 WHIP.  Since he is a high K guy, I would hang on for the ride.

Best “Everyone” Pick: Adam Jones. Just as good as advertised with a with a surprising .370 AVG.

Worst “Everyone” Pick: Alexei Ramirez.  Eek…

Biggest Bust: Jimmy Rollins. If you own him, you might as well go down with the ship.

Best Waiver Wire Pickup: Jason Bartlett and Brandon Inge.  Bartlett is giving owners a little bit of everthing and Inge has Catcher eligibility.

Oldie, but Goodie: Johnny Damon.  Batting .322 with 10 HR and 27 RBI.  Kudos to you for drafting him.

Nice to Know You: David Ortiz.  Sad to say, but Big Papi’s fantasy career is over.

Where Are You: Matt Wieters and David Price.  Both have yet to log an inning this season.

Category Star: Carl Crawford.  With his 24 SB, it’s possible he’ll put your team in the Top 3 for the category by himself.

Recount: Wandy Rodriguez, Jered Weaver, Ramon Ramirez, Edwin Jackson, Randy Wolf, Orlando Hudson, Marco Scutaro, Russell Branyan, Asdrubal Cabrera, Nick Johnson, Ryan Theriot, and Kendry Morales.  Yeah, go check their stats again.

Best Guy Still Available: Andrew Bailey.  He might not be the official closer in Oakland, but he’s worth the speculative add.

There you have it, my First Quarter Fantasy Baseball Award Winners.  Let me know if I missed any of your guys.

Posted in MLB | No Comments »