Seattle Seahawks 2014 Record Prediction

     Last year I nailed it.  Picked the Seahawks over the Broncos in Super Bowl XLVIII in July.  Check my Twitter feed.  Just go back about 5,000 tweets.  Its there.  I promise.

     This season I am predicting the Seahawks to go 12-4.  Here's how they are going to do it.

Opponent             Score               Result               Record                   Note
Green Bay            24-13               Win                  1-0
@ Chargers          21-10               Win                  2-0        
Broncos               30-24                Win                  3-0
Bye
@ Redskins          17-23               Loss                 3-1
Cowboys              38-10               Win                  4-1
@ Rams               27-17               Win                  5-1
@ Panthers          17-14                Win                  6-1
Raiders                 31-13               Win                   7-1
Giants                   28-14               Win                   8-1
@ Chiefs              20-21               Loss                  8-2
Cardinals              33-20               Win                   9-2
@ 49ers               21-24               Loss                  9-3
@ Eagles              13-17               Loss                  9-4
49ers                    24-17               Win                  10-4
@ Cardinals         28-14                Win                  11-4
Rams                    42-13               Win                  12-4

     12-4 should be good enough to win the NFC West and clinch a bye in the playoffs.  Assuming that Marshawn Lynch reports and doesn't retire and Russell Wilson stays healthy.

GO HAWKS!

Rainbow Warrior 2014 Season Prediction...It Ain't Pretty

     If you are reading this blog you probably know how I feel about Norm Chow.  I hate him.  When he was hired, he wasn't my first choice to be the next head coach at UH to follow Greg McMackin.  He wasn't my second choice either.  Nor my thir...nevermind.

     I hated his offense on BYU back in the 80's and 90's.  I thought it was arrogant.  Slow.  Plodding.  Horrible.  The thought of it attempting to be installed at UH didn't sit well with me.  In order for the system to work properly, you need top of the line recruits.  The kind that UH simply doesn't get.  But this was what our fearless leaders (MRC and Rockne) came up with.

     Following Chow's introductory press conference, I was fully on board.  Chow Time.  I got the shirts, I bought into what he was saying, this might take some time, but it was going to work.  Right?  Wrong.  Horribly, horribly, WRONG!

     After two horrendous, and that might be putting it lightly, years at UH, Chow has gone 4-20 including a 1-11 season last year.  Football season ticket sales are in the toilet, the UH Athletic Department is a mess, and most UH fans are frustrated beyond belief.  And did I mention that we don't have a  QB returning in 2014?  At least one with very much game experience.  We are switching to a more wide-open WR heavy offense.  The one like June used to run.  Should have kept Rolo.  Whoops.  Losing Kirkwood is a huge blow.

     I had to think long and hard about giving up my season tickets for football.  My family has occupied the same seats at Aloha Stadium since 1980.  I grew up watching the Rainbow Warriors.  Chow has killed this team and fan base.  Tearing this team down so far that it has no idea how to stand back up.  This team has no idea how to win.  Its coach is stubborn.  Beyond belief.

     How the team plays against Washington could be telling for how the rest of the season goes.  Get the doors blown off against the Dogs and Aloha Stadium will more than likely be a ghost town for the rest of the season.  Give Washington a game and give the players, fan base and alumni something they haven't had in a long time.  Hope.  I don't think many are expecting UH to beat UW.  But it would be nice for the game to be in question in the 2nd half.  I hate leaving Aloha Stadium at the end of the 3rd quarter.  A damn near weekly tradition for my father and I in the Chow Era.

     I believe that this will be Norm Chow's last season in Manoa.  Why?  Because he is a horrible head football coach and doesn't have the staff, players, system or skill set to be, "Da Guy" to turn it around.  I renewed my season tickets.  With the hopes that Ciao Time is near.  Here's my prediction on a game by game basis.

Opponent                     Score             Result                         Record            
Washington                  13-31              Loss                           0-1
Oregon State                10-24              Loss                           0-2
Northern Iowa              24-21              Win                            1-2
@ Colorado                  27-13              Loss                          1-3
@ Rice                         28-10              Loss                           1-4
Wyoming                      23-16               Win                           2-4
@ San Diego State        13-33              Loss                           2-5                
Nevada                         20-21              Loss                           2-6
Utah State                     17-27              Loss                           2-7
@ Colorado State         35-13              Loss                           2-8
@ San Jose State          27-14              Loss                           2-9
UNLV                          23-14              Win                            3-9
@ Fresno State             40-17              Loss                           3-10
.
     I predict that Norm Chow will be fired after the conclusion of the season.  Ben Jay will face a lot of pressure to fire Chow after the 7th loss of the season.  I think he humors Chow and lets him coach out the rest of the season.  He has too much respect for him.  I would love to be wrong and spend Christmas cheering on the Bows in the Hawaii Bowl.  I just don't see that happening though.  You can change the offense, but at the end of the day, Norm Chow is still coaching this team.  He will pound that ball into the middle of the pile when the chips are down.  Or until Joey Iosefa breaks.  He can't help it.  Old dog, same tendencies.  Jordan Wynn's offense my okole.  At least until the end of the season.

     I think Chow needs at least 5 wins to get to year four.  I just don't see those wins on the schedule.  This is the least excited I have ever been to kick off a new college football season.  Thanks Chow.  But for what its worth, Go Bows!            

Sports Bucket List

My Sports Bucket List

-Watch the University of Hawaii Men and Women's basketball teams play in the Big West Tournament in California (current venue is the Honda Center)

-For UH Football to win a big game on the mainland

-Watch UH take on Wyoming in Laramie (Wyoming)

-Watch UH become a member of the PAC-14/16

-Watch the Seattle Mariners play in the World Series

-Watch the Seahawks win the SuperBowl in person

-See a Seahawks vs. 49ers game in person (preferably at the CLink)

-Take a picture with Weehawk the Seahawk Mascot

-Take a picture with the Seahawks Lombardi Trophy

-Watch an NBA game in an NBA Arena (preferably the Seattle Supersonics)

-Watch an NHL Hockey Game

-See a game at Wrigley Field (Cubs)

-See a game at Fenway Park (Yanks vs. Sox?)

-Tour Yankee Stadium (Monument Park)

-Watch a game at Lambeau Field

-See a game at South Bend (Indiana) UH ever plays at Notre Dame, I'm there!

-Watch a game at the Big House (Michigan)

-Watch a Seattle Sounders game at the CLink

-Watch a Manchester United Game

-Attend a USA Soccer match in an international venue

And the Oscar Goes to...

I love movies.  So in turn, I love the Oscars.

Haven't seen all the movies nominated, but I'm gonna give you who I think is gonna win.

Best Picture: 12 Years A Slave
Actor: Mathew McCounaghey (Dallas Buyers Club)
Actress: Cate Blanchette (Blue Jasmine)
Supporting Actor: Jared Leto (Dallas Buyers Club)
Supporting Actress: Lupita Nyong'o (12 Years A Slave)
Animated Film: Frozen
Cinematography: Gravity
Director: Alphonso Cuaron (Gravity)

Don't really care about the rest of the categories!  Enjoy the show!

Conspiracy Theory

I'm sure you've seen or heard about the video.
Roger Goodell had it in for the San Francisco 49ers.
Right.
If you believe that then I have a bridge to sell you.  In Iran.
Believe me, there is no way Roger Goodell was happy to hand over the Lombardi Trophy to Pete Carroll on Sunday Night.  Seattle is probably one of the last (maybe Cleveland, Buffalo or Jacksonville behind them) franchises that he wants to see raise Mr. Lombardi's trophy.  The Seahawks are a regional, small market team that has a relatively small but growing and vocal...very vocal, fan base.  Isolated by geography and tucked away in the Pacific Northwest with that crazy stadium that is louder than thunder and a jet fighter combined.

So why is Goodell "giving" this franchise the 49ers title?
Simple.  He wants to make Starbucks or Seattle's Best the new, official drink of the NFL.
Your quirky, tattoo ridden, bicep kissing douchebag of a QB (Kaepernick) shouldn't have turned the ball over 3 times in the 4th quarter.
Get over it.

So now that Goodell has screwed the 9ers out of their quest for 6, he turns his attention to the Broncos.  He probably put this Super Bowl in New York (okay, Jersey fist pump, represent) 4 years ago, just so he could tilt the board in the Seattle's favor, right?  Cause he wants to put the Lombardi Trophy in the Pacific Northwest, and not the Bay.

Get real people.  Goodell was dying to hand that trophy over to Peyton Manning, cementing his status as arguably the best QB in NFL history.  But Sunday kind of took care of that debate.  Some, myself included, are taking him off the Mount Rushmore of QBs altogether.  Montana, Elway, Marino, Brady & Favre.  That's it, that's the list.  Peyton, the GOAT?  Nah.  Not even close.  He's terrific.  One of the best ever.  In the regular season.  He's below average when it counts, in the playoffs.  Insert Jim Mora soundclip here <____>  Losing record in the playoffs, losing record in the Super Bowl.  And he got straight up owned on Sunday.  GOATs don;t get owned, they crush it on the big stage.  Peyton doesn't do that.

The NFL is a multi-billion dollar corporation.  Would Goodell risk the shield by "fixing" results for a puny, small market team like the Seahawks?  Get the heck out of here if you said, "YES!"  Your dumber than I thought.

If he was gonna "give" a championship to a team, I think it would be to one of his big market or historical franchises listed below.
-San Francisco 49ers
-New York Giants
-Dallas Cowboys
-Chicago Bears
-Pittsburgh Steelers
-Heck, even the Oakland Raiders
You could then list about 20 more teams before reaching the Seahawks on the commishes wish list of landing spots for the Lombardi Trophy.  Goodell would be perfectly fine if the teams listed above rotated winning the Lombardi on a 5 year basis.

The Cowboys are my argument against fixing games and outcomes.  There is no reason under gods green earth that the Cowboys shouldn't contend for the trophy every year.  Especially with that monstrosity of a stadium and all the extra revenue that it generates.  Well, maybe one.  Jerry Jones.  God bless the man.  Hope he lives and continues to ruin the Cowboys forever.  If Goodell was going to tilt the board in one of the teams favor, it would be a team like the Cowboys.  Not the Seahawks.  And that's not happening.

Goodell did not "fix" the Super Bowl.  If he was gonna screw anybody, he would have done it to the Seahawks and give it to one of his golden franchises.  Like what happened in Super Bowl XL.  But that's another story.

But if you do believe that Goodell paved the way for the Seahawks to win Super Bowl XLVIII, that's fine.  Had nothing to do with the defense, the Legion of Boom, game preparation, Russell Wilson, Percy Harvin or all the 12s that snatched up tickets in the NYC from panicking New Yorkers selling low on a penny stock gone bad.  Goodell wanted the Seahawks as his champion and made it so.  This is the NFL.  Not the WWE.  If that was true and it got out, the NFL would be next to worthless.  It simply does not make sense.

Crying over spilled milk is so beneath the 49ers and their great fans.  There were some bad calls in that NFC Title Game.  I hope they change the rule on reviewing plays.  Cause they obviously got that fumble down on the goal line wrong.  But that had nothing to do with Roger Goodell wanting the trophy in Seattle.  It happened because Seattle played at home that day and was the better team.  That week and in Jersey 2 weeks later.

So why not work on improving your team.  Make a home field advantage like the hawks?  You got that new stadium that will debut.  I can't imagine a better place to play on the opening night of the 2014 season than a brand spanking new stadium on Thursday Night.  But Roger prefers Seattle over Frisco, right?  Nothing I will say to that.  If you believe it, fine.  Believe the NFL is fixing games.

If you are still convinced, I'm gonna let you go now.  You probably need to go look for aliens, plan your trip to Area 52, watch the entire series of the X-Files on DVD  for the 12th time, hunt for Bigfoot, or look at who killed JFK one last time.  It was a lone gunman, right?  Goodell probably also pulled the plug on the power during last years Super Bowl to GIVE the Ravens that Super Bowl.  Think you guys are right.  Goodell is out to screw the 9ers.

Instead of complaining, give credit where credit is due.  You lost in the big game last year.  You lost the chance to play in the big game this year.  The nouveau riche new kids on the block Seahawks with their 1st Super Bowl Championship, have been the bully in the NFC West since they moved in.  All those titles San Fran won were done in the 80s and 90s.  Before we were in the division.

Here's some advice.  Go polish those trophies you won a billion years ago and figure out how to win at the CLink.  Cause bitching about something that didn't happen is just plain stupid.

I'm done.
Go Hawks!

Conference Championship Sunday

AFC Championship Game:
Denver Broncos vs. New England Patriots

I'm going to be honest with you.  I don't really care who wins this game.  I would prefer the Denver Broncos win over the Patriots for selfish reasons.  I would want to set up the clash of two old AFC West rivals in the Super Bowl.  In Jersey, in February on the biggest stage of them all.  I have rooted for the Patriots in almost every Super Bowl they have played in.  The Bears in 84' being the exception.  I have traded for Tom Brady in my keeper league 4 separate times.  Lead me to the title in 07' behind that incredible year in the aftermath of Spygate.

I think this is going to be a high scoring affair.  I'll take the Broncos 39-33.  Basically because of home field and the elevation.

Glad this game comes first.  It's the appetizer.  The shrimp cocktail to the main event.  I don't think I'm alone in my opinion.  I also think that regardless of who wins this game, the AFC representative (Broncos or Patriots) lose to whoever the NFC representative is (Seahawks or 49ers).  Which leads us to the main event.

NFC Championship Game:
Seattle Seahawks vs. the San Francisco 49ers

Game is a toss up.  Either team could win.  I don't care how crappy San Francisco has been in their last two visits to Seattle.  San Francisco is on a roll.  I expect a close game.  Probably going to go down to whoever has the ball last.

It had to be this way.  This is the best rivalry going in the NFL.  Keep your Steelers vs. Ravens or your Peyton Manning et. al. vs. the Patriots.  The Seahawks vs. 9ers is it.  These two teams are mirror images of each other.  Defensive teams that can pound the rock and have mobile QBs that can beat you in or out of the pocket.  Perhaps we should break this down by position.

QB: Wilson vs. Kaepernick
Advantage: San Francisco
I don't know what is wrong with Russell Wilson.  He is clearly not as sharp or playing as well as he was 5 weeks ago.  Is he having marital problems?  Is he not getting enough sleep?  All I know is that he has not been hitting the throws that he was earlier in the season.  He's doing enough to win.  Barely.  Kaep has been godawful in Seattle.  I expect him to be better.  He knows what to expect.  These two teams know each other inside and out.  There will be very little surprises.
RB: Frank Gore vs. Marshawn Lynch
Advantage: Seattle
Beast Mode has been incredible vs. San Fran in Seattle.  I expect this trend to continue.
Wide Receivers: Crabtree, Boldin, Davis et al. vs. Tate, Baldwin, Miller et. al.
Advantage: 9ers
Percy Harvin's absence will be a huge blow to the Seahawks.  His presence on the field changes the way defenses scheme for the hawks.  You have to account for Harvin when he is on the field.  I understand that he wasn't there for the last two games that the Seahawks played when the 9ers were in Seattle.  It's a game of inches.  And Harvin's presence is worth about a half a foot, at least.
Defense:
Advantage: Seahawks
Legion of Boom & the 12th Man are the difference.
Special Teams:
Advantage: Push
Coaching: Pete Carroll vs. Jim Harbaugh
Advantage: Push
Intangibles: San Fran's momentum vs. the 12th Man
Advantage: Seahawks
I understand that many of the talking heads and analysts are picking the 49ers to win this game and the Super Bowl.  There's only one problem with that.  Seattle's 12th Man.  It is so freaking loud in that stadium.  I went to a game a couple of years ago.  Sat in the endzone.  Way up.  My head hurt for 3 hours after the game!  The noise affects you physically.  You can't think.  I can only imagine what it's like on the field trying to communicate with your teammates with 70,000 people screaming at the top of their lungs for the better part of 3 hours.  Seattle is damn near impossible to beat at home.  But if Seahawks turn in the same kind of game that they did against the Saints, they will lose.

My mom is from San Francisco.  Most of my family roots for the 9ers.  I barely talked to her this week.  It has literally divided my family.  I chose when I was five.  And I don't regret any of it.

The Verdict:
Taking all things into consideration, I expect a battle in Seattle.  I think it is going to be a knockdown, drag out, backyard brawl, from beginning to end.  It may come down to whoever has the ball last.  I think this is the premier game in the NFL this season.  The Super Bowl will pale in consideration compared to this match up.  I fully expect whoever advances from this game to win the Super Bowl.  Defense and the running game being the difference.

The crowd will make its presence felt.  That in my eyes is the difference.  I think the Seahawks pull the game out in the 4th quarter, 20-17.  In a game for the ages.  Would not surprise me in the least if the 9ers found a way to win this game.  They are that good.  I respect them.  If they found a way to win at Green Bay, at Carolina, and at Seattle, what should stop them from winning in Jersey?

At the beginning of the season my preseason Super Bowl pick was Seattle over Denver.  I see no reason to back off that pick at this point.  Home field is the difference in both games.  I wanted the Seahawks to face the 9ers in the NFC Championship Game because I feel that they were the best team outside of Seattle.  That's why I want Denver in the Super Bowl.  Because I think they are the best team in the AFC.  I don't want the team we have the best shot at beating, I simply want the best team period.  The Seahawks have to overcome so much to get respect.  And I want them to beat the best to get that trophy.  Teams with championship pedigree.  All the teams left have that.

I believe that Russell Wilson will get it together.  I believe the 12th Man will make the most noise in any game, in any stadium, in any time, in all of history, tomorrow.  It is going to be off the charts.  Bury the needle at 140.0.  I believe the Seahawks will advance to Super Bowl XLVIII and win it.  Or I will be very sad.  Very, very sad.

Enjoy the games!
Go Hawks!

2013

2013, The Year That Was...AWESOME!

     I had a great year.  No wait, I had a freaking fantastic year!  So much happened.  Don't get me wrong, there were some down moments and some really tough times.  But the good times outweighed the bad, immensely.  Might as well start at the beginning.

     The Seahawks beat the Skinz on the road to start off in January of 2013.  Hawks first playoff road win since 1983.  They rolled into Atlanta and I thought they could win that game.  They almost did.  I remember watching the game at my parents house.  When Marshawn Lynch plunged into the endzone with about 30 seconds to play I told my dad that we scored way too fast.  When I was in Vegas with Dawn's family last October, I had won a parlay partly due to the Falcons driving the length of the field in under a minute to kick a game winning field goal in the waning seconds of a game.  They did it again against the Seahawks.  Ugh.  Heartbroken, I thought that it was a good season to build on, and I would at least get to see the Hawks at the Pro Bowl 2 weeks later.

     It was hard for me to be at work knowing the Seahawks Pro Bowl players were practicing a couple towns over at the end of January.  I needed to save my vacation time for our Japan trip later in May.  One of my supervisors told me he couldn't believe I showed up for work everyday that week with Russell Wilson and crew in town.  I got my revenge though.

     Dawn and I went to Pro Bowl Eat the Street.  I said I would buy anything that the vendor designated for the Seahawks was selling.  That turned out to be Kettle Korn.  Blue and Green popcorn was an easy purchase.  The next morning I got up at 3am to head to Aloha Stadium for Pro Bowl Ohana Day.  See the same people at the front of the line every year.  Representing different teams, but all sharing their love for the NFL.  I will truly miss this event if Goodell moves it to the mainland to package the Pro Bowl with the Super Bowl in the same city.  Jerk.

     Met some cool people and was able to get the coveted front row seating at Ohana Day.  Scored some autographs for a friend in Ohio and autographs from Leon Washington and Russell Okung from the Seahawks for myself.  The photographer from the Seattle Seahawks took a picture of me and my Seahawk friends and posted it on Seahawks.com.  One of the coolest experiences I've had in my 30+ years of being a Hawks fan!  I debated for months about buying the picture, and my Secret Santa came through for me!  Will need to work on getting that framed sometime in the future.  Maybe after the wedding is over.

    At the end of practice the Pro Bowl officials literally had to drag Russell Wilson off the field that day.  I told my neighbor, that's why we're going to win a Super Bowl one day.  The kid has the work ethic that is unmatched.  "The Separation is in the Preparation."-RW  That goes for obtaining autographs as well.  My goal is to somehow, someway obtain Russell Wilson's autograph.  Didn't happen at the 2013 Pro Bowl.  Hoping not at the 2014 Pro Bowl.  No, no, no.  Just love that guy!  You give me my pick of any QB in the league and I pick him over everybody.  Over Peyton Manning, over Tom Brady, over Andrew Luck.  Anybody.  And twice on Sunday, Monday or Thursday.  I've waited my whole life for this guy to take my team to the promised land.  It's gonna happen!  SEA...

     We skipped the Pro Bowl Block Party and went to the rescheduled Robin Thicke concert at the NBC on Saturday night.  It was Dawn's birthday present.  We enjoyed the show.  Thicke must have combed his hair 20 times during the concert!  

     The Pro Bowl the next day was great!  I parked far away instead of paying the $40 they wanted at the school we usually park at next to Aloha Stadium.  It was like $7 the year before.  Seriously people?  We sat with Dawn's coworkers which was really great!  Awesome seats and company.  Tried to meet my Seahawk friend Michael D at halftime.  We ran into Train and Brian McKnight during intermission.  Michael never showed because Russell Wilson signed his 12th Man Flag before heading into the locker room.  Go Hawks!  I love the Pro Bowl!

     Next couple of months was spent just preparing for our trip to Okinawa and Japan.  Getting a passport was stressful.  I left it to the last minute of course.  I still haven't uploaded my trip picks yet.  lol  It was a great trip.  Okinawa is very different from Japan.  Much more laid back.  Reminded me of Hawaii.  Island living.  Didn't realize how messed up Okinawa got during World War 2.  Really liked the food in Okinawa.  The pork and soba was amazing.  Ate our fair share of Foremost Blue Seal Ice Cream.  I loved buying stuff out of vending machines both in Okinawa and Japan!  Those things are everywhere!  Shuri Castle was the highlite of our stay in Okinawa, and my favorite place we visited in either Okinawa or Japan!

     Japan was the polar opposite of Okinawa.  So much people.  So crowded.  Food was great.  And inexpensive.  Going to Skytree was an adventure.  So was riding the Subway.  No way Dawn and I could have gone there alone.  Tyler and Christina were great tour guides.  Tsukiji Fish Market on our last day was magnificent!  Some of the best seafood I have ever had in my entire life.  It was the trip of a lifetime.  Doubt we'll ever go back.  Dawn has no desire.  Going on that trip has ruined me for eating sushi, miso soup, chicken katsu and Japanese food in general here in Hawaii.  Damn.

     Got back to Hawaii for the last 3 days of public school.  lol  Summertime means movies.  I saw a lot.  Both at the theater and via Redbox.  My Top 10 Movies this year were:

1) Gravity-Never seen anything else like it in my entire life.  SPECTACULAR!  Saw it in 3D which was so AWESOME!

2) Pacific Rim-Like watching Robotech come to life.  Nerd Alert!

3) Hobbit-The Desolation of Smaug-I hated the first movie.  Thought this one fell more in line with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy.  Really good!  Pacing was much better than the 1st one.  

4) Captain Phillips-Very intense!  Was gripping my hand rest in the theater!

5) American Hustle-Jennifer Lawrence is one of the best actresses around.  Terrific performance!

6) The Fast and the Furious 6-Fun Summer Movie.  Take your brain out and enjoy!

7) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire-Much better than the first one.

8) World War Z-Great up until he gets off the plane.  Then the movie falls on its face.

9) Enough Said-Really cute movie about grown ups dating and falling in love as they send their kids from previous relationships off into the world.

10) The Wolverine-I expect hate mail for ranking this movie.  I enjoyed it!  I understand that its flawed.  I don't care.  Its my list dammit!

Best movie I saw via RedBox was, "Searching For Sugarman".  I also really enjoyed, "Chasing Mavericks" and "Into the Arctic".  Check those out if you get the chance.

     Music.  Okay year in music.  Let's hand out some awards!  

Artist of the Year: Bruno Mars

Pop Artist of the Year: Bruno Mars

R&B Artist of the Year: Robin Thicke

Rock Artist of the Year: Imagine Dragons

Rap Artist of the Year: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis

Breakthrough Artist: Macklemore and Ryan Lewis
Worst Artist: Miley Cyrus (EW!)

My Top 10 Singles of the Year:

1) Wake Me Up-Avicii

2) Ho Hey-Lumineers

3) Hold On, We're Going Home-Drake featuring Majid Jordan

4) Clarity-Zedd

5) Can't Hold Us-Macklemore and Ryan Lewis Featuring Ray Dalton

6) Demons-Imagine Dragons

7) Make Me Say-Kimmie featuring Imua Garza

8) Radioactive-Imagine Dragons

9) The Monster-Eminem featuring Rihanna

10) Berzerk-Eminem

     I would be perfectly fine if I never heard "Royals" by Lorde, "Roar" by Katy Perry or any Michael Bolten song from his Honda series ever again.  Dawn's coworker let me use his ticket to the Microsoft Concert featuring Macklemore and Ryan Lewis and Neon Trees at the start of summer.  We did not have to sleep at Ala Moana to get the tickets.  It was a great concert and I instantly became a fan of Macklemore and Ryan Lewis.  Love the music.  Love the message.  Love the album.  Dawn's cousin Gavin tried to get us to listen to him earlier, but we didn't.  Better late than never, right?

     
     We also went to the Gin Blossoms concert in November.  I stood in front of the speaker and went deaf.  I got hearing back in the one ear halfway through the next day.  Truly old man status.  Gin Blossoms are one of Dawn's favorite rock groups.  Good show, but I don't want to stand in front of the speaker for the Stone Temple Pilots concert that we will be going to this coming March at the same venue (the Republik).  Chester from Linkin Park is fronting STP now.  That should be a good show.

     I proposed to Dawn in June.  She said, "Yes!"  Funny story.  In my preparations for the proposal, I ate at Teddy's Bigger Burger while I was doing errands in the afternoon prior to her getting home.  I let the cashier talk me into ordering an Inferno Burger.  I was sweating like a pig because the burger was so hot and it was the dead of summer in Hawaii.  Wearing nice clothes out on the North Shore after eating that lunch, coupled with the nerves was nearly the death of me.  It worked out though.  I never seem to make things easy on myself.  Glad she said, "Yes!"

     Her ring is pretty and not yellow like it looks in the picture.  It sparkles.  Its not huge and obnoxious.  Not like any of her friends wedding rings either.  Its old school and unique, just like her.  So it fits.  And it appraised at much more than the sticker price.  She picked it out.  Nice job Hon.  Dawn is super smart.  One of the many reasons I love her.

     The next day I went to the KKEA Sports Fest at the Blaisdell.  Lance snuck me in the side door of the Alaska Airlines Fly Away contest.  He qualified me a day after the contest officially closed.  I was third in line to pick an envelope.  There were a 100 envelopes and only one envelope had the golden ticket.  The people in back of me said there was no way that the envelope was on the table.  About 25 envelopes were laid out on the table at that point.  The person behind me said that guaranteed that one of the last 10 people to choose would win.  KKEA would want to drag this thing out as long as possible.  That made sense to me.  But I was starving.  I had only eaten a few tater tots that was left over from Teddy's the day before in the morning.  It was 12:30pm and I was STARVING and needed to eat.  I decided to pick out an envelope on the table, stair at it, hope no one picked it, lose, get out of there, and get on with my life.

     Chris Hart would ask you a few questions (where are you from, how old are you, have you flown Alaska Airlines before, etc.) and then have you select an envelope.  Then he would ask you if you were sure?  First guy picked, didn't change his mind and didn't pick the winning envelope.  The lady in front of me took forever.  She kept changing her mind and switching envelopes.  But she did not touch the envelope I had picked out mentally on the table.  She lost and I was up.  I told Chris that I was from Mililani and that I had just gotten engaged the night before.  I picked the envelope and passed on swapping it.  He opened it and it was the golden ticket!  I WON!  2 tickets to wherever Alaska Airlines flies!  I immediately turned around and apologized.  Huge groan from the crowd.  My bad!

     I just booked the Honeymoon last week.  My dad suggested that we fly to Seattle then spend some time up in Vancouver.  We both have family up in Seattle.  We are going to a concert and a Mariners game while we are gonna be in Seattle.  We've been there twice before together and have had a great time!  It's very exciting!  We love Seattle and Vancouver looks beautiful!  We will have some time to visit with family while in the Emerald City and then some time to ourselves while we are in Vancouver.

     Speaking of winning, I won a lot of stuff this year.  I won the trip, a Tempur-Pedic mattress cover from the Wedding Cafe, an autographed Earl Bruce Ohio State 8x10 also from KKEA at the UH Season Ticket Holder Event, tickets to the 2014 Pro Bowl via McDonald's Hawaii, 4 Tickets to the HHSAA Championship Game (Mililani vs. Punahou) from Cover 2 and KHON and UH vs.San Diego State game tickets from the HSFCU.  I've never won anything in my life.  And then I win all this stuff.  Bizarre.  But I am not complaining.  Not in the least.

     UH football....damn that was rough.  I have been going to games since I was like 4 years old.  This was the first time that I had actually considered giving up my season tickets.  Not a fan of Chow.  Hate his offense.  Hate his play calling.  Hate losing.  He's good at the last one.  I was ready to give them up, but then Dawn said she would buy them for my Christmas and birthday gift.  It was a frustrating season to say the least.  I think Ben Jay should have fired him at the end of the season.  I know money is tight, but he could have found it if he looked.  He just didn't want to.  These Chinese guys are looking out for one another!  Seriously! 

     I'm 90% sure that this coming season will be Chow's last.  His bullying tactics, running players off, boring offense, and stubbornness are straight up killing UH Athletics.  Not just the football attendance.  I seriously doubt he can get anybody good to come over to be his defensive and offensive coordinator.  He was a terrible hire and is a terrible coach.  I fully expect next year to be his last.  I can deal with that.  But still, Go Bows!

     One of the coolest experiences I had this year was being interviewed by Lance T for Honolulu Magazine's UH's Armchair QB Review!  He picked a handful of people, (fans, ex-players and other people surrounding the program) to get their opinion on the upcoming season.  I really enjoyed it and he pulled a few quotes from me and included it in the article.  Funny because the cover say's, "Will We (UH) Ever Win Again?"  lol That unfortunately is a very serious question.

    Dawn and I broke our streak.  As long as we have been together, whatever UH Women's Volleyball game we went to, they would lose.  We would go to one or two matches a year over the last 5 years and they would always come up short or have a bad game.  Funny because they only lose one or two games a year max at home.  Only the matches we showed up to!  Till this year.  We talked about going to a junk match to really test the theory.  If we went to North Sacramento State Tech and the Wahine lost, then we argued that we should never be allowed to go to another volleyball game again.  But they played #1 Texas in the first match of the year!  We went and they won!  With us at the match!  The streak was finally broken!  Hooray!  Glad Shoji is coming back next season.  I will continue to buy tickets to the last home match of the season until he retires.  I want to be there for his last home match.

     We also went to a few Men's Basketball Games.  They look good this year.  Should win 20+ games.  Could make a run at a GOOD tournament this March.  Gib still has a ways to go as a basketball coach!  I went to the Illinois and Long Beach State games last season and the Montana and Boise State (Diamond Head Classic) games this season.  We always dreamed of sitting in the lower bowl 10 years ago.  Do it all the time now thanks to Dawn's company!  

     My high school alma mater, Mililani High School made it to the State Division 1 Championship Game!  I was so happy!  We had never made it that far.  We would always get creamed by Kahuku in the OIA Playoffs.  Not this year.  We beat Kahuku!  Smashed em!  They played good.  I really wanted to go to that title game.  Even won tickets.  But I had made a prior commitment.  I gave the tickets to a coworker.  I did buy a Mililani Trojans: OIA Champions shirt for myself and a few of my friends.  I will wear it proudly!  Go Trojans!

     Back to the Seahawks.  We are the number 1 seed in the NFC with home field throughout the playoffs.  Very optimistic.  Seattle is very hard to beat at home.  I do not want to see any Seahawks at this years Pro Bowl because I want them in Jersey getting ready for the Super Bowl the following week.  Fingers crossed.  Love our quarterback Russell Wilson.  Such a nice guy.  And a hard worker.  Never been prouder to be a 12!  We have the best fans in all the NFL!  ...HAWKS

     I also won my keeper $ league fantasy football championship this year!  I went "all in" and made some good trades in the off season setting up this championship run.  Keepers are Megatron, JC, Jimmy Graham and somebody from the group of Kansas City Def/ST, Nick Foles, Keenan Allen or Ryan Mathews.  I change my mind on the 4th keeper every day.  

     Got lucky in the championship game.  Just been that kind of year for me.  Looking forward to getting that package with the trophy.  Got a spot picked out for it next to the TV.  #CooCooFB  I do play in 7 fantasy football leagues.  Only one championship.  That's okay.  It was the one that count$.  And I beat Dawn 2 out of 3 times this season, including the playoffs.  Still have a losing record against her (5-7).  GRRRR!!!!  No unicorn shirt this year Honey!  Maybe next season!  But like I said, Dawn in super smart!  She can beat me at my own game that I've been playing for over a decade!  That's impressive!

     My health problems.  I had a kidney stone in February.  Dawn took me to the Emergency Room on President's Day.  My dad has had kidney stones so it is hereditary.  Stayed at the ER till 2am.  Then again in November I had the same feeling.  Like someone was stabbing me in my stomach with a knife.  Dawn took me to the Emergency Room again.  This time it was different.  I didn't pass the stone.  They told me I couldn't go to work and that I needed to see the doctor.  Just gave me a crap load of pain killers and other meds to alleviate the pain.  Missed work that whole week.  Every doctor I went to during that time said this is not good and referred me to another specialist.  Then, as I'm sitting at home wondering what's going on, the phone rings and its a specialist telling me not to eat anything because I was having surgery later on that day.

     I had surgery the day before Thanksgiving.  Thankfully, I didn't have to overnight it and wake up on Thanksgiving in the hospital.  I had a moderately sized kidney stone blocking the pathway to my bladder.  My left kidney is small and can't pull the load.  Urine was backing up and infecting my right (good) kidney.  I ended up having 5 stones total in both kidneys.  The doctor removed the big one causing all the problems and was able to collect a sample from it.  They are analyzing it on the mainland and I should know the results soon.  That way I can modify my diet and know what foods I need to stay away from.  I will probably have to go on some sort of medication or supplements to prevent those stones from forming.

     I have tried to improve my diet since the hospital visit.  I gave up soda, which I would drink just about everyday.  The doctor said that stuff is poison to me.  I did drink one on Christmas Eve.  And I will have another if the Seahawks win the Super Bowl or my birthday.  Whichever comes first.  lol  Eating more salads and trying to stay away from processed foods.  Like Spam.  I absolutely love Spam Musubi.  I ate one before Christmas, and like the soda, I can't have another till after my birthday.  Its okay though.

     Dawn was incredible throughout the entire ordeal.  I was so scared.  Thought there was a chance that I might die.  Had I not had the surgery that day I was looking at kidney failure a couple days later.  Dawn was calm and optimistic throughout.  That really helped.  She held my hand and was there for me.  No question I have the person that is right for me and is gonna stick by me no matter what.  I told her I'm damaged goods and asked her if she wanted to hit the door?  She declined the offer.  She's incredible and I consider myself very lucky to have her in my life.

     The wedding planning is coming along.  We took a little break for Christmas and the New Year's Holiday.  We will be hitting it full steam starting Thursday.  Most of the big things are squared away.  Just have the minor details to finish up.  Dawn's mom did a beautiful job painting our invitation picture and other items for the wedding.  She is so talented.  I'm looking forward and am honored to become apart of their family.  They are fantastic and have always been so good to me.  Bringing me on family trips and making sure we have everything we could possibly need.

     We also lost our cat, Falken in November.  He had a bad heart.  He was my favorite out of Dawn's 3 pets.  The house is different now.  I miss him.  He was my buddy and often kept me company when Dawn wasn't home.  It was tough losing him.  I regret not saying goodbye to him the day that he passed.  I was late for work.  Only day I didn't tell him bye.  Shucks.

     I hit a pole doing an illegal U turn with my car in March .  Drove around with a big @ss dent on my car for most of the year.  This random dude comes up to me in the parking lot of McDonald's in September and asks if he can fix my car?  I had my car looked at and it was going to be about 2 grand to fix all the bangs, dings and scratches.  The guy fixed it all for $300!  In 20 minutes!  Is it perfect?  No, but it looks a helluva lot better than it did before!  How nuts is that?  I was going to wait till after the wedding to get it fixed.  But that situation worked out great!

     Don't see my friends as much as I would like.  But we try.  We have very different schedules and its hard to get together.  The Sharky's are making their triumphant return after a ten year hiatus.  Very proud of my friends!  We're all grownz up!  I have the right people in my life.

     I worked more than ever this past year.  My supervisor is giving me lots of hours because he knows we need money for the wedding.  Working with 3 great kids and families.  Morning client, afternoon client, and preferred sub for a weekend client.  They keep me busy.  Even given up a lot of football watching so I can work.  Priorities.  Even portions of televised Seahawks games.  Forgive me 12's.  I tape it and watch it later on that day or the next day.

     Doing the best that I can.  I had a wonderful year.  There are so many things I'm thankful for.  I'm blessed.  Even the bad things had a silver lining.  2013 was action packed from beginning to end.  One of the best years in my life.  I'm glad that you chose to be apart of it on Facebook and Twitter.  I'm up over a 1,000 friends and followers on both platforms.  I score free stuff from Klout for having a high user influence score.  I've gotten to know and interact with people I never would have met or gotten to know had it not been for those social media outlets.  Not sure if 2014 can top 2013, but gosh darnit, I've gotta try!  Accomplished a ton of my goals in 2013!  Very proud of myself.  

     My goals in 2014 include beefing up my Instagram account, getting all my music onto my new iPod,  buying a Seahawks Super Bowl Champions shirt and hat (fingers crossed), having a dope wedding and honeymoon, make more money than last year and provide good service to my clients and agency.  As well as be a good husband, friend, son, son-in-law and person in general!   Wishing you the best in 2014!  ALOHA!