By Paul Honda
hrcFantasyLeague@aol.com
Thursday, Oct. 19, 2006

Just some tidbits before I jump into the scrambled Pupule Picks of this weekend.

Kanani Herring. I just saw her hammer 25 kills and commit hardly a mistake in Kamehameha's three-set win at Punahou. She was terrific last year as player of the year. She's better this year. Imagine how much she might improve next year. She takes everything about volleyball seriously, which means she pumps the weights regularly with her teammates. Sky's the limit. She's not 6-foot, but she's a 5-9 version of Kim Willoughby. If you get a chance to see her play at least once before her prep career ends, do it. You'll thank me later.

Jim Iams. The way he got Punahou to win its first 13 matches in ILH play is a wonder. (I'm taking a cue from the jukebox here at Kit n' Kat's. Wonder, wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder ... my little runaway, etc.) Punahou is an excellent team, no question, with plenty of talent across the board. However, Kamehameha is athletic and tall in comparison, and had lost to Punahou earlier in the season. Iams managed the match extremely well and got the most he could out of his players. They have nothing to fret about. Kamehameha is simply a better team. Punahou, however, impressed me.

Jordan Meredith. Consistently one of the best jump servers in the state, perhaps in prep history. She hits bigger than her 5-9 height, and I've seen her put teams away down the stretch twice this season (Iolani and Punahou). She is a serious weapon, and I'm starting to see not just a second state title for Kamehameha, but probably a third when she and Herring return for the senior seasons next year.

Spending money to eat out. I've told myself, and followed my own advice, but eating at home much more often. Eating out alone is fine sometimes, but mostly it's boring, lonely, expensive and illogical. Eating with friends out is a million times more fun. However, after working non-stop for I don't know how many weeks now, I'm treating myself. No time to see a movie, so this will do. Pillow toast, tomato soup and mushroom pork chops here at Kit n' Kat's. I live a few blocks away, but this is my first visit here in about two years. Still a good, charming place to dine. They even have shelves of Coca-Cola cans from around the world. Someone's got an obsession. Nothing against Campbell's, but the tomato soup here rocks. Not as thick as the canned stuff, but tasty and rich.

Frozen bananas and shelf life. Being a true (half) Pake, I had overripe bananas sitting in my fridge for a couple of weeks. Then I moved them up to the freezer last week. Today I decided to eat one, or rather, put it in my usual banana-peanut butter smoothie. Tasted fine. I paid for it dearly later. You probably know what I mean. If you don't, let me put it gently: I went through at least half a roll of T.P. by mid-afternoon. No more freezing of the browning bananas. Don't do it, people. Just go to the store and buy a new bunch. You will thank me for this, too.

Pete Smith. I've spoken to many people about Coach Pete's passing, some of whom I'm going to write about in the coming days. This may come across as strange or even cruel, but you might understand what I'm saying. When I found out he had died, the question, "Why?" could not be avoided. I know better than to ask. I'm 41. Death has crossed my path with family and friends before. But when Pete passed, it felt more more painful than losing some of my extended family. I knew Coach Pete only through post-game interviews, mostly, but the effect he had on players, coaches, friends, family was undeniably profound. Even I noticed it and felt it. Sure, he was a sharp, witty man, not above roasting friends. But his teams played with equal amounts of intensity and humility, a reflection of the man. The world is greedy, and I'm one of those who wish he was here for another 52 years. We should be thankful, though, that God let him be here for that long in the first place.

Part of me is dreading the memorial service on October 29. I know, however, that seeing so many fans and friends of the man fill Kalaheo's gym will bring me a lot of peace. And I hardly, really knew the guy. All we can do, those of us on the periphery, on the outside of Kalaheo's tight-knit family, is pray and support these folks with all we have. For Pete's sake.

Veteran sportswriter Paul Honda covers high school athletics for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin.

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