By Paul Honda
paul@hondareport.com
Friday, Mar. 2, 2007

I love this time of year.

I hate this time of year.

Love? The wrestling state championships begin tonight, capping the always-busy winter season in prep sports. There is a lot to focus on, as well as some great personalities, particularly when the finals end tomorrow night. I'll be busy there this weekend, no doubt.

Hate? There have been three quality girls basketball tournaments already, and I haven't been able to see a single game due to work and family commitments. My best hope is to see some action at the Punahou Wahine Spring Classic tomorrow if they play in the daytime. That's my only hope.

Dollars for babies. I'm past 40, so I reserve the right to call anyone 20 and younger a baby. Not in a bad way. Look at Josh Smith. The kid was tearing it up in the Iolani Classic two years ago. Throwing down some insane dunks, both in games and the slam contest. He got into the NBA just before the league banned high-school players from entering. He's a mega-millionaire now. I hope he has a great financial team behind him, or maybe even Clyde Drexler as an advisor.

Then there's Kevin Durant. He destroyed competition at the I-Classic last year, but due to the NBA's new rule, he couldn't enter the NBA. He's gone on record to say that he's glad he went to college, that he would not have the maturity to handle the NBA situation, the bucco bucks. He's probably right. One or two years of college never really hurt anyone. Even Chris Webber wishes he had stayed at Michigan for at least one more year.

Freedom and fun are part of college life, and once that is traded in for the grown-up world, impossible to get back. You're only young once, as the old cliche goes, and it is true to the core. Durant will probably turn pro after Texas' run through the Big Dance, and he'll be a year wiser and a lot more appreciative of his life. The blessing of his talent and gift.

Opening today: Black Snake Moan is by far the most compelling flick to open this weekend. I am a fan of Samuel Jackson, and also a fan of Christina Ricci, who, by the way, was brilliant in a demure role in Buffalo 66 nearly a decade ago.

Whether BSM is actually better than B66 is something I'll have to see for myself.

Ghost Rider is big box-office stuff, and though I read Marvel Comics religiously as a kid, GR does not compel me. Neither does The Number 23 or Reno 911. If I'm gonna spend $21 at the theater, it better been a friggin' good movie.

Chances are I'll spend my night downloading and IDing photos, which is a bit of a pain, but will bring me a big smile when it's all done soon.

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