'2008 IS THE BEST YEAR EVER'
2008 Hawaii top sport stories
Advertiser Staff
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Remember 2008.
Because when it came to Hawai'i-related sports, 2008 was the most thrilling, compelling and controversial year — EVER.
"A gold in the decathlon; a world championship in Little League; plus a gold and silver in Olympics by people with Island ties; an undefeated football season. I can't think of any year where they had so many spheres of excellence," said sportscaster Jim Leahey, 66, the voice of University of Hawai'i sports and a Hawai'i sports fan for more than six decades.
"The more I think about it, it probably is (the best). It probably is."
"Based on all the accomplishments this past year, 2008 is the best year ever," said Keith Amemiya, Hawai'i High School Athletic Association executive director and a sports follower for more than three decades.
Hawai'i has generated many sports newsmakers in its history. Duke Kahanamoku led a superb Hawai'i group of swimmers in the 1920 Olympics. Ford Kono led another medal-winning contingent in the 1952 and 1956 Olympics. The University of Hawai'i basketball's "Fabulous Five" captivated the Isle's attention in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
But, as Leahey put it, there has never been "as many levels of excellence in so many sports as there was in 2008."
Here's what the past year offered:
"(There were) so many unprecedented achievements that were reached this year," Amemiya said. "Standing alone, any of those would be the No. 1 story."
The biggest news in sports kicked off a year ago today — a day the state stood still.
With tens of thousands Hawai'i fans attending the game and festivities in New Orleans and everyone back home riveted to the nationally televised game — did you know anyone who didn't know UH was playing that day? — the Warriors got their first taste of big-time, big-bowl football, playing in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.
Although the run-up to UH's run to a Bowl Championship Series berth started in 2007, the culmination was the New Year's Day game in the Superdome.
While the game — a 41-10 loss — was forgettable, the ride was memorable.
"As far as people warming to a team ... nothing comes close to the Sugar Bowl fever," Leahey said. "The people who went there, they charmed New Orleans.
"The thing is, we were out of the mold of the usual bowl followers," Leahey continued. "When Hawai'i went to New Orleans, there were so many different forms of us and the New Orleans people had never seen anything like that.
"They were shocked (because) Hawai'i is perceived as just short of the moon."
Leahey said the people of Hawai'i introduced a taste of aloha to the people of New Orleans.
"(We're) happy people, charming people, not boorish," he said. "We saw each other there and there was this bond.
"It was magic. It really was."
With this ever be duplicated?
"No."
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
"(It) has to be Bryan Clay," Leahey said. "That's the highest form; the No. 1 athlete in the world; and he's undersized. He's not a behemoth of a human being."
SUGAR BOWL GAME
First BCS berthPlayed Jan. 1, 2008
2008 HAWAI'I
TOP SPORT STORIES
AFTER SUGAR BOWL
Jones resigned/ Frazier fired/ McMackin hired
Bryan Clay
VICTORINO LEADS PHILS TO WORLD SERIES TITLE
Hawai'i players earn volleyball medals
