The University of Hawai'i (Rainbow) Warriors did very well this year (2000), without playing Texas (whom lost to Stanford by 3, Oklahoma by 49, and Oregon State by 3). Hawai'i won what? Two games? Three? Oh, I'm sure Texas would have loved having Hawai'i for lunch. I am NOT a Texas fan but a NC State fan (if you know anything about Texas, you know that Mack Brown was fired for only beating NC State one (1) time in six (6) plus seasons at North Carolina); NC State had a rebuilding year and still won seven (7) games and is going to a bowl game. I don't remember hearing Hawai'i and bowl in the same sentence this year and we probably won't next year or the year after that but I digress.

They dropped Rainbow from their name because they didn't want to be associated with the Gay & Lesbian Community and from the top of conference now to the bottom of the conference. What did the Gay & Lesbian Community have to do with that?

The article that spawned the initial email is at the bottom of the page (disclaimer).  It was listed in Yahoo! on March 5, 2000. The underline points have yet to be explained. Mr. Benjamin Freedman complains about lack of information and familiarity but yet, it would seem that initially lies with Mr. June Jones, University of Hawai'i Football Coach. Economics must not be a popular course at the University. Neither does Human Psychology.

As of March 7, 2000, Texas has officially cancelled the game.

I wanted to offer a compromise but I obviously missed the deadline.

Texas could play the University of Hawai'i at one of the California Universities such as San Jose State in San Jose or UCLA in Los Angeles. It would be cheaper for Texas and give the University of Hawai'i the recognition it so desperately seeks, needs, and deserves.

This is similar to the Texas - University of Oklahoma game which is always played at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas (even after Texas and the University of Oklahoma became members of the same conference, the Big 12). Dallas is virtually equidistant between Norman, Oklahoma (home of the University of Oklahoma) and Austin, Texas.

Granted, Los Angeles or San Jose is not halfway to Honolulu but that is closest to it that would have a football stadium.

Now, on with the show.. Isn't Microsoft wonderful?

As of March 16, 2000, I have yet to receive any response from Mr. Benjamin Freedman.

I am awaiting Mr. Benjamin Freedman's second response.

What I have done since the initial contact...

It turns out that our Mr. Benjamin Freedman is a Sports Editor and Senior in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Hawai'i for their student newspaper .  It also turns out that this letter was never printed (as of 10:20pm CST March 8, 2000) before Mr. Freedman put his two cents worth forward. He also did not address the majority of the original letter (at the bottom of this page).  All my responses are in BOLD. Mr. Freedman talks about whom is lashing out or slamming someone. It would appear to me that he is the one slamming someone.

From:       James Crisp [mailto:m y we b @in t erga te.c o m]
Sent:        Wednesday, March 08, 2000 12:24 PM
To:            'Benjamin A Freedman'
Subject:        RE: June Jones' Big Mouth (fwd)
Importance:    High

Interesting observations Mr. Crisp, unfortunately you're way off. You obviously don't live here or don't keep up with our University's affairs, so you're completely oblivious to our financial situation here in Hawai'i.  As it stands, our University is not prestigious nor does the athletic program generate a whole lot of money.

It's good to know that someone realizes that U of H is not prestigious.  I am very familiar with Hawai'i's financial situation.  It's used to be the place to go for tourists.  That has changed.

Texas, however, is one of the biggest and most prestigious football programs in the nation. In other words, they can afford a charter flight.  If not, then fly on a commercial flight.  They did it back in 1995 and they can do it again.

Yes, I know that in 1995 that was the agreement.  In 1995, it was a lot a cheaper to go there.  This is 2000.  I don't know how much fuel is there but just get to SF from Austin is nearly 400.00 one way which use to be 190.00 each way 3 months ago.

Our state is not greedy Mr. Crisp, our state is poor and so is our University. 

Your state is not greedy.  Have you lived anywhere else and tried to plan a weeks vacation even in the off season?

Moreover, this matter is not about RPI. 

Have you seen Hawai'i's RPI in the last several years?

If that were the case, why don't the nation's top teams play each other and forget about the rest of the schools?  This is about principle and a SIGNED CONTRACT.  This game was scheduled FIVE YEARS AGO, and Texas wants to withdraw only six months before the actual game? 

No class was June's statement.  Seven (7) months ago, the cost to go there was only 1/2 of what is now or less.  It doesn't make fiscal sense.  That is why, for the most part, Hawai'i only plays California teams (except SMU (where I went for a year) which has loads of money from it's alumni) and teams like Utah.

It is cheap to fly to LA or SF from Honolulu.  I know this as I have lived in those two cities as well as San Diego since 1995 until late 1999 when I returned to Texas.

Please. That's simply no manners and no class.

The WAC had a good year.  East Carolina is up and coming.   TCU got lucky.  Oregon State, I would give you.  Utah, in basketball, I will give you.

Your statement is bold but be sure to check your facts before you decide to slam someone. 

My facts are checked.  I have lived all over the US except Hawai'i.  My Aunt is from there.  She moved to Miami.  Anything else you need to know?

Have a nice day.

From:       Benjamin A Freedman [mailto:freedman@Hawai'i.edu]
Sent:      Tuesday, March 07, 2000 7:43 PM
To:      [email protected]
Subject:     Re: June Jones' Big Mouth (fwd)

Interesting observations Mr. Crisp, unfortunately you're way off. You obviously don't live here or don't keep up with our University's affairs, so you're completely oblivious to our financial situation here in Hawai'i.  As it stands, our University is not prestigious nor does the athletic program generate a whole lot of money.  Texas, however, is one of the biggest and most prestigious football programs in the nation.  In other words, they can afford a charter flight.  If not, then fly on a commercial flight.  They did it back in 1995 and they can do it again.

I don't keep up UH affairs. He is right there. Oblivious to finances in Hawai'i? Not really, I've done homework on the job market, rental market, and average salary in many occupations; not to mention the cost of living. They probably did fly a commercial flight in 1995 but were in 1999. Funny, how these journalism types always cling to the past as to lead us away from the topic (and most of us fall for it unfortunately).

Our state is not greedy Mr. Crisp, our state is poor and so is our University.

Gee, why would state and University be poor? I don't think it would have anything to do with the decline in tourism would it? Why would be there a decline in tourism to such a beautiful state? Why pay double or triple California prices when you can just pay California prices and save up to 10 hours flight time (depending on where you are at in the US) and fly to California?

Moreover, this matter is not about RPI.  If that were the case, why don't the nation's top teams play each other and forget about the rest of the schools?  This is about principle and a SIGNED CONTRACT.  This game was scheduled FIVE YEARS AGO, and Texas wants to withdraw only six months before the actual game?  Please.  That's simply no manners and no class.

Obviously, someone skipped math somehow (maybe he paid them $400,000 or slept with them). It's Business. If you really are a writer or journalist as you try to impress us, then you would know that Sports is more like Business. If it's not profitable; it's not done.

As for your "Hawai'i who?  WAC what?" comment, you obviously didn't keep up with the post-season bowl games.  TCU, Fresno State and Hawai'i (all WAC teams) made bowl.  TCU destroyed East Carolina, we beat Dennis Erickson's Oregon State and Fresno barely lost to Utah.

Who hasn't beat East Carolina? Oregon State (yeah in 2000 they were good). Fresno State? Give me a break. Any team with 6 or 7 wins against Division I schools can get a bowl bid. You're a journalist; you should know this. Did you transfer from UCLA to UH?

Your statement is bold but be sure to check your facts before you decide to slam someone.

Boy, this dumbass is really one to talk about checking facts.

From:       James Crisp [mailto:m y we b @in t erga te.c o m]
Sent:      Tuesday, March 07, 2000 6:05 PM
To:      '[email protected]'
Subject:      June Jones' Big Mouth
Importance:      High
Sensitivity:       Confidential

Hello from Austin, Texas.  While not a Longhorn fan and also, like June, not from Texas but lived or living here for several years, the following context shows the lack of respect June has for the game and just perpetuates the lack of respect for the UH Football program:

"I lived in Texas for four or five years, and I've never known a Texan to back down from a fight before. I guess their coach isn't from Texas.''

No, stupid, the coach of UT is not from Texas; he is from North Carolina. My alma mater, NC State, used to beat him regularly.  That is why UNC got rid of him.

Let's do some math.  If Texas only gets $175,000 to play you, and it costs $400,000 for the charter.. what's the problem? The problem is this.. your state is too greedy.  You think you're California, you're not.

Ignoring that... Hawai'i would not have a high RPI and would not help Texas RPI.  I don't see schools beating down doors to play Hawai'i but I can name many schools whom love to play Texas.. like NC State, who won last year at Texas.

If is so important to play Texas (which for your RPI, is), you come here.

Hawai'i who? WAC what?

Tired of sports figures who run their mouth too much