No, brah, Colt does not owe you a thing
Friday - December 28, 2007
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Del.icio.usA couple of years ago I was cov- ering the Grand Slam of Golf on Kauai. The tournament was a huge success largely because of the participation of Tiger Woods. Woods may well be the biggest superstar and most recognized athlete in the world. Watching him handle autograph-seekers, I was impressed with both his grace and strategy. He would cheerfully sign as he walked. He never stopped. When he arrived at his destination, he would politely thank those still waiting and tell them he’d hope to catch them next time. I realized that if he didn’t find a way to call a halt to it, he’d literally spend the rest of his life writing his own name over and over again.
UH QB Colt Brennan is getting more than a taste of what it must be like to be Tiger Woods. June Jones had to resort to closed prac- tices these last two weeks because the autograph-seeking got out of control. It was taking Colt up to an hour and a half to get from the practice field to the locker room.
Last Saturday, Jones scheduled a one-hour session for fans after practice. Nearly 5,000 showed up. Many were unable to get Brennan’s signature. Colt is almost invariably gracious about requests, but even he was distressed when people bearing bags full of items to be signed showed up outside his classes in the last week of the semester. Even the security guard assigned to drive Brennan in and out of practice reportedly had multiple items for Brennan to sign daily. He had to be reprimanded.Not being an auto- graph collector myself, I don’t real- ly understand the obsession. And I am befuddled by the attitude of some fans, one of who was heard screaming at Brennan after Hawaii’s final practice last Sunday “You owe it to us!”
Colt Brennan’s debt to the University of Hawaii and its fans is more than paid in full. In my view, the debt is moving the other way. Colt Brennan has done more to enhance the image of the University than any athlete in the school’s history. Perhaps more than any person, including the guy who cloned the mice. It would be nice if fans would show Brennan the same standard of respect and decency that he has unfailingly shown them. Those close to Colt have noticed his increasing frustration; he’s had enough. It’s sad to know that Brennan left Hawaii to join his family with a sense of relief. I’m hoping he can turn that bit of edginess into a lifetime per- formance against Georgia on New Year’s night.
* For those fortunate enough to be heading to New Orleans, there is a tremendous event being planned for New Year’s Eve. It is the Hawaiian Cajun Bash, a party put together by Don Murphy, Kurt Ozaki and others. Beginning at 7 p.m., the event will feature Cajun and Creole food, live bands, a $2 million video set up, Coach Jones and the UH band and cheerleaders. Adult tickets are $125 and include four drinks. Kids are $60. Don Murphy flew down to New Orleans last week to check out the venue.
“It’s unbelievable,” he reports. This event will sell out; don’t wait to get tickets.They’re available from Murphy’s on Merchant Street, Hukilau in the Executive Center on Bishop Street, or online at www.hawaiiancajunbash.com
Laissez le bon temps rouler!
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