Hawaii Warrior World

Star-Advertiser special projects reporter Dave Reardon discusses any and all athletics issues, with a special focus on Hawaii’s athletes and teams.

About the blog host

Dave Reardon is a sports projects reporter for the Star-Advertiser. The Honolulu native and alumnus of Pearl City High, Northwestern University and the University of Hawaii started as a copyboy and prep football stringer at the Star-Bulletin in 1981 and has covered the island sports scene uninterrupted since, except for college and two years at the Gainesville (Fla.) Sun. Dave has also launched a side career in teaching. Follow him on Twitter @dave_reardon

Latest news

AP College Football Poll: What starts with Ti and is ranked No. 1?

By Dave Reardon on October 13, 2019

We’re at about the halfway mark of the season, and things are beginning to sort themselves out. A dozen unbeaten Division I (FBS) teams remain, and they’re all in the AP Top 25 … as it should be, right? Last week we discussed how not all undefeateds are created equal. And while that is still true, at this point does anyone really begrudge Minnesota, Appalachian State or SMU a place in the rankings, at least until they lose a game? […]

Stan Sheriff Center: Hawaii basketball’s international house of hoops was packed for win over Tulsa

By Dave Reardon on October 13, 2019

The University of Hawaii has always had to look off-island for basketball talent if it wanted to seriously compete. The Rainbows took that a Euro-step — and beyond — farther nearly two decades ago. It was right before 2000 when veteran head coach Riley Wallace agreed to let assistant Scott Rigot use his strong international recruiting connections to build a squad of players from around the world. The Rainbows ended up with stars and role players from Canada (Phil Martin […]

Stan Sheriff Center: Visiting Michigan State served up a bitter pill for unbeaten Wahine

By Dave Reardon on October 12, 2019

This was one of the University of Hawaii’s best volleyball teams ever, and that is saying a lot. On Dec. 8, 1995, the Wahine were undefeated, 31-0, headed into their NCAA regional final against Michigan State. Then UH’s lineup of All-Americans and Big West all-stars — Jenny Wilton, Therese Crawford, Joselyn Robins, Angelica Ljunquist, Nalani Yamashita, Cecilia Goods and future Olympian and UH head coach Robyn Ah Mow — went up two sets to none. The Wahine had national coach […]

Stan Sheriff Center: Preseason home for the Los Angeles Lakers, now the Clippers

By Dave Reardon on October 11, 2019

They haven’t been here since 2015, replaced by the new kids in town. Even though their stars didn’t play, the guys who for decades were the other NBA team based in Southern California played the Houston Rockets last week in front of a full house at the Stan Sheriff Center. The on-campus arena at the University of Hawaii used to be the domain of the Los Angeles Lakers. Los Angeles Clippers still doesn’t sound right … they had that nickname […]

Stan Sheriff Center: Cockett and Goo made Hawaii women’s basketball a draw

By Dave Reardon on October 10, 2019

After scoring 20 points in her final home game on Feb. 14, 1998 at the Stan Sheriff Center, Nani Cockett didn’t mind that more than 6,000 fans saw her shed tears. She was grateful for the unprecedented and since unmatched support for the University of Hawaii women’s basketball program. “I’m a crybaby,” said Cockett, who finished her career No. 2 on the school’s scoring list. “To know that was probably my last time playing there for Hawaii in that arena, […]

Stan Sheriff Center: A Quarter Century of Thrills

By Dave Reardon on October 9, 2019

On Oct. 21 it will be 25 years since the Stan Sheriff Center, then known as the Special Events Arena, hosted its first event. In today’s Star-Advertiser, Cindy Luis recounts that women’s volleyball match between the University of Hawaii and San Jose State (you might be surprised when you’re reminded who played in that match). Also, I have a story about how the SSC came to be, and what it meant in 1994 to a rookie ticket office employee named […]

AP College Football Poll: Hey, have you beaten somebody?

By Dave Reardon on October 6, 2019

You’ve heard it before. People love to tell you your favorite team isn’t any good because, “They haven’t beaten anybody.” But your guys must have beaten somebody, because they’re 6-0. Of course, what they mean is that they haven’t beaten anybody GOOD. But what does “good” mean? Six weeks into the season “good” is in many cases still very, very debatable. And that’s why we have college football polls. So we can agree and disagree about who is good and […]

Hawaii soccer: Ryan scores twice as Wahine dramatically win first Big West opener

By Dave Reardon on October 4, 2019

For the first time ever, the University of Hawaii soccer team can look at the Big West standings and see 1.000 next to its name. The Rainbow Wahine had lost their opener in all seven years of conference membership going back to 2012. UH finally broke that slump Thursday, and in dramatic fashion with a come-from-behind 2-1 victory over Cal State Northridge at Waipio Peninsula Soccer Stadium. The Wahine are 3-6-1 overall. Northridge is 6-4-3. UH broke a four-game losing […]

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