Go Big Red!

I forgot for a minute how to post a photo on my blog. This logo took a couple of minutes for me!

It's been that long.

And I can't believe I even picked up a subscriber since I last posted!

Anyway, life's been handing us a couple of fun adventures lately and since I no longer watch TV, I thought I'd sit down and share.

Ok, I did watch The Next Iron Chef. And then I regretted it. MING TSAI WAS VOTED OFF!!
Look at that face! WHO DOES THAT? It was a bit of a heartbreak.

Speaking of heartbreak, a really doozey happened for us last week.

And I'm giving you fair warning. If you don't like high school football or if you think it's for small town folks with small town minds. If you are one of those who roll their eyes when a community comes together for the big game or when a sophomore becomes a local hero for running 3 touchdowns in by half time, THEN PLEASE DO NOT READ ON!!

A couple of months ago, our hometeacher invited us to go to a Kahuku football game. Now, I have a history with sports. I take them seriously and some might say too seriously. I don't shave my head (or my lawn), I don't wave the foam finger or body paint my face. I don't even wear team jerseys. But I have been known to pull a Charlie's Angels stunt or two at the TD Garden in Boston to get a glimpse of Karl Malone and Jon Stockton. Also, I once threw a plastic lei in the car window of Bryan Russell and thought myself quite the bad mamma jamma for doing so . . . And if you don't know who Bryon Russell is, then you don't know me.

Needless to say, I do get really really really into the game, the players, the calls, the fouls, the fumbles, the interceptions, etc. (I'm mixing sports here, I know).


So basically, I avoid sports. Too emotional, too stressful, too draining.

But first Kahuku Football game and we both were hooked. I kinda never want to move from Laie now just so I don't miss out on seeing the Red Raiders play.

Anyway, you all probably know what happened this season.

We were undefeated. To the point of using the mercy rule with many teams (when one team is so far ahead of the other one, the winning team begin to play their reserves so that the losing team does not get humiliated by the point stretch. Hence, the mercy rule).

And then two days before the OIA finals, which we would've won, probably using the mercy rule then too, the principal got an anonymous phone call saying that one of the players was a fifth year senior.

Turned out that a third string player was in the 9th grade for 2 weeks before they realized that he was held back and so he was sent back to the 8th grade. This apparently made him a fifth year senior. Make sense? I THOUGHT NOT!

Anyhoo, all the politics of the association forced Kahuku High to forfeit their #1 standing in the league and forfeit the finals to the team they were going to play. (read: don't be a hater cuz u ain't a red raider!).

Honestly, my heart is breaking even as I'm writing this.

So six members of the team are in our ward and Tevita spends every Sunday with them in Young Men. He was completely heartbroken as well.

Anyway, the day we found out, the community mobilized. Ti and I had to be with the our friends, Ti wanted to see his boys in our ward, and I just wanted to show my support.

Uh, yeah. We got a tad bit excited.

There's Ti! He said he hadn't been a part of a demonstration since Utah was going to pass an English Only law! YEARS AGO! I think protesting suits him. ha!

Anyway, Ti went on to take photos with all the team members in our ward. And also, with some family. How cute are Sia's daughters?!!

Below are some of the Mothers of the team players. I'm not posting photos of the players themselves because it's sad to see them struggle. You can tell there's a real sadness in their eyes and I don't know if they or their families would want me to post the pics.
But don't you love Ti with the Moms? he!

Anyway, they went to court to appeal the OIA decision and they lost. Kahuku is officially out this year. They have to forfeit all the games the "5th year" senior played in and this will effect their standing in the OIA. It's a total injustice to these boys.

Yet, this is kind of the kicker for me. The part where I say, "Huh. I think our future is in good hands." and "Wow. Wow. Wow. They had that in them? Wow."

Those same players who were at the rally with their jerseys, those same players who conditioned even before practices and also after practice, those same players who were total gentlemen on the field (eg. the local hero sophomore has been seen on camera helping a member of the opposing team straighten his shoulder pad or giving the football respectfully to the ref after he made a touchdown).

These same players made it to the Temple dedication practice the next morning. Early morning.

Also, the local newspaper wrote that these boys had great character and then went on to quote them:

“This was suppose to be our year, but its OK, shake it off, smile.…This is going to inspire the next generation of Red Raiders,” said Tyrone Brown, Kahuku football player.

“We just believe its part of life. We just have to take from this experience and learn from it,” said Kahuku football player, Dallin Muti. (Dallin is one of the best blockers the Red Raiders has seen in a long time. He's going pro in about 4 years. I know it).

Kind of amazing, isn't it?

Oh, and in case you're wondering. YES, we were one of those wards who talked about it during testimony meeting yesterday. In fact, I believe it was the awesome Bishop in red you see above that spoke of the team, their hard work, this trial, their dignity throughout the process, and how inspired he was by them over these last weeks.


And since I can't think of a proper way to end this post, I think I'll say simply in all the many layers of these boys that I've had the privilege to see this past week:

GO BIG RED!