Fans' negativity gets Warriors nowhere

To the UH football team non-supporters, I would like to request stopping the bashing of the players and coaches. I know I speak for a lot of fans, including my family, when I say that some of the treatment the team received was ridiculous.

When did put-downs and negativity actually help a situation? As June Jones said, the players are merely young men just out of high school. They're still students as well. Emotionally, it's a lot for anyone to handle with all the criticism they're forced to take.

As a student myself, I know that put-downs and such never helped me to feel any better about myself. Encouragement did, and that's what my family provided for me. Don't you think the players deserve the same?

Of course, Jones is their coach and therefore acts like a father to them. Who wouldn't get upset and emotional when your children are being bashed by their own so-called fans? I'd be afraid if he didn't care. Some make it sound as if the team doesn't want to win, which is even worse. All of these things are so shameful. In football, as well as life, not everything goes your way no matter how much you want it to and work for it. Everyone deals with misfortunes, and with the help of others, they can overcome them. Let's all be positive supporters and be true fans who see the team through the good and bad.

On behalf of my family, I'd like to thank the team for making their games an enjoyable family event for all of us.

Warmth, compassion lightened emergency

How do I thank a group of kind, caring, wonderful people who are truly angels and immediately came to the aid of my husband, Gene, when he fell at the Waipi'o Costco lunch court?

Monday, Nov. 1, while I was waiting to pick up a prescription refill at Costco's pharmacy, my husband, whom I had left waiting for me in the car, had ventured out in the pouring rain, slipped and fell on the wet grounds, obtaining a long gash on his forehead. I was found and informed of the accident by Costco's general manager, Mike Hayes, who determinedly and successfully scouted through the warehouse to find me after obtaining my name and my whereabouts from my husband.

Upon arriving at the scene, I was distressed at seeing Gene lying where he had fallen but warmed by all the wonderful people who had come to his aid.

One woman, a Costco member whom I later found out to be Nancy John, was lying on the wet ground beside Gene, cradling his head, trying to keep him warm. A gentleman, whose name I was unable to get, lay on the wet ground on the opposite side applying pressure to the gash to stop the bleeding. Other caring people with umbrellas tried to shelter Gene and those who were giving him aid from the pouring rain.

My sincerest thank-you to you all. We were truly touched by your warmth and compassion.

Benefits continue Matsudas' legacy

Once again I would like to extend a big thank-you to Mr. Roy Yamaguchi and Mr. Chuck Furuya. These men organized two benefits for the Tom and Warren Matsuda Culinary Scholarship Fund.

The first was Feb. 15 at Kapi'olani Community College, and the second was held at Roy's Restaurant on Nov. 15.

Both evenings were filled with the finest cuisine prepared by world-famous chefs and featured wines from special winemakers.

I am truly grateful and will always remember what you have done to honor Tom and Warren. Their legacy will continue because of your giving and generous hearts.

Recycling program is worth the effort

Caring for our 'aina begins with me. The city's recycling program gives me an opportunity to recycle from my home.

Although legal matters are delaying the start-up of the program, our family has started checking out various plastic and metal containers around the house to see if they are recyclable.

Our blue bin is almost half full.

There has been much discussion at home that we should throw any inorganic rubbish into the bin and let the city deal with the sorting. Or perhaps we should adopt Mr. Oda's (Letters, Nov. 23) philosophy that finds the program cumbersome and choose not to participate.

But the love of our land and the respect for the future are incentive enough for our family to squeeze out a few minutes each week to sort our trash.

Strong team this year

I believe coach Riley Wallace finally has the team he always wanted. Every member of the team whether being on the starting team or not is indeed a class player. They will go far this year. Congratulations, Rainbows, on your first of many wins of the season.