(learn more at http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/02/uh-sports-nicknames.html
Well, a whole bunch of long time UH fans got fed up with the Rainbow name being disrespected, fed up with June Jones getting rid of the Rainbow name, fed up with their long-time traditions being pushed on the side, fed up with an Ohio man (aka Ben Jay, the new UH athletic director) over-looking Hawaii traditions, and fed up with this "rainbows are gay" stuff.
On May 3, Stephen Chinen led a "Save the Rainbow" rally in front of Bacchman Hall (aka UH headquarters)
http://www.staradvertiser.com/news/breaking/20130503_Rally_at_UH_to_keep_Rainbows_nickname.html
http://www.staradvertiser.com/sportspremium/20130504_warriors_or_rainbows_let_the_people_decide.html
George Lee/ Star Advertiser
George Lee/ Star Advertiser
The common perception about this rally was "this is a lost cause, get over it"
But guess what?
This rally was NOT a lost cause
This rally was NOT a lost cause
UH athletic director Ben Jay heard their message loud and clear!
Earlier this week Ben Jay reversed course and made it official
The UH men's teams will all be the Rainbow Warriors from now on!
The UH women's teams will still be Rainbow Wahine
This has satisfied the old-time UH fans who have cheered the Rainbows for decades, while keeping the hardcore Warrior name!
However, there is the question of "why can't women's teams be warriors too?"
That is a perfectly legit question.
The next step in UH nickname revolution will be this:
Men's teams = Kane Rainbow Warriors
I hope that evolution comes soon!
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However, there is the question of "why can't women's teams be warriors too?"
That is a perfectly legit question.
The next step in UH nickname revolution will be this:
Men's teams = Kane Rainbow Warriors
Women's teams = Wahine Rainbow Warriors
I hope that evolution comes soon!
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Some will say "rainbows are gay" and rainbows are soft"
Well, ever seen this shirt?
Enjoi
While that shirt had nothing to do with UH sports, it should be more than enough to defuse this stuff about rainbows are gay" and rainbows are soft!
And this stuff about football players worried about opponents making fun of the Rainbow name? Well, football is a contact sport..........ACT LIKE IT! Show your opponents that Rainbows are "Gangster-ish" and not to be messed with!
The Oregon Ducks dont have much of a macho name, but that didn't stop them from being one of the top college football teams in the last decade!
goducks.com
Oregon Duck
Oregon Duck
Gangster-ish
and reppin one of the top college football programs
(note: the use of the word "gangter-ish" is in no way promoting actual gang violence. That should be obvious!)
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Also, we'll still the macho H- tiki symbol (aka one of the coolest symbols in college sports)
http://www.hawaiiathletics.com/sports/2012/6/18/GEN_0618120234.aspx?tab=uhtraditions
The H-tiki symbol
The H-tiki symbol
I already seen images going around on facebook showing the H-tiki symbol combined with the old UH Rainbow symbol
Krater 96 facebook page
Not the official UH symbol
but it should be!
If that means UH shall hunt down whoever came up with that combo in order to compensate him/her, then do it now!
We should definitely keep the H-tiki symbol, and still honor the Rainbow legacy!
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As for Ben Jay, some said that his changing his mind means "he's not standing his ground" and "not being a leader"
No fool, he's picking his battles wisely!
A smart leader doesn't fight every battle out there! A smart leader picks the right battles to fight, and walk away from useless battles!
Ben Jay already got his hands full trying to get the UH athletic department fiscally sound. This is an especially sensitive situation, being that we pay higher travel costs than other colleges (location, location, location), we are trying to update facilities, and we don't want to take more money out of UH academics, nor do we want to take more money out of Hawaii's taxpayers!
Plus, UH-Manoa chancellor shooting himself in the foot about this "we might drop out of Division 1" nonsense.
“If we’re not breaking even in three years, I really have to look at whether we will continue Division 1A athletics,” Chancellor Thomas Apple said.
( I addressed that issue at http://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2013/05/jason-collins-and-tom-apple.html
And plus, the UH athletic business model is severely flawed.
By comparison, UH is behind some $11 million over the last six years total. How can that happen? By being in a smaller conference with tiny television revenue; being forced to pay not only its own travel but that of its conference opponents; having the poorest stadium deal in the nation (one that, in my opinion, borders on the criminal); receiving no money from merchandising, parking or concessions; and receiving only paltry sums as subsidies.
With all that to deal with, Ben Jay understood that "standing his ground" over eliminating the Rainbow was just picking a stupid battle.!
