The Motivation of Love UH-vs-Navy 2009

What is a better motivator?
Love or Fear?

I've asked a few UH Warriors that question and every time, the response is unanimous: LOVE.

Well, there has been a lot of love going around lately!

And there sure is a lot of love amongst fans too- AKA the Tsai-kos.

I missed this portrait but I was there in spirit!

Our normal tailgate area was filled with Navy fans and there was a real bowl game atmosphere throughout the night!

I looked for our Waimea alum Navy cheerleader Kelly but she was not at this game.

The theme was Military Night and the pregame and halftime shows were filled with deep appreciation for those who are serving the U.S. in all branches of the military.

Here I am with one of our posters, SailorBlue. After the game (Hawaii won 24-17, by the way!), we went back to our tailgate location for hot soup and a special visit from the Salas family! Their son Greg is our leading pass receiver this year.

MeiLing and I had to take a picture with Greg's mom- who lurks on The Warrior Beat!

Pride. and bighilofan2 got a kick out of meeting the Salas family too.
Next week, we will have a special treat as a result of the Warrior's win this week. SailorBlue will be sporting a "new look". Stay tuned!
GO WARRIORS!!!

When a game is not just a game

The Hawaii at UNLV football game this past weekend was an adventure in fellowship- along with the normal football, food, friends, family and fun!

After a long night of travel, I got to experience In-N-Out Burger for the first time since the Rose Parade of '05. We went to see the fabulous Jersey Boys show and enjoyed a grand Tsai-ko Karaoke Party arranged by las vegas!

Hawaii and mainland Tsai-kos were reunited for an evening of great fellowship and fun!

On gameday, we gathered for an air-conditioned all-you-can-eat for < $6.00 tailgate at Cici's Pizza.

After much fun and frivolity, we boarded buses for the game.

There, 220 strong in the Tsai-ko section in the endzone, we fulfilled our 12th Warrior duties with great enthusiasm!

The Warriors were fantastic! We even got a surprise visit from UH Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw and a few split seconds of fame on TV!

When the clock ran out, our team was down by one point. That was a disappointment and we could feel their pain.

We felt it so much that some of us needed comfort food at 1AM.

Fortunately, nabeyaki udon and sushi was available nearby and we were comforted.

Now I would like to thank Rich2176 for the block ticket purchase, Rich2176 and Brew808 for the refreshments in the buses, my buddies wafan and Izzy for transportation and comaraderie and especially that serious gentleman las vegas for his 9th island Tsai-ko hospitality and practical arrangements!

More pix: http://picasaweb.google.com/LizKauai/HawaiiWarriorsAtUNLV2009#.

For the UH Warrior Football team, I found this card at Sky Harbor Airport on the way home:


WARRIORS, IMUA!

What happens in Vegas...

Well... not everything "stays in Vegas". That's what blogs, facebook and Twitter are for!

All kidding aside, there is no finer group of online friends/family than the Tsai-kos. Who could have guessed that a seemingly low-key sports writer like Stephen Tsai would start a blog about UH Warrior Football about 3 years ago, attract diverse online participants who would become real-life friends, tailgaters, UH Athletics advocates, fundraisers, opinion-influencers, and a cheering powerhouse for AWAY games? It is one of the best associations of volunteers I have ever encountered. Spontaneous, diverse, sacrificial, and most of all, loving and kind.
Unless, of course, you are cheering for "the other team"... hahahaha...
This afternoon will be another milestone. Among the visiting team HOME crowd in Las Vegas, 220 Tsai-kos will be sitting TOGETHER. Mahalo to bloggers Rich2176 for doing our tickets, and las vegas for coordinating the Karaoke party seen above, our tailgate this afternoon and bus transportation to and from the game. Tsai-ko hospitality beyond compare!