Tsai-ko Autobiography: Calvin from Kona
Name: Calvin
(last name witheld)
High School: Konawaena
High (Big Island)
Tsai-ko Lunch Size: Medium
Original Tsai-ko caricature: N/A
Other: Attended 3rd blog
party, Tsaiko-Gates
From the Warrior Beat blog September 4
2007:
ST's Intro:
Calvin, from Kona, never let a
little distance get in the way of his love for UH football.
He is a season-ticket buyer who doesn't even get his home mail on
O‘ahu. We're still amazed that he attended the blog's anniversary party.
But Calvin is an amazing guy, offering great insights whenever he finds
the time from his busy schedule.
Please read about Calvin:
I was actually born in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1971. My father was
in the navy and mother from the east coast. As soon as I could fly, we
moved back to Kona where I grew up. I attended Konawaena High School
and was an all conference performer in soccer and track, but always a
football fan.
After graduation I attended college in Oregon to play soccer and major
in Political Science (Pre-Law). After an interesting year in Oregon, I
decided to transfer to the University of Hawaii at Manoa. This
transfer, a change in major to Economics a full time job and membership
in a fraternity extended my college years to a full 6 year term. Soon
after graduating with my degree, I went on to management at a local car
rental company. This career led to a career change to pharmaceutical
sales. Seven years later I was transferred to Portland, Oregon due to a
downsizing with my company. I spent several years in Portland and
during that time left the pharmaceutical industry to pursue a career in
office equipment sales (copiers). Two and a half years ago, family
reasons led me to return to Kona. My father died two years ago on Sept
4th in Kona.
Not long after I returned to Kona. Business Works of Hawaii offered me
a position in office equipment sales in Kona as well as sales
management of the Big Island. This later led to sales management of
Maui as well. Last week I was promoted to Sales Director of Hawaii.
What does this mean to you guys? Well, if you need a copier or phone
system let me know. Okay that was my business networking plug. Now to
the important part:
My first memory of being a UH fan was when I was a kid. We didn’t get
the games on TV so I watched the “Dick Tomey Show” every Sunday since I
was 10 or so. I really enjoyed the “Muddle Huddle.” My first actual
game was UH vs. Oregon in I believe 1988. Hawaii won. I think Clayton
Mahuka ran back a kick for a TD. It’s all fuzzy now. When I enrolled in
UH, I bought my first set of season tickets. Since then, I have been a
regular attendee of UH games, good, bad or ugly.
My favorite games: UH beating BYU, twice in a row. UH beating BYU after
they came back to take the lead with less than 2 minutes and the TE
from BYU “flipped off” the Super Rooter student section when scoring
what he thought was the winning TD. (I believe he was pelted with beer
bottles and we could no longer easily sneak those in afterwards. Oh,
and I was in that Super Rooter section). Who could forget the comeback
victories over FSU, the demolishing of BYU when they were 12-0 and last
year’s Purdue comeback win.
My game days include a flight from Kona in the morning, some shopping
and a hotel check-in. I am the guy to coordinate the tailgate and buy
most of the tickets for a group of 6-40 people. I can usually be found
in the South End Zone, Orange level, section B, between rows 10-20. I
am excited about this season. I am also excited that with the
promotion, the company is letting me stay in the corporate condo on
Oahu. Needless to say, I’ll be scheduling myself to work out of the
Aiea office on all days before a home UH football game. No more hotel
expense, more money for beer and poke. GO WARRIORS!