Tsai-ko Autobiography: al
Name: (see Princess Leila's video) Bonafide Tsai-ko
High School: McKinley
1967
Tsai-ko Lunch Size: Large
Original Tsai-ko caricature:
front row, 3rd from left
Other: Tsai-ko
"Restaurant Boss" in charge of cattle calls. Chef Al's
blog recipes here
From the Warrior Beat blog August 12,
2007:
ST's Intro:
Nice guys sometimes finish
first.
There was a time when "Al" was always the first to post.
And while he has relinquished that title, he still is one of the
leaders in wisdom and patience. I used to say that this blog natually
corrects itself when discussions get out of hand. OK, that's not
necessarily so. Many times it is Al's level-headed reasoning that
reminds us why we're all here: a mutual interest in UH sports.
Evan Dobelle once spoke of the common-sense test. Al, if given it,
probably would score an A-plus. Mostly the exam would be administered
at lunch, with his group of new online friends.
Here's Al, in his own words:
"Who am I? I am just a guy who
is very passionate about the University of Hawai‘i athletic programs.
In particular, the Warrior football team. “Growing up as a child” my
first job was selling football lineups at the old Termite Palace at the
age of 8 years old. I lived but a half block from the stadium. I must
have attended every event there. The then University of Hawai‘i
Rainbows must have been a Division III program, but, to a little kid
those football players were huge. To this day, I can recall when two of
my favorite Rainbows gave me their chinstraps at the last game of the
season. They were Nolan George, a local boy running back, and end Cliff
Orgraine. They came through with their promise of, “wait till the
season is over and you can have em.” I have been hooked ever since then.
"I have spent 20 years trying to help kids live out the dream of being
an athlete having coached our youth in various sports such as
basketball, flag football, soccer, and baseball. I recently retired
from that and now do volunteer work with the Angel Tree ministry at New
Hope Christian Fellowship - Oahu.
"Did someone say “food”? I am also passionate about food. In my former
life I was a food and beverage manager for 26 years working with the
old Spencecliff Corporation and the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base. I still
love to cook and eat. However, some years ago I “retired” from that
stuff and now am a self-employed retirement advisor. I help people
retire comfortably.
"My real name is “al” and recently Princess Leila revealed my last name
on her blog bash video. The “boss” and I have been married for 32 years
and we have three kids. The eldest is my daughter at 29 years old,
followed by two sons 27 and 19. The boys still call home “home”
although the baby is at college in the bay area. We have always had
dogs, in particular yellow labs.
"Please join us for one of our bashes or ‘cattle calls,"that would be a
lunch date with the guys (and women are invited, too). The next cattle
call is being organized by “homey” next week. Be there!"