You gotta know when to fold ’em

You can bet that advocates for a Hawaii casino will be back at some point — they’ve been a stalwart presence at the Legislature for years — but for now they seem to have run out of gas.

Opponents, just as stalwart, can probably breathe easier.

House Bill 2788, which would have granted a 20-year license for a single casino in Waikiki, was deferred this week by the House Committee on Tourism.

While nothing is over until it’s over, the bill’s prognosis for this session appears grim, and the reading of this newspaper’s latest Hawaii Poll that 64 percent oppose a casino hasn’t helped its chances.

Pass on ‘punt, pass and kick’

Spectator boos at Aloha Stadium last month caused NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to consider bringing the embarrassingly lightweight Pro Bowl to an end, but Christian Science Monitor staffer Ross Atkin has an option: Punt, Pass & Kick, confined in the past to youth.

"The players, of course, won’t want to miss out on vacations in Hawaii," Atkins wrote, "so make those a separate award for Pro Bowl selection, just don’t ask them to play in the meaningless game. Instead, go to something closer to the skills-type competitions that have become such popular attractions at the baseball, NBA and NHL All-Star weekends."

Unfortunately, of course, those events are mere side shows to the all-star games.

And, really, imagine how awkward it would be to stage a competition among punters, passers and place-kickers far away from the Super Bowl site.

Keep thinking.