June Jones rebuilds another team

Is June Jones in the process of performing another sports miracle?

Taking over the football helm at the University of Hawaii following a 0-12 season in 1998, the former UH quarterback coached the Warriors to a perfect regular 2007 season and a trip to the Sugar Bowl in 2008. He then accepted the job of head coach at Southern Methodist University, which had gone 0-12, still trying to recover from a "death penalty" by the NCAA for massive rule violations that stretched from the mid-1970s through 1986.

The Mustangs are now 5-1 this season following a lopsided victory Saturday against reigning Conference USA champion Central Florida, which had defeated SMU in last year’s league title match. Jones attributed the turnaround to "the chemistry of this team" building back from what happened more than 25 years ago.

A marathon race for the cure

Attention, all you pink ladies — and guys — who have by now recovered from your exertions at the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure at Kapiolani Park: There’s more where that came from.

Pink is the traditional color at all benefits raising money for breast-cancer research and programs, and the race was no exception. More than 7,500 people showed up Sunday, including cancer survivors, loved ones and the general public concerned about the toll this disease takes.

But on June 24, 2012, there will be an additional event: the Marathon for the Cure, to be held in conjunction with the Kona Marathon and Half-Marathon. With any luck, it will raise a significant amount for the fight against cancer. Merely training for it will cure couch-potato syndrome.