A 7-0 vote for Okino, for dubious reasons

Mayor Kirk Caldwell ultimately made the right call in withdrawing former City Councilman Gary Okino’s name from consideration for the city’s Ethics Board of Appeals. Okino asserted that he has "no tolerance for homosexuality," which is not the expression of equanimity you want from someone weighing ethical behavior.

So why, even after hearing testimony to that effect, did the Council’s Executive Matters and Legal Affairs Committee vote unanimously, 7-0, to send Okino’s name out for a final reading? Could it be that they all figured they’d get another chance to vote it down when the entire Council took it up?

Either the panel really was OK with Okino, or it simply was handing off this piece of business without comment. And if a committee is only functioning as a kind of relay, merely passing things along to the next stage, one wonders why we have them at all.

Players build a better Pro Bowl

Sunday’s 2013 NFL Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium is in the books and the verdict is in: The players did well.

Even Roger Goodell seemed happy; the NFL commissioner briefly suspended the game last year after the pathetic 2012 contest but agreed to reinstate it for 2013 on a trial basis.

On Monday, he commended "the players’ commitment" to the game, which featured a lot of creative and aggressive plays, tough hits and even some blood (from a player who injured one of his fingers).

Virtually every player interviewed during the game said the Pro Bowl is good for player morale and league continuity, plus they all really loved coming to Hawaii. The NBC announcers similarly praised the game, including its being in Hawaii.

Will the Pro Bowl be back in 2014 — in Hawaii or anywhere? An NFL spokesman said a decision likely would be made in April.