Thrill of victory, agony of Sochi

Any fan of triumphs of the human spirit is surely welcoming the start of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

More than 6,000 athletes from 87 countries are vying for medals at the Games, being held in Sochi, Russia.

Early dispatches from Sochi have ranged from harrowing to hilarious, such as concerns about computer tapping, yellowish water from hotel faucets and signs that warn against flushing toilet paper down toilets.

On a more somber note, a new poll of more than 1,000 Americans found that 57 percent thought a terrorist attack on the Games was likely.

Let’s hope they’re proven wrong, and that the only eventful moments involve hearty competition among some of the world’s greatest athletes.

UH athletics good at losing money

University of Hawaii-Manoa athletics and losing money seem to go hand in hand. Over the last decade, the department had an accumulated net deficit of $14.7 million, which Manoa Chancellor Tom Apple charitably wiped out in exchange for a commitment to do better.

It’s been a struggle to fulfill the promise. The department’s traditional moneymaker, the football team, finished with a 1-11 record last year, and football ticket revenues are expected to fall short by about $800,000. The overall budget is expected to be $2 million in the hole this fiscal year.

So UH officials are weighing tough choices. Increasing the student athletic fee. Laying off employees. Eliminating sports programs.

If you don’t like these options, now’s the time to come up with some less painful ideas. Otherwise, brace for the hurt.