At age 93, Yamada remains 'big shot' as Pigskin winner
Advertiser Staff
Now that Walter Yamada won the Pigskin Picks contest — and a trip for two to Las Vegas — he can experience the good times.
No, wait, he's already experienced that, from his first car — a "Model T Ford 1926 or '27." — to his first flight — "1959, I'll never forget it, took us eight hours to Portland." — to seeing Hawai'i become the 50th state, and, finally, to enjoying one of the best deals pennies could buy.
"I used to go to a bar where there was 5 cents beer," he said.
Yamada is 93 years old.
But the 'Aiea resident is still a University of Hawai'i football season-ticket holder (since 1975), attends games, drives himself around and boasts a vivid memory and a good sense of humor.
What he does most often now is watch football on TV, and go to Las Vegas about eight times a year.
"That's the only thing we can do now. (Watch) Football and (Go) Vegas ... and drink beer," he said.
Yamada earned another Vegas trip by correctly picking the winners of all 15 games. He won on a tiebreaker by coming the closest to the combined total offensive yards gained by Navy and Hawai'i.
He said he added what the two teams average per game for his tiebreaker. When told that that was a wise strategy, he said, "You want some hot tips?"
Yamada said he's been playing Pigskin Picks since the game first started in the early 1980s, but never won despite being a fan who watches hours of football.
"From 7 o'clock in the morning until I don't know when. Right through, football," he said.
Yamada has four children, nine grandchildren and four great grandchildren. When asked how long he's been married, he quipped, "Too long." Actually, 66 years.
A 1933 graduate of McKinley High School, Yamada remembers that "all the guys from the country came (to school) on the train."
Even though he's a frequent flyer now, Yamada still recalls his first flight.
"1959," he said without hesitation. "My company (Castle & Cooke Terminals) sent me four weeks, free trip (to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles). I was like one king ... I was big shot."
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