FIRING COACHES NOT THE ANSWER

(April 30): The Suns and Mavericks were not going to win an NBA title as they were constituted before deciding to make block-buster trades in mid-season. So they gambled. And they lost, each being eliminated last night from the playoffs.

Now they are stuck – Phoenix with Shaquille O'Neal and Dallas with Jason Kidd -- for at least another season because of contractual considerations – with a pair of future Hall of Famers who are clearly past their once-glorious primes.

The knee-jerk reaction in these types of situations is to fire the coach.

But will the Suns be better off getting rid of Mike D'Antoni, who guided them to a 232-96 record and two West finals appearances during his four full seasons on the job?

His greatest sin is having been ousted three times in the playoffs by San Antonio, the best team of its NBA era. Don't think that any number of teams will instantly make a play for D'Antoni if the Suns are foolish enough to cut him loose.

Then, there's the case of the Avery Johnson in Dallas, just one year removed from a 67-win season. But a pair of first-round losses, to the Warriors last year and to Hornets this year, could have sealed his fate.

My approach would be to keep both men and allow them a summer and a training camp to incorporate and adapt the talents of their dimming stars into their new teams. Frankly, do your really there are other coaches out there who will do a better job? I don't.

Or did escape your notice that the top three finishers in this year's Coach of the Year voting – Byron Scott, Doc Rivers and Rick Adelman --all were fired by teams that went south immediately following their departures? Just asking.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com

FINALLY, SABERS WIN BASEBALL TITLE

(April 29): The long, frustrating wait is over for Maui High.

Ending a championship drought of 10 years, the Sabers defeated arch-rival Baldwin 2-1 last night before a packed house at Iron Maehara Stadium to win the MIL Division-I baseball crown.

The victory also helped Maui High secure the league's top-seed in next week's state tournament on Oahu.

The Sabers appeared headed for yet another disappointment as they trailed 1-0 going into the top of the sixth inning. Jarin Hayase's RBI single had given the Bears the lead in the fourth and Skyler Cabacungan had allowed only one hit through five innings.

But with the help of two costly errors by Baldwin, the Sabers rallied for a pair of runs to the game and the championship.

Josh Gascon opened the threat with a one-out single and eventually scored when Baldwin's infield committed on a pair of miscues on the same play. Justin Fontanilla's single pushed across the other run.

Then, it was up to Mitch Crim – who went the distance on the mound – to close the deal and touch off a celebration by Maui High's long-suffering fans.

Both the Sabers and Bears will take part in the state D-I tournament, while MIL champion St. Anthony and Molokai qualified for the D-II tourney.

The events open Wednesday at Oahu's Les Murakami Stadium and the Central Oahu Regional Park, respectively.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com

BRENNAN PICKED IN SIXTH ROUND

(April 28): So what did the NFL scouts think about the star players on the University of Hawaii football team that went 12-0 during the regular season before getting smashed by Georgia in the Sugar Bowl?

Obviously, all of the gaudy statistics didn't make much of an impression.

Only quarterback Colt Brennan's name was called during the marathon two-day session and he was chosen in the sixth round – 189th overall – by the Washington Redskins.

Brennan's receivers – Ryan Grice-Mullins, Davone Bess and Jason Rivers – were all snubbed, as was offensive lineman Hercules Satele. All four of those players, it should be noted, have signed free-agent deals. But Grice-Mullins and Bess didn't give up their final seasons of college eligibility to become after-thoughts.

One a more positive note, outside linebacker Jordon Dizon – a Waimea High alum who starred at Colorado -- was drafted in the second round, 45th overall, by the Detroit Lions.

At 6-foot, 225 pounds, Dizon is undersized by NFL standards. He's not overly strong, having a best of 12 reps of 225 pounds, or particularly fast, with a decent 4.63 time in the 40. But Dizon was a human tackling machine for the Buffaloes, earning Big 12 defensive player of the year honors last season.

The Lions also used a second-round pick on a player with local ties year, selecting former UH defensive end Ikaika Alama-Francis.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com

SOME DRAMA STILL LEFT IN DRAFT

(April 25): Some of the drama surrounding the NFL Draft was lost earlier this week when Miami announced it had reached agreement with Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long to make him the first overall pick.

But there are still plenty of questions as pro football stages its annual player lottery tomorrow and Sunday. Among them:

Who will the St. Louis Rams choose with the second pick? Many believe that choice will be Virginia defensive end Chris Long, son of former Raiders' great and current TV analyst Howie Long.

Will the Atlanta Falcons use the third pick to choose a quarterback to replace the imprisoned Michael Vick? Or will they instead opt to shore up their defensive line by picking LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey?

And what about Oakland, which is picking fourth? Many believe the Raiders will go after Arkansas running back Darren McFadden, while others think they may instead trade away the selection for multiple picks later in the draft.

What about Vernon Gholston, the pass-rusher from Ohio State, who seemingly has come out of nowhere to become a major draft topic?

And, if he's still around, does Kansas City go with Boston College QB Matt Ryan?

Local fans also are wondering if and where former UH players such as quarterback Colt Brennan, receivers Ryan Grice-Mullins, Davone Bess and Jason Rivers, and offensive lineman Hercules Satele will go in the draft.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com

MAIAVA BOLTING FROM COLORADO

(April 24): Why would a college football team want to take a player who earned Freshman All-American honors at one position and move him to another?

That's a question that Kai Maiava was asking himself and that's the primary reason why he's decided to leave the University of Colorado after only one season.

By all appearances, the former Baldwin High School standout had a sensational first campaign at the college level.

Maiava started the final nine games of the season at offensive guard for the Buffaloes and received high marks in all the statistical categories used by coaches to judge the play of the big boys up front.

But the coaching staff then asked Maiava to make the switch to fullback, reportedly telling him that at 6-foot and about 300 pounds, he was too small to play effectively at the guard position.

Maiava went along with the plan initially, but admittedly became frustrated when he was on the field for only one snap during the annual spring game.

He then asked for – and was granted – a released from his scholarship with Colorado.

Although uncertain about his specific future plans, Maiava would prefer playing for another D-I college on the West Coast generally and in California specifically.

Older brother Kaluka Maiava plays at USC, but Kaluka is in his senior season and Kai – as a transfer – is required to sit out one full season before regaining his college eligibility.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com

TOP HOOPS PROSPECT LIKES U.H.

(April 23): For all we know, the kid may have paid a visit simply to enjoy a free trip to Paradise.

But one of the nation's top junior college basketball players insists that's not the case and that he's narrowed down his choices to a pair of programs at opposite ends of the college basketball pecking order – Kentucky and Hawaii.

And to hear Roderick Flemings, it's not a slam-dunk decision in favor of the venerable Wildcats. He was taken by the beauty of the islands and the friendliness of their residents during a recent recruiting visit to the Aloha State.

Flemings originally signed with Oklahoma State after leading his DeSoto High School team to a Texas Class 5A state title.

The 6-7 swingman left the Cowboys after one year and enrolled at Weatherford JC in Texas, earning All-America honors last season by averaging more than 20.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals and 1.6 blocks per game.

Yesterday, UH secured a signed letter of intent from JC standout Brandon Adams, a 6-7 forward who is transferring from Diablo Valley College in California.

Adams plans to red-shirt this season and play his final two years beginning in 2009.

Adams averaged 14.6 points, 7.8 rebounds and nearly 2 blocks in leading his team to a 26-8 record and earning MVP honors in his conference.

He's an explosive jumper, having posted a state-best height of 6-11 ¼ as a senior in high school. Adams received several offers in track from Pac 10 schools but opted to play hoops and began his career at the JC level.

Earlier, two other JC players committed to UH. Petras Balocka is a 6-8 power forward from Lithuania and Lasha Parghlava is a 6-2 guard from the Republic of Georgia.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com

MAUI UNITED WINS STATE SOCCER TITLE

(April 22): It was a challenging road to a championship and the return trip home wasn't an easy one, either.

After suffering a 1-0 loss to Leahi West in Saturday morning's tournament opener, Maui United bounced back to win its remaining three matches and captured the Hawaii Youth Soccer State Cup under-14 girls' title at the Waipio Complex on Oahu.

MUSC capped its unlikely run with a dramatic 1-0 victory by outscoring the two-time defending champion Ka'oi Express 3-2 on penalty kicks after the two teams had battled through 70 minutes of regulation and another 20 of scoreless overtime.

Tina Imada, Liz Higashino and Amanda Jorgensen converted their attempts, while goalkeeper Kalei Vaivai made several key saves during the shootout to secure a berth in the Far West Regional tournament at the same venue June 16-22.

Following its opening loss, MUSC rallied to a 3-1 over Maui's Excel on Saturday afternoon on second-half goals by Nicole Nakakura, Makana Pundyke and Lauren Ichimura.

MUSC finished group play with a 1-0 win over Real Copa of Oahu on Sunday afternoon as Pundyke's goal in the 29th minute off an assist by Nakakura. United need help go get into the final, and received it when Excel played Leahi to a 0-0
tie.

Other members of the Maui United championship team are: Amber-Lei Madriaga, Breanna Gaddis, Jessica Malknecht, Kalena Kaeo, Kenna Green, Mari Ueno, Riley Sharishi, Tori-Jean Cambra and Amber Kozaki. The coaches: Ted Eck, Fred Guzman and Dave Jorgensen.

Because of the length of the championship match, the girls barely had enough time to celebrate their upset victory, collect their championship trophy and medals, and bolt for the airport.

Not everyone made it on time. Several players and parents, as well as one coach, were bumped from their flights and had to spend the night on Oahu before returning home on Monday.

________________________________________________________________
Sent via the WebMail system at mail.pacificradiogroup.com