It's been a while between blog posts here.  I'll blame it on the crazy football rush that ended the OC16 sports season.  Now that we're a week away from Christmas, everyone here is catching their collective breath.

For me, that means the "use it or lose it" vacation days we have to claim by the end of December.

This time it came at the perfect moment as the Wahine volleyball team made its dream run to the NCAA final four.

Away from the office, vacation time allowed me to watch Dave Shoji's squad as a fan instead of thinking sports schedules, football, pay per view, and so on.  When sports is your job too often you treat every game as work.  Breaking down the production, looking at graphics, how did they cover the game and so on.

I gotta say there's something to be said for snacks, sodas, and wahine volleyball on a big TV screen.  No other agenda but to watch good old volleyball.  Sure I like the game itself but UH volleyball is special.  Its history of national championships, gritty play, and local stars blends together for must see viewing.

Watching this year's NCAA run was extra fun because of the chemistry of the players.  It really looked like they enjoyed playing with and for each other.  Chemistry is so hard to find in teams so I enjoy it while its there.

Stellar defense, players stepping up their games, stars shining, others emerging, and of course smiles marked the wahine's play as well.

No wonder they're beloved by the entire state.  It's good to be reminded again of how special they are.

For decades, Shoji's teams have taken all of us on remarkable journeys.  Allowing us to feel a part of something bigger.  Getting to touch greatness since we feel like our cheering helps drive the team.

Now whether us fans' collective school spirit (and personal pride) really matters as much as we think, who knows.

But for a few weeks wahine volleyball opens our eyes to bigger things, takes us away from talk of rough economic news.

It make us all feel like we were on the same team beating the odds.  You know what, that feeling is not a bad thing in these turbulent and fractured times.

Mahalo Coach Dave Shoji and the Wahine volleyball team, third best in the NCAA but champions at home.

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In other news as my thoughts drift back to work in January...lol...

OC16 Sports will tip off basketball on January 7 with an OIA doubleheader at Campbell High School - 5 pm Kapolei/Radford with Campbell/Mililani following. 

1/14 Boys - Farrington/Kaimuki and Moanalua/Kahuku.

1/21 Girls - Pearl City/Mililani and Kalani/Farrington

1/22 Boys - Kaimuki/Kaiser and Kalaheo/Moanalua

We're working on some ILH dates too but they have not yet been confirmed.

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And for last second gifts...  Events from this past August onward are now available for purchase in the "shopping" section of our website www.oc16.tv

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Happy Holidays all!

The Kahuku versus Leilehua football game once again had its share of ooh's and ah's.

But not all of them were because of plays you like to see.

Mules' wide receiver Kamana Akagi was taken by ambulance to a hospital on a backboard with a neck brace securing his head.

Akagi stretched to make a catch late in the game and was in an awkward position when hit by a Kahuku defender.

The hit was hard but totally clean.  If anything Akagi's body position had the most to due with his injury.

Regardless, the play left the senior WR flat on his back with little initial signs of movement.

So the trainers, medical staffs of both teams as well as EMT's attended to him with the utmost care and delicacy. 

Eventually Akagi gave a finger up as he was loaded into the ambulance.

Whenever you see an athlete carried out like that you hope for the best.  But are aware of the worst.

Akagi was basically "knocked out" for a few scary seconds.

Thankfully Akagi was released from the hospital the next morning (Saturday) after overnight observation.

And you wanna talk about heart?

Akagi begged his parents to let him attend Leilehua's practice that Saturday. 

So a little more than 12-hours removed from the incident, there's Akagi at practice or what the Mules call "inspiration."

Hard to argue about that being an inspiring moment. 

Akagi didn't do anything physical at inspiration. 

But his example of heart and caring for his teammates may do more in the long run.

Another classy move, Reggie Torres and the Red Raiders sent Akagi a message through Mules coach Nolan Tokuda.  In it, Kahuku expressed their concern, prayers, and wishes for a speedy recovery to Akagi.

Football is a tough, physical, collision sport filled with macho attitudes.

But it's good to see that good sportsmanship prevails in tough situations like this one.

Akagi has already been cleared by his personal doctor.

Leilehua will hold him out until the school medical staff deems him clear after its own battery of tests.

The Mules have almost two weeks before playing Baldwin in the first round of states.  I wouldn't count Akagi out of going over the middle come November 20.

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In other injury news.  OIA football official Duane Moku was also injured late in that game to an ankle injury.

He's a good guy and we all wish him a speedy recovery as well.

Ok...it's been a little while between posts...sorry about that!  Some how the volleyball games and football playoffs have totally taken over my life.  But it's a good busy, no complaints at all.

Now that I'm back, I'll post some really big news.

Ready?

Here it is.

For the first time - ever - we will televise a "live" sporting event from Maui. 

Not just any event but the first round of the 2009 HHSAA football D1 championship tournament.

It will match up Baldwin against the loser of OIA title game Kahuku/Leilehua.  We'll know that obviously after Friday's OIA telecast from Aloha Stadium.  White division championship is first on OC16 starting at 4:30pm.

But back to Maui.  It's long overdue since we've been to Kauai and the Big Island. 

Costs have kept us from doing it sooner.  Thankfully with tremendous assistance from Keith Amemiya, the HHSAA, NEP (the broadcast truck we use), and other providers, everything came together late yesterday afternoon.

So come Friday November 20, you will see the first high school football game from Maui's War Memorial Stadium on statewide television.

Game time has been moved up to 6pm from 7pm.

Why?

The earlier start will allow our crew to breakdown all the gear after the game, pack up, and make it to the airport for the 10:45pm flight out of Maui. 

By flying out that same day/night, we can avoid having to get hotel rooms thus saving money. 

Saved money that allows this game to be on TV.

Speaking of money... 

The mahalo list includes: Young Brothers (for barging over the huge production trucks), Hawaiian Airlines, MIL executive director Joe Balangitao, Baldwin AD Kahai Shishido, HHSAA Keith Amemiya, Oceanic VP of Opertations Norman Santos, Oceanic Maui GM Rick Colletto, Oceanic VP Programming Mitzi Lehano...  (I'll add more as the names and companies come in.)

We hope everyone on Maui comes out to the game to be a part of local TV history!

Of course, set your DVR at home first before heading to the game.

And to the Tasaka's...save me a gallon of each flavor of Tasaka Guri-Guri!

Father Damien may be Hawaii's first Saint.  But local restaurant owner and super sports fan Don Murphy can't be too far behind for sports fans.

Long known for his support of UH sports, Murphy is throwing the SOS fund a lifeline by hosting a block party tonight (10/21) in the area around Murphy's Bar and Grill in downtown Honolulu.

Murphy along with his staff and an army of public school AD's started early this morning setting up the tents and getting food ready.

To keep with DOE rules, every AD used a vacation day to work this event.

It was really inspiring to see these athletic directors sweating in the humid conditions to make the fundraiser come to life.  Murphy of course has these things down to a science and is overseeing the whole party.

Pre-sale tickets alone will bring in more than $100,000 to the SOS fund. 

So if you're in the mood for food, fun, and helping Hawaii's public school athletics, head on down to Murphy's.

Who knows, Saint Murphy's good karma may follow you home!

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Murphy’s Ho‘olaulea to Support ‘SOS’ (Save Our Sports) Fundraising Drive for Hawaii Public High Schools

HONOLULU (October 6, 2009) – Murphy’s Bar and Grill will present a downtown Ho‘olaulea on Wednesday, October 21, from 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Merchant Street and Nu‘uanu Avenue to raise money for the Hawaii High School Athletic Association’s ‘SOS’ (Save Our Sports) fundraising drive.

Hoping to raise $100,000 and attract 3,000 people, organizers believe that it will be the first major event to bring all local high schools together for a common cause: the preservation of Hawaii’s public high school athletic programs.
Underfunded budgets have been drastically cut further for the current 2009-10 school year, including over $1,200,000 in funding for supplies, equipment, and transportation. Unless funds are raised soon, most, if not all 18 high school sports (football, basketball, soccer, tennis, etc.) will be severely impacted, either through greatly reduced competition or the outright elimination of entire sports.

All net proceeds from the event will be donated to public schools athletic programs. "The SOS program has come so close to raising enough funds to keep our public school sports programs in tact, we hope this may be the event to secure our goal. Our event will benefit all public high schools from Ka`u to Kapa`a.” said Don Murphy, event chair and owner of Murphy’s Bar and Grill.

All public high schools, including from the Neighbor Islands, will be represented by athletic directors, coaches and boosters, wearing their school colors, preparing and selling food and staffing beverage stands. The event will feature live music by local entertainers, most of whom will be donating their time.
Event organizers are hoping to raise the majority of the funds for the event through corporate donations, starting from $500 up to $10,000, which would provide the donor with title sponsorship of the event.
For more information, contact Murphy's Bar and Grill at (808) 754-1502, email don@murphyshawaii.com, or visit www.sportshigh.com

Additional information for Murphy’s Ho‘olaulea

Place: Nuuanu from King will be closed, Marin Lane closed and Merchant Street to Bethel closed. The parking lot across the street from Murphy’s will be the focal point of the party.

Cost: There is no “cover charge”. Script will be sold. Cost of script is $5.00 each (if purchased before event will be sold for 5 script for $20.00). Each script is good for one plate of food or one beer or one glass of wine. Soda or water will be available for $1.00. All of the proceeds will go to benefit the SOS program.

Food: There will be several food booths, serving everything from chili & rice to Tanioka’s spicy ahi bento. Foods featured will be Hawaiian, Local, American, Irish and Asian.

Parking: Parking will be available either on the street, Smith Street Garage (Smith off of Nimitz, coming down King, turn right on Smith) or enter off Nimitz, Macy’s parking garage or the public parking on Pauahi and Smith street.

Donations: Checks can be made payable to “HHSAA SOS Account” or go on line to: www.sportshigh.com

Contacts: Don Murphy, Murphy’s Bar & Grill 754-1502 or don@murphyshawaii.com Lynette Adams @ lynetteadams@hawaii.rr.com

Music: There will be live music in the parking lot. The entertainment will be posted when they are secured.

Children: This event is open to the public. Alcohol will be served so we do recommend parents use their discretion on whether or not to bring their children.

The Black Flag of Waipahu is a symbol.

A powerful one that reflects something bigger than just winning football games.

Waipahu's head coach Sean Saturnio unfurled the black flag about 5-years ago. 

He wanted to change the mindset of the students - both players and regular student body.

This simple black flag is the opposite of a white flag - the symbol for surrender.

Saturnio, his staff, and the school administration want their kids to never give up on life, studies and bettering themselves. 

A lot of these young people come from disadvantaged homes, so quiting on a better life happens.

Now just waving a dark colored cloth around will not mold a young person's future alone.

Among the weekly tools Saturnio uses on his players is a weekly dress shirt and tie day. 

Every Wednesday all players and coaches on campus put on a shirt and tie to show respect to the school's teachers and student body.

Some parents expressed concern about not being able to buy a decent dress shirt and tie.  Not a problem, if they cannot get, Saturnio and his staff purchase a set for the kid.

The players also have weekly "pono pledges" which further point the players in the right direction.

The pledge card is about the size of an ID card.  Players are assigned one teacher and one other person in their life to give this card to. 

It basically says I want to give you respect and do something for you.  All I ask in return is for you (card receiver) to do something for another person.

Pretty cool huh?

Saturnio told me it builds in the student-athletes an ethic of doing something good for others with no reward to them.

By doing this each week, it's hoped the pono pledge becomes a habit that leads to a righteous life beyond high school.

Yes Waipahu wants to win football games.  (They lost to Kapolei this past Friday 28-21 in Overtime.)

But these Marauders play for bigger stakes - winning in the game of life.

Saturnio's hope is to make good sons, boyfriends, future husbands and dads with these young people.

Now that's a great game plan.