I’ve gotten a few comments plus some direct emails about the Goodwill Volleyball Classic we’re whipping up for November.  So instead of answering some questions in comments, here’s a new posting.

Again, the idea of the volleyball classic is to promote sportsmanship and goodwill between different leagues.  I’m talking about students playing with people they may never otherwise share the same court with.  True a lot of these vballers play on club teams that face each other but still I think it will be a bit different here.

Besides mixing up the players, putting different coaches together should further the exchange of ideas as well as break down cliques.

On to the questions…

BlueFyre:
August 20th, 2008 at 11:45 am   edit

Are there going to be any kind of criteria for the selectees of the Classic, or is it simply open to the best player of every team? I think it would be pretty cool if the state champ could have maybe two players instead of one, possibly as an incentive to the teams to step up their game a notch or two??? Jus my two cents.

BlueFyre: Thanks for the interest!  The criteria will be each school will be offered one spot - this covers both D1 and D2 schools.  The leagues, coaches and school athletic directors will be in charge of selecting the players.  It will be seniors only and the player should be both a good player and a good person.  To sum it up, somebody you would want to represent your school and community.  If a school cannot provide a player, the spot will be given to another school.  But we really hope to see all schools represented.

We’re anticipating about 10 girls per team.  Players will be assigned via a blind draw.  In one hat, it’s the ILH pool and the other, the OIA.  Pick from one hat then the other until done.  The coaching staffs will be divied up this way too.  It will allow for some truly mixed teams and it’s kind of fun too.  We also want to avoid any politics in making up the teams.

kkth:
August 20th, 2008 at 12:11 pm   edit

what about the neighbor island teams/players? oahu games are always playing on OC16, how about the other islands? i am pretty sure families and communities would love to watch their homegrown players play on OC16. there is definitely some talent out there….in the DII state division…2 of the final 4 teams were from maui & molokai. i am sure that the MIL, KIF & BIIF have players worth playing in your classic and exciting to see on television. be fair man! we are paying oceanic customers too!

kkth:  OC16 loves and supports schools and players from all islands.  No slight is intended.  But please remember this is the first year for this classic.  I mean there has never been a game featuring such a mix.  In an ideal world, we would have a huge budget for this and be able to make it statewide.  You know, fly in neighbor island kids for multiple practices, house them, and fly them back home and then back again for the two nights of competition.

It’s not a question of talent because there are stellar players from Hilo to Hanalei.  But it is about finding enough money to pay for everything.

If this event should prove successful and popular, we will indeed look at making it statewide or at least expanding it more.

I’m always open to suggestions so please, let me know.  And…thanks for being an Oceanic Time Warner subscriber!  It’s not lost on any us that we don’t exist without our customers.

Again the Goodwill Volleyball Classic is set for two nights - November 19 and 20 - live on OC16.

Alright, we’re a week and a half away from kicking off the 20th-season of prep sports on OC16!

August 22 - Leilehua vs Iolani - live - from Leilehua 7:30 pm.

August 23 - Mililani vs St. Louis - live - from Mililani 7 pm.

The full schedule is up on our website www.oc16.tv

But to help set the mood…here’s a little video for you…enjoy!

Winning a PGA tour event is good.

Winning your first PGA tour event is better.

Winning your first PGA tour event with your family watching where your dad is fully recovered from a stroke earlier in the year and mom had broken her neck a year ago is, well, even more “gooder.”

Such is the life, times, and putts of Parker McLachlin.

Parker is a great guy and while he says he was grinding it out over the final 18 - he still ended up crushing the field of the Legends Reno-Tahoe Open.

The win is huge for Parker’s young PGA career because it carries two years of job security on the PGA tour, an invite to this week’s PGA Championship, and an invite to start next year at Kapalua’s Mercedes-Benz Championship where it is a winner’s only field.

Just think, Parker only entered this tournament on a whim.  Deciding just a day before it started to give it a go.  He said he had a feeling he’d play good.  Nice call Parker.

Michelle Wie, another Punahou alum, was also in this tournament and grabbed the early headlines.  Parker just ends up getting the big banner headlines in the end.  I personally like both of these people and I think Michelle’s time to win will come soon.

But the image of Parker getting a hug from his dad Chris immediately right after the final putt on 18 dropped for birdie, well, that’s priceless.

Priceless considering what the family has paid in time, effort, and health scares.

Summer with the McLachlin’s is always a blast evidently!

I’ve gotten some really nice emails and comments about Mililani uber softball pitcher Makani Duhaylonsod so I thought I would “bump” it higher with this updated offering.

 Multiple sources say she has indeed qualified for a D1 school.

Lucky for Hawaii softball fans, Hawaii is where her heart beats the strongest.  So barring some dramatic change UH will indeed be getting a quality pitcher and young person. 

No doubt her large extended family here is happy to be able to watch and support her at the next level.  Although her cousin, who plays for Chaminade, may have been even happier if Makani hopped over another hill to the Silverswords’ campus…smile. 

 For me, I think it will be fun to see how the next chapters in her life and softball career play out.  Certainly she is athletically gifted with a strong support system of family members. 

Just think Bob Coolen could possibly throw the OIA’s top two pitchers from the past few years.  (The other being Moanalua grad Sarah Robinson.)  Which gives idea to a future blog - how former high school rivals become teammates - but that’s for another day.

***

Special kudos to Been There, Cane, and Kakarochie for their timely offerings.

If you want to see some of the best Oahu junior golfers, you’ll want to check out our coverage of the 2008 OJGA Pearl Open.

This is “the” major golf tournament on Oahu for juniors and the age range is from 7-years-old up to 18.

To get into this event, 120 golfers had to pass a playing abilities test as well as a rules test. 

The two day tournament will be condensed into a 30-minute hilight show that will feature interviews with age division winners and key officials.  It’s the first time we’ve covered this major.

Here’s the OC16 TV schedule:

Wednesday, 8/6 at 6:30pm

Thursday, 8/7 at 12:30am & 4pm

Saturday, 8/8 at 2pm

Sunday, 8/10 at 10:30pm

Monday, 8/11 at 10am

Tuesday, 8/12 at 4:30pm

Just so you know, some good golfers have come through the Oahu Junior Golf Association.  Big names right now - PGA tour players - Dean Wilson and Parker McLachlin.

Another fun fact of this group and their tournaments - no parents are allowed to follow their kids!  That keeps outside coaching to a minimum and allows the players to think and play for themselves.  Not to mention the players have to “police” themselves with rules.  I think all together that’s great for developing self-confidence and responsibility. 

I hope you check out these great young golfers.  They play the game the right way.