Sports Watch
ONE thing about the University of Hawaii's Les Murakami . . . he doesn't fool around when it comes to scheduling brand-name opponents for his baseball team. Powerful Hurricanes
on the horizonMiami, UCLA, California and Southern California. That's just for starters. Also on the Rainbows' schedule this season are three other nationally ranked teams - Washington, Wichita State and Fresno State - along with Cal State Northridge, another school with a solid baseball program.
Well, it comes as no surprise, if you know Murakami, the "Les Face It Guy."
"You know me, I like going against the best," Murakami said. "To be the best, you've got to play the best. No sense fooling around."
But Les, Miami? One of the best college baseball programs in the country for a season-opening four games? The Hurricanes, who came within one out of winning the College World Series last year? A team that's been to the College World Series 15 times?
Heck, Murakami wanted the University of Texas, too, for this season. "But Texas pulled out because they have a new coach," he said.
Actually, Miami is on the schedule because the Hurricanes were booked to come here for a big tournament that didn't materialize. The Longhorns, too.
Miami's never been to Hawaii so Murakami thought local fans would get a treat in seeing the Hurricanes. So what if they're more than what his Rainbows can handle?
It's early season so Murakami figures anything can happen. Besides, his 'Bows should be all the better for it by playing top-notch opponents, especially Miami, in getting ready for Western Athletic Conference play.
Still, Murakami realizes that once you bring out a Miami, it'll be difficult to bring out any team of lesser quality than that. "But it's a treat for our fans," he said.
Anyway, the baseball 'Bows will break out their bats Saturday at Rainbow Stadium for an exhibition game with the alumni before the Hurricanes blow into town next week.
SPEAKING of which, former Rainbows - pitcher Derek Tatsuno and first baseman Randy Oyama - will be honored prior to the game with the alumni.
Tatsuno, college baseball's first 20-game winner and named as one of its all-time pitchers by Baseball America, will have his jersey No. 16 finally, officially, retired.
I say finally and officially because it has been unofficially retired since he left UH after the 1979 season after pitching three years for the Rainbows. "We haven't used his number since he left us," Murakami said.
Tatsuno, of course, is the guy most responsible for Rainbow Stadium. He was the Pied Piper who led droves of fans to UH baseball, resulting in the first-class facility being built.
A deserving honor, long time in coming. Officially, that is.
Interestingly, Tatsuno never wore No. 16 until he played for the Rainbows.
Although a high school sensation at Aiea, Tatsuno didn't have much of a choice in jersey numbers when he arrived at UH. Sixteen was available and Tatsuno took it, partly because "that's my birthday, the 16th." Tats will be 39 next week Thursday, Jan. 16.
OYAMA also played at Aiea before joining the Rainbows. He holds the all-time NCAA record for most putouts - 2,070 in 270 games. He'll receive a bronzed glove in his honor.
"I feel very happy for him," Murakami said. "I don't think anybody's going to break that record. He played four full years and a little as a red-shirt freshman."
These days Oyama's more into put-aways than putouts as a deputy prosecutor with the city office.
"Back then I was worried he wouldn't graduate because he was always fooling around. Now he's got a law degree," Murakami said with a chuckle.