THE sports world according to Fitz: ‘The General’ makes it
to Hall of FameOne of my all-time favorites in the sports world is being honored once again.
Les Keiter's autobiography "Fifty Years Behind The Microphone" will be permanently displayed in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
"The General" said that he was informed by a major-league baseball official during last weekend's Padres-Cardinals series, in which Keiter played a key role.
"I can't believe it," said the former announcing great. "It's a real thrill for me."
Hey, if it was my call, Les Keiter himself would be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with his book.
MORE BASEBALL: I thought that the Aloha Stadium staff and everyone involved in bringing big-league baseball to Honolulu did a terrific job on such short notice.
The field looked great and everyone I talked to from both teams said they were treated extremely well by everyone here.
Even the Cardinals quit their complaining once they got here -- and winning the doubleheader soothed their ruffled feathers.
There were a few minor glitches: no beer between games and shortages of food could have been avoided. A few more stats on the center-field scoreboard would have been nice.
But overall it was a great job. And the rewards were seen on so many young and old faces at the games. I especially enjoyed talking to several grandparents, fathers and mothers who took their children or grandchildren to their first big-league game.
Watch for the Padres to definitely come back next season against another National League team. And an American League series is a possibility, with the Seattle Mariners a top candidate as one of the teams.
Why have two NBA playoff games shown live on TBS and two on TNT tape-delayed, when they have been over for several hours?
In an age of instant information, with VCRs in so many households, it is ludicrous. It is almost impossible not to see or hear the scores, let alone the highlights being shown during the live games.
Of course, one of the greatest NCAA men's basketball tournament finals was shown here delayed, so the commercial money for prime-time viewing is again taking precedence over the young and old sports viewer.
Oceanic is currently delaying the games on TNT and soon KHNL (NBC) will be following the same narrow thinking when the playoffs progress -- and even the NBA finals will be on long after everyone already knows what happened.
My yearly advice to beat the foolishness: Pull up a seat at the nearest watering hole that has a satellite dish, which unfairly leaves the young NBA fans out.
And don't buy the excuse that it is a decision of the networks back on the mainland. That's baloney.
The tournament will be held on Monday, May 19, at Olomana Golf Links and the format is a full scramble of three-person teams.
The cost is $100 per person and the deadline is next Monday. So let's help out this courageous young woman and her family as she goes through rehabilitation. You can join the tournament, donate a prize or send contributions. Make checks payable to "Friends of Molly Trihey" and send them to: Loke Sala c/o Outrigger Activities Center, 150 Kaiulani Avenue, Honolulu, Hi. 96815.
For more information on the golf tournament or contributions, call Loke or Donna at 926-3391.