FOR the record, the Hawaii High School Athletic Association's new executive secretary, Keith Amemiya, was a fairly decent 800-meter runner at Punahou 15 years ago. He came pretty close to breaking two minutes, but was never fast enough to make the state meet or fit the monicker track star. He also admits to no athletic coaching or administrative experience. A smart nerd takes
control of the HHSAAWhy should we care?
Good question.
If everyone who held an important position in sports was required to be a superb athlete or know every detail of how to run a tournament, there would be a lot of out-of-work stadium managers, league commissioners, and (dare we say?) sports editors.
"Thankfully, this job doesn't require me to slam dunk a basketball or throw a baseball 90 miles per hour," Amemiya, 32, said. "I do lack administrative experience, and that's a valid concern. But I believe I was hired because of my legal and business background."
The public perception of the HHSAA and the prep sports power hierarchy here has long been that of a nonprogressive, stodgy old-boys network. For good reason. Mostly due to closed-mindedness and plain old bureaucratic inertia, the HHSAA has moved incredibly slow on important issues like gender equity and corporate sponsorship.
ALTHOUGH his father was the state's attorney general at one time and Amemiya is somewhat connected in local business circles, he is (make that was) a sports outsider.
Amemiya might not know how much air to put in a basketball, but he brings youth and a set of skills to the table that can help in several key areas.
A former litigation attorney, he will troubleshoot legal danger areas. Amemiya wants to address Title IX and gender equity issues early on.
He also plans on raising funds through corporate sponsorship, using a business advisory council.
"Someone told me I'm the victim of the reverse of the dumb-jock syndrome," Amemiya said. "I'm a smart nerd in the type of job where you don't see one. Well, look at (NBA commissioner) David Stern. He's not very tall, but he elevated the NBA to an incredible level.
"I guess I'm not a logical fit in a lot of people's minds and I know negative publicity comes with the territory," he added. "The main thing is that we do the best job possible for our student-athletes."
WHILE the HHSAA's new leader is intelligent, personable and energetic, the manner in which he was selected leaves something to be desired. And hopefully it isn't an indication of how the HHSAA plans to do business in the future as an autonomous body.
The HHSAA contends that its recently attained independence from the Department of Education technically allows it to make decisions with less public scrutiny than before. But it's common sense for it to keep us posted on the progress of major decisions like this one.
Secrecy breeds suspicion.
If there's nothing to hide, why didn't the HHSAA release the names of at least the finalists for the post? If they didn't want their current employers knowing they were seeking other opportunities, maybe they weren't right for the job to begin with.
At some point, the applicants' right to privacy gives way to the public's right to know. And if the job is overall responsibility for the endeavors and well-being of the state's thousands of student-athletes, tie goes to the public.
We're not asking to hold a public referendum to decide where the athletic directors get together to play golf each year, or even whether there should be a state riflery championship.
The irony is that if the HHSAA had let a little sun shine in, it might have received more credit for what looks like a gutsy but shrewd choice in Amemiya.
At this point, the selection looks like a bold step in the right direction.
Still, it would have been nice to know the other options.
Dave Reardon is a magazine editor and freelance
writer who has covered Hawaii sports since 1977.
He can be reached via the Star-Bulletin or
by email at dreardon@hmsa.com.
