Sidelines
The television was on. The television is always on in the sports department, because this is a newsroom, after all, and we don't want to miss any late-breaking stories. Like new "SportsCenter" commercials. Could it be Leahey
is the best?But this day, we were actually watching something important. And on the screen, the drama must have been getting really extra dramatic, because the announcer was saying:
"Could it be?
"Could it happen?"
He still says that?
Yes, the guys in the sports department said. He still says that.
He said that 10 years ago.
And it still works.
I don't remember in this particular case if it was. If it happened. Probably.
All I could think of after that was an old and frayed video tape that my family still has, somewhere, buried in a stack of movies by the TV. A tape of one of the best Rainbow football games ever played.
A fullback went in and out of the locker room at least 87 times with injuries that night, finally running back out of the tunnel and onto the field to return to the game.
A few helpful flags and fumbles fell from the sky as if from heaven.
A prison guard made tackles, and a middle linebacker twirled with delight.
And a freshman kicker started the first chapter of his Hall of Fame career with a boot to beat Iowa, the mighty Big 10, Top 10 Hawkeyes.
"Could it be?
"Could it happen?"
And every time I watch that tape, it still works.
Jim Leahey is University of Hawaii sports because he feels the moment. He feels the emotion. He embodies the passion.
The games matter to him.
Leahey was the runaway winner in our unofficial Hawaii's Best Sportscaster poll.
Duh.
We should have had a line in there that Leahey and the masterful Don Robbs, as play-by-play guys, were exempt from the contest. We did.
We cut it for space.
And nobody else had a chance.
A couple other people got votes (my favorite was "Rick Quan"). Maybe next time we'll start a conversation on the best of the local network affiliate people, the best local nightly sportscast. That should be lots of fun.
Until then, we've got a winner.
AH, TO BE Pat Murphy. The Arizona State coach already has the job at one of the most historic baseball schools in the country. Now, Star-Bulletin reporter Al Chase has confirmed, Murphy's also got the UH post in his pocket if he so desires. Everybody wants him. Everyone is waiting for him to make up his mind. And he doesn't seem to be in any hurry about it.
(Watch. Now that I wrote that, he'll get hired today. Just remember who gets credit.)
We understand. These decisions take time.
I can wait. This is nothing. Hey, I had to wait 13 long years for the new "Crocodile Dundee" movie, people.
I can be very, very patient.
So can the University of Hawaii, it seems.
Arizona State seems equally accommodating.
We're all waiting to see what Pat Murphy is going to do.
Kalani Simpson's column runs Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
He can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com