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Sidelines
Kalani Simpson
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Morning now means 2 wake-up call(in)s on radio
HERMAN Frazier has said more than once that part of the reason things look the way they do is that there are two newspapers in this town (wait -- there are? Nah, nah, nah, only joke), in heavy competition with each other, implying that a lot of things get blown out of proportion in pursuit of headlines and scoops.
Now. This did not come off well because of how and when and by whom it was said (people always talk about taking quotes out of context -- in its context, because of the context, it did not sound good). But the guy did have an underlying point. Yes, with two newspapers there are times, when it comes to UH athletics, that it seems little things are bigger news than you'd think.
AND SO ON that note came yesterday, when it became apparent officially and once and for all that there are now two radio stations in town, too.
And this is a good thing. We are in an era of UH sports in which it's important to closely examine UH sports, the good and the bad. Plenty of accomplishments to be celebrated, and yes, these days, a few shortcomings that should not be ignored. Lots to talk about, and it should be talked about. A hotter spotlight is a good thing.
I've been flipping back and forth, between KKEA 1420-AM and KUMU 1500-AM, these past couple weeks, and I think I probably will for as long as this lasts. It's invigorating. At any moment, there's something else going on a centimeter to the right or left. Honolulu has officially became a two-sports-station town.
Yesterday morning they were going great guns. Both good shows.
You can tell the new guys over at KUMU are still finding their rhythm, with this morning-show thing. But I like the energy the first family of Hawaii sports broadcasting, the Leaheys, have on Monday and Friday a.m.'s. There just seems to be a good feel. Maybe the "Muppet Show" music does it for me, I don't know.
And on Thursday, KUMU's Bob Hogue and Jai Cunningham interviewed Frazier, UH's AD. Frazier didn't really say much of anything (other than that things are better than we've heard). But it's good for people to hear how he answers questions, the tone in his voice. Does Frazier do that interview if it's not a "new" audience he's trying to win over? I don't know.
THE INCUMBENT, KKEA's Bobby Curran, had mentioned on the air a few times the insight you get "doing this for a living," and he's right. It's a whole other ballgame when you're under the gun every single day. And Curran has responded with some really, really strong shows.
Or maybe I just noticed how strong they are because I'm paying better attention to morning sports radio these days. Maybe it just seems like the airwaves crackle now. It's invigorating.
Will some things be blown up bigger than they are? Probably.
But we're in an era when it's better to pay too much attention to UH athletics rather than not enough.
Get ready. Now there are two radio stations, too.