THE departure of Jim Forkum as Hawaii-Hilo basketball coach might lead the Vulcans down a road less traveled. Ex-coach Lopes wouldn’t
mind back-paddlingAs in the Saddle Road that leads across the Big Island to Waikoloa and Merv Lopes.
The former Chaminade coach is busy helping start the athletic program at Kailua-Kona's new high school, Kealekehe. And at a young 65, Lopes also has taken up competitive canoe paddling.
But the innovative former coach of the Silverswords wouldn't mind another shot at the hardwood. The same drive he had 15 years ago when Chaminade upset then-No. 1 Virginia, SMU and Louisville is very much alive.
Lopes has kept abreast of the changes in the game, from college to the pros, through his work as director of the annual Pete Newell Big Man's Camp. Getting back in the coaching game wouldn't take much.
"Well, the only way I'd be interested is if Hilo came to me first," Lopes said. "And then I'm not sure they'd want me. But if they called, I'd listen."
While he waits, Lopes will continue to stay busy. He's involved with Maui Mayor Linda Lingle's gubernatorial campaign, has been playing a lot of tennis and took up golf.
And then there's canoes.
Lopes will race either as a golden master (52-older) or master (40-plus) this regatta season.
"It's good conditioning," Lopes said. "But the hardest part is when I had to sign the (registration) form and I started looking at the ages of the rest of my group. They're so young."
Lopes has been in almost every seat in the canoe, starting off as the stroke (No. 1). But he has found a home at No. 3. It's surprising that he isn't steering, knowing his penchant to lead.
He has paddled fishing canoes for years and laughs when he recalls the time he took former University of Hawaii guard Jarinn Akana out fishing. He let Akana steer.
"We went out and we went all over the place," Lopes said. "It was like, 'What the hell are you doing? Back-paddle, bruddah."
For Lopes, his coaching career could huli or he could catch a wave. It wouldn't take much to get him back stroking THAT canoe.
One comment on the Western Athletic Conference restructuring, although it's sure not to be the last.
It would serve the breakaway schools if the remaining WAC members filed suit for breach of contract. The existing agreement runs through 2001, which apparently supersedes the bylaw clause allowing teams to give just 10 months notice before leaving.
One gets the feeling that the Western 8 -- as they might call themselves -- didn't think this defection out completely. My guess is they were hoping the WAC would fall apart after they left, figuring the Texas schools and Tulsa would join forces with former SWC members to reunite in a Lone Star alliance.
What the W-8 didn't figure on was the refusal of the Texas schools to become the poster children for the NCAA homeless. Whereas the departing WAC members had taken advantage of their relationship with the University of Hawaii since 1979, the expansion teams (Rice, TCU, SMU and Tulsa) have appreciated what the Rainbows' athletic program brings to the conference.
If the WAC had disintegrated because of the defections, then the W-8 might have had some legal claim to the NCAA Basketball Tournament money units. And heaven knows the NCAA isn't up to quibbling over $3.1 million in shares when they're still looking at a $67 million judgement over the restricted earnings issues.
Maybe, just maybe, this time the law of sports will prevail. That it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.
And playing fair should count for something.
Cindy Luis is a Star-Bulletin sportswriter.
Her column appears weekly.
