Sports Watch
YOU don't have to tell Les Murakami and Mike Wilton what a big weekend this is for their respective Rainbow teams. It’s a big, big weekend
for Rainbow athleticsThis is a very big and meaningful weekend for University of Hawaii, and I don't mean it's because spring football is also ending Sunday.
Murakami's baseball 'Bows host the No. 2 team in the nation in the Rice Owls in a huge three-game series starting tomorrow night.
With every game a must-win for the Rainbows, it doesn't help their slim chances of making the Western Athletic Conference playoffs to run into, not only the league's best team, but maybe the best team in the country.
Ouch.
Then, Wilton's volleyball men take on nemesis UCLA Saturday night at Stan Sheriff Center in a one-and-out match in the first round of the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation tournament.
Double ouch.
The only sure winner will be the UH athletic program.
The WAC baseball series could be the biggest three-game draw of the season. And with UCLA as the opponent, the men's volleyball team could post its first sellout since April 12, 1997 against Southern Cal.
OF course, since the latter is MPSF tournament play, UH won't get to keep the proceeds.
"The league's got to be happy," said Wilton. "They get everything but the expenses."
But you can bet that Wilton and his Rainbows are glad to be hosting the first-round match. There's no place like home, even though UCLA did win the NCAA championship last year at the Rainbows' home court.
So it's not like the Bruins are facing a great disadvantage playing here.
"I don't want to say it's a big advantage for us," Wilton said. "Let's just say it's much better for us."
That was the team's goal -- playing the first-round match at home, especially against an opponent that the Rainbows have never beaten in a meaningful match. UH is 8-34 against UCLA over the years.
This time, however, the Rainbows have a chance of thwarting the Bruins from defending their national title and advancing their own cause.
SO it's hana hou and once more with feeling for the Rainbow men, who had their Senior Night last Saturday, only to come back for an encore performance.
Whether they can come back again for a second-round match depends on BYU losing to Pacific. Boy, as if I needed another reason to root against BYU.
Which brings me to throwing in an ironic counterpoint. While at least 8,000 fans will be watching the 'Bows and Bruins, BYU will be lucky to draw even half that many of its faithful.
The reason is that school is out. BYU coach Carl McGown has put out a call for all sports fans in the Utah Valley to watch the nation's potential No. 1 volleyball team in action.
Meanwhile, Murakami is getting ready for the Rice Owls with a depleted pitching staff. Call it a farewell to arms.
"What'll be your starting rotation?" Murakami was asked.
"You tell me," he replied.
Except for Rich Snider, who will pitch tomorrow night's opener, Murakami figures to ad-lib it the rest of the way.
"But it'll be whoever can throw strikes," said Murakami. He hopes Jamie Aloy, who got hurt taking infield practice, can be ready for one of the other starts.
"We've got to win every game we can," he added. "Rice is 18-3, so they've got to be for real. But I think we'll do a good job."
Three "scoops" of Rice would be nice.