Sports Watch

By Bill Kwon

Saturday, June 12, 1999

UH still has a
spot for Victorino

SHANE. Come back, Shane. When St. Anthony star Shane Victorino signed a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers, it deprived University of Hawaii fans from seeing the talented Maui athlete in action -- on the football field and baseball diamond.

Too bad, although here's hoping the best for Victorino's professional baseball career.

Undoubtedly, Victorino had faced a tough decision.

It's not often you can get a chance to star in two sports at the collegiate level. And both Rainbow football coach June Jones and baseball coach Les Murakami thought the youngster could excel in both sports.

Victorino had signed a letter of intent to play for the baseball 'Bows before he was drafted by the Dodgers. And in a show of solidarity by the UH athletic department, Jones stepped up and offered Victorino a football scholarship as well.

Jones wasn't doing Murakami a favor. "The kid can kick the football," said Jones, who was impressed with Victorino's versatility and speed, mostly speed. Victorino is the state's sprint champion in the 100, 200 and 400 meters.

Jones thought Victorino not only would have been great in covering kicks - how often is a punter the fastest guy downfield? -- but he probably would fit in as a wide receiver or defensive back.

"He's the type of kid you've got to keep at home,"Jones said in explaining why he was willing to let Victorino play football as well as baseball.

ALTHOUGH the Victorino Experiment didn't quite work out this time, Jones says that he won't be hesitant in future years to offer two or three kids football scholarships even if their career choice is ultimately pro baseball.

It can only strengthen the UH baseball program, since Murakami has only 11.7 scholarships to play around with under NCAA regulations.

Just glad to help, says Jones.

Of course, this is not to say that you'll never see Victorino in a Rainbow football uniform.

Under NCAA rules, he can still be eligible for football because he's a professional in another sport.

It's not uncommon.

Michigan quarterback Drew Henson was signed to a $2 million bonus by the New York Yankees, and is throwing passes for the Wolverines.

Atlanta Falcons' speed king Tim Dwight went from Super Bowl XXXIII to a Big Ten track meet for the University of Iowa.

And, in case you've forgotten, John Elway played baseball for the Yankees' Oneonta (N.Y.) single-A farm club while he was still throwing touchdowns for Stanford. He played two seasons for the Cardinal baseball team before signing with the Yankees in the 1981 summer draft.

Clearly, Elway - a cinch Pro Football Hall of Fame pick in his first year of eligibility (2004) after a brilliant 16-year career with the Denver Broncos - chose the right sport.

SUDDENLY, I'm feeling a lot better about the future of the Western Athletic Conference. The addition of the University of Nevada makes it a more sensible conference, geographically speaking.

Not that sense has to make much sense. If it were so, you'd think that San Diego State would have been a better fit in the WAC as we now know it.

The Aztecs may soon find out it'll be an even costlier venture being in the Mountain West Conference with the boys with altitude in the Rockies' 'hood.

It'll be lonely for the Aztecs' baseball team when it has to travel for road games. The nearest league opponent is Nevada-Las Vegas. Otherwise, it's the Rocky Mountain Horrow Show and New Mexico.