Hawaii Beat
Former Hawaii point guard Anthony "AC" Carter will officially sign a free-agent contract on Thursday with the Miami Heat, according to his agent, Bill Duffy. Heat will sign 'AC' Carter
By Pat Bigold, Star-BulletinDuffy said that Carter, who originally thought he'd be signing yesterday -- the first day that free agents could do so -- must first take a physical with the Heat's doctors.
Heat management has yet to say anything about Carter, holding to the club's policy of keeping players under wraps until they are signed.
Duffy confirmed that Carter will be getting $100,000 up front before reporting to camp with the Heat in October. He said all that Carter has to do to be guaranteed the minimum rookie salary of $301,875 is to stick with the club one day into the season.
Former Pac-Five star Pio Sagapolutele signed a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers yesterday morning after passing a physical with the team at its Wofford College training camp in Spartanburg, S.C. Sagapolutele passes
By Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin
Panthers' physicalSagapolutele, whose contract was terminated by the New Orleans Saints Thursday, signed for a bonus close to seven figures and the one-year minimum salary, which is over $400,000 for a player with his experience.
Of the 15 players with Hawaii ties under contract in the National Football League, Carolina now has the two most experienced.
Both the 6-foot-6, 297-pound Sagapolutele, who played for Pac-Five out of Maryknoll, and 6-2, 277-pound Esera Tuaolo, who played for Kailua, were drafted in 1991.
Sagapolutele was a fourth-round pick by Cleveland out of San Diego State while Tuaolo was a second-round pick by Green Bay out of Oregon State.
Both are listed as nose tackles.
Carolina is Sagapolutele's fourth NFL club.
Hawaii lifeguard Sean Monahan overcame light wind and swell conditions to win the third Silver Edition Molokai to Oahu Paddleboard Race yesterday. Monahan wins
Channel grindMonahan finished the 32-mile event from Kaluakoi to Maunalua Bay in five hours, 33 minutes and 17 seconds. His time was 10:29 off the record of 5:22:48 set by Mick DiBetta in 1997.
DiBetta and defending champion Tim Gair of California withdrew during the race because of fatigue. Honolulu's Guy Pere finished second for the second straight year in 5:40:07.
Dolan Eversole of Honolulu was first in the stock board (12 foot) division in 6:03.35. Maui's Buzzy Kerboz won the masters (over-40) in 5:57.09.
Australians Loon Hay and Jamie Mitchell were the first foreigners to finish, winning the team division in 5:46.27. The top female team was the North Shore's Suzie Stewart and Dreama Carroll in 7:11.29.
Stone windsurfing champ
Maui's Josh Stone earned the world freestyle windsurfing championship title after a five-round event last week at Fuertaventura, Spain.The event was the final stop on the Professional Windsurfing Association's world tour that included events in Europe, the South Pacific and U.S.
Iolani volleyball tournament
Twenty varsity girls' high school volleyball teams from Hawaii, California, Arizona and American Samoa will compete in the 17th Iolani Volleyball Tournament, Aug. 18-21, at Iolani School.Considered the largest prep volleyball tournament in Hawaii, there will be a total of 72 matches over the four-day period.The championship match is at 8 p.m.Aug. 21.
Hawaii teams are: Waiakea and Hilo from the Big Island, Maui's King Kekaulike, and Oahu's Aiea, Roosevelt, Pearl City, Farrington, McKinley, St. Francis, Sacred Hearts, Maryknoll, Waianae, Kahuku and host Iolani.