Thursday, October 7, 1999
They're calling it "BowWatch." RAINBOW NOTEBOOK
’Bows, Wahine hit beach
for Midnight OhanaRiley Wallace is bringing Hawaii's new prime-time TV series, "Baywatch Hawaii," to this year's Midnight Ohana.
The 12th annual event, which signals the opening of the NCAA basketball season for men and women, will be held a week from tomorrow at the Stan Sheriff Center and will feature cast members from the popular syndicated series.
"We'll be using their colors that night," said Wallace.
He said Rainbow Warrior players will be divided into red and yellow teams, instead of green and white, for the intrasquad scrimmage.
The men and members of Vince Goo's Wahine team displayed BowWatch shirts and shorts yesterday during a publicity photo session at Ala Moana Beach.
Some of the beach pictures will be shown on the arena scoreboard as players arrive for Midnight Ohana.
The clothing bears a round emblem, a la the show's lifeguard uniform. Inside the emblem will be the title, "BowWatch," a basketball and the dome of the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Rainbow Warriors and the Wahine are supposed to arrive at the arena on the night of Oct. 15 looking like the show's lifeguards.
They will be followed into the building by some of Baywatch Hawaii stars.
The honorary coaches will be from Baywatch Hawaii's production staff.
Executive producer Greg Bonann will coach the yellow team and have Rainbows assistant Scott Rigot as his assistant. Co-executive producer and writer Maurice Hurley will coach the red team with Hawaii assistant Jackson Wheeler as his assistant.
The coaches will draft their players tomorrow morning at the university basketball offices.
"They're taking this very seriously - they're (Bonann and Hurley) not even talking to each other in the office," said Hawaii sports marketing assistant Adam Primas, who coordinates Midnight Ohana.
Primas said Bonann chose the yellow team because the Baywatch women cast members wear that color. "Greg wants to bring the girls out as assistant coaches with him," he said.
While it was Wallace who thought of tying the basketball program to one of the country's highest profile TV shows, he gave associate head coach Bob Nash credit for coming up with the "BowWatch" title.
The doors for Midnight Ohana will open at 8:30 p.m. and admission will be free.
Among the entertainers expected to perform are Pure Heart, Makaha Sons and Robi Kahakalau.
New uniforms not in
The Rainbow men also had their pictures taken for the 1999-2000 team program yesterday at Ala Moana. The backdrop was Diamond Head across the water.But the uniforms you see on the program cover will not be what the Rainbows wear this season. The new uniforms were due to arrive beyond the publisher's deadline for the program, so players donned whatever was available for the shoot.
The new uniforms will resemble the Cincinnati Bearcats' design. The neck will be tighter and there will be brief sleeves on the shoulders.
China game in jeopardy
There may be a snag in plans to host the Chinese National Team in an exhibition on Nov. 7.But Wallace said that if the Chinese don't come, Hawaii-Hilo would become the Rainbows' opponent for the 4:30 p.m. game.
It will be the first time Hawaii appears as a full team in competition this season.
Stovall sitting out
Tre' Stovall, one of the walk-on candidates Wallace thinks could help the team, will not be eligible until the end of the first semester.That's because Stovall enrolled in the second semester of last school year. NCAA regulations require a transfer player to be in school a year before playing.
Stovall is the younger brother of former Star-Bulletin Ms. Basketball Erin Stovall, who played guard for Iolani and has gone on to play for Virginia.
By Pat Bigold, Star-Bulletin
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
Ka Leo O Hawaii
