Sidelines
SINCE Evan Dobelle is president of a university, we have to assume that he is a very sharp guy. Since he is a sharp guy, we assume that he knows what he did Friday. And if he knows what he did on Friday, then we have to assume that he did it on purpose. UH’s Dobelle shows
who’s the bossWhoa. Because what he did was hang the higher-ups at the University of Hawaii athletic department out to dry. He went over their heads, he cut them off at the knees, he threw them under the bus. Ka-thump!
And he called in the TV cameras to do it.
Yikes.
Yes, Dobelle reversed a ticket refund policy that many in the buying public felt was annoying and stupid. Yes, he asserted himself without question as the new boss. He was roundly applauded for both actions.
But Dobelle didn't stop there.
In sports, especially baseball, there is much talk about players attempting to "show up" one another.
That's what Dobelle did. Dramatically. Publicly. And the implications will be big.
That must have been part of his plan. It had to have been.
Guys that smart don't do these things by accident.
Dobelle made his statement with a bullhorn and a wrecking ball.
Dobelle didn't just tell us he had common sense, he told us who didn't. He didn't just let us know he was in charge, he made it very clear who was not. He is not only in, but you are out.
It was a public spanking.
If he simply wanted to change the refund rule, Dobelle could have done it behind the scenes 100 different ways. Or he and Hugh Yoshida could have split the credit, with Yoshida saying he was allowed to make changes under Dobelle's enlightened leadership.
If he wanted to shake up the athletic department, Dobelle could have called people into his office and given out the dirty lickings there. Quietly. Privately.
Instead, the new president called a press conference. He was about to make some news.
"We can't react to past politics," Dobelle said. "We need policies that make sense."
Ow. That hurts.
SOME OF THOSE THINGS needed to be said. But it's not always what you say, it's how you say it. Dobelle said it like a boss who isn't worried about working with the current staff. And maybe that's the idea.
We'll see how soon Friday's dominoes start to fall.
It's clear Dobelle is taking an "upset the apple cart" strategy. UH could use some shaking up, and Dobelle has decided to shake very, very hard.
But this is a risky strategy, burning bridges and slapping faces. He's either a genius who can accomplish more than anyone ever imagined ... or he's Fred vonAppen.
People like to joke that June Jones runs the athletic department, that the slim gunslinger calls the shots.
Well Jones is definitely not the big man there anymore.
What happens now remains to be seen. But Dobelle has a plan. We assume he does.
Kalani Simpson's column runs Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
He can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com