Friday, February 15, 2002
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Toth helps bring There are dream jobs. And, then, there are literally dream jobs.
harmony to Rainbows
The UH trainer has helped
2 up for big awards
the 20-4 team in ways more than
medical during this dream seasonBy Cindy Luis
cluis@starbulletin.comFor the computer-literate, Melody Toth envisions herself as Dr. Mills in the Oregon Trail survivor game. It's not much of a stretch for the 50-year-old Indiana University graduate, who has been a sports medicine pioneer for some 30 years.
But as for Toth's job this year as the trainer for the Hawaii Rainbows basketball team, it came to her in a dream.
"I dreamed that Dick Vitale was on the NCAA selection show and yelling, 'Hawaii's in the Big Dance! Can you believe it?'" said Toth, a UH trainer since 1977. "It haunted me and then the team started winning. So now I ask them, 'Are you believing it?'"
There's no doubt that the Rainbows are having a dream season. Hawaii is off to its best start in 30 years with a 20-4 mark, and its best-ever start in the Western Athletic Conference at 11-2.
Some of it is attributed to the team chemistry. Some of it can be credited to Toth, according to coach Riley Wallace.
"She's been a godsend," said Wallace, in his 15th year at Hawaii. "She was needing a change and it was a good change for us. I agreed to it and it was one of the best moves I've ever made.
"She's very professional, but she gives it a special touch. She's loving and caring and professional. She's Mel and Mel is the trainer."
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Toth had dealt strictly with Wahine athletics since coming to Manoa and built the base for the school's sports medicine program. But last spring, she "wanted to see if I still had what it took to be with the cream of the crop," Toth said. "Here, the cream of the crop is football and men's basketball. I wanted to see, after 28 years, if I had what it took to meet the challenge. So far, I think I've met it."Toth, a student trainer for Bobby Knight's Indiana basketball team in 1972-73, worked with football last spring and this fall. But her love was hoops and she's been with the Rainbows since preseason.
"It's a little different, but I had a woman trainer in China," said Rainbow senior Mindaugas Burneika, who competed for his native Lithuanian last summer in the World University Games. "She's helped me a lot with my injuries and I like what she does.
"She's more than a trainer. Some people think a trainer should just take care of bodies, but she does extra. She's a cheerleader, a friend, a coach and a trainer."
To Toth, it's all in the job description. Whatever the players need, she is willing to give, from cookies on birthdays to making goulash for potlucks to making sure new players watch the movie "Hoosiers."
"When I got injured, she put a lot of time and care into getting me back," said sophomore guard Phil Martin. "That's a goal she sets for herself, to make sure we are all ready to go.
"She's very motivating."
From the beginning, Toth told the Rainbows she only worked with winning teams. From the beginning, the mantra has been "Sweet 16, Baby!"
"She does things to keep us going," said Wallace. "The only bad thing I can say about her is she doesn't do well with driving directions when we're on the road. She got us lost in Idaho. But now, and she won't admit it, she goes on practice drives so she won't get us lost.
"She's so positive and sincere. This is a team that feeds off of that."
Toth likes to use the ring she has from Hawaii's 1987 NCAA women's volleyball championship run as a motivational tool. But a hug or a kind word works as well.
"Win or lose, I'm still their biggest fan," she said. "I think since I've been to Europe and to places where our guys have been, that I am in tune with them. I have the same world experience. I can handle the United Nations given to me."
Few have questioned her expertise. She spoke with freshman Milos Zivanovic about her experience as the trainer for the U.S. men's water polo team that defeated his native Yugoslavia in 1992.
"He said, 'We are the best. We never lose to U.S. I will call my uncle,'" said Toth. "He came back the next day and all he said was, 'You good trainer.'
"My credentials say a lot. The guys figure if I can be a trainer for the best in the world, I'm OK for them."
She taped Jim Craig and Mike Eruzione before they went on to win Olympic gold in hockey. She taped Kent Benson before he helped Indiana to the 1976 NCAA men's basketball title.
Not that she's counting, but there are 4 years, 6 months and 9 days before she hits 30 years with UH and can retire. Toth knows she has a lot of options, from working with USA Softball -- she's been named co-director for this summer's USA-Hawaii Cup international tournament -- to working at Camp Kanesatake in Spruce Creek, Pa., with underprivileged children.
An area of the summer camp mirrors that of the computer game Oregon Trail.
Toth envisions being part of a virtual outpost as a doctor with a small rehab clinic.
Toth played softball and field hockey at Indiana prior to Title IX. On the 25th anniversary of the legislation, Indiana presented varsity letters to women who played for the Hoosiers prior to 1972.
"I would have liked to have played basketball for Indiana, but I broke my ankle right before tryouts," said Toth. "Then I fell in love with softball and played that.
"I could see working for USA Softball eventually. I'm very passionate about the sport."
But her true love is basketball and she loves being part of this team.
"I've thought Sweet 16 from the beginning, but if they play like they can, I'm not going to put any limits on them," said Toth. "Any fans who don't come out to watch this team aren't true basketball fans. They're missing out on being part of something very special."
Note: Rainbow junior point guard Mark Campbell did not practice yesterday due to a high fever.
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Two members of the Hawaii basketball team have been notified this week that they are up for major awards. 2 from UH
up for big awardsStar-Bulletin staff
Senior guard Predrag Savovic was named to the 10-member National Association of Basketball Coaches/Pontiac All-District 13 Team. The Rainbows' leading scorer was one of five players on the first team, which qualifies him for All-American recognition at the end of the season.
Savovic and Fresno State senior center Melvin Ely are the only representatives from the Western Athletic Conference.
The other three players are from the Mountain West: Randy Holcomb (San Diego State), Britton Johnsen (Utah) and Josh Davis (Wyoming).
The last Rainbow to earn NABC district honors was Anthony Carter in 1996-97.
Two other Hawaii players have been honored: Anthony Harris (1995-96) and Chris Gaines (1989-90).
Also up for a national honor is sophomore guard Carl English. The Canadian from Patrick's Cove, Newfoundland, is one of three finalists for the Newfoundland Athlete of the Year.
UH Athletics