Full Court Press
There's a wacky, climactic scene in the old comedy "Tootsie" where Dustin Hoffman's character reveals to the soap opera crowd that he's really a man, prompting Bill Murray to say about the ensuing melee: Uncertainty stalls
UH’s Top-25 jets"That's one nutty hospital."
These days, with all that's going on in the hallowed halls of Hawaii, you'd need a veteran screenwriter to sort through the madness, but let's see if we've got this straight.
June Jones wants to become the Warriors' version of the $6 million-dollar man, take control of Aloha Stadium and try to find suitable replacements for Nick Rolovich and Ashley Lelie, all in one breath.
His closest ally, rookie president Evan Dobelle, has steadfastly backed Jones, and perhaps himself, into an economic corner neither will officially recognize. Dobelle has a lame-duck athletic director on one side, and on the other Yoshida's supporting staff, whom Dobelle put on notice last fall, leaving all in limbo.
Contract talks for Jones were shelved two weeks back. And as far apart as they are, it's likely the Koreas will reunite before either side finds any common ground. Jones, with two nine-win seasons in three years, is flexing agent Leigh Steinberg's muscle to see just how strongly committed UH is to producing a Top 25 program.
Enter the Legislature from the west wing. Aye, that's all we need, as it wrangles with the idea of giving the Aloha Stadium deed to the university, another key part of the contract equation for Home Team Jones.
You can't blame Dobelle and Jones for trying this high-risk maneuver. For years, UH coaches and administrators have cried foul over the pricey Aloha Stadium rental fee. A good compromise would be to waive the $750,000 in rent but keep the stadium authority in place to oversee the costly repairs headed its way.
The university is having enough problems taking care of its own backyard. George Toma was recently in town to discuss some potential yellow areas with the grass football and soccer practice fields. Murakami Stadium is only a faded version of its former self, while Cooke Field remains tattered and torn.
THE LATEST RUMOR is Bob Wagner wants to throw his athletic director hat into the ring. You remember him? His firing by Yoshida was the first step toward several years of misery for the now dearly departed athletic director.
Had Yoshida allowed Wagner more wiggle room, his decade-long legacy might have been a more positive one. Instead, Yoshida hires Fred vonAppen, and then abandons him, much like Wagner, leaving the program in an uncertain state.
Along comes Jones, who is doing what he's done since he came ashore, trying to seize the day. His timing for a new contract seems off, what with the projected $1 million shortfall. But like anyone who has been around here more than 10 minutes, he realizes the athletic department sounds the same horn every spring.
This is one nutty hospital all right. Hopefully, the new inmates will do a better job of running the asylum.
Paul Arnett has been covering sports
for the Star-Bulletin since 1990.
Email Paul: parnett@starbulletin.com.