[ARENA FOOTBALL]
COURTESY HAWAIIAN ISLANDERS
Despite a 1-8 record for the Hawaiian Islanders, the future for professional football in Hawaii looks bright. Islanders ownership has committed to at least two more seasons here.
It's just past the midpoint of the Hawaiian Islanders' inaugural arenafootball2 season, and despite a 1-8 record entering tonight's game, the organization is planning on being here for a long time. Islanders sticking around
By Nick Abramo
nabramo@starbulletin.comThe team will be here for at least two more seasons because of a financial commitment and contract with the league.
There is talk among team officials of building a new arena, but, for the time being, it's just talk.
The fans have been supportive, with average announced crowds of close to 4,000 at the Blaisdell Arena.
"I think the fan base is becoming more familiar with arena football and is beginning to understand that we're a professional sports team," Islanders director Carl Vincenti said.
"They don't just get football, they get a real close, real fun entertainment value for their families."
Four of the Islanders' remaining seven games are at home -- tonight against Peoria, Friday against San Diego, June 29 vs. Bakersfield and July 20 against Quad City.
Vincenti said support from local businesses has exceeded expectations, and without getting into specifics, he said the organization is doing "very good on the business side of things."
Vincenti noted that despite the players' low earnings ($200 per game), there are some fringe benefits to being on an af2 roster.
"These are professional ballplayers," he said. "Their helmets, shoulder pads, game jerseys and pants are serviced weekly, and the equipment will be refurbished every year ... with new padding put in. We travel and stay in nice hotels, and before every game, there is a pregame meal served or catered to the players. They also get a per diem on trips, a little money for incidentals, enough to eat in a family-type restaurant for lunch and dinner."
Despite their .111 winning percentage, head coach Chad Carlson believes he's getting the most out of his players.
Carlson's enthusiasm has not waned since taking over as head coach for Guy Benjamin after the fifth game.
"Every day I come to the office, there is one step of improvement on where we were the day before," Carlson said. "You have to walk before you run and you have to crawl before you walk. I'm a realistic person."
Carlson says Kimberly Wang, who co-owns the team with her dad, Charles Wang, "is committed, and it's enjoyable to work for her. She's a solid, committed person, and the people in the office are loyal, and loyalty will shine through all the way to when we win a championship."
He said he wouldn't deserve to be the coach if he didn't firmly believe in winning a championship as the ultimate goal.
He's also smart enough to realize that, in the world of "win at all costs," his job could someday be in jeopardy.
"Obviously, you've got to win games to be head coach here," he said. "We'll look at that at the end of the year. Maybe I will go back to being general manager, but either way, I want to be a part of Islander football, to be part of the sweet success in years to come."
Jerry Kurz, one of the founders of arena football and a former general manager of the Islanders now working in the af2 league office, thinks the Islanders and Hawaii are a good fit.
He left the general manager post because league commitments kept him from being in Hawaii full-time.
"The win-loss record is not how this team should be viewed," Kurz said. "The Islanders give the fans professional football at a very good level of play and a level that has never been in the islands before."
Kurz also thinks Hawaii could benefit from organizational changes.
"One of the areas that should be addressed is to bring in someone with a professional background in sports marketing and experience in operating a pro sports franchise," he said. "Experience at running a sports organization is essential."
Kurz also thinks reassessment of the head coaching position is a good idea.
"He (Carlson) knows the game very well and has done a good job. However, an experienced arena football coach should be brought in and allow him (Carlson) to be the offensive coordinator, a position he is well suited for and one in which he will excel. It is critical and pivotal to have someone with a sound foundation in arena football as the head coach."
Kurz said there is a lot of turnover in staffing for af2 teams.
Kurz had a lot to do with a team coming to Hawaii in the first place.
"When af2 was created, placing a team in Hawaii was my foremost and most immediate thought," he said. "Finding the correct ownership was the key to placement, and the Wangs are great community people. I have seen every market that has ever had (arena football) games and I remain convinced about the Hawaii fans and market."
On the field, roster changes and additions are being made each week in an effort to improve the level of football.
"We're always looking to fill gaps where our weaknesses are, making changes that are necessary," Vincenti said. "And we always have players calling us. Any player who approaches us gets a two-day tryout from the coaching staff."
That offer could be the beginning of big things for some quality Hawaii players who have nowhere else to go.
As Kurz likes to remind people, the af2's main purpose is as a developmental league to the Arena Football League, which is one of the NFL's many training grounds.
Hawaiian Islanders
