Sidelines
Lee the perfect hire
to give Islanders
long-term legitimacyTHERE was a reason we were all in this room, and he sat there, on the end of the table, almost looking a little embarrassed at all the hoopla that surrounded him. Yes, there were some nice announcements yesterday from the Hawaiian Islanders arenafootball2 team. New general manager. Season ticket sales. Increased community involvement.
But the reason we were there, the reason the room was filled, the reason all the lofty ideals team officials talked about yesterday are taken seriously and could someday become reality was sitting right in front of us.
Cal "Instant Credibility" Lee.
The Islanders scored yesterday. The ball bounced off the net and right into their hands.
Lee's presence as coach takes this thing to a whole new level.
The Islanders were a nice thing, a lot of minor-league fun. They're in a solid league and have better backing, organizational experience and more money than "pro" sports had seen in Hawaii in a long time.
It looked like maybe they had the ingredients to make it.
"So it's no longer time to ask whether we're going to survive," new general manager Chris Dey said yesterday. "But it's time to ask ourselves, each of you, ask ourselves, what will it take for us to be a champion?"
The indoor Hawaii Hammerheads were champions.
The Hammerheads did not survive.
Hawaii loves football. But Hawaii has seen these things come and go.
Now Hawaii has a reason to believe.
The Islanders just went from a fun night out to something we might have to take more seriously.
Lee -- Hawaii's high school football king -- brings people in the door, coaches, players, sponsors, fans. His presence alone fills the room. His name catches your attention, it carries weight, it adds legitimacy. If af2 is good enough for him, then maybe this thing is for real after all.
You can tell that he's ready, that he's already planning, he's already coaching. He uses the word "program."
"I'm excited about it," he said. "I wasn't this excited, I think the last time I was was about 30 years ago, when I first became the high school coach at St. Louis."
Why come back? He's a coach. Coaches coach. Most of them couldn't stop if they tried. Lee knows. He tried.
He's back.
Touchdown, Islanders.
Team operator Kimberly Wang said she wants to use the franchise to "challenge the youth of Hawaii to strive to be excellent." Dey said, "Our goal is simply to add value to their lives."
With Lee on board the room is full, and people are listening.
"I am just one piece of the big puzzle," Lee said.
But perhaps the missing one. His appointment changes everything.
"Today we should celebrate that for the first time, the necessary level of commitment has been made by the league, the ownership group, the management team, the sponsors and the coaching staff to solidify pro football in Hawaii," Dey said.
Lee was asked about the possibility of finding another Kurt Warner, patron saint of arena football players everywhere.
Lee said, "I welcome anyone with dreams."
Wang and Dey looked up at him giddily. It was the perfect answer. They have plenty of those, and they were a step closer to coming true.
Kalani Simpson can be reached at ksimpson@starbulletin.com