KA'UPULEHU-KONA, Hawaii >> A trip to the fitness trailer has become almost a daily ritual for a lot of players on the Champions Tour when they are on the road. Exercise trailer didn’t
make the trip, so
players hit the spaBy Randy Cadiente
rcadiente@starbulletin.comBut when the tournament is played at a place that takes you across the Pacific Ocean nearly 3,000 miles away from the West Coast, such as this week's MasterCard Championship at the Hualalai Resort, flying in a mobile, 48-foot state of the art sports medicine facility for the players to use can be costly and an unnecessary headache.
"As far as our truck being here (in Hawaii), it doesn't really matter," said Troy Huseby.
"Obviously, the convenience of having our truck and knowing what we need, etc., is great. But we can travel with a kit and work out of the locker room."
Huseby is one of two therapists for the HealthSouth Corporation (the healthcare provider for both the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour), who go on the road with the over-50 Tour. And despite not having the mobile unit to work out of this week, Huseby said having a workout facility like the one here at the Hualalai Resort is a godsend.
"It isn't as important to have our actual facility here because we have our therapists travel with them and take care of them," Huseby said. "But if our truck isn't here, like this week, it makes it that much better to have this kind of beautiful (exercise) facility."
The Hualalai Sports Club and Spa has become the refuge for the players this week.
The 15,000-square-foot facility is equipped with everything from exercise bikes to free weights. There are eight tennis courts, a sand volleyball court and a 25-meter outdoor Olympic-style lap pool. A half-court basketball court sits next to a rock climbing wall that reaches 25 feet into the sky. And if Huseby can't seem to work the kinks out, the club has acupunture services and other body treatments.
"So far, from what I hear from our people, the (players') reception has been great," said Hualalai Sports Club and Spa assistant manager Tek Mapon.
Jim Colbert has been a constant at the facility.
"Working out is very important," said Colbert, who fired a 5-under-par 67 in yesterday's second round to finish at 141. "Everybody pays quite a bit of attention to it.
"We don't work with the heavy weights like Tiger (Woods)," he added. "I personally, with my body, I use the water. I work out in the water. I run, I exercise, I box, I kickbox. But all in the water because I don't want the pounding. My back and knees can't stand the pounding. If you get tired ... what did Vince Lombardi say, 'When you get tired, it makes cowards out of everybody.'
"And if you get tired you just don't perform well."
Arnie's army: Arnold Palmer spent nearly 15 minutes after he finished his round yesterday signing autographs for a crowd of close to 50 people. Then he went up into the broadcast booth to join golf analysts Mark Rolfing and Jim Kelly for a little commentary before descending the ladder and signing more autographs.
Wedding bells: Bruce Edwards, Tom Watson's caddie, took his wedding vows last night, saying 'I do' to Marsha Moore near the swimming pool at the Hualalai Resort. Edwards, who has been with Watson for 15 years, was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease last month.
The eagle has landed: Bruce Lietzke had three eagles in his round of 65 yesterday, becoming the fourth player in Champions Tour history, and the first since Rocky Thompson in 1992, to accomplish the feat.
By the numbers: The hardest hole yesterday was the 205-yard, par-3 No. 5, with an average score of 3.333. The easiest was No. 7, a 551-yard par-5. There were four eagles and 14 birdies posted there. There were 26 rounds below 70 yesterday compared to just 14 on Friday. The average score for the second round was 68.139.
View from the top: In 19 previous tournaments, the player who has led or been tied for the lead after 36 holes has won the title 14 times, including 7 of the last 8.
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As the San Francisco 49ers' coaching search stretches into a third week with no clear favorite and no clear direction, fan/quarterback Jeff Garcia has seen enough. Garcia: Search for
coach ‘embarrassing’From staff and wire reports
"It's like we don't even have a plan now," Garcia told the Associated Press after practice yesterday at Aloha Stadium, where he prepared for his third straight Pro Bowl appearance. "To me, it's embarrassing.
"We're almost pulling names out of a hat right now. I don't know where we're going with it."
Who: AFC vs. NFC Pro Bowl
When: Today, 12:30 p.m.
Where: Aloha Stadium
TV: ABC, live
Radio: KKEA 1420-AM, live
Last year: AFC 38, NFC 30
Series: 16 wins each
Garcia grew up in Gilroy, Calif., rooting for the 49ers' championship teams under Bill Walsh and George Seifert. But Garcia is distinctly underwhelmed by the candidates interviewed for the job so far.
When told the next interview will be tomorrow with Chicago defensive coordinator Greg Blache, Garcia sighed.
"I don't even know who he is, and I don't know much about Chicago's defense," he said. "That's just another candidate that probably doesn't do a lot for our fans."
Though Garcia supports general manager Terry Donahue's apparent interest in hiring a defensive guru, the quarterback would like to see decisive or compelling action taken by the 49ers -- and soon.
"It's just something that doesn't seem real organized right now," he said. "It's frustrating. Hopefully, it'll be resolved in the next couple of weeks, but the way it's going, I won't be surprised by whatever happens."
Other than a rumored inquiry about Seattle's Mike Holmgren, the 49ers haven't been linked to any current NFL head coaches, either. Last season, Tampa Bay nearly pried Mariucci away from the 49ers before taking Jon Gruden from the Raiders for $8 million and four high draft picks. This year, a new NFL rule prevents such transactions until March.
Except for Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who dropped out earlier this week, none of the candidates have prompted more than a flicker of interest from the six 49ers at the Pro Bowl.
"It doesn't seem like something that was planned out too well beforehand," said center Jeremy Newberry, another lifelong 49ers fan, playing in his second straight Pro Bowl. "They're definitely making it up as they go along, but hopefully they'll find somebody good."
Rice still the man: Raiders wide receiver Jerry Rice, a longtime Hawaii favorite from his 49ers days, still draws the biggest cheers and most autograph seekers at Pro Bowl practices.
"You've got some great fans over here," said Rice, selected this year to his 13th Pro Bowl. "It's a privilege to come over and entertain them, no matter how many times you do it. I hope this isn't my last year."
Rice plans to play next season, and the Raiders appear interested in bringing him back despite their salary-cap concerns.
Bennett was here: Everywhere you turn at Pro Bowl practices, there seems to be someone who had a great game in college at Aloha Stadium.
Vikings running back Michael Bennett rushed for 218 yards in 36 carries for Wisconsin against Hawaii in 2000.
"It's always been a great place to me, whether to come visit or compete," Bennett said of Aloha Stadium.
Bennett said he's ahead of his personal timetable after rushing for 1,296 yards, third in the NFC, this year.
"I'm very surprised. It's one of my goals to get here and play in at least one Pro Bowl," Bennett said. "To make it in my second year says a lot about myself and our coaching staff back in Minnesota."
Fouts remembers Aiu: Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Fouts, here to do color commentary for ABC, has good memories of Charlie Aiu.
The Damien and UH alumnus blocked for Fouts as a guard on the San Diego Chargers from 1976 to 1978. He died Dec. 28, 2001, of cancer at age 47.
"He was a good man and one of those guys you could always count on," Fouts said. "When you're in a game like this, being able to rely on someone and trust them is very important. That's what Charlie was all about."
Short yardage: Recording star Brandy will sing the national anthem before today's 12:30 p.m. kickoff. ... Although the game is officially a sellout, a few returned tickets should be available today.
Dave Reardon of the Star-Bulletin contributed to this report.
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This weekend, Hawaii is trying to build on a great recruiting week that has already netted two outstanding secondary prospects in cornerback Ray Bass (Centennial, Corona, Calif.) and safety Viliami Nauahi (Kahuku). Satele among UH
visitors this weekendBy Dave Reardon and Jason Kaneshiro
dreardon@starbulletin.com, jkaneshiro@starbulletin.comThe class also gained depth on the offensive line with Kailua's Xavier Ho'olulu, as well as a slotback prospect in Jason Ferguson (Fairfax, Los Angeles) and an undersized, but tough 5-foot-10, 220-pound lineman in Chris Cole (Mission Viejo, Calif.).
The Warriors have only a handful of scholarships left, and want to save one for linebacker Amani Purcell (Leone, American Samoa), who has also been offered by Penn State and Utah.
Center Hercules Satele, defensive tackle Elijuawon Thompson and defensive end DeJuan Gatling took in Pro Bowl practice yesterday with Ho'olulu and Ferguson. A commitment or two could come today.
Satele (6-foot-2, 252 pounds) likes Hawaii, but Fresno State isn't all the way out of the picture yet.
Thompson (6-3, 240) was a two-year starter at Los Angeles Southwest JC. He is also getting attention from Florida A&M and Alcorn State.
Gatling (6-3 260) played at Silverado High School in Victorville, Calif. Nevada also recruited him.
The Warriors also have a good shot at Earnest Powell, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound cornerback from Hightower High School in the Houston area. Baylor, Colorado State and New Mexico are also looking at Powell, who runs the 40 in 4.49 seconds.
Raider update: Iolani defensive back Blake Wong visited Idaho this weekend and is considering entering the Air Force Academy and walking on to the football team, Raiders coach Wendell Look said.
Wong, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound safety, had been pursued by Nevada and Utah, but both schools fell off in recent weeks.
Wong was a Star-Bulletin first-team All-State pick as a junior and a second-team selection as a senior.
Look said Raiders linebacker Kala Ka'aihue is focused on pursuing baseball. With a solid senior season this spring, the heavy-hitting catcher could be a candidate for Major League Baseball's draft in June. His brother, Kila, was selected by the Kansas City Royals in last year's draft.
Short yardage: UH is not counting on punter Tim Wright as a commitment yet. Wright, from Southwest Mississippi CC, is visiting Memphis this weekend. ... Pac-Five quarterback McShane Dator is touring Eastern Washington. New Hampshire, Western Illinois, UC Davis, Cal Poly Pomona and Portland State are other possibilities. ... UH offensive line recruit Michael Lafaele of Farrington is nearing a black belt in karate, and Nauahi hopes to complete Eagle Scout requirements by tomorrow, his 18th birthday.
