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Press Box Dave Reardon |
Blangiardi can’t
triple-dip as
Leahey’s sidekickThe best local tube duo since Checkers and Pogo (sorry Kimo and Carole) wants to work together again, and many Hawaii football fans would like to see it happen. But it's just not possible -- even in a communications industry where the conflict of interest lines have become increasingly blurry in the name of synergy and cross-promotion.
When you do get to the competition barrier, it's an electric fence. Although, for now, a company can own two TV stations in one market, the guy who runs both can't become an on-air personality for a third.
So there will not be a Jim Leahey-Rick Blangiardi reunion in the KHNL/KFVE booth at Aloha Stadium for Hawaii football games this fall.
"(KHNL/KFVE president John) Fink won't let us do it," Blangiardi told the Honolulu Quarterback Club yesterday.
"That rat Fink," he added, jokingly.
Fink countered.
"He only hired me twice, so I have no love lost for the guy."
Then, more seriously, "Rick demands integrity and strong team players. There's nothing wrong with that. These days too many people are out for themselves, and he wants team players.
"Now my job is to kick his butt," said Fink.
Blangiardi -- a former UH linebacker and defensive coordinator -- would be disappointed if Fink didn't have that attitude.
Fink was around to see some of the legendary "creative tension" between Leahey and Blangiardi, when they put UH sports on TV two decades ago.
Back then it was Channel 13, first KIKU (with flagship show "Professor Fun") and then later KHNL.
Blangiardi remembers people telling him he was crazy to put UH sports on the air. The first football game was the 1984 season-opener. A day-old, 21-13 loss to Cal State Fullerton went up against "60 Minutes" and "The Wonderful World of Disney" and got better ratings locally. But Blangiardi really knew he had something when the game was only one point behind "Let's Go Fishing" -- must-see-TV back then, even if you didn't fish.
Blangiardi left for Seattle in 1989 to run KING-TV. His last game as UH color analyst was the Rainbows' 56-14 victory over Brigham Young on Oct. 28 of that year.
"Athletic justice," a favorite Blangiardi expression (picked up from his coach, Larry Price) was finally achieved.
"I cried like a baby walking around the stadium that night," he said.
Any remaining disdain for the Cougars doesn't interfere in Blangiardi's business decisions. He hired Punahou and BYU football (and KHNL) alumnus Alema Harrington as KHON-TV 2 sports director.
Blangiardi's taken some heat for moving the competent Jai Cunningham to news. He defends the move by saying it is good for Cunningham's career as well as the station.
"I'll be honest. I wanted Leahey next to Joe (Moore)," Blangiardi said. "I wanted a personality."
Leahey and Fink said they are closing in on a replacement for Dick Tomey, the color man of the past two seasons who left for the 49ers' coaching staff.
Too bad it can't be Blangiardi. As a coach, he chopped up a game ball from UH's 10-7 upset at Washington in 1973 so everyone on the defense could have a piece. As a player, he proved his worth to Price -- a taskmaster supreme, especially for newcomers.
"I was on the Larry Price 'Haole, prove you can play' plan," said Blangiardi, who was born and raised in Boston.
The same entity owning two TV stations in one town is not "broadcasting justice." But Rick Blangiardi as UH football color man would be.
See the Columnists section for some past articles.
Dave Reardon, who covered sports in Hawaii from 1977 to 1998,
moved to the the Gainesville Sun, then returned to
the Star-Bulletin in Jan. 2000.
E-mail him at dreardon@starbulletin.com