Benham Cup draws
criticism
Winning isn't everything, and that's why one Interscholastic League of Honolulu athletic director is opposed to the existence of the Benham Cup.
The Benham Cup rewards schools that do the best in Hawaii High School Athletic Association state tournaments throughout the school year. Championship teams get the most points for their school.
"I'm philosophically opposed to it,"Pac-Five AD John Hom said. "The Benham Cup is all about what's best for a school's reputation and not about what's best for the athletes.
"There are seminars that coaches and ADs attend and the model that they stress is it's all about the athletes first and winning comes second."
Hom added that the late Clay Benham, who ran the ILH for 32 years before his death in 2002, would "be turning over in his grave"if he knew a cup was named after him that put so much emphasis on winning.
But one member of the five-person Benham Cup committee defended the group's efforts.
"I respect John and his comments,"said Thomas Yoshida, who is also a football scorekeeper and basketball referee for high school games.
"My view of the intent of the Benham Cup is to celebrate accomplishments of all teams. I don't see it as one school better than another. I think winning should be celebrated as an accomplishment because winning is a part of what is good about sports."
Kamehameha won the first overall Benham Cup a year ago, and Punahou is the leader this year after the fall sports season. All sports are weighted equally: The champion in football receives the same amount of points as the champion in smaller sports such as bowling and air riflery.
Buffanblu, Warriors even: Punahou and Kamehameha have played four tightly contested basketball games this season.
The Warriors won two of the contests in the preseason by four points each. The Buffanblu captured two overtime regular-season games -- one by four points and another by two points.
"We don't want to play them again," relieved Punahou coach Greg Tacon said after last Saturday's 52-50 overtime victory.
State tournaments soon: Nine Hawaii High School Athletic Association tournaments are coming up this month and in March:
>> Data House Division I Softball Championship, Feb. 11-14, University of HawaiiRainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
>>Data House Division II Softball Championship, Feb. 13-14, UHRainbow Wahine Softball Stadium.
>> Ohana Hotels Girls Soccer Championship, Feb. 11-14, Waipio Peninsula Soccer Park.
>> Ohana Hotels Boys Soccer Championship, Feb. 18-21, Aloha Stadium.
>> Hawaiian Airlines Boys Basketball Championship, Feb. 25-28, Blaisdell Arena.
>> First Hawaiian Bank Canoe Paddling Championship, Feb. 27, Keehi Lagoon.
>> Local Motion Swimming and Diving Championship, Feb. 27-28, Soichi Sakamoto Pool, Maui.
>> Chevron Wrestling Championship, March 5-6, Blaisdell Arena.
>> Zippy's Cheerleading Championship, March 13, Stan Sheriff Center.
Hawaii School Web Sites