|
TheBuzz Erika Engle |
L&L franchisees stoked
about providing football feasts
THE University of Southern California Trojans football team travels to Cougar Country in Provo, Utah, for only the second time this weekend.
Their caterers will be a trio of former Brigham Young University Cougars.
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue franchisees Itula Mili, a Kahuku High School graduate, Dustin Johnson and Spencer Reid operate the L&L Drive-Inn offshoot in Provo, right outside the BYU campus.
The other Hawaii connection is USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow, a Punahou graduate, former Waialua High School coach and former BYU assistant coach for 27 years.
Mili, a tight end for the Seattle Seahawks, has a game in Tampa on Sunday, but partners Johnson and Reid, who also both played in the pros, will be on hand serving and shmoozing.
"Definitely. These guys are die-hard," said Eddie Flores, president and chief executive officer of L&L.
"Spencer is so excited," about the catering job at $4.50 a head for 100 people, Flores said. Reid could not be reached.
Mili, Johnson and Reid are preparing to open a second franchise in Salt Lake City, Flores said.
L&L's Fresno franchisees will be tapped to cater for UH alumni when the Warriors play an away game against Fresno State Nov. 12.
"I gotta take care of my old school," Flores said.
FCC freeze
The Honolulu radio station swap between California-based Salem Communications Corp. and Georgia-based Cox Radio Inc. could be delayed by about three weeks because of a Federal Communications Commission move.The FCC last week issued a freeze on applications by commercial radio stations using certain forms, including the type the companies must use in facilitating the swap announced late last month.
Cox plans to purchase KGMZ-FM 107.9 from Florida-based Honolulu Broadcasting Inc. for $6.6 million. Cox had been operating the station under a joint sales agreement with Honolulu Broadcasting. Cox will then swap KGMZ for KHNR-AM 650 and KHCM-AM 940, belonging to Salem.
Industry publication Radio & Records reported the FCC move was necessitated by a recent federal appeals court ruling that allows the commission to enact many new radio ownership rules.
The three-week delay was estimated by attorneys for Salem, said Vice President and General Manager T.J. Malievsky.
If the estimate is accurate "we should take over KGMZ and give them our two AM's around mid-November," he said. "We are all set to file as soon as the freeze is lifted."
Maui-based Pacific Radio Group Inc. is also in the midst of closing some transactions, but President Chuck Bergson doesn't anticipate any problems.