• Kaua‘i without local sports? Kaua‘i without local sports? By Duane Shimogawa – The Garden Island Imagine what it would be like if sports on Kaua‘i were non-existent. (I can’t imagine this happening, but I was just thinking about this
• Kaua‘i without local sports?
Kaua‘i without local sports?
By Duane Shimogawa – The Garden Island
Imagine what it would be like if sports on Kaua‘i were non-existent. (I can’t imagine this happening, but I was just thinking about this subject, while working out at the Kaua‘i Athletic Club earlier this week) This would mean no more watching your son/daughter or nephew/neice playing sports. There would be no more weekends at the ballpark waiting for that first hit, or at the football field, looking for that first touchdown. Referees, like Ben Bragman, Brian Nagamine, and Lenny Rapozo, Sr. would be working on their lawns, instead of working the football games on Friday nights and Saturday mornings. Peter Rayno, Brian Inouye, Steven Carvalho, and Lenny Rapozo Jr. wouldn’t have to spend their Tuesday and Friday nights in the gym and instead, they would be able to take their significant other’s out on the town. Gene Padilla and Arthur Brun would be able to spend Saturday afternoons fishing or hunting, instead of umpiring baseball games. Edmund Acoba would have to tend to the law during the weekends because he wouldn’t have games to coach or he wouldn’t be able to watch his two sons, Beau Jay and Michael at baseball games. Warren Koga would have more free time to tend to his growing family at home, instead of being the “man” for the Lihu‘e Baseball League. The Correa’s (who’s family is as rich in baseball talent as Bill Gates is in his wallet) would have to start a family business, maybe a sports card shop. Jimmy and Joyce Miranda of CJM Country Stables wouldn’t have anymore great rodeos for you to attend. John Love and Jack Layton (The Kaua‘i Polo guys) wouldn’t have anymore exciting polo action to inform us about. That sports guy from KONG radio wouldn’t have to come up with any clever ways of announcing sports stories anymore (although I do admire his creativity, it’s a breath of fresh air). Harold Naumu (the voice of KIF football games and senior softball) wouldn’t be bothered with people asking him to speak because they hear him at the games and just want to make sure that it’s really him. Kalani Vierra and Kaleo Ho‘okano and their crew of talented lifeguards, like Aaron Hauberman and Randy Ortiz wouldn’t have a wonderful program that showcases some of Kaua‘i’s most talented junior lifeguards. James Ellis wouldn’t have ever picked up the nickname, “Big Red,” or no more T-Mo, or B-Mo, or D-Mo (The Moises brothers), no more “Lumberjack” (Jorgen Goller), no more Violet “Magic” Carillo, no more Bruce “The Terminator” Nance, no more Bryson “The White Bird” Anakalea, no more Jordan “Da Diesel” Dizon, and no more Chad Gummerus signature three’s. No more Waimea High School football domination, Jon Kobayashi (Waimea High School’s assistant athletic director) would have to find all new hobbies (he’s a sports nut), no more exciting down-to-wire basketball games, where the underdog usually prevails, no more scowls from Dennis Aquino, bye bye to Winston Ogata, Calvin Paleka, Wes Kaui, Liko Perreira, and Keli‘i Morgado (quality coaches that make non-talented players look like superstars).
