That’s the word we’re getting … the multi-talented catcher-middle infielder-center fielder from Kamehameha-Hawaii could still go pro out of high school if Minnesota comes back with the right offer. Otherwise, Wong goes to UH, where it is believed by many he will make an enormous immediate impact.

Especially since coach Mike Trapasso has had generally bad luck with local recruits, other than guys from Mid-Pacific, like Jon Hee, Wong would be a huge get for his program.

If you’re like me, you love to watch good linebacker play. The combination of strength, speed, smarts, skill and instinct needed to do it well — especially in this era of sophisticated offenses — is very rare. One of the reasons I think Hawaii will do better than many expect this fall is its very talented group of linebackers: Solomon Elimimian, Adam Leonard and Blaze Soares for starters, with Brashton Satele, Tyson Kafentzis, Mana Lolotai and R.J. Keisel-Kauhane all capable of making big impacts, too.

Tell us who your favorite linebackers are from Rainbow and Warrior teams past.

ESPN was in town last week working on a story on Brian Kajiyama. Since it is for its weekly investigative show, E:60, it might be more than your typical human interest piece. I was interviewed for it, and all I’ll tell you at this point is not all the questions were of the the softball variety. The producer told me they want to explore this incredible story from all angles. They’re planning on airing it in October.

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My postings may be even more sporadic in the next two weeks than they have been since the end of spring practice for two reasons. 1) There’s just not that much going on right now. 2) I’m on vacation. But since it’s a “stay”-cation, I’ll try to get something fresh up as much as possible and come up with some other prompts like the bucket list post.

Doris Sullivan, who has an outstanding record in helping local athletes get college scholarships, and former Warriors player Tony Tuioti are among the candidates for a new position in the UH football office.

Technically, it can’t be called recruiting coordinator, but at least some of the work would entail handling nuts and bolts in that area.

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Hopefully you all have many, many more years to live. But if you were to make a “Bucket List,” what would be the things in sports you’d like to do or see happen before you kick it?

The June Jones celebrity golf tourney on the Big Island on Monday raised $10,000 each for two Hawaii charities, HUGS and the Ronald McDonald House. Also, $10,000 for scholarships for five football players from American Samoa, which will be awarded when Jones and Greg McMackin and members of their SMU and Hawaii staffs run a clinic there this weekend. The group heads out tomorrow.

Today, McMackin is hosting his golf tournament on Kauai. Jack Thompson, nicknamed The Throwin’ Samoan when he was Washington State (NOT WASHINGTON, thanks to BigIsland Kurt for keeping me honest on this one) quarterback, is among the celebs at McMackin’s tourney. Jones is playing on Kauai at McMackin’s tourney also, with the governor of American Samoa.

When I moved to Gainesville 10 years ago, there were very few people with any Hawaii ties living in North Central Florida. There was a Hawaiian high school football coach named Danny Akina who was born and raised in Florida and Mike Fitzgerald; I worked for him here and he hired me at the paper in Gainesville. After I left, Punahou swimmer Nicholas Borreca, the son of Star-Bulletin reporters Richard Borreca and June Watanabe, swam for the Gators.

But Jacksonville and Orlando are big cities and there are quite a few people with Hawaii ties in those cities; lots affiliated with the military, or in the case of Orlando, with Disney.

When I wanted Hawaiian food and someone to talk story with about back home, I just had to make the hour’s drive to Jacksonville and see Jane Inouye.

Many of you remember Jane because she is keiki o ka aina, graduated from Castle and UH, and worked in PR in Hawaii for many years, including in the UH sports information office. She now has her own PR/communications company and lives in Gainesville and anxiously awaits the Aug. 30 game in The Swamp.

Since she’s also a University of Florida alumnus in graduate studies, I asked Jane if she has mixed feelings about the game.

Here’s her take: A combination of jet-lag, extremely hot field conditions (think of an August day with Kona wind conditions, then add 10-15 degrees), and a sell-out crowd of 97,000 Gator fans will force the Warriors to really step it up. Keep in mind that UF is the birthplace of Gatorade - which was created as a way to hydrate and provide electrolytes to players. UH will need more than a little power-drink to wipeout the Gators.

Jane’s prediction on the score? All she can say is, “Go Bows!” (She’s a bit old school).

This is the slowest time of year for us in local sports, and a lot of us take vacation. That means fewer stories in the paper, especially about UH sports. Not tomorrow, though. Jason Kaneshiro has a wrap-up of the UH sports year, with a timeline, Brian McInnis wrote an update on Janevia Taylor one year after the car accident that put her in a coma, and Billy Hull handled the weekly UH football feature, profiling David Veikune. All good reads.

A reader submitted this query last week. I’ve put off dealing with it because I haven’t had time for thorough research: Not to go off topic BUT… Would you be able to list ALL the NCAA Championships that the Univeristy of Hawaii (both TEAM and INDIVIDUAL) has won PLEASE! Here’s a list from UH media relations director Derek Inouchi:  

List of NCAA Champions

 

Team Champions

Women’s Volleyball                                         1982

Women’s Volleyball                                         1983

Women’s Volleyball                                         1987

Men’s Volleyball                                              2002*

 

* later vacated

 

Individual Champions

Swimming & Diving

Jeannie Childs, 100- breaststroke                     1983

Jeannie Childs, 200- breaststroke                     1983

QiongJie Huang, 1-meter springboard               2005

Emma Friesen, 1-meter springboard                  2008

 

Track and Field

Terry Albritton, shot put (indoor)                      1976

Gwen Loud, long jump                                     1984

 

Boxing

Roy Kuboyama, 112- flyweight                        1952

Seiji Naya, featherweight                                  1954

Seiji Naya, featherweight                                  1955

 

 

Other National Champions

 

AIAW

 

Team Champions

Women’s Volleyball                                         1979

 

Individual Champions

Women’s Golf

Jackie Yates                                                     1955

 

ICSA (Sailing)

 

Team Champions

Women’s Sailing                                               2001

Coed Sailing                                                     2004

 

 

 

 

Just got word that Alex Gerke is actually just one of five UH coaches headed to American Samoa next week, with five SMU coaches. The others are Greg McMackin, Nick Rolovich, Brian Smith and Craig Stutzmann. They will be joined by June Jones, Dennis McKnight, Wes Suan, Jeff Reinebold and Frank Gansz of the SMU staff.

They will be there to conduct the first June Jones American Samoa Football Academy.

Reinebold’s wife, a health care professional, will be going as a medical missionary, also sponsored by the June Jones Foundation.

According to Kevin Kaplan, director of the June Jones Foundation, the academy will involve 550 athletes, and five will each win a $2000 scholarship that can be used at any U.S. college — not just SMU or UH.

The joint venture in American Samoa follows the June Jones Celebrity Golf Classic at Hokulia on the Big Island on Sunday and Monday.

Running backs coach Alex Gerke is going to American Samoa next week. He hasn’t been there before.”This is my first barbecue,” said the first-year UH assistant.UH coacbes have actively recruited there in recent years. Melila and Amani Purcell, Keith AhSoon, Larry Saufea and Jason Laumoli are some of the UH players of recent vintage who are from American Samoa. And how could I forget Isaac Sopoaga? 

Solomon Elimimian and Adam Leonard are great choices to represent UH at the WAC Media Preview in Salt Lake City next month. They are the most productive returning linebacker duo in the nation. And both are intelligent, articulate and interesting people. The conference’s assembled reporters will enjoy talking with them.

Elimimian said he talked Leonard into signing up for the golf outing that is part of the event — even though, according to Elimimian, neither of them has played a round.

“I’ve been out on the range a few times with (teammate) Spencer (Smith), but I’m not sure Adam’s even touched a golf club,” Elimimian said. “I told them to put our handicaps way up.”

Leonard said he has played the game — if mini-golf counts.

“Have to start some time,” he said. “I wasn’t planning on playing. It’s by Solomon’s request.

“I’m just honored to be selected by Coach to represent us there.”