OFF THE BENCH

OFF THE BENCH – WOW – What A Week!

I’m exhausted.  In case you are wondering, I’m referring to last week’s HHSAA State Basketball Tournaments.  Let me emphasize the plural with a capitol “S”, as in Boys and Girls Division I & II.  Let’s look at the numbers shall we. 

4 Tournaments
5 days
10 Sites
48 Teams
72 Games

….and a Partridge in a Pear Tree.

Now multiply that with the number of articles, photos, and videos we at Digital Sports Hawaii put out on our portal………we covered the Tournaments like the paparazzi on Brittney Spears.  But we are way more professional.

The Oscars were this past Sunday (I think – I’m a sports fan so I didn’t watch it).  So I would like to thank a few people:

The HHSAA – the folks who put everything together along with all their volunteers.  After getting bumped from the Stan Sheriff Center for the Girls Championships which was originally scheduled the week before, they had to scramble to make all this happen on the same week.

The Officials – already stretched thin with the addition of the girl’s season to the Winter, these men and women turned into “Stretch Armstrong” and stretched even more to accommodate all the games.  Keep in mind that many of these officials also officiate the NCAA D-II games for Chaminade, HPU, etc.

Coaches and Athletic Directors – the first year of both girls and boys seasons running concurrently is finished.  They will meet to evaluate but the logistics of doing this on such short transition time (a few months) was done.  Gym space, practice schedules, transportation funds, scheduling, personnel, etc.  You guys made it happen.

Media – yes, we are included in this group.  Yes – all media, which suddenly had double the amount of games to cover and report scores, stats, and interviews.  But the same deadlines.

The Families of the Above – for not seeing us for the 5 days of the tournament.

Thank you.