How can I express my disappointment. For my first sports column last week, I wrote about how proud I was of the students’ support of the high school athletics here. So why was it that when OC16 decided to bring
How can I express my disappointment. For my first sports column last week, I wrote about how proud I was of the students’ support of the high school athletics here.
So why was it that when OC16 decided to bring its production here and broadcast Friday night’s Kapa‘a versus Kaua‘i game, the station’s first time shooting on Kaua‘i, there was such little turnout?
Granted, the varsity game start time was pushed up to 5 p.m., but that shouldn’t have mattered.
Not for the students anyway. Doesn’t school get out earlier?
When I arrived at Kapa‘a High School, after sitting through horrendous traffic, I saw a pretty fair amount of cars parked on the grass. I thought to myself, “This should be good.”
But as I walked in, I saw a lot of empty patches on the bleachers.
The OC16 crew had a chunk of the bleachers, but then that would’ve meant that the rest of the gym should’ve been full. But it wasn’t.
I was sitting in the far corner and there were only two other people around me. What was up with that? What could be more fun than being on TV?
OC16 is broadcast across the state, so I imagined everyone wanted to get some face time. I thought there’d be over-sized signs showing off school pride. Maybe a painted face here or there. While there were a few signs, there weren’t nearly as many as I had hoped.
Was it because it wasn’t a big game?
Every game should be a big game don’t you think? You always want your team to succeed so why not cheer them on, no matter what game it is?
The Waimea-Kaua‘i had huge attendance earlier in the week. Maybe because it was a chance for Waimea to win the Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation title. If they won, they would’ve had it. Since they didn’t, it forced a playoff, which will be held tomorrow at the Kaua‘i High School gym starting at 7 p.m.
I guess I understand why there wasn’t a huge turnout for the Kapa‘a game. It was just slightly disappointing, that’s all.
Dave Vinton, one of the announcers for OC16, enjoyed the game though. And that’s good. He was impressed and that should be good for the KIF, as far as bringing Neighbor Island interest to the station is concerned.
Crowd or not, both Kaua‘i and Kapa‘a played well. Tyrus Ceria-Lux said he and his teammates didn’t turn on the heat for the cameras, but you think they showed off on some level. You don’t put that many moves and show off that many tricks just for fun, do you?
I have to give credit to Kapa‘a boys, too, for keeping their heads in the game and not letting their huge deficit get to them.
At least we can expect a good turnout for the playoff game tomorrow.
Hopefully when OC16 returns on March 30 for a girls varsity basketball game, the turnout will be better.
