I was planning on writing about the recent deaths of Alexis Arguello, Steve McNair and now Arturo Gatti, one of my favorite fighters. However, given the number of tragic incidents both on and off-island in the recent weeks, I’m thinking
I was planning on writing about the recent deaths of Alexis Arguello, Steve McNair and now Arturo Gatti, one of my favorite fighters. However, given the number of tragic incidents both on and off-island in the recent weeks, I’m thinking that there is enough gloom in the news these days that we don’t need it creeping into the Sports section.
Usually sports are an outlet for people to get caught up in and forget about troubles that might crop up in everyday life.
Just one problem.
It’s mid-July.
I’ve never known where the term “dog days of summer” comes from — until I just Googled it — but I do know that we are currently at their mercy.
People aren’t overly excited about Major League Baseball until the end of summer. The NBA and NHL playoffs are over. We’re still a good six to seven weeks away from college football starting up, then it’s another one or two until the NFL.
The Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation preseason schedule kicks off before either of them, but that’s still another five weeks from now.
So what do we do?
Where can the die-hard sports fans turn to satisfy our cravings?
Fortunately, we don’t have to look far as there are plenty of places right here on the island where we can sit comfortably and watch others do all the work.
If basketball is your pleasure, there are a number of boys and girls tournaments in place.
If you head over to Island School today, you can check out the championship game of the 2009 Merv Lopes Kaua‘i Hoops Classic.
The Kaua‘i Youth Basketball Association playoffs got underway yesterday, with the championship contest set for 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening at the Kilauea Neighborhood Center.
Starting tomorrow, a girls team from Bellingham, Wash. will take on some of the best the KYBA girls 18 and over league has to offer in a series of goodwill games at the Kalaheo Neighborhood Center.
If your football appetite won’t subside until the KIF season, starting at 9 a.m. the next two Saturdays, you can check out potential future Warriors on the gridiron during the Kaua‘i Police Activities League flag football season at Vidinha Stadium.
Not into the usual sports scene? Well if you head over to the Kapa‘a Hockey Rink on the second, third or fourth Saturday of each month, you can catch a glimpse of what is anything but typical. The Kaua‘i Derby Divas show off their roller derby skills during practices, which run from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
I’ve been careful not to go to a practice yet, because I have a feeling that my former obsession with pro wrestling will instantly be transferred over to roller derby. Then I’d lose all objectivity.
But I am weakening.
For the next two Thursdays, wahine events of a slightly more traditional form will be on display for public consumption. The Nawiliwili Yacht Club’s second and third installments of its Wahine Series races will take place on July 16 and 23. Malihini captured first place in this week’s initial race.
July 31 is the NYC’s special Kaua‘i Channel Race, with the 7 a.m. flag sending competitors from Ko Olina to their Nawiliwili destination.
So with all these options — hoops, pigskin, boats, even skates — hopefully your calendar now looks a little less bare and you won’t be relegated to watching World Series of Poker repeats just to get your competitive juices flowing.
Just take it one day at a time.
We’ll all get through this together.
