Broadcasters to coach at Midnight Ohana

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Which broadcasters really know more basketball — radio or television?

That question will be put to the test Friday during the University of Hawai'i basketball teams' Coors Light Midnight Ohana season-opening practice at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Television broadcasters Jim Leahey and Artie Wilson will coach against radio counterparts Bobby Curran and Jeff Portnoy during an intrasquad scrimmage featuring the 2001-02 UH men's team. Leahey and Wilson provide UH basketball coverage for K5 television; Curran and Portnoy broadcast games for KCCN radio.

"It'll be fun and it'll be competitive," UH coach Riley Wallace said. "Last year, it came down to the last shot, so those guys will have to do their share of coaching."

UH assistant coaches Jackson Wheeler and Scott Rigot will assist the broadcasters.

The coaches will participate in a draft of the UH players today to determine the teams.

Friday's festivities will begin around 9 p.m., or shortly after the conclusion of the Wahine volleyball match against Texas-El Paso, with carnival games on the arena concourse.

Both the men's and women's basketball teams will be introduced around 11:45 p.m. That will be followed by a 3-point challenge between the men's and women's teams, and a slam-dunk contest for the men's team. The scrimmage will begin shortly after midnight.

General admission is free, although reserved VIP seating is available for $25. For VIP tickets, call 956-6501.