K5, Leahey agree to one-year deal
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Jim Leahey has reached an agreement to return for a 19th season as play-by-play announcer for K5's telecasts of University of Hawai'i sporting events.
"I'm happy, and I look forward to an exciting year," said Leahey, whose one-year contract expired July 31.
Leahey, 59, who sought a multi-year contract, agreed to a ninth consecutive one-year contract with K5. But this time, Leahey received assurances he would remain as the play-by-play announcer for the next three years. K5 owns the local television rights to UH sporting events through the 2004-2005 academic year.
Leahey also received an undisclosed raise. He earned an estimated $175,000 last year.
Leahey has announced UH sports since 1975. He became the television play-by-play announcer for KHNL in 1984. In 1993, UH sports were televised locally on K5, a subsidiary of KHNL.
Leahey has been named Hawai'i's Sportscaster of the Year 22 times.
• Hunter back in chase: Starting left tackle Wayne Hunter rejoined the team for afternoon workouts yesterday. Hunter missed the first three days of training camp while awaiting the results of medical tests. Hunter was asked to undergo precautionary tests because of his family's history of heart problems.
"Everything is fine," said Hunter, who moved from defensive end in the spring. "Those three days I missed could have helped a lot. I needed some time to fine-tune my skills."
Hunter weighs 299 pounds, 21 more than what he weighed at the end of last season. Offensive line coach Mike Cavanaugh "wants me between 295 and 305," Hunter said, "so 299 is almost perfect. I'm good to go."
• Along came Jones: On Sunday, nearly 100 players competed in a speed-and-endurance test by running 220 yards 10 times. They were allowed rest periods of up to 1 minute, 45 seconds, depending on the position they played.
Yesterday, it was UH coach June Jones' turn. He ran 220 yards six times before quitting.
"Last year at this time, I couldn't do 10 yards," said Jones, referring to his recovery from a car crash in February 2001. "I think I did OK."
• Ryan's hope: What freshman Ryan Stickler of California has learned is it takes more than four days of training camp to master UH's run-and-shoot offense.
"Sheesh," Stickler said. "This offense is very difficult. This is a lot different than my high school's (offense). There are a lot of different reads. It's a lot more challenging."
Stickler said he reviewed video tapes of the Warriors' games last season before reporting to training camp. "But just watching tapes isn't really feeling it," he said. "Going through reps is the key to learning this offense."
Stickler changed high schools during his junior year, a move that kept him off the radar of many college scouts. But a friend of a friend sent Jones a highlight videotape of Stickler. Without watching Stickler in person, Jones decided to make a scholarship offer.
"It feels great that a man like June Jones can see what I can do and want to bring me into his program," Stickler said.
Said Jones: "It's a tough adjustment, especially for a young player. We put in almost the entire offense, so it's tough for someone to come in and adjust. But after a while, he'll learn the whole thing."
