Basketball still part of life for Randolph after 'upset'

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Twenty years ago, a tiny college from Hawai'i with a one-room athletic department called "the shack" beat the No. 1 basketball team in the nation, which had a 7-foot-4 giant named Sampson.

Former Chaminade basketball player Tony Randolph runs through drills with students in his basic basketball skills class at Palolo Elementary School's A-plus program. Randolph is also a juvenile counselor in the state's family court system. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The greatest upset in college basketball history was no fake. It occurred Dec. 23, 1982, at Blaisdell Arena when Chaminade stunned Virginia, 77-72.

Leading the upset was Tony Randolph, who parlayed his basketball experience and his self-described tough upbringing to become a model citizen for Hawai'i's troubled youth.

More shibai?

The stories are true, and will be exchanged again tomorrow when Randolph, 40, and a handful of stars on the 1982 Chaminade and Virginia teams, reunite at the Chaminade campus for the 20th anniversary of the Silverswords' victory.

For more than a decade as a juvenile counselor in the state's family court system, Randolph has guided and molded Hawai'i's youth with the same hands that once guarded Virginia's 7-4 All-American Ralph Sampson.

"He's a more powerful role model than some of us might be. We can't offer up the same type of life experiences. The kids know. They can tell shibai from the real thing. So you better be bringing the real thing to them. The kids respond to Tony," said Frances Wong, Honolulu Senior Family Court judge.

"Family court is lucky to have Tony, and the kids are lucky to have Tony."

Wong said, "Family court runs a facility focused on kids who are sometimes called status offenders. These are kids who are not labeled delinquent, but for one reason or another, are having a tough time. They might be running away, or acting up at home. Tony is so committed to helping the kids turn the corner."

"Being a counselor, it's in my nature to try to help people," said Randolph, who lives in 'Ewa Beach with his wife, Diane, and 9-year-old son, Lorenzo.

"I tend to see a lot of myself in them, in their challenges and their adversity. Some of them come from broken homes, dysfunctional families. A few of them actually make it and get jobs out there in the community. That's the fulfillment and joy in doing the counseling."

In addition to being a counselor, Randolph also volunteers in the state's A-plus program as a basketball coach at Palolo Elementary, where, according to principal Ruth Silberstein, he has become a weekly treat for the kids.

"The kids look forward to him coming on Wednesday," Silberstein said. "He's definitely a positive role model for the children. I couldn't ask for anyone better."

After having a tough upbringing in Washington, D.C., and Staunton, Va., Randolph learned that life wasn't always fair after his parents died within a year of each other. He was 11 at the time.

Randolph admittedly struggled with his hardships as a youth, but he excelled on the basketball court. He started his college career at Panhandle State in Oklahoma, but eventually came in Hawai'i because one of his brothers was in the Air Force at Hickam.

"It's been a joyride," said Randolph, who still has press clippings, unpublished photos of Sampson and himself during the 1982 game, and his game-worn No. 44 jersey.

"The game always comes up in conversations at social gatherings. People ask, 'How was it playing playing against a guy 7 foot 4?' "

To illustrate his point, Randolph said a friend approached with a book some time ago, asking the former star to sign it.

Tony Randolph shows off his living room, which has mementos of "the game" 20 years ago when his Chaminade University basketball team beat Virginia, the No. 1 team in the nation. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

During the Virginia-Chaminade game, the 6-foot-6 Randolph played man-to-giant defense on Sampson and didn't flinch. He outscored Sampson, 19-12, and held Sampson to two field goals while guarding him.

"We didn't back down from anybody," Randolph said. "We didn't go with the hype. We had the attitude, like, they had to show us. We had a lot of gutsy guys.

"We played the University of Hawai'i the week before and we upset them," Randolph added. "Because of that, when we played UVA, it wasn't that overwhelming. We were hoping that we would do well. Things fell into place."

Randolph said he used his prior matches with Sampson to his advantage. Randolph honed his game in Staunton, and played numerous regular-season games and pick-up games against Sampson.

"My high school coach would come and guard us with the broom," Randolph said. "We imagined that the broom was Ralph's arms. We learned to shoot over the broom."

After Randolph's collegiate career, the Portland Trailblazers scouted him, but did not sign him. Randolph played with the Harlem Globetrotters for a few months, but wasn't happy with his financial situation.

"I was more disenchanted that the NBA money wasn't there," Randolph said. "I came back to Honolulu, and then I got offered to play in New Zealand."

Randolph played six months in New Zealand, averaging 30 points and 12 rebounds per game, but decided that basketball wasn't paying the bills.

"I decided to go back to school (at Chaminade) and get something that would pay off in the long run," Randolph said.

"I was able to finish my schooling and got a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 1990. That opened up another world for me because, honestly, I devoted my entire life to athletics. I never really concentrated that much to be the best student I could until I was able to come back to Chaminade."

Tomorrow's reunion precedes the three-day EA Sports Maui Invitational basketball tournament that starts Monday at the Lahaina Civic Center on Maui. The first game will feature Chaminade against Virginia.

Randolph, Sampson and other members of the 1982 Chaminade and Virginia teams will be there.

And, undoubtedly, telling the story again.

No shibai.