Costas maintains he never was a pro
| • | UH loses appeal, 2002 national volleyball title |
| • | Students say rule lacks common sense |
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
The second-floor office at the Manoa Marketplace is bare, providing little evidence that Costas Theocharidis has worked there as a private-asset manager the past month.
There are no pictures. No calendars. No pen sets. Nothing to show that Theocharidis, as a member of the University of Hawai'i men's volleyball team, was a two-time national Player of the Year and four-time, first-team All-American.
"That doesn't matter to me at all," Theocharidis said. "I don't even care about all of those awards. All that mattered is we won (the 2002 national) championship, and nobody can take away that memory."
Yesterday, the NCAA upheld its decision to strip the 2002 title from UH, reaffirming a September ruling that Greece-raised Theocharidis had professional experience before enrolling at UH in August 1999. The NCAA does not allow a player to be on a team with professionals, even if that player is not paid.
Theocharidis said there are no amateur volleyball leagues in Greece. He said he joined the A.C. Orestiada team when he was 17. He said he was not paid, did not have an agent and never signed a contract.
"I'm not a professional," he said, noting each team was allowed two unpaid players. "It's as simple as that. If you work for a financial company as an unpaid intern, does that mean you're a professional? You have to get a license. You have to pass a series of tests. The same way, if you want to become a professional player, you have to get money or enter into a contract. You have to have an agent, stuff like that, which I didn't."
He said he was used as a serving specialist, but mostly his involvement was as a practice player. "Professional in Europe means something different, apparently, than what it means in the United States, which makes no sense," he said. "It's just totally unreasonable."
He said American players compete in international tournaments against professionals. "Why is that person not a professional?" he said. "Why is someone who joins the national team not a professional? All of those people play with or against professional players."
He said when he turned 19, he was offered a contract with A.C. Orestiada.
"I was like, 'I'm not signing anything. I'm outta here,' " he recalled. "I didn't want to do that. I wanted to play at the collegiate level, study and get my degree. I came to Hawai'i not to play volleyball as much as to get a degree. That's why I didn't turn pro. It was not my intention to turn pro."
Theocharidis, who completed his UH eligibility in May 2003, said it was difficult waiting for the NCAA ruling. "There was a minority of people who thought, 'This guy really tarnished the name of Hawai'i,' " he said. "The majority of people were very supportive. They helped me get through this thing."
He was an intern financial planner at First Pacific Corporation last fall, and earned his bachelor's degree in December. He returned to Greece in January, then was hired by First Pacific last month.
"I'm back to live here — forever," he said. "I'm not here for a year. I'm setting the foundation for a long time. I love Hawai'i. Hawai'i has become the second home for me. It's hard to stay away from Hawai'i."
Reach Stephen Tsai at stsai@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8051.
