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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, July 28, 2005

Ex-UH coach still has warrior spirit

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Former UH baseball coach Les Murakami is flanked by ex-assistants Carl Furutani, left, and Les Nakama, back, and wife, Dot.

GREGORY YAMAMOTo | The Honolulu Advertiser

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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I BASEBALL ALUMNI REUNION

Where: Hale Koa Hotel When: Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Who: Open to former UH players and their families Guest of Honor: Former UH coach Les Murakami Tickets: $50 per person Information: 247-5771
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UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I BASEBALL ALUMNI REUNION

Where: Hale Koa Hotel When: Saturday, 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Who: Open to former UH players and their families Guest of Honor: Former UH coach Les Murakami Tickets: $50 per person Information: 247-5771
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His award-winning baseball coaching career at the University of Hawai'i speaks volumes, but perhaps the greatest rewards now come from the hundreds of wellwishers who flock to Les Murakami to offer encouragement.

Some give friendly waves, others tell the white-haired man in a wheelchair to hang in there. Ironically, some are left speechless when Murakami, a stroke survivor, engages them in conversation at Kahala Mall.

"Most of them, when they see me, they can't believe the good shape I'm in," said Murakami, 69, who has coached more than 500 players in a Hall of Fame career that stretched from 1971 to his retirement in 2001 following his stroke. "And a lot of them can't believe I'm talking."

It's been nearly five years since Murakami suffered a severe stroke Nov. 2, 2000, at Les Murakami Stadium, formerly known as Rainbow Stadium. Since then, it's been an uphill battle for Murakami who attends rehabilitation sessions four times a week to regain control of the left side of his body weakened by the stroke.

On Saturday, Murakami's former players and coaches will honor him in the inaugural University of Hawai'i-Manoa baseball alumni reunion at the Hale Koa Hotel. Murakami said he can't wait to see everyone again.

"I know we'll have a lot of fun," he said. "I know I will."


REHAB WORK

In an interview at his 'Ainakoa home this week, Murakami was in good spirits, joking about several topics, including his dormant golf game — "I'm gonna tell my therapist, hey, let me start swinging the club," he said. Murakami also said he misses coaching "to a certain extent," and cheerily added, "but there's no stress."

Most of all, Murakami expressed how lucky he was to have a dedicated wife, Dot, who is a tireless and compassionate caretaker.

"I'm very lucky, but she's hard luck," said Murakami of his wife of 41 years. "I can't do anything without her, you know. She does all the driving. She takes me to places I have to go. I think my wife pushes me more than anyone else."

Since his stroke, Murakami has increased his weight to 190 pounds — in his prime he was 175 — and has been working diligently to rehabilitate and gain independence. Murakami attends Ohana Pacific Rehab Services at the Interstate Building with veteran physical therapist Jerry Ono two times a week, and performs aquatherapy at La Pietra two times a week.

"I'm just trying to get well," said Murakami, who added that his blood pressure is low (110 over 74). "I work too hard not to get well."

As he prepared for his interview, Murakami slowly rose from his wheelchair, and with the aid of a cane and the stabilizing arms of Dot, walked a few short steps toward a chair and sat down. Murakami still has trouble with his peripheral vision on his left side, according to his wife, but he can think clearly, speak normally and his spirit remains strong.

"He's never been a quitter," Dot said.


THE DAY IT STRUCK

Murakami said he remembers very little about the day he suffered the stroke. That day, Murakami retreated to his first-floor office at Rainbow Stadium after a heavy rain cut short a team scrimmage.

Upon walking out of his office, Murakami said he collapsed after "getting dizzy."

"There was no pain," Murakami said. "I hit the swinging door that I had, and I hit the top of the table we have outside. I just slipped down. I couldn't stand up straight."

Still conscious and alert, Murakami remembered lying on the floor of the baseball office, and being rushed to The Queen's Medical Center in an ambulance. His sudden immobility puzzled him. He said: "In fact, I thought I was just going to get up and start walking again."

In the emergency room, Dot said her husband tried to reassure her that nothing was wrong. But doctors told her otherwise, saying her husband suffered a "massive" stroke.

"Les kept saying, don't worry, don't worry, I just fell down," said Dot, who had rushed over from a preschool Makiki Christian Church board meeting.

In the coming days, Murakami underwent surgery to relieve pressure on his brain and his status was described by a spokesman as "very critical" following the operation. Murakami was also hit with pneumonia, his wife said.

In the worst days of the ordeal, Dot worried about her husband lapsing into a "nursing home condition" and how he would be "really, really depressed to be in that kind of condition."

When Murakami regained consciousness, he was able to understand questions, which was a positive sign, Dot said.

"That was really good for the whole family and all the friends that he was still able to function," Dot said.


OUT OF THE BLUE

In looking back, Murakami said the stroke hit with "no warning." He said he felt healthy at the time, and was running three miles three times a week and five miles two times a week.

"My blood pressure was low, my cholesterol was low, I didn't smoke, and I was in good shape ... and it just hit me like that," Murakami said. "I used to go to the doctor all the time, too.

"The doctors told me the only reason why I got the stroke was because of stress," Murakami continued. "They said I coached too long, that I should have retired earlier. Maybe they were right. I didn't feel any stress or anything (at the time). But as the doctors say, you might not feel it, but it's there."

Les Nakama, one of Murakami's former assistant coaches who paid a recent visit to the home, said Murakami has made "amazing" progress. Murakami's perseverance is a big plus, Nakama said.

"He's very determined," Nakama said. "As a coach, that's how he was. So I guess it carries on to what he's doing with himself. I know he's very determined to try to walk and be independent. In a way, I'm surprised with his progress, but not surprised knowing his character."

Before his stroke, Murakami was an avid golfer. He said his goal is to play golf again.

"As soon as I get enough balance, I'm going to hit balls and play," Murakami said. "Everybody is waiting for me. They want to take my money, that's why they're waiting for me. I told them, don't count your chickens because I'm not going to give my money away."


BACK IN SWING

Carl Furutani, another former assistant who served as Hawai'i's interim head coach in 2001, said he believes Murakami will eventually get his golf wish.

"I wouldn't put it past him," Furutani said. "I can see us going to play golf one day, and he beats me and I'm going to eat crow. You can never count him out. I want to see him beat me."

Today, Murakami — a man who reluctantly accepted the UH head coaching position in 1971 and turned the new program into a Division I powerhouse — remains a fan favorite. Dot said the outpouring of support from family, friends and the community has been special. She said her husband is lucky to be embraced by the public when they go out.

"They seem really happy to see him out," Dot said. "I think he encourages a lot of people who are disabled to see him struggling, but not giving up. Even at the mall, they wave and wish him well."

Dot said she waits for the day her husband can walk without his cane or her assistance. She encourages him to keep his mind sharp by reading, and often takes him to public places such as Les Murakami Stadium where they watch at least one UH game every series. Most of all, Dot has taken a page out of Murakami's book, and tries to be optimistic.

"As with his ball players, he always tried to be positive and always told them to do their best — gambatte and yamato damashi (Japanese for warrior spirit), and those sort of things," Dot said. "So he cannot give up. Otherwise, all of his ball players that he talked to, they're going to be very disappointed."


REACH BRANDON MASUOKA AT BMASUOKA@HONOLULUADVERTISER

.com or 535-2458.