What Obama Can Learn from the 3A State Basketball Tournament

On Saturday night Rainer Beach and Auburn Riverside captured the state's boys and girls 3A basketball championships.

However, the lasting legacy of the tournament may be the words of Lakes Coach JoJo Rodriguez. Following his team's first round victory, he told the Times:

"Unranked Meadowdale cut Lakes' lead to 63-60 with 1:03 to play, but Rodriguez said he remembered the advice given to him long ago by his mentor, Al Hairston, who won five Class 4A titles at Garfield.

'Al always said, 'If you don't lose the lead, don't panic,' Rodriguez said."

Lakes beat Meadowdale, and ended up in the championship game where they gave Rainer Beach their only competitive contest of the week.

On a related note, Barack Obama was a member of Punahou High's 1979 Hawaii State Championship team, his coach...Al Hairston*.

*We made up the part about Al Hairston being his coach for dramatic effect.

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By David in News on March 10, 2008 8:23 PM

Comments [rss]

Troy Morris

God I love that last name. First born of Troy, be prepared. You're first name shall be "Hairston."

Seth

Could Obama choose Al Hairston as a running mate? It would seal the all-important Garfield High School basketball fans swing vote.

Troy Morris

Well, his comment tonight (in a state where he doesn't have the lead) certainly lended me to view it as a manner of standing that his nomination is what's important, not many "higher ups" of the DNC views as for the party's health and vitality.

That's either good or bad, depending on how entrenched you are to the idea of change.