By Paul Honda
paul@hondareport.com
Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007

Where is the love? Donny Hathaway and Roberta Flack asked that question, oh, 30 years ago, and we're still looking for the answer.

On Saturday, there was the normal round of playoff basketball games. Campbell played big and knocked down Moanalua, while Kalaheo and Radford also won by large margins.

Then there was the post-game turbulence after Thompson upset Aiea. Brian McInnis, one of our youthful scribes at the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, had actually written a flattering piece about the Aiea hoops program a week ago.

But on Saturday, a post-game fracas put a damper on Thompson's last-second upset win. Details are still surfacing about a conflict that moved outside the gym and off campus. It is safe to say that many of those details will turn scrutinized in a court of law.

Things got far more complicated when Thompson was investigated for the possibility of having used an ineligible player, one who had transferred from Word of Life earlier in the season. That put a twist on the OIA White playoffs and left both Aiea and Thompson waiting until yesterday for a ruling from the league.

That decision came down last night. Aiea moved on with Thompson's forfeit, ending the complications and confusion regarding on-court matters, or so it seems.

Credit the OIA for always facing the litany of problems that arise with such a large league. Staying organized with so many sports — winter is the busiest of seasons — is one accomplishment. Dealing with negative fan behavior toward student-athletes and each other is a major worry for all administrators. It's not like every athletic department can afford to hire four bouncers for every home game.

There is a lot of trust involved, even hope, that spectators will always show good sportsmanship no matter how dramatic a game turns out. Unfortunately, in today's world, some people feel it is their right to verbalize negativity, and that's often where problems arise at sporting events.

As a newspaper, it's our responsibility to report incidents when they happen at sporting events. It's not pretty, not savored and not what any sportswriter anticipates when the game begins. It leaves a bad feeling in every true fan's spirit. High school athletics is supposed to be something everyone in the family can enjoy. It's on the fans to police the behavior of their own family.

When good sportsmanship is a priority in a family, the rest, in most cases, takes care of itself. Oh, there will be the occasional drunken fan(s) who hobble into a gym or football stadium, unchecked by anyone. But that situation is far and few in between.

So, where is the love? For goodness sakes, please check on your own before trouble brews. If the trouble comes from folks who aren't not your blood relation, but come from your school, take the wise measure and inform an athletic director. Prevention is key. The kids on the courts and playing fields deserve our best effort for a peaceable environment.

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