Leahey gets fitting sendoff
The jokes were many, the laughter hearty, the tributes genuine.
Legendary Hawaii sportscaster Jim Leahey, “the voice of UH athletics,” received a fitting retirement sendoff at The Willows restaurant on Sunday.
Those who gave speeches (in person or remote) included his son, Kanoa, who MC’d, Pal Eldredge, Bobby Curran, Rick Blangiardi, Dick Tomey, Larry Beil and Neil Everett.
Some of the former coaches in attendance were Dave Shoji, Vince Goo, Bob Wagner and Les Murakami. Current football coach Nick Rolovich also stopped by, as did numerous members of the media.
Wonderful retirement luncheon for the greatest "homer" announcer in UH athletic history, but you gotta love Jim Leahey! pic.twitter.com/W1uwfP6naa
— Dave Shoji (@DaveShoji) August 13, 2018
Some members of the UH band even showed up to play the school fight song and “Hawaii 5-O.”
Members of the UH band perform the school fight song at Jim Leahey’s retirement party. pic.twitter.com/BqfTdUxCaY
— Brian McInnis (@Brian_McInnis) August 13, 2018
Many of the UH Sports Circle of Honor inductee’s greatest moments in his 40-plus years as a broadcaster — football, basketball, baseball, volleyball, and more — were played on a screen, most notably the rousing Rainbow Warrior football games against BYU in 1989 and 1990.
Here’s a free link to Ferd Lewis’ column that ran in Sunday’s print edition on that very subject, as well as a link to Stephen Tsai’s blog post touching on Leahey.
Leahey finished it off himself by giving a characteristically verbose speech, thanking those whom he worked with along the way, as well as his wife, Toni, and three children.
There were many disdainful references to “broadcast management” and a playful eye directed at Blangiardi, his former boss and onetime broadcast partner who “fired” him at least three times, only to call him back and rehire him.
He recalled his first gig, calling a boxing match at Schofield Barracks at 15 years old to fill in for his father, the legendary radio broadcaster Chuck Leahey, who was sick. “Kimo” did an affectation of his own shaky teenaged voice.
It was only later, after nearly 10 years as a schoolteacher at Campbell, that he made the momentous decision to switch careers and go into broadcasting full time, changing the landscape of the local sports scene and the careers of those he mentored.
Many in the room were grateful for that, and gave him a standing ovation as he stepped away from the mic one last time.
HE WILL BE MISSED … !!!!!
Happy Retirement Mr Leahy …
Aloha & Go ‘Bows
The best in my view..and thats saying alot.
yes, jim leahey was, is and will always be he best. like his father chuck, he had a knack for embellishing the broadcasts with “localism” and made it interesting for his audience. yes, he was a homer but we loved it. after all, the home team is the best. really enjoyed the years and will miss your broadcasts tremendously. have a great retirement and god bless you.
I used to sit with him at the Honolulu Quarterback Club luncheon back when it was at the old Flamingo Chuckwagon on Kapiolani Blvd. Mr. Leahey would regale us with funny sports stories. They guy should write a book. Have a terrific retirement Mr. Leahey!
Anyone got a favorite “Jim Leahey one-liner”? One of my favorites is a funny one-liner he had about a UH center fielder: “He owns center field so much he could build a high-rise out there”…LOL….
5.
I like how he ripped into the format of local news.
As a soundbyte for his radio show, Leahey, in response to a television station’s promotion of having two weather reports, quipped, “Now, I’m in special class.”
I hope he comes out of semi-retirement and joins Jackson Wheeler and Jeff Portnoy on “Hoops Talk”.