Update: No practice today (Wed), Aiea league

Monday's practice crew: Isaiah, Jackson, John, Cody,

Kaelen and Chase. Mick and Alleck left earlier to start on homework.

First, I want to say WOW for the guys who've been coming to practice consistently the past two weeks I know how much you love the game and respect the game, and with your hard work, I have 100% appreciation for you! As a coach, there's nothing more I can ask for than effort, and you guys always give me that.

Second, you may have already heard, but there's no practice today because I got assigned to cover an ILH softball game. It caught my editors off guard because everything's starting earlier than last year, and last year everything started earlier than the year before.

We will practice on Thursday, 4:30 p.m., then I have to work on Friday and Saturday covering the state wrestling championships. We'll practice again on Sunday 1 p.m. and I'll be there until 5 p.m. for the guys who can't come earlier.

Finally, the Thunder have been invited to play in the Aiea Blazers 16U league, which begins in late March. Is anyone interested? Rob Godinez is one of the best basketball guys I've ever known. His team couldn't get into the Ikaika league, so he decided to start his own, which is awesome.

If you remember, we've played in the Aiea Blazers spring tournament the past two years and that was a lot of fun. There's no spring tourney this year, but there will be a summer one. In the meantime, the 16U league is perfect for us and all our young guys who played 15U leagues last year.

If we do play in the Aiea league, it will run at the same time as NJB (17U, 15U), so that's TWO LEAGUES. Is that busy enough for you guys?

Coach John, are you up for this?

Practice: Mon, Tue, Wed, Thur, Sun

OK, everybody, I've got the afternoons free until the weekend. 4:30 p.m. today through Thursday, then back on the court Sunday at 1 p.m.

We had a solid workout on Sunday afternoon under drizzly skies at Makiki Park. Coach John was under the weather, no pun intended, and couldn't make it. Hope you get better soon, Papa John!

Alert: No practice Saturday

No practice tomorrow (Sat). I have to work.

Again, no practice on Saturday, but we still practice Sunday, 1 pm. Pass the word on!

Thunder practice: Monday, Tuesday

Good workouts this weekend for the Thunder. Keeping an attendance chart for the first time. Great to have Papa John coaching every day. He's running with the boys in our scrimmages and knows exactly who's hustling back on defense or not. Not a good time to be a slacker haa . . . NEXT PRACTICE: Monday 4:30 pm, Tuesday 4:30 pm.

Wednesday's workout, first practice of 2012

Back on the blacktop!

Good, solid workout this afternoon for the Thunder. Good to see Coach John (Papa John), Coach Larry (Coach V) and the kids again. If you missed it today, next practice is Saturday 11 a.m., and then Sunday 1 p.m. PARENTS MEETING SUNDAY 1 P.M.

Offseason is the time for Sweat Equity. And Thunder rewards. Everybody will get "points" for doing the little things between now and the end of offseason. Not sure what the prizes will be yet, open to suggestions. We've got 17U players, need more 15U and way more 13U. If your kids like to run and gun, send them over.

Thunder practice Wed 4:30 pm, Makiki

Alert: Thunder practice Wednesday (Feb. 15), 4:30 p.m. at Makiki Park. 

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year . . . did I forget anything else. Oh. Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been awhile and I know everybody's had a busy winter. Some guys had fun playing (still playing) varsity ball. Some guys had fun JV seasons. Other guys had other things to do. All good.

Well, we're starting up again. Pa'a has asked us to play in their 16U league and I need to know who is committed. First of all, I ask now because the league has games at Kaimuki (or Kilauea), Koko Head and Kaneohe. That's right, Kaneohe! On Saturdays.

I don't want to commit unless we have a solid core that won't miss games because of transportation issues. There's also other leagues (NJB?) starting in the spring that I'll find out more about.

Second, my boss (publisher) has banned me from coaching any high-school age players since I cover prep sports at work. They don't like the perception of a conflict of interest, which is understandable. I can still coach you guys at practice, but I can't coach you at games. So hopefully Coach John (JJ's dad) can step in. You guys just need to put in the SWEAT EQUITY at practice every day, and Coach John will guide you just fine on game days (and nights).

Third, I am allowed to coach below high school level. So, if you have any friends or family 13 and younger, I can coach an all-new Thunder 13U or 12U team. We'll definitely have a team for that age group at the CAL (shot clock) league. I would miss coaching too much if we don't have a 13U team. So get the word out.

Any questions, call me (551-1054). Or check me on Facebook.

I LUB THIS GAME!