Sun, Surf & Hoops®: Your Questions Answered
As EA SPORTS™ Maui Invitational® celebrates its 26th year as the nation's premier early-season college basketball tournament…here are answers to some of the questions we hear from the fans.
What's the story behind the Tournament? How did it all start?
On December 23, 1982…little known NAIA Chaminade upset top-ranked Virginia, led by three-time MVP Ralph Sampson, 77-72. Called ""the greatest upset in college basketball history,"" the win put host Chaminade University on the map nationwide and led to the creation of the Maui Classic which is now known as the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational, the longest running early-season college hoops tournament.
The fields are always packed with solid teams – how many go on to NCAA glory?
In all, 85 schools representing 21 conferences and 38 states have competed in the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. Maui participants have won an astounding 55 of 71 NCAA championships, 55 of 71 national runner-up spots and comprise 214 of 284 Final Four teams.
What makes Lahaina special?
Lahaina is an historic whaling village that boasts a history as deep as the roots of the city's symbol – the old Banyan tree. Lahaina used to be a playground for Hawaiian royalty and was once the capitol of Maui, the second largest island in the island chain. The city was once known as Lele which meant ""relentless sun"" in Hawaiian and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. For more island history, explore Lahaina's Historic Trail located throughout town or visit the Banyan Tree, the 136 year-old tree the size of a city block.
What are some of the most unique local food offerings found on Maui?
While you're in paradise, be sure to try some of Maui's local delicacies! Kahlua pork – it's a giant pig that is roasted in an underground oven lined with thick banana leafs; poke – a flavorful raw fish salad appetizer served cold; poi – a creamy pudding-like dessert made of native taro plants; mahi mahi – a mild and delicious local fish; sweet and delicious teriyaki beef; rum-based island cocktail staple the mai tai; and locally grown coffee and brewed-on-Maui beer.
How does the Tournament contribute to the island economy?
Each year, more than 4,000 out-of-state visitors – boosters, players, officials, team and game personnel, media representatives, sponsors, production crews and basketball fans alike – travel to the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational. During 2008, the Tournament generated $8 million plus for the local economy, bringing the economic impact total since the Tournament's debut in 1984 to nearly $140 million.
How does the intimately-sized Lahaina Civic Center deal with a major sporting event?
Over the years,the County of Maui has invested more than $1 million in the Lahaina Civic Center to create a quality host venue for the Mecca of college basketball including, among many things, a new playing floor, updated rollaway bleachers, new scoreboards, enhanced arena lighting as well as the addition of permanent air conditioning back in 2003. The LCC is a compactly-sized arena with a seating capacity of 2,400.
What company manages the Tournament?
Since 1990 the Tournament has been operated and managed by KemperSports, a full-service sports, events, marketing, media relations and communications firm specializing in golf and college basketball. The staff of KemperSports works year-round on everything from operations and ticket management to PR and hospitality so that when the world's eyes turn to college basketball, the Tournament is a best-in-class operation from tip-off to awards ceremony.
How can I play in the Tournament myself? Virtually, that is.
The Lahaina Civic Center is a featured game location within the EA SPORTS video game, NCAA® Basketball '10®. You can be a part of Basketball in Paradise® from whatever court you call home! EA SPORTS, the world's leading interactive entertainment software company, enters its ninth year as a dedicated title sponsor of the Tournament. The company's immersion in the sports world extends beyond games into a rich sponsorship portfolio of activities and involvement.
When do tickets go on sale each year?
Ticket travel packages for the Tournament go on sale beginning early in the year. If you want to be one of the first to know about ticket travel packages, join the Hoops Club on the official Tournament site: mauiinvitational.com.
My unlucky friends are back in the continental U.S. How can they watch the games too?
The ESPN networks will combine once again to offer live television coverage of all 12 Tournament games. For the first time, every game will be produced in high definition on ESPN HD, ESPN2 HD and ESPNU HD, with the ESPN and ESPN2 games also streaming live on ESPN360.com.
Who are the ESPN broadcasters sitting courtside?
You might recognize some familiar faces on the sidelines – college basketball's finest: Jay Bilas, Bill Raftery, Sean McDonough, Jimmy Dykes, and Dave Barnett are among the analysts that perennially attend the Tournament and call the action from press row. These esteemed broadcasters contribute greatly providing their knowledge and insight to the rest of the world live from the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui.
What do the EA SPORTS Maui Invitational champions win?
Besides early-season bragging rights, the winning team is awarded at the post-championship game ceremony with the coveted Wayne Duke Championship Trophy, a two and a half-foot solid sterling silver trophy engraved with the team names of all past champions. In addition, the winning team is given a souvenir take-home championship trophy – a three-foot surfboard made of native koa wood – to be displayed in the team's on-campus trophy case. The head coach is presented a maile and tuberose lei, signifying protection for the wearer that bestows good luck. This is an open-ended and very fragrant lei which hangs over the coaches shoulders. Championship t-shirts specific to the winning team and kukui nut leis are passed out the student-athletes as souvenirs. Tournament runners-up receive a trophy as well, fashioned from indigenous wood in the form of a surfboard.
How are the All-Tournament Team and MVP selected?
Each year the Tournament recognizes remarkable athleticism and skill by naming an All-Tournament Team made up of players who significantly contributed to their teams' success. The All-Tournament Team and Most Valuable Player awards are selected through a media voting process, in which attending top-tier media weigh in on the players who stood above the crowd. In 2008, for the first time, the Tournament MVP was presented with the Dr. Sue Wesselkamper Award, named in recognition of Chaminade's beloved former president.
Do the players get to have any fun on Maui?
While the players are serious student-athletes with a competitive edge, the participants experience a rich variety of island activities during their time on Maui. From a teams-only dinner under the Hawaiian stars to An Evening with the Coaches: A Tip-off Banquet on Sunday night where they are treated to authentic island performances to pool and beach time, the teams definitely get to experience Hawaii and all the many wonderful things the islands have to offer. Many teams will take a bit of time after the Tournament to play tourist and explore the island. You'll recognize them as the tallest people on the beach!
If you have a question that you didn't see answered here, log-on and ask us on Twitter, Facebook or the Tournament Hoops Club at mauiinvitational.com.
Aloha and welcome to the EA SPORTSTM Maui Invitational®!
Read the full story written by Alexander Wolff in Sports Illustrated about the "Greatest Upset Never Seen"...
