A Play-by-play With Radio’s Lad Panis

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Lad Panis

When longtime sports play-by-play announcer Lad Panis began coaching Little League baseball, one important requirement of the job was already firmly in place - that would be a commanding voice, of course.

“Broadcasters always talk loud,so I am sure that I’m getting their attention,” said Panis, an Aiea resident. “I’ve enjoyed coaching Little League baseball. It’s become a new-found love for me, and it (coaching) is what I’d like to end up doing.”

Panis,who owns Starcomm Sports Radio, has been a permanent fixture in Hawaii sports since the early ‘90s, broadcasting high school events,including innumerable state championship games, as well as Brigham Young-Hawaii Men’s Basketball games. He was also Chaminade’s play-by-play announcer from 1992 to ‘94, broadcasting the Silverswords’upset of Stanford in December of ‘93 at the Maui Invitational, among other memorable games.

While Panis will continue to broadcast state tournaments, he will take a break from doing regular-season games during the coming school year, in part to spend more time with wife Mari and their growing family, which now includes sons Dallen (8), Austen (5) and Brennen (3) and daughter Chyler (1). Panis will begin his 16th season of broadcasting BYUH basketball in November. Panis took some time away from his schedule recently to sit down and answer some questions from MidWeek.

What’s your earliest sports-related memory?

Playing baseball in Waipahu - for the Waipahu Jackrabbits Little League team. I played baseball from six years old all the way through.At Waipahu, I played three years for Milton (Takenaka), including my senior year, after he became the head coach. We won the OIA that year. Baseball’s not as big in Waipahu anymore, but playing at Hans L’Orange Park - it was a big thing then.

Who was your sports mentor?

I looked up to a lot of people,but Milton (Takenaka) was one. Professionally, Bobby Curran has always been a good mentor, and he’s one of my good friends.

James Cui lobbies the ball on the tennis courts at Central Oahu Regional Park. Photo by Leah Ball, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

What influenced you to become a broadcaster?

Growing up, Jim Leahey, Bobby Curran and Don Robbs were people I looked to. I had a love of sports. There’s an old saying that if you can’t play at the next level, that’s when you become a broadcaster. I wanted to see it from a different side. It seemed like trying to call a game would be fun.

Who were your sports heroes growing up?

I didn’t have any, really. I liked a lot of different people. As a UH fan, obviously, I enjoyed watching Blaine Gaison, and I followed the Dodgers and some other teams.

What’s your most memorable broadcast to date?

The first time Kahuku beat Saint Louis (26-20 in the state title game on December of 2000). Saint Louis had won so many championships for so many years.You had to be surprised,but Kahuku just played larger that night. After that, they (the Red Raiders) went on a little run of their own.

Has broadcasting changed since you began 17 years ago?

I think it has changed. Obviously it comes down to being more prepared. It takes more time to be a good broadcaster. For me, the fun part is getting to know the coaches and players as individuals. Then, you can tell a story about them when the opportunity comes up (during a broadcast).

What do you remember of your first broadcast back in 1993? How did it come off?

I worked a Saint Louis game with David Hallums (as color analyst) at Aloha Stadium. Saint Louis had George Ornellas and Darnell Arceneaux, and they were the team nobody could beat then. I think it (the broadcast) went good. Hopefully, we’re a lot better now. I’ve worked with a lot of good color commentators over the years.

What would be your dream assignment in the sporting world?

To be quite honest, being able to do one UH football game, and I’d like to get to the (Division II NCAA) Elite Eight as an announcer with BYUH so I can go to the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield,Mass.We’ve come close, losing in the West (Region) finals the last two years.