The NFL has bigger things to worry about than the future of the Pro Bowl. That’s obvious. The concussion issue is coming to a head with lawsuits from former players, and the draft is in two weeks.
But at some point, soon, commissioner Roger Goodell must decide if the league is going to even have an all-star game in 2013, how it will be adjusted to make it palatable, and — of extreme importance to us here in the islands — where it’s going to be played.
His last public statement on the Pro Bowl echoed the disgust of many fans in what a poor facsimile it has become of actual football. That was more than two months ago.
Apparently, though, the Pro Bowl’s not dead … and neither are the chances of it being played at Aloha Stadium next January. The conventional thought is that if there is a Pro Bowl less than 10 months from now it will be in New Orleans, site of the Super Bowl. But Hawaii Tourism Authority chief Mike McCartney said Tuesday that Hawaii is still in the game for 2013.
"We just had communication (with the NFL) today and we’re still hopeful for ’13. If not, ’14 and ’15 and beyond. Nothing has been determined yet. But I feel it’s natural for the Pro Bowl to be in Hawaii."
We’ve heard of a proposal linking the Pro Bowl with a golf tournament here — which was quickly rejected by the NFL. "There’s been all kinds of ideas like that. I can’t comment on one," McCartney said.
The NFL already isn’t real happy with Hawaii after Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s tirade questioning the game’s value last year (and his repeat performance during game week). That doesn’t help when it comes to leverage in negotiations, even though the governor repeatedly retraced his steps back through the minefield to profess the value a week of the NFL brings to the islands.
McCartney can’t tell us what was discussed Tuesday, but it seems we’re still a long way from having to block off the week before the Super Bowl. (Forget about the Pro Bowl moving back to after the Roman numeral game, that ain’t happening any time soon.)
IT’S TOO BAD politics seem to preclude the person with the most experience in dealing with the NFL from being involved. Regardless of whether you like former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann, it’s indisputable that he knows his way around the league’s upper echelon. He’s successfully negotiated three Pro Bowl deals for the state.
And don’t forget it was Hannemann who turned crucial HTA votes in favor of the contract that brought the Pro Bowl back to Hawaii in 2011 and 2012 after the one-year hiatus.
Hannemann said he’s provided the HTA with a standing offer to pitch in. "I wouldn’t do it for pay. For the Pro Bowl, I’d volunteer to do it as a community service," he said Tuesday.
But Abercrombie doesn’t have Hannemann — whom he defeated in a contentious gubernatorial primary — on speed-dial for special projects.
Of course, Hannemann, who is now running for a U.S. House seat, would gain some political capital with a successful deal, and his offer might look like a publicity stunt. But in an election where he will be heavily favored anyway, the risk vs. reward ratio for him isn’t good; there are no guarantees when dealing with an entity as powerful as the NFL, and if he gets involved and the game goes away, Hannemann looks bad and loses votes.
When reminded of Hanneman’s offer, McCartney basically said thanks but no thanks. "(HTA vice president of tourism marketing) David Uchiyama is our point person on this, and he’s in direct communication (with the NFL). We appreciate everyone’s willingness to help."
Hawaii’s still in the hunt for the 2013 Pro Bowl — assuming there is one. But consider it a long shot at this point.
Correction: Mufi Hannemann is running for a U.S. House seat. A previous version of this column and the story in the print edition on page C2 said Hannemann is running for the Senate.
