Prov. 16:24 (ESV) Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
I have my father's face, the double-eyed, high cheekboned, full countenance that made me the spitting image of him. I often wished I had a more angular look like my mom's; but it was my father that I identified with, his soft-spoken nature more akin to mine. Dad's tremendous athletic abilities in basketball and baseball, though, were of little interest to me. The privilege of running on center court with a basketball at Civic Auditorium during half-time games was what impressed me most about his fame. Why, so many years later, have I begun to take an active interest in his personal and professional life, enough to even think of publishing some story on Chew Chong Ching?
By the time I was born in 1946, dad had already transitioned from cager to high school coach due to the invitation of St. Louis Crusader coach, Walter Wong. Dad would train the team until Coach Wong's return in 1947, when he would relinquish his duties. So in 1943, Chew Chong Ching came to St. Louis as their new basketball coach. The 1943 yearbook described his coming this way: "The season turned auspicious when Chew Chong Ching, a veteran cager, was appointed hoop mentor of the red and blue squad." His first stint as a high school basketball coach would make or break his reputation in this privileged realm. The boys were appreciably apprehensive about him. But after 3 years of priming the Crusaders for a championship, the team took the interscholastic league titles in 1945 and 1946. The newspaper coverage of the Crusaders described the singular spirit of the team and their technical expertise: "Coach Chew Chong Ching’s fast-breaking cagers maintained their sizzling pace ...well-drilled St. Louis cagers…perfect teamwork and unerring accuracy symbolized the brilliant achievements of the Crusaders…SLC's sensational driving finish…" Could I get a first-hand account of what it was like to play for such a person? How did he drive his team to perform? What was his communication style? How did he make you feel on the court or on the bench? It was 70 years ago and any eyewitness would have to be in his late 80s. Was there anyone on the team still alive? Would this person have the capacity to remember that far back? The St. Louis Alumni Association assisted my search, calling the homes of team members, many who had passed away before their call to Walter Hiranaka, all of 88 years. He responded that it was an honor to play for Coach Ching and would be willing to speak with me.
Walter Hiranaka was most helpful in telling me about Coach Ching, albeit offering a slanted perspective of only his favorable attributes. When asked for a more balanced perspective of what Coach Ching did not do well in, Walter could remember none. Most of Walter's time was spent as a bench warmer, but from that vantage point, he was able to observe Coach's interactions with the players. Coach Ching was well-respected by them because of his kindness and fairness. His pep talks worked to encourage his team, and get them fired up for the game. You could tell he loved the game of basketball by his drive and intensity; yet he never put any team member down for not playing well. To expand their expertise, Coach Ching brought in some of his old basketball buddies to scrimmage with the team so the players could be mentored by seasoned players on plays and techniques. Some of theses seasoned players were the best in Hawaii basketball. The 1945 yearbook stated that "…after 3 vigorous years of campaigning, he [Coach Ching] was presented this championship bouquet by his high-powered '45 edition." The 1946 yearbook noted that "…They [the Crusader 5] brought to their devoted coach, Chew Chong Ching, his second title in four years of untiring generalship."
Walter was the perfect person for this interview because of a unique opportunity off the court. After basketball practice at Hawaiian Pine Gym (St. Louis had no gym of its own), Coach Ching would drop Walter at home in Moiliili on his way home to Kaimuki. During one of their rides, Walter informed Coach that he had made a decision to leave the team after the 1945 championship to make room for better players. Coach asked him to stick it out, and he did. As a result, Walter was able to complete his senior year as a member of another championship team in 1946.
After Walter graduated, the baseball team he played on actually played a game against Coach Ching's Senior Baseball League team. (I didn't ask who won.) After high school, Walter attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, enlisted in the Army, and was away from Hawaii for some time. After his return, he bumped into the former Assistant Coach to Coach Ching, who informed him that Coach had passed away.
Walter's kind words to me were that I can be very proud of my father as a coach and as a person. I savor his thoughts.
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
I have my father's face, the double-eyed, high cheekboned, full countenance that made me the spitting image of him. I often wished I had a more angular look like my mom's; but it was my father that I identified with, his soft-spoken nature more akin to mine. Dad's tremendous athletic abilities in basketball and baseball, though, were of little interest to me. The privilege of running on center court with a basketball at Civic Auditorium during half-time games was what impressed me most about his fame. Why, so many years later, have I begun to take an active interest in his personal and professional life, enough to even think of publishing some story on Chew Chong Ching?
By the time I was born in 1946, dad had already transitioned from cager to high school coach due to the invitation of St. Louis Crusader coach, Walter Wong. Dad would train the team until Coach Wong's return in 1947, when he would relinquish his duties. So in 1943, Chew Chong Ching came to St. Louis as their new basketball coach. The 1943 yearbook described his coming this way: "The season turned auspicious when Chew Chong Ching, a veteran cager, was appointed hoop mentor of the red and blue squad." His first stint as a high school basketball coach would make or break his reputation in this privileged realm. The boys were appreciably apprehensive about him. But after 3 years of priming the Crusaders for a championship, the team took the interscholastic league titles in 1945 and 1946. The newspaper coverage of the Crusaders described the singular spirit of the team and their technical expertise: "Coach Chew Chong Ching’s fast-breaking cagers maintained their sizzling pace ...well-drilled St. Louis cagers…perfect teamwork and unerring accuracy symbolized the brilliant achievements of the Crusaders…SLC's sensational driving finish…" Could I get a first-hand account of what it was like to play for such a person? How did he drive his team to perform? What was his communication style? How did he make you feel on the court or on the bench? It was 70 years ago and any eyewitness would have to be in his late 80s. Was there anyone on the team still alive? Would this person have the capacity to remember that far back? The St. Louis Alumni Association assisted my search, calling the homes of team members, many who had passed away before their call to Walter Hiranaka, all of 88 years. He responded that it was an honor to play for Coach Ching and would be willing to speak with me.
Walter Hiranaka was most helpful in telling me about Coach Ching, albeit offering a slanted perspective of only his favorable attributes. When asked for a more balanced perspective of what Coach Ching did not do well in, Walter could remember none. Most of Walter's time was spent as a bench warmer, but from that vantage point, he was able to observe Coach's interactions with the players. Coach Ching was well-respected by them because of his kindness and fairness. His pep talks worked to encourage his team, and get them fired up for the game. You could tell he loved the game of basketball by his drive and intensity; yet he never put any team member down for not playing well. To expand their expertise, Coach Ching brought in some of his old basketball buddies to scrimmage with the team so the players could be mentored by seasoned players on plays and techniques. Some of theses seasoned players were the best in Hawaii basketball. The 1945 yearbook stated that "…after 3 vigorous years of campaigning, he [Coach Ching] was presented this championship bouquet by his high-powered '45 edition." The 1946 yearbook noted that "…They [the Crusader 5] brought to their devoted coach, Chew Chong Ching, his second title in four years of untiring generalship."
Walter was the perfect person for this interview because of a unique opportunity off the court. After basketball practice at Hawaiian Pine Gym (St. Louis had no gym of its own), Coach Ching would drop Walter at home in Moiliili on his way home to Kaimuki. During one of their rides, Walter informed Coach that he had made a decision to leave the team after the 1945 championship to make room for better players. Coach asked him to stick it out, and he did. As a result, Walter was able to complete his senior year as a member of another championship team in 1946.
After Walter graduated, the baseball team he played on actually played a game against Coach Ching's Senior Baseball League team. (I didn't ask who won.) After high school, Walter attended the University of Colorado, Boulder, enlisted in the Army, and was away from Hawaii for some time. After his return, he bumped into the former Assistant Coach to Coach Ching, who informed him that Coach had passed away.
Walter's kind words to me were that I can be very proud of my father as a coach and as a person. I savor his thoughts.