Jan.29 – For a rare occasion, sportscaster Bobby Curran struggled for words. During a phone conversation informing him of his selection for the University of Hawaii honorary circle, Curran recalled saying…nothing.
For one rare occasion, sportscaster Bobby Curran struggled for words.
During a phone conversation informing him of his selection for the University of Hawaii honorary circle, Curran recalled saying…nothing.
After a long pause, he recalled, “I actually asked, ‘Are you kidding?’ I thought they wanted me to feel good. But it wasn’t. It took me a second to take care of it. I just thought it was the coolest thing ever.
Curran, who is recovering in Arizona from a double lung transplant two months ago, is among the five inductees of the Class of 2023 Circle of Honor. The other additions are: – Nani Cockett, who is ranked #2 on the Rainbow’s career scoring list Wahine basketball program. – Barbara “Bobbie” Perry, who played for the United States volleyball team at the 1968 Summer Olympics two-time All-America beach volleyball player who competes professionally and runs a beach volleyball club in Santa Barbara, California – David Matlin, who died this June as UH sports director retires.
The candidates were selected by a panel that includes alumni, community leaders and the media.
The Class of 2023 will be honored at a banquet in March at the Sheraton Waikiki.
Curran said he hopes to get medical clearance to attend the event.
Curran, 67, was a play-by-play announcer for UH basketball and football games for 32 years. He was also the host of a popular morning radio show on KKEA, 1420-AM. But Curran, who was a longtime smoker before quitting 17 years ago, took a break from his radio jobs after being diagnosed with an aggressive stage of emphysema last year.
In June, Curran was told he needed a double lung transplant. In October, as his health deteriorated, Curran was told that without the transplant, his life expectancy would probably not exceed last Christmas.
After a rigorous screening process, including an evaluation by a 30-member committee and several invasive tests, Curran was approved as an organ recipient. A donor was found, and Curran underwent the transplant on November 17 at St. Joseph’s Hospital & Medical Center in Phoenix.
Curran passed two marks – his body accepted the transplanted lungs and they fit into his chest cavity.
After several setbacks, including injuries sustained in a fall, he has made a remarkable recovery. “My pulse oximeter (imetry) — which is your oxygen saturation — is at 100%,” Curran said. “Before the surgery I was at 88% on 5 liters of oxygen.”
Curran, who has to stay in Arizona while he recovers, had made it his goal to attend his youngest son’s high school graduation in May. After that, he hopes to host the morning show again and call UH basketball games.
Curran, who grew up in Long Island, NY, recalled wanting to pursue a career in sports broadcasting shortly after moving to Hawaii in 1983 to complete his college degree. Curran, a UH graduate, started out as a once-weekly presenter on KTUH, the school’s student radio station. He eventually met Rick Blangiardi, whose television network owned the rights to UH sports broadcasts. Curran called twice a week for four months before Blangiardi answered. The offer: 20 hours a week, $1,000 a month, all the knowledge Curran could absorb. This eventually led to Curran’s long connections on the radio.
Curran recalled there were days when he thought, “I can’t believe I’m allowed to do this. It was a dream job for me.”