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If Josh Heytvelt had followed his original, now hard-to-imagine academic plan at Gonzaga - as a public-relations major - he would have been groomed to make fuller, more evocative speeches than the one he delivered recently on Senior Night at the McCarthey Athletic Center. But his 28 words - a reporter for the student newspaper counted them - found a rapt audience. “I have to thank everybody in this gym and in this community” - and he paused here - “for accepting me back and letting me do what I did over the last couple years”/Dale Grummert, Lewiston Tribune. More here.
Question: Did former Zag bad boy Josh Heytvelt succeed in winning back your trust?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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JBelle on March 17 at 9:05 a.m.
Josh taught the people of faith a powerful lesson: we *are* a people of faith and cornerstone to that is redemption. We didn’t want him back, Mark Few didn’t want him back, but Spitz made us take him. And he redeemed himself and us, in the process. The leadership of Father Spitzer at Gonzaga will be sorely missed. Fortunately, we can drown our sorrows in an on-campus productions of ‘The Vagina Monologues’ and other assorted academic experiences that will replace the extraordinary spirit and thought that’s Father Bob Spitzer.
wheels on March 17 at 9:12 a.m.
Absolutely.
JamesBond on March 17 at 9:59 a.m.
Frankly, he did better than I thought he would, which makes me happy. I still occasionally worry about the chemistry of the team, but not nearly as much and not with a focus on him. It’d be nice to see him put a book-end game on his career, to finish what he started against Tyler Hansbrough in Madison Square Garden.
poolman on March 17 at 10:51 a.m.
I never viewed Josh as a bad boy. He has always been a great kid in my mind. He did what college kids do, experiment. That is part of the process of going from an irresponsible adolescent to a mature adult and one of the most valuable assets you gain in college. Unfortunately he was flagged by an overzealous, board, attention deprived, pip squeak, power hungry, trigger fingered good for nothing EWU “cop / security guard” (not even a real police officer for crying out loud).
In the larger scheme of things in some weird way he will likely be a better person for the experience. Even though I still think the “cop” should have used better judgment and given them a stiff warning – EWU “security guards” developing our youth - that is a scary concept.
cantyoureadthesigns on March 17 at 12:23 p.m.
“Unfortunately he was flagged by an overzealous, board, attention deprived, pip squeak, power hungry, trigger fingered good for nothing EWU “cop / security guard” (not even a real police officer for crying out loud).”
-Poolman
Excuse me? Are you suggesting he was targeted for arrest?
And I believe he was pulled over by the city of Cheney Police, however if it was the EWU police, their officers are fully trained and commissioned police officers under state law, and would be fully qualified as to credentials to work at any police department in the state.
You or I may not agree that possession of even a small amount of “magic” mushrooms should be a felony offense, which was the crux of his trouble, but it’s the law.
Truthiness.
poolman on March 17 at 3:55 p.m.
Canyoureadthesigns - My personal opinion is, if it grows naturally in the ground, it should NOT be illegal (I could pull the God card here but I won’t). I think the officer knew who he was dealing with and wanted to make a name for himself within his circle. I think he nearly de-railed two wonderful kids futures for his own kicks and giggles. I think police officers that don’t use discretion when dealing with victimless crimes are criminals themselves.
They did not just steal a car or rob a pharmacy or even drive after a few beers - they were simply minding their own business trying to go home after an evening with friends. That whole situation was complete and utter BS. Isn’t the primary job of the police to “protect and serve”, who were they protecting and serving in this case? Josh from himself? Is that part of the call to duty of the EWU security staff?
JIMMYMAC on March 17 at 10:45 p.m.
I’ve been following Josh since he was a jr at Clarkston. If memory serves correct, scouting on him was done by top contenders of a few major conferences. He has become a great leader on the team and his has become a great story. I love all the seniors on this team, but I think I will miss Josh most.