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A rare Tuesday with WSU news

Posted by Vince Grippi

Feb. 24, 2009 7:46 a.m. • 9 comments

COUGARS

For once there is a Tuesday morning with some linkable stories. Some from basketball, some from football. Read on.

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• We’ll start with basketball because it happens to be basketball season (if you’re not sure, just check the pile of snow in your front yard). As we related here yesterday, Taylor Rochestie became the first player from the state of Washington to earn Pac-10 player of the week honors. Yes, you read that right. The Huskies are in first place in the conference and have yet to have a player win the weekly award. UW and Oregon, those are the two schools without an honoree. Let’s move on. … Speaking of Rochestie, LA Times columnist Bill Dwyre had a column about him this morning. At least he didn’t wonder why he would leave Southern California for Pullman, as seemingly every story about Klay Thompson has recently. … The altercation at USC after the UW loss made for some interesting reading in this morning’s LA Times. … Arizona wins seven consecutive games, loses Sunday to ASU and interim coach Russ Pennell is even more interim to some. … Nick Daschel of Buster Sports has some funny lines about the Pac-10 this week.

• Now on to football, that seemingly never-ending sport. Of course the number one topic of discussion around Pullman is Marshall Lobbestael”s recent arrest (third item). There was this story in the Daily Evergreen and this piece from freelancer Howie Stalwick in the News Tribune and other papers. … Daschel also has a quick look at spring practice, which is just around the corner (as soon as the snow melts).

• Three other items. As most of you know, WSU radio announcer Bud Nameck had a little run-in with a UCLA fan Saturday. According to Nameck, late in the game, a fan leaned over the crowd microphone and yelled at Aron Baynes, calling him an unflattering term related to a feminine product. Nameck, ever mindful of FCC fines (thank you Janet Jackson), used his arm to move the fan back. Then, according to Nameck and others, the fan accused Nameck of hitting him. Well, the upshot is the fan was escorted out and Nameck finished the broadcast. Later, as Nameck was getting ready to leave, I walked by and told him he overreacted. Why, Nameck asked? Because, I joked, the unflattering term related to a feminine product is actually Australian for great player. Cultural differences strike again. … The Cougar baseball team opens its home schedule tonight by hosting Gonzaga, weather willing. That’s the lede of Steve Bergum’s college baseball notebook. … Finally, University High in Spokane has hired former WSU assistant – and a lot of other places as well – Bill Diedrick as its head football coach.

•••

• That’s it for this morning. We’ll be back this evening with an update on basketball. Until then …

Nine comments on this post so far. Add yours!

CougMish on February 24 at 9:12 a.m.
Vince, I’m surprised you linked the Evergreen article…not my first choice as a reliable source of info…
BrandonHansen on February 24 at 10:14 a.m.
<insert random=”” wsu=”” drinking=”” joke=”” here=”“> I really don’t want to give UW fans too much material! poor coug football fans, their consistent optimism is admirable and they should be given an award for that.

<insert uw=”” dig=”” here=”” involving=”” the=”” fact=”” that=”” they’re=”” looking=”” at=”” ewu=”” players=”” right=”” now=”” because=”” their=”” own=”” team=”” is=”” so=”“ terrible=”“>

And I’m thinking Bud Nameck could take anyone in a fight. That fan is just luckily the hall-of-famer didn’t actually hit him. He’s like Chuck Norris, just with the ability to pronounce his words better.

Brandon Hansen
Just South of North
www.justsouthofnorth.com
gocougs01 on February 24 at 12:23 p.m.
This is going to be a big weekend on the Palouse. Two basketball games with the senior night Saturday and a bunch of baseball games starting today. We have Oklahoma showing up for a beautiful Pullman February series. Hope they bring their long-johns. Even though our baseball team had a couple of disappointments in Arkansas, we should get it pulled together and have a solid year. Just a bit more offense should do it. Only problem is the Saturday baseball Double Header will interfere with the final home basketball game. Oh dear, how to see them both! Another alcohol offense. Let’s see where this one goes. Parked in front of the police station and barfed in a bag? How did he get there? Sounds a bit like he may have been helped?
coug79 on February 24 at 1:41 p.m.
At least the Lobster didn’t bean anyone with a frying pan (that we know of).

Passed out in front of the Pulllan police department? As a student, I was always inclined to stay AWAY from the police station. The Lobster parks right out front! Man, that’s game. I guess no one steals the stereo out of your truck that way. I suppose it’s also easier to locate where you parked your truck for the drive home after the VIP visit to the Pullman jail.

Let’s hope this is his one and only encounter with the Whitman County judicial system.
ThaiCoug on February 25 at 10:29 a.m.
It is my understanding Lobster’s girl friend had earlier been brought to the jail for alcohol consumption. Lob was driven to the station by a friend to pick her up. There was a delay and the friend walked over to get some fast food. While he was gone Lob fell asleep in the vehicle.

It was given this circumstance he was asked to submit to a sobriety test. Don’t know why. Finally, the bag on the floor was paper waste from a fast food establishment. Sometimes things are not what they at first seem.

I’ll wait for the review to be completed before passing judgement.