Hoopfest 2018

Coverage of Spokane’s annual 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: There were many reasons for loving college football polls but probably more for wondering just what folks are thinking

Tue., Aug. 12, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • What’s not to like about polls? Oh, no, not those polls. Gallup and the like. Political polls seem to be an outdated way to judge public interest in these days of cell phones and instant gratification. But football polls? They are still spot on. Every year. Every month. Every week. And, yes, that was an attempt to muster every bit of sarcasm I could.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Ryne Sandberg was a Spokane legend in so many ways – and in so many stories

Tue., July 29, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Talk with anyone from Spokane of a certain age and they probably have a story to tell you about Ryne Sandberg. A story about playing with or against him. A story about a conversation on the street, at an event or in a grocery store line. A story about growing up in Spokane or his family or his days at North Central High. And, I’m sure, those stories were told again Monday after Sandberg’s death at age 65 was made public.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Life is too short to eat bad doughnuts – or to spend every July hoping the Mariners will take on payroll to fill the lineup holes

Sun., July 13, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • You know what is the perfect accompaniment for reading this column on a Sunday morning. Three doughnuts. A crumb. A chocolate bar. And, if you’re feeling adventurous, maybe a buttermilk or old fashioned. Yes, I’m projecting again.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: There are numbers that are so high they play tricks with the mind and then there are numbers that seem to be too low to believe

Mon., June 30, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are a lot of numbers thrown out there that are near-impossible to wrap your mind around. How about $36 trillion, which Google’s AI informed me is the U.S. debt as our nation closes in on its 250th July 4. Or the $52.6 million the L.A. Lakers will pay a 40-year-old LeBron James to play next season. Or the $5.23 (or so) it costs Hoopfest to give each winner and consolation champion a T-shirt.

Sports > Area sports

Hoopfest elite: Repeat champions abound, headlined by Hub Northwest’s seventh straight title

UPDATED: Sun., June 29, 2025

With his orthopedist appointment looming on Friday, Parker Kelly sent a message to his Hub Northwest teammates.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: This time of year it is imperative to tap into the wide world of competition to fill out our daily report

Sun., June 29, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The long days of summer are finally ready to turn into the blistering hot days of the season in these parts. Which means we have to plan a little better each morning. After all, no one wants to be exercising or yard-working or car-washing in the afternoon sun. Or trying to fill a daily sports column without a plan.

News > Spokane

Thousands pack Spokane streets as Hoopfest returns

UPDATED: Sat., June 28, 2025

Emily Turner showed up for her second Hoopfest on Saturday to support her boyfriend and his team, “Trill Walton,” named after the late famous basketball player and sportscaster, Bill Walton.

News > Spokane

‘It just kind of brings out the competitive nature in us’: Teams battle in Hoopfest 2025

UPDATED: Sat., June 28, 2025

Team Yes knows what it takes to come out on top.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Sometimes, the summer weather around here, and summer opportunities such as Hoopfest, are just too perfect

Sat., June 28, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It is a postcard-perfect Spokane morning. Great. All these out-of-towners here to play in Hoopfest will somehow think this is how it is all the time. And move here. Cramming the roads. Crowding the restaurants. And driving up home prices. Hey, it snows here nine months out of the year. Stay in Bellevue or Hillsboro or Nampa. Do not move here.