Snub earns UW student history lesson
You’ve heard that the University of Washington Student Senate dissed North Idaho WWII hero Pappy Boyington by refusing to honor the UW alum with a campus memorial. But did you know Jill Edwards received her comeuppance – you know, the sophomore senator who said Boyington and other Marines weren’t the type of people the university wanted to produce? Seems 18 co-sponsors submitted a resolution demanding that Edward ap-hollow-gize in writing to all Marines associated with U-Dub, living and dead, and that her mea culpa be printed in full in the student paper and read over the campus radio. Further, the resolution says: “To realize her mistake, she must acquaint herself with the history of the person she is so keen to dismiss, by reading Col. Boyington’s book, ‘Baa, Baa, Black Sheep.’ All of these requirements are mandatory, under pain of losing her seat on the Student Senate.” Do I hear a second?
Welcome to rock bottom
In the Exercise In Futility Dept., the host UI Vandal men’s basketball team put up these woeful numbers against Utah State on Wednesday: 24 straight missed shots, 37 points in a row by their opponents, 16 minutes between Vandal field goals, and a deficit of 62-18 at one point. The commentary from the Vandal announcers was equally morbid. Phil Corless/CdA recorded the broadcasting team’s greatest hits, including: “This is like a horror movie, folks.” And: “I started broadcasting in 1972 in Indiana, and I’ve never seen anything like this.” And: “Well, Idaho might want to call Blue Cross tonight.” And: “The Vandals hung in there – for the first six minutes tonight.” Ouch. Finally, the play-by-play announcer and his color man summed up the Blow-out In Moscow with this exchange: Play-By-Player: “There will be no player of the game.” Sidekick: “I think you should get the player of the game, Tom, for having to call this thing.” All of which leaves inquiring minds with this question: How did the Vandals beat Fresno State for their one conference win?
Be my valentine
At Huckleberries Online, commenters were asked last week what they’d like to get or give their valentines. CdA P&Zer Mary Souza said her hubby writes a love letter every Valentine’s Day, stating how much she means to him – now 27 years and counting. Stacy Zuger of Colfax recalls fondly the time that her wheat-farmer husband bought her a dozen roses, stuffed in a new pair of Justin Roper cowboy boots. But no one beats Whippersnapper’s suggestion for that special Ms. North Idaho Valentine: “A load of firewood to keep warm through February, a few pounds of elk jerky (that will last for months if stored correctly) and a new pair of Sorels she’ll appreciate when she has to go out back to bring in more wood.” A load of wood, a jaw of jerky – and thou. Pure Shakespeare.
Clueless in Sandpoint
The Bonner County Daily Bee was too caught up in the hoopla surrounding the “Extreme Makeover” visit to Sandpoint to build that new home for Eric Hebert and the two kids of his dead sister that he’s taken in. Breathlessly, the Bee reported everything about the happy event, which understandably caused a stir in the community. It isn’t every day that Lady Fortune visits a struggling neighbor with cameras rolling. But the Bee sat on the story that Hebert was slapped with DUI and drug charges a week before host Ty Pennington & Co. came knocking. Worse, Publisher David Keyes made excuses for his lapse in news judgment in an opinion piece Thursday and then drew a bead on KHQ and The Spokesman-Review for doing their job – the former for pursuing the Hebert DUI/drug story and The S-R for reporting that a third sibling had been left out of the “Extreme Makeover” loop because he was living with another family. In other words, Keyes was mad at everyone who reported the tough stories that he and his writers ignored while they gushed about “Extreme Makeover.” Extremely pathetic.
Huckleberries
Poet’s Corner: “On a Texas/hunting journey/bagged three quail and/one attorney” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Dead Eye Dick”) … Post Falls Mayor Clay Larkin is expected back to work on April 1 after a long medical leave, according to daughter Alison McArthur, who wasn’t joking about the date when she reported the news to fellow school trustees … Overheard: An assistant manager at Washington Mutual in Spokane joked in John Livingston’s hearing: “I want one of those weatherman jobs because they can say anything they want and still get paid.” Bingo.
Parting shot
The T-Man is still mad at the oafish-iating that cost Seattle in Super Bowl XL. How mad? The T-Man (aka Rob Tepper) of KUBE-FM fame forked over six G’s for a Seattle billboard for 10 days with this message: “Dear Mr. Official, Next Time At Least Kiss Us Before You %@$# Us.” This, according to Seattle PI sports columnist Jim Moore. Quoth T-Man: “Six grand for a bit of relief is worth it every time.” Don’t laugh. It’s less costly and more therapeutic than a psychiatrist’s couch.