March 31, 2009 in Sports

Blanchette: Both sides have cause to give thanks

John Blanchette The Spokesman-Review
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Tags: Tony Washington State basketball WSU basketball

So what does a basketball coach owe you, exactly?

Does he owe it to you to stay three years? Five years? Ten?

Does he owe you unvarnished honesty? For example, do you really want to hear from his mouth that where he coaches is strictly a business decision – knowing that your school can’t do business the way others do? Or do you want to hear that your place is special, that it has some indefinable something to make him resist the blandishments of others?

Or does he simply owe you his best effort for the going wage – …

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Two comments on this story so far. Add yours!

  • cathyd on March 31 at 1:05 p.m.

    Mr Blanchette knows how to deliver the dagger to the heart, but also hits the nail on the head. Why would Tony Bennett stay for another year of listening to the media tell him he wouldn't be where he is without his father ? It's been 3 years and I didn't watch one game where that topic of conversation didn't run it's same repeatitive course. And then John uses the same line to degrade and lay on the guilt trip in his pity party article ! I know the story, we all do…but for God's sake let's move on. If it were me I would start wondering if any one in the world had the confidence in me to do the job alone ? And, if they don't have that confidence in me, then maybe I'm better off to go somewhere where I can prove it…to myself and the public. Thanks a lot, John

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  • Daisy Minken on April 06 at 10:01 a.m.

    The sad thing about this situation is that WSU felt they had “our guy” type warmth who was part of the family, was very competent and really liked lving in the uncomplicated confines of Pullman. When is the money enough? Apparently not this time.
    ACC is a great league but what does that matter when your “fallback” is the Pac X? WSU and the state schools financially are troubled for many reasons leading to Olympia. That won't be cured for years. When a coach has to offer $100K back to the program for needed upgrades, there is trouble. Trouble the public might not see right away.

    Tony and Dick did good work while they were in the NW. As the author points out, WSU is a lot better off than 6 years ago. Although the outcome is far from desired, let's be grateful both sides were improved by the association. This doesn't happen often these days.

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