Give and Take: Sunday letters

Arizona fan still roots for Zags

For the past 15 years, I’ve had two favorite college basketball teams: the Arizona Wildcats and the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Although I live in Tucson, my parents lived in Spokane for 25 years, and my younger brother was born there. The two programs are easy to cheer for. Both have great coaching staffs, fine young men as student athletes and rabid community support.

I’ve worked with University of Arizona athletics in one variety or another for 25 years, so I certainly was pulling for the Wildcats Sunday, yet I remain an enthusiastic Gonzaga fan and am glad our two teams will begin a home and home series next year.

Gonzaga beat us badly in Seattle several years ago, and there was the epic double-overtime NCAA tournament game in 2003. Arizona has certainly suffered its share of heartbreaking tournament losses over the years. But one of the marks of a great program, which Gonzaga certainly has, is the ability to bounce back.

Don’t despair. I know the Bulldogs will live to bite another day.

Go Dogs, go Cats!

Dana Cooper

Oro Valley, Ariz.

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