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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Give and Take: Sunday letters

How about Hadway?

 Congratulations to the Ferris boys track and field team in winning the 4A district title.  The Spokesman-Review had a great article about their thrilling finish to capture the championship.  Missing was any mention of Mike Hadway, who stepped in as head coach when James Fisher went on medical leave early in the season. 

The championship was won by the boys’ efforts over the past years, but without Coach Hadway at the helm it very well may not have happened.  Mike is not just a fill-in.  In his years at Ferris, he has coached his teams to five state cross country championships and in 2009 the team was second in the nation. He has had numerous individual state champions in cross country and track.

The running community in Spokane appreciates Mike for all of the endless hours he devotes to developing and inspiring these young men.  

 

Brad Cossette

Spokane

Military discount should apply

I am a Spokane native who joined the Navy in 2006, three years after I graduated from Valley Christian School and a short tenure at Spokane Falls Community College.

I came to Spokane a few weekends ago because I had just completed a three-year tour overseas and wanted to come back to the Lilac City to see my family, whom I haven’t seen since 2013.

One of my days home, I wanted to treat my dad to a round of golf at Esmeralda Golf Course. I had asked the clerk if they offered a military discount. She replied, “Only if you’re a local resident stationed at Fairchild.” I replied, “Well, I’m a Spokane native who happens to be stationed in San Diego.” She replied, “Well, no, you don’t qualify.”

What do you mean I don’t qualify? I’ve served on two ships, deploying four times, one including a three-year overseas tour.

Come on now. I receive answers like “no, we don’t offer a discount, sorry” all the time. But why are you only limiting it to some? This should be corrected.

Nathan Alexander

San Diego

EWU better off without defectors

Five girls leaving the Eastern basketball team is a sign of the times. Many incoming players have never known hard work in their lives. Too many parents think they know more than the coach about how athletes should be coached, when they have never even watched a single practice.

The fact the team had a good won/loss year tells me that the girls were asked by their coach to give more effort to win than they wanted to give. The girls who left were more concerned about themselves than they were about the team.

Eastern women’s basketball team will be better off without them. My hat’s off to their coach.

It boggles my mind that any girl would give up a free ride to college in the hope that they might find somewhere else to hook on. They would never be asked to play on my team.

Gene Sivertson

Spokane

Schuller treated unfairly by S-R

The Spokesman-Review never spends gas to come to Cheney and cover the EWU women’s basketball team at Reese Court.

Why the yellow journalism against coach Wendy Schuller?

I’ve known Wendy in three different capacities at EWU: undergraduate, graduate and co-worker. I’m glad The Spokesman-Review finally reported on Schuller’s program, looking past numerous national team GPA awards, community civic work or Big Sky titles. Neglecting to interview former four-year letter-winning student-athletes who may have more insight into the program. 

Schuller’s focus: Win at life through academics.

 But why report on that, huh?

The “lock-out” story, a copycat of the 1999 UConn’s women’s basketball team, gets the coverage instead? ESPN recently covered UConn’s version as “team leadership.”

 Schuller’s real offense is being unoriginal.

 Schuller pushes her program to be promoted on par with other teams. I sold tickets for her program for four years. Our football team secured the 2010 FCS national title in Texas and we flew back that night, to work a home women’s basketball game that afternoon.

Maybe the next time The Spokesman-Review miraculously appears in Cheney, that can be covered as well. I’ll hold my breath at equal media coverage.

Troy Kirby

Sacramento, California

Wills too good to be overlooked

I enjoyed the article on Spokane baseball and I know Jim Price is a consummate baseball historian but in his description of 1958 AAA baseball in Spokane he left out the name of Maury Wills.

He only won the 1962 National League MVP with 104 stolen bases (record topping Ty Cobb). For the award he beat out Willie Mays who that year hit .309 with 49 home runs and a 141 RBIs. A shortstop wouldn’t win that honor for another 34 years.

Maury was perhaps the most disruptive force in the National League through much of the 1960s.

And by the way, Maury was selected for seven All-Star games and has three World Series rings.

Tom Engdahl

Spokane

Letters policy

We welcome letters of up to 200 words on all sports and outdoors topics. All letters are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one letter every 30 days. Please include your street address and telephone number where you can be reached for verification.

Send to: Letters to the Sports Editor, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside Ave., Spokane, WA 99201, or fax to (509) 744-5655, or email to sports@spokesman.com.