Letters To The Editor

Sun., July 21, 1996

Applauds Eastman’s principles

Having read Allan LeTourneau’s remarks in The Spokesman-Review’s Bagpipes column (July 2), I feel compelled to comment.

In response to WSU head basketball coach Kevin Eastman’s decision to remove Donminic Ellison from the team, LeTourneau stated that Eastman, “can recruit Sunday school boys and see how competitive that makes the Cougars.”

I love the game of basketball and am a supporter of the WSU men’s basketball program. Like most fans, I was saddened to learn of Ellison’s fate. However, my terrible disappointment with Ellison is tempered by how proud I am of Coach Eastman. In an age where collegiate coaches will do anything to emerge victorious, Eastman displayed his class and integrity by simply doing the right thing.

Ellison had been suspended before and was always given the opportunity to rectify his situation. He clearly didn’t learn from his previous misdeeds and Eastman had no choice but to levy a stronger punishment. Since arriving at WSU, Eastman has continually said that his job is about more than coaching basketball. It is about preparing young men for the pressures and realities of the world. That philosophy alone makes Eastman a winner in my eyes.

I am fiercely competitive and hate it when my favorite teams lose. However, no matter what happens with the Cougars basketball team next season, I will always support Eastman’s handling of the Ellison situation.

Thanks, Coach Eastman, for being a man of principle. And thanks for making me proud. Mike Dinnen Spokane

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