Letters To The Editor

Babcock criticized

The other night, when I was at the (Spokane Chiefs) hockey game, another fan told me Brad Ference was suspended by coach Mike Babcock for excessive rough play. While I thought about that, I wondered if coach Babcock could suspend himself for no play!

The coach’s offense is like something out of Jurassic Park … archaic at best.

His offense reminds me of single-wing football out of the ‘30s. His best play is to dump the puck in from the blue line and then make a line change. Coach Babcock must think the Western Hockey League awards points for line changes done on time because the players are always changed on time, even when the Chiefs are on a break or hopelessly defending their zone. When his watch says change, the boys skate to the bench … no matter what! Rumor has it the coach came from some unknown part of Canada … one that hasn’t discovered hockey yet!

My advice to the Spokane Chiefs would be to devise a new offense. Play Ference, dump Babcock, and give all season ticket-holders a refund! Bill Elston Spokane

Hockey fans spirited out

I’m here to help John Blanchette (“Chiefs’ win at the gate reveals trend,” Dec. 2). Why was the attendance 10,115 at the hockey game?

Simple. It was a Special Group Night, specifically, Scout Night. This season, the Chiefs have eight such Special Nights. This is how the crack sales group for Brett packs an arena. Church Night was basically a sell-out on Nov. 7 as well. These are the crowds they cater to, groups and families, not hockey fans.

Since the new arena was built, the diehard hockey fans have become a less important part of the scheme. I, along with some friends, have been put in the position where it is no longer fun to go to the games, so we are no longer part of the season package-holders. Fans are supposed to sit in their seats and clap politely when the Chiefs do well. The Section Leaders and Security will deal with swearing, cowbells or any other noise, like yelling.

The Price-Costco Family Section was created to protect families from hockey fans like me. It just happens the entire Arena has turned into the Price-Costco Family Section.

Through good times and bad, hockey fans were always there. Without them, the Arena probably would not be the great facility it is today. Watch for the attendance to drop as the Chiefs rebuild the next few years. The honeymoon of a new Arena and the Memorial Cup has provided great attendance, but Spokane “fans” don’t like losing. Hockey fans are a little more forgiving.

So why no basketball fans at the game? Poor publicity, poor planning to be the same night as hockey (a Special Group Night), who knows for sure. The Chiefs are hockey players one step from the NHL. Where are local basketball players headed, lockout or not? Even exhibition NBA games haven’t gone over well here.

By the way, hockey is great on TV. Fox is dreadful and people who can’t see the puck or follow the game are no loss to the sport. Ian Yeager Spokane

Cougars in good company

Before closing the book on Washington State’s disappointing 1998 college football season, two facts need to be noted. Sure, the Cougars followed their 10-2 Rose Bowl season with a 3-8 year, but they are not alone in following a good season with a bad one. Consider these examples from history:

Georgia Tech 10-0-0 in 1928 to 3-6-0 in 1929; Michigan 7-0-1 in 1933 to 1-7-0 in 1934; USC 10-1-1 in 1933 to 4-6-1 in 1934; TCU 11-0-0 in 1938 to 3-7-0 in 1939; UCLA 6-0-4 in 1939 to 1-9-0 in 1940; Wisconsin 8-1-1 in 1942 to 1-9-0 in 1943; Navy 7-1-1 in 1945 to 1-8-0 in 1946; Illinois 7-1-1 in 1953 to 1-8-0 in 1954; Maryland 10-1-0 in 1955 to 2-7-1 in 1956; Notre Dame 8-2-0 in 1955 to 2-8-0 in 1956; USC 8-2-0 in 1956 to 1-9-0 in 1957; Colorado 9-2-0 in 1961 to 2-8-0 in 1962; Michigan State 9-0-1 in 1966 to 3-7-0 in 1967; Kansas 9-2-0 in 1968 to 1-9-0 in 1969; Arizona State 12-0-0 in 1975 to 4-7-0 in 1976; UCLA 10-2-0 in 1988 to 3-7-1 in 1989; Louisville 10-1-1 in 1990 to 2-9-0 in 1991. And the most egregious example of all: Marshall 8-0-0 in 1919 to 0-8-0 in 1920.

Furthermore, Washington State defeated Illinois, which beat Indiana, which conquered Minnesota, which vanquished Michigan State, and the Spartans subdued both Notre Dame and Ohio State. So comparative scores clearly show the Cougars over both the Irish and the Buckeyes: Washington State 20, Illinois 13; Illinois 31, Indiana 16; Indiana 20, Minnesota 19; Minnesota 19, Michigan State 18; Michigan State 45, Notre Dame 23; Michigan State 28, Ohio State 24.

So you see, Washington State’s season wasn’t so unusual or without accomplishment. Bob Kirlin Spokane