Letters To The Editor

STATE B BASKETBALL

Leschi article well done

This morning, in my usual, pre-coffee state of grogginess, I was skimming The Spokesman-Review and came across Chris Derrick’s story on the Chief Leschi basketball team (“Holding together,” State B special section, March 3).

Before finishing it, I had become fully awake with the realization that this was an outstanding piece in which you handled an obviously sensitive subject not only with uncommon courage but also with balance and sympathy, and with splendid writing, which was at once straightforward and witty. Add deeply researched.

In short, one helluva fine piece, Chris, and your newspaper, sports editor, readers and B Tournament fans, of which I once was one, can take much pride in it, as well as yourself, of course.

Shoot, Chris, I liked it so well that after breakfast I read it again, in a fully conscious state, and it was even better. Congratulations! Harry E. Missildine Moscow, Idaho

Difference is adversity

This is in response to John Blanchette’s “It’s all about tradition” column (March 5).

First of all, let’s get past the recruiting issue. It’s real, it happens and it continues to foster hard feelings and an unfair advantage for private schools.

Private schools, quite obviously, are at an economic advantage. They have the funds to hire and retain the best coaching staffs, send their players to the best training camps and hire private tutors for students having academic problems.

Have you ever ridden in an old school bus, three to a seat, in cold weather for 90 miles? The bus heaters are not efficient, your feet freeze and feel like bricks, you are stiff and sore just trying to stay in the seat. Then you reach your destination and you play ball!

The privates, on the other hand, have chartered buses, individual overstuffed seats and climate control.

Many of the B’s are from very depressed areas. High unemployment, many single parents on welfare. These kids can’t even afford a new pair of socks, let alone shoes. Often times the only filling meal they get is through the free hot lunch program at school.

So the next B game you watch that involves a public vs. private school, I want you to know, that more than one of those kids either on the floor, or on the bench, is hungry, plays with holes in their socks and new basketball shoes are just a dream. The public B’s overcome adversity and can play ball, and that is the tradition of the State B tournament. Nora Friend Chewelah

PREP SPORTS

Prep deserves plaudits

I’d like to thank Dave Trimmer for giving Gonzaga Prep some longdeserved credit (“Life has Haugen’s ear,” March 2).

Although being the smallest school in the GSL, it still manages to compete with the bigger schools. The Bullpups are often neglected in the local sports news, and it is refreshing to have someone in the media give them some praise.

Of course, Trimmer had to go out on a limb by saying something positive about G-Prep. It is not as respected as the other teams in the league.

It usually takes takes a state championship to get Prep in the paper.

I don’t believe Trimmer is so engrossed in Gonzaga Prep as much as he just felt like giving them some credit. Nick Miller Spokane

Champions overlooked

This letter is in response to Gust Kallas’ letter of Feb. 28 (“CV Bears neglected”) regarding the article titled “Rogers pushes G-Prep to the limit”(Feb. 19).

Kallas was dismayed that Dave Trimmer focused on the Prep-Rogers game and mentioned only in passing that, “also CV won the Greater Spokane League title.”

Kallas attributed Trimmer’s oversight to the fact he is “engrossed in Gonzaga Prep.”

Guess what, Mr. Kallas? On the night the No. 1-ranked Gonzaga Prep wrestling team won the GSL wrestling title, the headline read “U-Hi bones up on CV.”

Lost in the middle of that article was the following statement: “The win allowed University to secure second place behind Gonzaga Prep. The Bullcaps (Bullcaps?) capped a 9-0 season with a 62-5 win over Mt. Spokane.”

The G-Prep wrestlers and fans know how you feel, Mr. Kallas. Not only was our accomplishment also mentioned in passing, but the good paper didn’t even get our name right while overlooking our title.

“Engrossed in Prep?” I don’t think so. Wake up, Mr. Trimmer. It seems to me that whatever team captures the GSL title in whatever sport, they deserve more than a passing mention in another game’s highlights. Gail Gleason Spokane

Track athletes slighted

In the spring of 1998, the GSL track schedule was changed with the addition of Mt. Spokane to the league. It now has two leagues of five teams. One being Ferris, Rogers, University, Gonzaga Prep and Shadle, and the other Lewis and Clark, Mead, North Central, Central Valley, and Mt. Spokane.

Now a team competes against only one other team per week instead of the old triangular meets. The league has lost the excitement of the competition between every school in the GSL and the athletes do not get the good competition week in and week out.

As a spectator, you do not get to see all of the schools until the district meet. The GSL is probably one of the strongest leagues in the state and our athletes lose out on the great push they get from the other athletes in the GSL. I believe one of the reasons our Spokane cross country teams are good, is that everyone in town pushes each other to greater levels.

Imagine having basketball or football in two leagues of five teams with a playoff at the end. It would be pretty boring and players would lose out on the great competition of meeting every other GSL team. I am hopeful students and parents will contact their principals and athletic directors to get this scheduling changed. Becky Clark Colbert

We welcome letters of up to 300 words on all sports and outdoors topics. All letters are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one letter a month. Please include your signature, 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, Spokane 99201, or fax to (509) 459-5098, or e-mail to sports@spokesman.com. S-R sports staff Sports editor: Jeff Jordan Assistant sports editors: Joe Palmquist, Gil Hulse Design editor: Geoff Pinnock Copy editors: David Oriard, Jim Price Outdoors editor: Rich Landers Columnist: John Blanchette Reporters: Steve Bergum, Chris Derrick, Hilary Kraus, Greg Lee, Janie McCauley, Jim Meehan, Carter Strickland, Dave Trimmer, Mike Vlahovich, Dan Weaver Stats desk: Kory Boatman, Brandon Loucks Contributors: Fenton Roskelley, Chuck Stewart, Jeff Finke, Paul Delaney