Letters To The Editor

BASKETBALL

CCS team deserves more

I know that the State B Tournament brings a much needed boost to Spokane’s economy. However, shouldn’t we give a little more support to our local kids? The Spokane Community College men’s basketball team has always taken a back seat to WSU, EWU and mostly Gonzaga.

I would think that this year, since they worked so well as a team and surprised everyone by winning the NWAACC men’s basketball title, that they should have had better coverage.

Having been a parent of a former player, many times I didn’t agree with coach Sam Brasch’s coaching choices, but I always knew his heart was in the right place. It’s not too late to honor this man, his staff and his players. Bonne Ohrens Otis Orchards

Open seating at B a fallacy

I must admit I am addicted to amateur basketball. So when the State B tournaments were set to light up Spokane, I jumped at the opportunity to bond with my 11-year-old aspiring basketball star for treats, hoops and stretched stories on my high school basketball career.

Here’s what happened: I paid for the tickets and inquired if it was open seating throughout the Arena, to which the answer was “Yes, it is all open seating.” We grabbed the treats, two seats and watched two games, which were probably the best B games I have ever seen.

As game three was about to start, someone asked if we were from St. John-Endicott. I answered no. A couple minutes later, an usher arrived, demanding us to leave our seats. I explained the seating is open and we have been here for the previous two games. Well, the conversation escalated and soon I was told we would be thrown out of the Arena if we did not move. As I continued my refusal to move, “Larry”, our usher, unbuttoned his jacket and made gestures suggesting he was prepared to remove me from my seat. By this time, you can imagine how embarrassed and upset my son was becoming. With his constant interjections of “Let’s just go dad,” I threw in my compassion towel for him and we left.

Help me with these questions:

1. If open seating is not open seating, what is it? Believe me, I fully understand the fan rally support concept. But with our enthusiasm for the game, I think you would want us on your “side.”

2. If there are seats available in the closed rally section, can’t a 43-year-old dad and son sit there? We moved to the other side of the Arena and ironically, no one sat in our seats for the entire game. Were they too hot?

3. Hey, St. John-Endicott, help me with these. I was brought up in a similar small Midwest town. For the person wanting us to leave so badly, how about the courage and courtesy to ask, versus bringing in heavy artillery?

For the group of people waving to us in our new seats: Were you mocking us or were you pointing to available seats? I really would like to know and feel good about small-town USA.

Hey Larry, do you get off on playing bully to a dad and his son? I question the lesson you exhibited to a generation already confused on authority.

Long live true amateur basketball, and while my son and I overcame a few bumps (good life lessons), you young athletes touched two hearts in one night. Jim Mueller Coeur d’Alene

B Tournament a true gem

I would like to express a few observations about the recently-completed State B Tournament. This was the 23rd B Tournament that I have attended.

It was one of the best. The outstanding performances by two record-setters, Clint Hull and Jeremy Groth, were music to the eyes. The large attendance, spurred by the success of many of the local area teams, brought an atmosphere resembling past events in the Spokane Coliseum.

The presence of two Whitman County teams in the final seemed appropriate given their league’s strong history, even though they weren’t the two teams I was rooting for. This is one of the joys of attending the whole tournament, and watching 27 games. It becomes like a good book, with 27 chapters.

You can remember how Jeremy Groth looked in his appearance two years ago, and wonder how his brothers will look in future years. You can get ready to follow good, young teams like Wilbur-Creston and Gar-Pal.

I heard many observations about the excellent degree of sportsmanship displayed. Some people still complain about the private schools, but I notice that they have actually won the championship very few times. Let us try to be generous - the mix makes things interesting. Dale Strom Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Reinstate NC gymnastics coach

My daughter Amy Aspenleiter is a varsity gymnast for North Central High School. Her coach, Bob Litton, has been head coach for 12 years at NC. He is an enthusiastic, dedicated, honest, hard-working, fair individual with nothing but the gymnasts’ best interest and safety in mind. As of March 15, 2000 he was told by Mike McGuire (NC principal) and Ed Fisher (athletic director) that he would be replaced for the 2000-2001 season. The reason given was that the school’s philosophy was different than that of Mr. Litton. The difference in philosophy is that Bob Litton wants a safe, healthy environment and the athletic director will not comply. Bob wants to save the program; Mr. Fisher wants to eventually eliminate the program.

NC has offered a gymnastics program since the mid-70s and a designated room that they share with wrestlers. This year, Mr. Fisher allowed P.E. to put circuit training machines around the perimeter of that room. Bob Litton, as well as the parents, believed that was a safety hazard. A meeting was called for the parents and administration to resolve this problem. Not one administrator or representative showed up.

Bob Litton has dedicated 12 years to NC gymnastics and has been a coach of the sport for more than 20 years. He knows the sport inside and out. He deserves to retain the head coach position at NC.

This year was the first year NC was ranked in the top 10 for state. Bob was voted GSL coach of the year in 1991, 1993, 1995, and 1996. He was the State Gymnastics Association president from 1996-1998.

To fire Bob Litton is a great travesty to NC gymnasts and parents. I believe he was fired for no other reason than his willingness to have a safe and strong program for NC. His job should be reinstated. Lori Aspenleiter Spokane

What’s with the Zag thing?

In “They should pronounce Gonzaga right” (March 13) John Blanchette seemed more concerned with the pronunciation of Gonzaga, and more particularly Denny Crum’s pronunciation of the same, than he was about Louisville being a No. 7 seed.

It’s Zag with drag, zag with gag, bag, flag, brag, and zag with zig. And only once does Blanchette mention that Gonzaga is also called the Bulldogs. The media seems to love the word Zags. USA Today (March 13) only called Gonzaga the Zags. And nobody mentions that the Bulldogs were once the Fighting Irish.

In 1920, Charles E. “Gus” Dorais became head football coach at Gonzaga, and when he found out the name of his team, he offered the name to Knute Rockne at Notre Dame.

At the time, Bing Crosby was a student at Gonzaga. Knute Rockne had been made head coach at Notre Dame in 1918 and when Gus Dorais needed a job in 1919 he got one there. Of course, earlier Gus was the quarterback to pass-catching Rockne (1910-1914) when Notre Dame was the Ramblers. The Notre Dame media guide tries to give the idea that the school has always been the Irish. Not true. George Edberg-Olson Professor at Temple University

Sweet music at Shadle Park

As the mother of three former Shadle students who were all actively involved in the pipe band and Highland dancers and marching band, I feel compelled to respond to Dave Trimmer’s article in the Sports section on March 11.

It is true, Joe Trudeau was the only Shadle Park piper in attendance and his playing truly was an inspiration to everyone there. But the writer made it sound as though young Mr. Trudeau was there alone, when in fact he was there with the other talented musicians who make up the Shadle Park pep band. Included in the pep band are several percussionists who juggle performances with the pipe band, pep band, marching/concert band and jazz band from Shadle as well as the Angus Scott Pipe Band from Spokane. Shadle has a long-standing reputation for fine musicians and I wanted everyone to know that more than just one of them showed up at the 4A tournament to support their girls basketball team. Deborah A McMurtery Spokane

No fair! Men favored in paper

I am writing to protest the unequal treatment given college women’s basketball in the March 13 edition of The Spokesman-Review.

On page C4, one-half page was given to women’s basketball, and no cities were listed for the games’ locations; page C3 had a full page for the men, with cities listed for all games.

Shame on you for this unequal treatment. Charles E. Wood Spokane

Golf cart policy sickening

I called Esmeralda Golf Course recently to see if the rate for motorized golf cart passes had gone up in price. The young man informed me that the older three-wheel golf carts would not be allowed on any of the city golf courses this year.

He informed that they were unsafe and put more compression per wheel on the ground. I own an older Harley Davidson three-wheel golf cart, and have driven it very safely for 22 years. I have had three back operations, and consider myself fortunate to be able to play golf at all. Having my own cart makes that possible for me to get out and still enjoy a game that I truly love.

The parks department has decided that I should no longer be able to play the city courses. To replace my trusty old cart with a four-wheeler with all the extras that my Harley has would cost me anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.

It absolutely makes me sick to think that the majority of the courses that I play will be off-limits to me and my cart. Another fine example of government serving it citizens. Charles M. Miles Spokane