It’s a rivalry all right, but only on the playing field

Come on, admit it. You like a good rivalry as much as the next person.

One of those claw-their-eyes-out, punch-‘em-under-the-pile matchups.

I have no problem ‘fessing up. I grew up in the middle of a budding rivalry in Kennewick, Wash., between the established, old high school on the east side of town and the newest kid on the block, Kamiakin, the school I attended.

Funny how life comes full circle, isn’t it? My kids find themselves in a similar situation.

The high schools in my hometown were still working up a lather for each other when I reached ninth grade in the late 1970s. Kamiakin had just opened its doors a few years earlier.

So I believe I can speak to the still-growing rivalry in the City by the Lake with some credible perspective. The sport that launched the LC-CdA rivalry was boys basketball. LC decisively leads the overall series through the first decade.

It’s only been since 2000 that football has added to the rivalry. If you’ll recall, CdA dominated the sport the first couple of years, and it’s been all LC since 1997 – to the tune of 11 consecutive victories. The football series has yet to produce a major upset – which is usually part and parcel of a true cross-town rivalry.

The two most competitive sports for the girls have been basketball and softball. LC has dominated in basketball and CdA has owned the series in softball.

I say all of that to say this: While there’s certainly rivalry in the athletic arena, there are plenty of wholesome community relations off the fields. The schools and their boosters need to be applauded.

This week caps the third year that the patrons of both schools and their booster clubs have rallied financial support for activities at both schools, raising more than $100,000 the first two years. Boosters from both schools will celebrate another successful fund-raising campaign ($75,000-$90,000) with a dinner and auction Saturday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

It all started when budget cuts three years ago threatened several under-varsity programs at both schools.

I don’t want to diminish the importance of winning the games. But it does need to be kept in proper perspective. It’s the kids who play those games – not the coaches, not the parents.

Those games mean much more to the seniors each year.

Which schools win what games will fade over time unless the season includes something as special as a state championship.

It’s been 24 years since I attended basketball and football games at Kamiakin, and I couldn’t tell you which school won what games my senior year without looking it up.

Never lose sight of what’s most important. Not the games, but the friendships one builds along the journey. Those can last a lifetime.

Dan Palmer, a CdA High booster, put it best when praising boosters from both schools for rallying around kids.

“A lot of us are friends, but when you go to a game it’s so competitive, it’s tough to go over and talk to them,” Palmer said. “Parents probably get wrapped up in it more than the kids. So that’s part of the reason for keeping the (fund-raising) going. (The dinner/auction) is a chance to talk with them in a non-competitive atmosphere.”

Until, say, Oct. 29 when the football teams collide in what could draw a standing-room-only crowd similar to the one in 2000 – about the time that these football games started adding flavor to the rivalry.