Morrison? For cryin’ out loud

Zag Adam Morrison didn’t impress ESPNers by collapsing in tears on the court after that tough loss to UCLA. This week, ESPN online commenters were tag-teaming him. Morrison, surmised columnist Bill Simmons, has a “competitive disorder” – you know, “he hollers during games and seems like one of those guys who flips over Scrabble boards and keeps you playing Ping-Pong until he wins.” Simmons blamed Hollywood tough guy Clint Eastwood for turning on the sports waterworks by bawling after he pulled the respirator plug on Hilary Swank in “Million Dollar Baby.” In “Crying is for losers,” ESPN columnist Brian Murphy noted that Lou Gehrig cried during his farewell address and that even Alexander the Greek teared up when he realized there was nothing left to conquer. He then listed 10 sports guys who’d never sob in the field of play, including Texas Tech BB coach Bob Knight, the late Billy Martin and 1973 Triple Crown winner Secretariat. (Read: There’s no cryin’ in horse racing.) Morrison, however, isn’t the first disappointed collegian to shed a tear. After the NCAA title showdown with Magic Johnson, wrote Simmons, Larry Bird “wept like a schoolgirl.” So, don’t write young Morrison off as a future NBA star yet.

Who’s protecting Shasta?

First, a disclaimer: The S-R didn’t learn about kidnap victim Shasta Groene’s availability for an interview until seeing the newscast film from KREM-TV and KHQ Wednesday. So, this may sound like sour grapes. But what the heck were the adults involved here thinking – both those in Shasta’s family and the TV ambulance chasers? Staging a birthday party for Shasta’s slain brother is one thing, but using it as a backdrop for an interview with a 9-year-old rape victim in full view of I-90 traffic is another. Is anyone watching out for this little girl? … BTW: Editor Steve Smith had this reaction to Shasta’s interviews for Huckleberries Online readers Thursday: “… Even if invited to the event, even if we had attended for background purposes, little Shasta’s face and comments would not have appeared in the S-R. I won’t go so far as to say it’s child abuse. But I do believe it is, at the least, insensitive exploitation” … And at the morning briefing Thursday: “I was just frankly appalled at what I saw on television last night. I don’t want to sell papers on the back of little Shasta Groene.” Bingo.

Northwest circle of life

After almost 30 years, I’ve discovered the Inland Northwest has four seasons: Zag basketball, M’s baseball, WSU/Seattle Seahawk football, and one for crying when our lads fall short … In that ongoing Olympian poll, a plurality of 28.7 percent of 2,397 respondents preferred that the state of Washington ditch the slogan “Say WA” for this one: “Washington: Left of Everywhere” … BTW: When my Huckleberries Online blurkers heard that the city of Hayden was looking for a brand or motto, it went right to work. Among the offerings: “Hayden: We Got Out Of Control Growth, Too.” And: “Hayden: We Have Enough Zip Trips For Any Town Our Size.” And a legit one: “Hayden: A Little Town In A Lot of Country” … Berry Picker Toadman launched the thread (blog word for a series of comments on a given theme or issue) with this $64,000 question: “Why does everything have to be branded?”

Huckleberries

Poet’s Corner: “TV talking/heads were trusted,/now his brackets/all are busted” – The Bard of Sherman Avenue (“Final Four”) … Actor Rob Estes has gone on to bigger and better things since starring as the Beast in the Coeur d’Alene Summer Theatre production of “Beauty and the Beast” during the 2005 season. On Thursday, he was police detective Sean Cole, trying to solve the murder of a gay S.F. boxer in “The Evidence.” And the scriptwriter found room to toss in a beauty-and-the-beast reference. Promising TV series … As a disgruntled deputy public defender, Linda Payne made headlines by giving a jar of Vaseline and lipstick to Kootenai County commissioners, with card containing instructions how to use them. After hearing about a court ruling that could lead to the removal of unsightly pole barns in her neighborhood, Payne said: “If it weren’t inappropriate, I’d give Judge Hosack a big kiss.” Hey, it beats getting a greeting card from her … Another Sign of Spring: The skaters have returned to the Coeur d’Alene Skate Park … Channel Surfing: Yes, that was ex-Zag Richie Frahm nailing four 3’s and 16 points in helping his new team, the Houston Rockets, to a lopsided win over the less-than-Supersonics Wednesday. Richie’s line for 29 games: 9.4 minutes played and 2.5 points per game. But his minutes with the Rockets are picking up.

Parting shot

You’re right to think the animals have overtaken the zoo when it comes to Idaho politics – what with an Otter favored to win a governor’s seat once held by a Batt who defeated an EchoHawk in the same year that voters picked a Fox to guard the education coop. I could go on. But you probably have had enough.