Cougs an inspiration

I am a long-time observer and participant in college basketball, and I can’t remember the last team that has impressed me the way Tony Bennett’s Washington State Cougars have. I’m not talking about their impressive win streak. I am talking about the classy way they go about it.

I am appalled today about the lack of sportsmanship displayed in most college basketball programs. Programs where “trash talking” is the way to belittle your opponent, where slam dunks are followed by screams into the camera signifying, “just look at me,” and every opportunity is made to show up your opponent.

Unless I’m missing something, Bennett’s Cougars refrain from trash talking, go about the execution of their assignments in a businesslike and dedicated way, and are gracious winners as well as gracious losers on the rare occasions this year where that is required. So hail to the Cougars! You are an inspiration and a class act.

Cal Riemcke

Nine Mile Falls