Winger returns in different atmosphere
Back during Jim Winger’s first go-around as the Lake City High boys basketball coach, it was rare that he heard criticism about his coaching.
He had his share of detractors, don’t get me wrong. There just wasn’t a public forum in which they could air their displeasure. Winger knows his return at LC will not go unnoticed.
Winger understands he’s entering a new world – the blog world – where 99.9 percent of the criticism will be made without a real name attached to the comments.
I posted a story Friday evening about Winger returning. By Wednesday morning, there were 40 comments – split down the middle between those supporting his return and those criticizing him, among other things.
“I don’t really think it is criticism unless you put your name behind it,” Winger said. “I don’t deal with anonymous things. If you’re going to be anonymous, I don’t put any weight on it at all.”
He said he doesn’t read my blog. But he has friends and family who do, and the comments about him or anything LC related make their way back to him.
He said the barbs don’t bother him.
“If people weren’t saying anything I’d probably be more alarmed,” Winger said. “People are interested if they’re commenting positively or negatively. If you’re going to let that kind of stuff bother you, you shouldn’t be doing it at all because it’s a pressure cooker enough as it is. Hey, I’ve been married for 20 years. I’m used to a little criticism.”
One of the blog comments talked about sequels usually not being as good as the original.
“I frankly think he’ll be more successful than he was before,” LC principal John Brumley said. “Having been an administrator, he understands all the demands. He’s a much more experienced person.”
Winger said he hasn’t been this excited about coaching since his early years.
“I think I’m going to be a better coach, more well-rounded,” he said. “When I was younger, I had tunnel vision. Being an athletic director you see things through a different set of eyes.”
The early leader
Coach Tom Grunenfelder’s Bengals protected their home field last Saturday by sweeping defending 5A state champ Lake City in a pair of Inland Empire League baseball games.
Lewiston, which fell 7-1 to LC in the all-North Idaho state final last year, topped the Timberwolves 10-6 and 4-3 in eight innings.
Now league-leading Lewiston (11-0, 7-0) begins playing a few IEL games on the road. The Bengals, who have played all but one game at home, will play three of four remaining league doubleheaders against 5A teams on the road. They begin with two at CdA (5-8, 3-4) on Saturday and two more the following Saturday at LC (6-2, 2-2). Lewiston’s remaining home doubleheader against a 5A team, Post Falls (2-6, 1-2), is Tuesday. A rescheduled doubleheader at PF is May 2.
“We came out and played great baseball against a great team,” Grunenfelder told the Lewiston Tribune. “These are probably two of the better teams in the state. To come out and get a sweep, that was huge.”
Thanks for coming
Post Falls track coach Wade Quesnell wanted to do everything he could to make a go of things Tuesday, but a blizzard about 30 minutes before the scheduled start of the Christina Finney Co-Ed Relays rendered the track and pit areas for field events dangerous. The meet was canceled and will not be rescheduled after it was postponed last month.
“Most of the coaches understood and didn’t want to get their kids hurt,” Quesnell said. “It’s in the best interest of the kids.”
•The Lake City Invitational, scheduled for Saturday, has been canceled because the forecast is calling for the worst weather of the week. Boise-area schools Borah, Mountain View and Centennial were going to attend along with Post Falls, Coeur d’Alene, Lewiston and Moscow.
A scaled back meet for the local teams will be held today at Post Falls, beginning at 3:30.