Let tradition live

Sun., May 2, 2010

The Spokesman-Review

The WIAA’s decision to modify the 16-team state tournaments has been on my mind since last week. I didn’t think it sounded like a good idea, but wasn’t too sure about the significance of the format until my intuition suggested I write in defense of small-town basketball and its historical significance.

It seems to me that revenue is being lost in 3A/4A state tournaments in Tacoma/Seattle. As far as I can remember, attendance at the 1B/2B/1A/2A tournaments far surpasses the attendance at the 3A/4A levels. It sounds like small-school tournament tradition and history is being changed at the expense of lost revenue of the bigger schools.

Each tournament committee should consider doing an analysis of each tournament. What are the strengths of the tournament; what are the weaknesses of the tournament; what are the opportunities of the tournament; and what are the threats of the tournament? After this analysis, if the tournament is not broken, don’t fix it.

Structure your individual tournaments based on the results. Have you considered moving the tournaments with sagging attendance to one of the other two locations?

Remember, tradition is the backbone of small communities, whether it is religion or basketball. What does tradition mean to you? I hope you find it in your hearts to have empathy on the faithful and hear the roar of the fans, players and coaches who have supported WIAA tournaments all these years.

I ask that you reconsider the decision to pare down the state tournaments and keep tradition alive.

Robert Garza

Pasco

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Let tradition live

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Inside the perspective that led WSU DE Matyus McLain back to Pullman

Updated: Pac-12 transfer tracker: Keeping up with portal moves, transactions for all nine teams

Could a pair of former recruits be back in the mix for Gonzaga? | Transfer targets 1.0