Letters
Nameck deserved better treatment
The recent dismissal of Bud Nameck by WSU/IMG has been disconcerting (at best), disdainful and mishandled (more probable). The usual causes for such dismissals often range from poor performance (but we are left with BobRob and Gesser?) to lack of institutional loyalty (but he has been gentlemanly to a fault with Bone, Leach and Moos). These excuses don’t apply.
The head scratching over the rationale intensified with the completely disingenuous IMG press release regarding the new hire, which used phrases such as “single unifying personality,” and “world class broadcasts.” These phrases, and others more glowing, perfectly describe the body of work Mr. Nameck has provided WSU. There is not space here to list the numerous awards and accolades won by Bud during his career, but “looking to improve broadcasts” will be accomplished by a Winston-Salem, North Carolina resident with nominal knowledge of current or historical Cougar sports culture? Cronyism within the IMG and/or WSU athletic department seems to be the only justification plausible for Bud’s dismissal.
The silence of Mr. Moos has been equally disturbing. It is insulting to Cougar fans, who have treasured Bud’s work, that hiding behind the “partnership formed with IMG” becomes the only athletic department statement.
The only acronym I want to hear in the next Moos statement regarding Mr. Nameck is HOF.
Jeff Norton
Spokane
Parents have too much say these days
Here we go again.
Two highly successful baseball coaches fired because disgruntled parents didn’t like something or another about how these two coaches utilized their players.
I know nothing about the details of these two situations, but disgruntled parents is an easy call.
Coeur d’Alene A.D. Bryan Duncan says, “We are going in a different direction.” Lewiston A.D. Corey Williams echoes Duncan. The only possible change of direction is going from winners to losers. Neither A.D. has the guts to call it like it is in saying they were pressured by parents to make a change.
Meddlesome parents have on too many occasions taken the joy out of coaching. Too many administrators have succumbed to parental pressure. Parents should be thankful to coaches for helping their sons change from boyhood to manhood. Parents who feel the necessity to stick their noses into the coach/ athlete relationship, should just sit back, say nothing, and enjoy the experience of watching their son or daughter participate.
I wonder how many of these same parents would react to outsiders making judgment calls about their job performance?
Gene Sivertson
Spokane
Letters policy
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