The Slice: The inaugural tournament was hardly small potatoes

Paul Turner is taking some time off this summer. In his absence, we dive into the archives at Slice Central. Today, we revisit June 29, 2002.

There’s no reason to stop with Hoopfest.

Why not Wiffle Ball-fest? Or Croquetfest? Or Miniature Golf-fest? Or Potato Salad-fest?

Just wondering: Have you noticed that ballcaps have become the 21st century version of the comb-over?

In most public places: If the parents are making a good-faith effort to soothe a crying baby, you know what you can do with your dirty look.

Seven for today:

1. Is there anyone who couldn’t beat up scowling “tough guy” rapper Eminem?

2. What did you decide with the flip of a coin?

3. Why does each generation think it was the first to come up with the idea of wearing shoes without socks?

4. Shouldn’t Time magazine’s “People” page be called the “Cleavage” page?

5. After friends or family have visited your workplace, what do they say? (And when they arrived, did the receptionist know that you exist?)

6. Who would you rather have on your Hoopfest team – Ellen Travolta or Patty Duke?

7. Have you noticed that the best Hillyard jokes are told by people who grew up there or live there now?

Nice things happen: Grace Bostrom of the Spokane Valley lost a debit card and didn’t realize it. But a Hayden Lake woman found it, looked Bostrom up in the phone book and then called long-distance to confirm the address before sending it to her. “Not all angels show their halos and wings,” said Bostrom.

Creative writing: My friend Dawn Larzelier wonders how someone in Spokane trying to arrange a summer house-swap with a family in, say, Italy or Maine, would word the ad to make the Lilac City sound enticing.

S-R slogan from yesteryear: “Everybody else reads it – why not you?”

It’s pronounced “ran-cher”: Did you know there’s a house design called the “Spokane” plan? Three bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms and a two-car garage. One of these homes in suburban Dallas was recently being sold on eBay for $207,000.

For the admissions committee’s benefit: The Slice heard from a recent high school valedictorian. She said the cynicism implied by the question about the motivations behind much social service volunteering is not unfounded.