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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

A Grip on Sports: There are still people out there who deserve a pat on the back, so today we highlight some of them

Andre Dillard smiles while hanging out on the sidelines during Washington State’s Crimson and Grey Game on Saturday, April 20, 2019, at Martin Stadium in Pullman. (Tyler Tjomsland / The Spokesman-Review)

A GRIP ON SPORTS • For this Friday, we’ve decided to praise some people. Weird, I know. But what the heck. It’s a good day to do it.

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• Atop our hit parade this morning is Washington State alum Andre Dillard.

The former left tackle came to Pullman without much of a portfolio, but built one through hard work, intelligence and diligence. When he left the Palouse two years ago, he left as one of the better offensive linemen in the school’s history – and the school has had plenty really good ones.

He also left as a first-round NFL draft pick, one who was blessed with a nearly $7 million signing bonus and a four-year contract. He also left with a heart of gold. That latter virtue has shown up recently as Dillard, out of the blue, decided to send WSU athletes a care package to help them train while separated from the university.

The best aspects of the gifts? They went to all types of Cougar athletes, not just football players, and there wasn’t a press release sent out to trumpet them. In fact, no one would have known if not for Cougars taking to social media and showing the world what Dillard did.

In his time in Pullman, Dillard showed not just athletic ability but human ability. In our interactions with him, he was willing to share his thoughts on a variety of subjects and it was clear he had empathy for his fellow man. Words are inexpensive, however. Actions are not. Andre Dillard’s actions in this regard will pay of for many WSU athletes. And prove what type of person the left tackle is.

• I’m not a draft guy. Not one to get into it, no matter the sport, before it happens, not one to watch while it’s going on. And by “draft,” I mean any draft, football, basketball, heck, even the Army’s. (Though, I will admit, while in high school, I took a keen interest in the ping-pong-ball birthday lottery, held for the Army’s draft. Every male my age in America did.)

Which I hope will convince you I’m a voice to trust in this matter. Tonight’s WNBA draft, though a virtual affair – as will be the NFL’s next week – will be the most-watched WNBA draft of all time. And it’s not just because Sabrina Ionescu will be the first pick.

Nope, people are hungry for sports-related activities. Without games, without competitions, without what we conceive as “normal,” we’re hungry for something to discuss that isn’t scripted. And the WNBA draft will fill that void.

It is on ESPN tonight at 4 p.m.

• One more attaboy. My neighbor works at one of the biggest big-box stores in the area. He stocks. I see him leave in the evening and see him come home in the morning.

He’s my new hero. The job he’s doing isn’t the most glamorous. It isn’t the most high-profile. It isn’t the most financially rewarding. It’s just important.

When anyone makes a trip to his place of employment, he’s part of the reason they can grab a 24-pack of toilet paper or a two-pound bunch of bananas. And for that we should be thankful.

I am.

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WSU: After breaking the school’s long-standing career scoring record, the Cougars’ Borislova Hristova – Bobbi Buckets to the WSU faithful – hopes to hear her name called tonight in the WNBA draft. Ryan Collingwood spoke with her this week and has this story. … Theo Lawson has a couple things for us, including a story on Dillard’s recent largesse (we also linked it above). The other one? It is a summary of yesterday’s Virtual Northwest Passages Forum on this here website. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, the three Oregon stars are not the only players in the conference waiting on a WNBA phone call. Besides Hristova (mentioned above), Oregon State and UCLA players are  expecting to be chosen. … On the men’s side, Oregon State added a transfer to its signing class. … There wasn’t an NCAA Tournament this year. So why Colorado coach Tad Boyle was going to receive a bonus for making a non-existent tournament is hard to understand. He’s not taking it, which seems to be the right decision. … Utah, trying to improve the ambiance, is making its arena smaller for next basketball season. … Colorado will take a financial hit this summer from non-athletic-related events being canceled. … In football news, will the season start on time? Or at all? No one knows. … JT Daniels has entered the transfer portal. But the USC quarterback may not leave. … I agree with this sentiment from Arizona State’s Herm Edwards. In all things. … Oregon State should be better defensively. … Arizona’s secondary is getting thin. … Finally, we pass along this look at Washington’s creative department. These are the folks that put together all those cool graphics and videos you may watch on social media.

Gonzaga: Around the WCC, BYU signed one more basketball player, a junior college transfer.

Preps: The Greater Spokane League is expanding, whenever high school sports return. With the addition of the area’s 2A schools, the league decided it needs more help on the administrative end. Dave Nichols has the story.

Hoopfest: With the world’s largest 3-on-3 tournament headed to August this year, Larry Weir talked with executive director Matt Santangelo about the change. It’s part of the latest Press Box pod.

Seahawks: The Hawks’ linebackers are pretty darn good. But they are also getting older. Is it time to inject some more new blood via the draft? … You know the Hawks will draft an offensive lineman at some point.

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• Fridays in the time of quarantine are probably not all that different than Mondays or Thursdays in your house. Then again, the routine for each of the workdays has never varied greatly. Get up, get dressed, go to work, work, go home. We are creatures of habit, after all. Sports helped break up that monotony. Without it, I’ve turned to food. How about you? Until later …