Letters to the editor

Missed McClellan in clutch

Where in the world was Eric McClellan?

That was the question our roomful of Zag fans were wondering here in Edmonds during the second half of last night’s game. As the Zags began to fray at the edges toward the end of the contest, Eric’s seat on the bench became entirely inexplicable – unless – he must have sustained an injury of some kind, right?

Today we find out that Few just decided to sit him. Seriously? As the most experienced, physically (and one could argue, emotionally) strongest guard on the team, as well as the best rebounder at the position, it makes no sense that Eric was not on the floor.

Even a great coach can occasionally suffer from tunnel vision, but aren’t Few’s assistants there to tap him on the shoulder if needs be and remind him of his options? It’s all conjecture and hindsight, I know, but I really think that strategically Few dropped the ball big time in this situation.

Still a Zags fan.

David Arntuffus

Shoreline, WA

Admirable Zags deserve attention

Regarding the letter to the editor by Barb Beck (March 27), I appreciate everyone’s right to an opinion. However, I don’t believe the world needs any more negativity and whining such as your letter. These types of opinions are best kept to yourself. We wonder if perhaps someone did something”bad” to your oatmeal that morning?

Your comments that the WCC is a weak conference is uneducated and ill informed. The Zags belonged in the tournament, and BYU and Saint Mary’s should have had an invite.

My wife, myself, and our Moscow Zag Fan Club have had many wonderful opportunities to meet and visit with the Zag players at their annual banquet. You won’t meet a finer bunch of young men, terrific coach and great staff. The players are articulate, intelligent, personable, not to mention gifted student-athletes.

What Mark Few, his staff, and his players have given to our communities is not only beyond compare, but also something all programs can emulate. The community work the players do even after all their school work, practices and game travels, is very admirable. You can’t begin to estimate the financial impact Mark’s program has had for Gonzaga and the community. Not to mention the fabulous entertainment factor, and the positive good will that surrounds both his program and the women’s program.

As for you, Barb, I see only two solutions to your complaints. One is that you avoid all news and media for the better part of each year. Or, you could move over to the west side, or some other wet, dreary, gloomy place that might better suit your personality.

Can’t wait for next year. Go Zags!

Ted Allegri

Moscow

Regarding Mrs. Beck’s letter (March 27): Thank you, Barb, for your personal insight of the Zags. I find that you are exactly right on two points.

First, there is quite a bit of media support during the Bulldogs’ season. But check out any other city newspaper or TV that has a small school that has gone to the NCAA tournament 18 years. (Oh, wait a minute, there are none.)

And two, that the WCC is a weak conference. That may be true, but because of the Zags that conference has become stronger each year. And what about the attention that the Zags have brought to our community? Some things we may not get to see here if it were not for them.

As for you bursting any bubbles. True Zag fans will still relish the attention we get every year. The only attention you may get is negative and bursting bubbles may just be opinions of you.

Allan Simpson

Liberty Lake

I would think it would be strange if The Spokesman-Review did not report lavishly about Gonzaga basketball. Keep up the good coverage of all local sports, S-R. It’s very difficult to cover so much in the region and I thank you do a great job.

Pam Yarwood

Seven Bays

Congratulations to Gonzaga for a great run!

However, at the end of the game with Syracuse, it appeared to me that the Gonzaga player was fouled on his shot. The refs must have thought it was a block. I thought it was a foul and he should have been awarded two shots, and since Gonzaga was only one point behind, it could have retaken the lead. I backed up the game on my TV apparatus and forwarded it at slow and stop-action speed and it was very clear the Syracuse player hit the Gonzaga player’s arm. This no-call probably cost Gonzaga the game. That’s what I hate about basketball as a sport. At the end of a game, some stupid call or lack of a call by a middle-aged, perhaps somewhat visually challenged official, decides the game. That’s why I like football. If you knock everyone on the other team on their ass and walk into the end zone, there is not much a somewhat questionable official can do to change that outcome. That lack of a call was a travesty.

Another point is why North Carolina is even in the tournament. After it was reported they had created a scam African and Afro-American Studies studies program, which mostly athletes attended or did not attend, and were given grades and credits for no work to keep them eligible to play for North Carolina, where is the NCAA punishment? This would not fall under “lack of institutional control,” but instead shows remarkable institutional control. It has been reported North Carolina did this for about 20 years. And what has been their punishment? Where is the NCAA action?

Ronald Garrett

Spokane

I read the article (“Spring brings out special traditions” – March 27) this morning about sports events coming up now that it’s spring, and I looked in vain for anything related to girls or women’s sports.

This is a sad state of affairs. I’m aware The Spokesman-Review sports staff for the most part could not care less about women’s sports, but when you can’t even mention a female event to match the male events coming up (baseball/softball; the Masters/the LPGA’s majors), I believe it underscores a deeper problem than simply professional negligence.

Please don’t respond to me with a list of times you have “covered” local female events in an effort to prove you cover them equally. You don’t and that’s simply fact.

It’s just sad, that’s all.

Mary Morris

Rathdrum

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