Grip on Sports: Common sense wins out as an Oregon school welcomed into Washington high school ranks

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Mariners took Monday off. But the wheel in the sky kept on turning, and its journey allowed us to shine a light on other sports issues, from high school to Hoopfest. Read on.

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• There are a lot of dusty roads in Eastern Oregon, maybe even more of them than people. Which means Hermiston High, one of the bigger schools on that side of the state, was in a bind.

The school’s athletic teams were traveling miles and miles to play events and, because of a change in classifications among Oregon schools, were looking at even more in the near future.

The closest schools Hermiston’s size? That would be the Tri-City high schools just north of the Columbia River. Only one problem. Those schools are in Washington.

So the Hermiston administration did something it teaches kids to do: It thought outside the confines of the usual. It’s unusual solution was simple, and complicated, at the same time: petition to join the WIAA.

And to the credit of the organizations that run Oregon and Washington’s high school athletics, the proposal was not dismissed out of hand. Both groups explored it and, in a victory for common sense, the WIAA announced yesterday Hermiston would be allowed to join for the 2018-19 school year and beyond.

Instead of wracking up an average of 404 miles, roundtrip, for league contests in Oregon, Hermiston’s teams will instead cut that to 80.

That means less time on a bus – and less transportation cost – and more time in the classroom.

That’s a win for everyone.

• I don’t know where I’ll be tomorrow, and that’s OK. A little uncertainty is good for the soul. But it’s not good when you are planning the world’s largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament.

Hoopfest is asking the City of Spokane to cap the overtime it has to pay so that the organization has some certainty in its budgeting process. As it is now, Hoopfest pays 60 percent of the police and fire overtime the city incurs during the weekend.

There is little doubt the amount Hoopfest wants to pay in 2017 and 2018, $67,000, is less than the city’s cost. But it’s a starting point for negotiations.

And Kip Hill’s story on the issue pointed out something you may not have known: Political candidates can wrack up overtime bills into the six figures, but because of constitutional worries, the city typically only bills them $500.

Why $500 and not $1,000 or $2,000 or a percentage of the actual cost?

Like so much in Spokane, it’s probably a tradition.

• Speaking of traditions, Father’s Day is getting closer. And we are still looking for fishing stories about you and your dad. I would love to share them with the readers of this column.

You put your memories down on your computer and send them to my email address – vincegrippi55@yahoo.com. I’ll take care of the rest. Please include your name and a phone number so we can verify them. That’s it.

We’ve already received a few stories but we’re always baiting our hook for a few more.

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WSU: Since the Martin Stadium remodel, the Cougars have tried to attract better non-conference foes to Pullman. It seems to be working, with Boise State coming to town this season and Wisconsin scheduled in a few years. Yesterday, WSU announced another decent non-conference foe, Houston, would be visiting in 2020, a year after the Cougars play at the Texas school. Jacob Thorpe has a story on the agreement. There are other stories as well. … Around the Pac-12, the football schedules this season aren’t considered that tough for the two Washington schools. … California is struggling to figure out how to balance its budget. A task force has passed the buck upstairs. … In football, Jackie Robinson will be honored with a Rose Bowl statue. My father, who was a bit younger than Jackie, but went to the same high school, always thought he was the best running back he ever saw (in person), though he also had a soft spot for Hugh McElhenny. … Gary Andersen is working his magic again. … Arizona State wide receiver Cameron Smith is headed to Notre Dame.

Gonzaga: A five-star point guard is going to announce his college choice today. Gonzaga is one of his final five. Arizona is considered the frontrunner, though. … It’s been an offseason of change for BYU.

Preps: The Spokane Youth Sports Awards were handed out yesterday and though there were winners, everyone really was – including the community. Greg Lee has the story on one of Spokane’s better events. … Former West Valley and East Valley wrestling coach Chuck Miller has died. Greg Lee has Miller’s obituary.

Chiefs: It’s been almost a decade, but Spokane has a new coach. It’s Dan Lambert, a hockey veteran. Dave Nichols has the story on the new coach, who will be introduced at a press conference today.

Mariners: Toronto comes to town this weekend and there will probably be the usual turnout of Blue Jay fans. But they, and everyone else, will be paying more. … Felix Hernandez is ready to make his rehab start for Tacoma. … The M’s have a new pitcher with an interesting backstory. … The season may have been saved in the past week.

Seahawks: The Hawks signed a veteran backup quarterback, but it wasn’t Colin Kaepernick. That hasn’t gone over well with a certain segment of the viewing public, but who knows for sure what was behind it? There are assumptions being made about the reasons, but in the Seahawks’ case, I’m not sure they are right.

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• Sorry for the not-so-subtle Journey references early on in today’s column. Somehow yesterday I caught an earworm and decided the best way to get rid of it was to share it with you. After all, the mornin’ sun is risin’, it’s kissing the day. Until later …