We Need a Bennett

I’ve been so busy being disgusted with Sonics thief Clay Bennett for taking our Supes to Oklahoma City, I suddenly realized why: I wish we had someone like him here in Washington.

Think about it. It was pretty impressive the way Bennett rolled into town with the single-minded mission of stealing the Sonics and taking them to his city. He rolled over the limp-wristed previous owner Howard Schultz like a Sherman tank over a cardboard box. He played our pathetic, uncaring governor and state legislature like a virtuoso violinist and got exactly what he wanted.

He may be a jerk here, but I’m certain he’s an absolute prince in OK City.

I never realized just how odd it would be without the Sonics until the NBA season rolled around yesterday. I feel like an outsider looking in, with no real team to latch on to.

But no more. Portland is the new Sonics. For a lot of people, many of them liked the Blazers better anyway. They’re just as close as Seattle, so, at least for our area, the loss of the Sonics isn’t so bad. Plus they feature former UW standout Brandon Roy. Most of us only go to a few games a season anyway, and it’s easier driving to Portland.

I spoke to a Blazers official yesterday, trying to determine if we could view any Portland games on TV, besides the nationally-televised ones. They have a contract with Comcast, and I understand most of their games may be viewed on channel 179. We’ll start running their listings in our Sports on the Air daily.

Go Blazers.

We Need a Bennett

I’ve been so busy being disgusted with Sonics thief Clay Bennett for taking our Supes to Oklahoma City, I suddenly realized why: I wish we had someone like him here in Washington.

Think about it. It was pretty impressive the way Bennett rolled into town with the single-minded mission of stealing the Sonics and taking them to his city. He rolled over the limp-wristed previous owner Howard Schultz like a Sherman tank over a cardboard box. He played our pathetic, uncaring governor and state legislature like a virtuoso violinist and got exactly what he wanted.

He may be a jerk here, but I’m certain he’s an absolute prince in OK City.

I never realized just how odd it would be without the Sonics until the NBA season rolled around yesterday. I feel like an outsider looking in, with no real team to latch on to.

But no more. Portland is the new Sonics. For a lot of people, many of them liked the Blazers better anyway. They’re just as close as Seattle, so, at least for our area, the loss of the Sonics isn’t so bad. Plus they feature former UW standout Brandon Roy. Most of us only go to a few games a season anyway, and it’s easier driving to Portland.

I spoke to a Blazers official yesterday, trying to determine if we could view any Portland games on TV, besides the nationally-televised ones. They have a contract with Comcast, and I understand most of their games may be viewed on channel 179. We’ll start running their listings in our Sports on the Air daily.

Go Blazers.

It Happens

Geez, there was no report in last Saturday’s newspaper (Sept. 27) about Adna’s 48-8 nonleague loss to Castle Rock and you would have thought we omitted a report on the start of WWIII or something. There were several telephone and e-mail messages wondering why there was no report, one going so far as to suggest we were protecting Adna by not reporting on the beating.

Sorry folks. The simple truth is Adna coach K.C. Johnson didn’t call in. It happens.

We also got no report that night from the Onalaska-Forks game, but didn’t hear a word about that one from anyone.

It was a bit surprising to feel the hostility (toward Adna) from those who left messages — one from Onalaska and two from Napavine that I know of. And the one from Ony never even mentioned anything about his own squad.

We’re fortunate here at The Chronicle. The vast majority of our coaches, in all sports, are very good about reporting scores. But the reality is here, and at all newspapers, sometimes coaches don’t call, and usually for a good reason.

In other words: lighten up.

Apparently, Johnson was getting some heat, too. Here is a response he posted on bsports.org

“For all of you wondering about the game (not) being reported in the paper: Honest mistake!! I wasn't in the best mood Friday night, and was in a big hurry to watch film. I completely forgot to do it. Saturday morning the wife woke me up and said she was going to get the paper. I sat up in bed and felt about an inch high!!!

There's no excuse for not getting in by Monday. Sorry that some people think I did it because we got beat???”

Coach Johnson