Most will agree, I believe, that Washington State University is the most difficult sell in the Pacific-10 Conference when it comes to recruiting student/athletes and hiring coaches for most varsity sports.
That's not to say that's the way it should be, but as people now say "It is what it is."
In this economic climate, it must also be daunting and frustrating to ask legislators, voters, alumni and boosters about digging into their paychecks and retirement funds to pay for the continued renovation of Martin Stadium. (Memo to Cougars: You do remember that Clarence Martin was a Husky, right?)
In light of all of the above, WSU athletic director Jim Sterk and the WSU Athletic Foundation staff continue to search for revenue streams and innovative ideas.
Round 2 of their town hall series will be held around the state next week Dec. 7-10. And these forums will be open to any topic surrounding WSU athletics. "WSU President Elson S. Floyd and other special Cougar celebrity guests will be joining the programs in selected markets," according to a news release.
When I got the list last month, there was a glaring omission.
Dec. 7: Washington Athletic Club, Lobby Lounge, Seattle, 6-8 p.m.
Dec. 8: Heathman Lodge, General Howard Ballroom, Vancouver, 7-9 p.m.
Dec. 9: CUB Junior Ballroom on the WSU Campus in Pullman, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.
Dec. 10: The Davenport Hotel, Elizabethan Room, Spokane, 7-9 p.m.
Dan Meyer, assistant athletic director, quickly and kindly replied to my inquiry that probably came off as a "WTF?" e-mail.
"We have talked internally about doing an additional invitation-only event at the home of one of our local donors in the Tri-Cities before December 18," Meyer wrote. "Given the market size, what we did a couple weeks ago at Meadow Springs is probably the most efficient use of our limited resources in Tri-Cities. In the first round of Town Halls, we were in Pullman, Bellevue, Tacoma, Portland, Tri Cities and Spokane."
The town hall staged last month in Richland went over quite well, Meyer reported.
"We actually had a really good turnout for our event on November 11th, so it didnt feel like a lack of enthusiasm," he wrote. "We just have to be responsible with the investment in these events, and based on our market research, a second public forum like this in Tri Cities is probably overkill compared to a second event in the markets we have chosen, where we just have greater numbers to try and visit with."
The forums are open to the public and while walk-ups are welcome, RSVPs are appreciated. Contact Michelle Lipsker at the WSU Athletic Foundation at mlipsker@wsu.edu.
In the meantime, I trust that Cougars in the Tri-Cities will get out and support the Portland State/WSU men's and women's basketball doubleheader billed as The Tri-Cities Cougar Classic on Dec. 19 at Toyota Center in Kennewick.
"I think this is a really great opportunity for the sports community in the Tri-Cities, and one I am hoping becomes an annual tradition," said Richland's Mark Schuster, a former WSU football player who is helping organize the basketball matinee. "Got to love Pac-10 basketball only a few minutes drive away."
Judging by the play thus far, Ken Bone's version 1.0 of WSU basketball seems to be a more exciting brand of ball.
An off-night by Klay Thompson cost the Cougars last night at Gonzaga, but WSU's start to the season shows that Tony Bennett didn't leave the cupboard empty when he left for Virginia.
