Thursday, May. 21, 2009

One final day of peace

Today is the proverbial calm before the storm of spring sports postseason washes upon us at the Herald.

Starting Friday and running through May 30, it's nonstop action as the high school sports season comes crashing to an end with what the WIAA used to call Springfest, but is now a cavalcade of tournaments spread throughout the state.

The Tri-Cities hasn't escaped the deluge. All the golf tournaments save the 2As are in town next week, and then 4A tennis comes to Tri-City Court Club and Kamiakin High, while the TRAC softball complex hosts the 1A tournament.

I'm heading up to Spokane tomorrow for the 4A/3A Eastern Regional track meet, which is one of the highlights of the season. The emotions expended to grab one of the three (4A) or two (3A) golden tickets to next week's state meet in Tacoma make this meet worth the price of admission.

We still have a boatload of teams and individuals still alive for state berths. By Saturday night, that boat will have cast a load of athletes overboard.

Right now, if I had to guess which of our area teams will be playing for state titles next weekend, I'd say Richland and Othello baseball; Walla Walla, Othello, Connell and Touchet softball; and Pasco, Prosser and Connell boys soccer.

That's enough to make my sports editor cry.

I've had a couple of people ask me what I think of the whole situation surrounding the lawsuit filed against former Richland girls basketball coach Bruce Robertson and the school district, alleging several student-athletes were emotionally abused and discriminated against during his two-year stint.

And I've told them the same thing. I don't know what to think.

If the allegations are true, they're pretty serious. I've known Shallynn Jackson and her father, Emmitt, for quite a number of years, as well as the two unnamed minor plaintiffs (although who they are is fairly obvious if you read the suit). I don't believe they'd go to this length if they didn't think they were seriously wronged. Emmitt Jackson, for one, is a former coach, and I don't think he would elevate a simple conflict over playing time (or lack thereof) to a federal matter.

On the other hand, what's alleged in the suit doesn't jibe with the Bruce Robertson whom I've known, also for quite a number of years. It doesn't seem possible for him to be capable of what he's alleged of doing.

The biggest problem is much of what is alleged happened behind closed doors -- at practices that no one other than the players and coaches attended, or in face-to-face meetings.

If I sound on the fence, it's because I am. I want to see what shakes out from all this before drawing any conclusions.

Til next time ...