A few things

I have a few things to talk about today so bear with me. A couple of days ago I was driving on the freeway where doesn’t really matter. Anyway I was in the left lane and there were cars coming off the exit into the right lane. I needed to be in the right lane so I speeded up and at the right time I moved over. The car that I moved in front of decided to get into the left lane and would sling shot into that lane. As he moved passed me I noticed that the passenger side of this vehicle must have tried to take out a guard rail or another vehicle. I’m not sure if either of the two doors on that side would open. All I could think of is don’t make eye contact or anger him in any way because this guy certainly could not care less about what his car will look like at the end of the day. I did care about how mine would look.

Now that I’ve got that off my chest I can talk about a few things that need to be talked about. Depending on who you listen to the Covid pandemic is over or starting over. There is so much science out there and media bias one way or the other so who knows what the truth is. I do know that there are a few things that have changed in college sports because of the pandemic. During the 2020-21 season when teams were playing in front of no fans coaches starting dressing more casually. No one was wearing a suit and tie or sport coat. Coaches starting wearing long sleeve pullovers with their team’s logo while roaming the sidelines. For the most part they are still doing the same thing which I like. I know there are a few coaches that would love to show off their 3-piece attire but let’s face it after a big win nobody wants to get their nice duds soaked with water during the celebration. I like this and the coaches seem to also.

Athletes were afforded an extra year of eligibility since so many games were cancelled or outbreaks cancelled a team’s season altogether. This has been good for most teams and the players that came back for another year. There were others that decided to get on with their lives and hung it up but at least they had an opportunity to make that decision. It is unfortunate that the 2020 basketball season came to abrupt halt during the conference tournaments. We have no idea how that would have played out and as a Gonzaga fan that would have been a great team to follow during March Madness.

Along with the extra year the NCAA decided to ease the transfer rules so when a player transfers they don’t have to sit out a year. The transfer was like being a grad transfer. In other words the athlete that transfers does not have to sit out a year but can play right away. Now for those fans that have seen players enter the Transfer Portal and sign with your favorite team this is a really good thing. For those of you that have seen your team lose a bunch of athletes because of it you can’t be very happy. It’s kind of like your team has developed this player and now he is a free agent and leaves for another school. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again why aren’t you true to the team that showed the most interest in you and maybe the only team that did. But now that your talent has been on display and the big kid down that block thinks you are better than you were a couple of years ago shouldn’t matter. There is an old Beach Boys song whose lyrics are: ‘Be true to your school.’ But that has all been thrown to the curb.

I think the rule should be: If the coach that recruited you has been fired then as a student athlete you have the right to transfer to any school and start playing the first practice of the new season. If the coach that recruited you leaves for a new coaching position and you want to follow him to his new place of employment you must sit out one year. For those athletes that aren’t happy where they are at they can transfer but to play right away they will need a good reason for leaving and each transfer needs a valid reason. Colleges have invested a lot in these athletes so it would be nice if it was appreciated.

Those are my few things this week. Merry Christmas!

— Dale Anderson is a columnist from Ritzville. Email him at [email protected].