The house that Stockton built

The Spokane sports scene can primarily be defined with two words:

Gonzaga basketball.

So it should be of no surprise to anyone that a haven for youth basketball events and competition stands a stone’s throw away from McCarthey Athletic Center, home of the Gonzaga Bulldogs.

Longing to board

I know what you’re thinking. “Kids today! You never know what new shenanigans they’re up to!”

And now that the sun is out, you may be wondering… what the heck are those long skateboards they’re riding around on, anyway?

Those long skateboards are actually called longboards, and recently they have been the transportation of choice among college students and older teens alike.

Teeing off with discs

As you cruise along Downriver Drive you may find yourself gazing upon the regular players at Downriver Golf Course with their collared polos and khaki shorts. They concentrate silently, readying themselves for that perfect tee off, the drive that will make the fee to play worth it and will land them that low score. The rolling fairways and manicured greens make for a beautiful course and may draw your attention away from the 21-hole course across the road. Here, there are no manicured greens, no motor carts and the fairways? Well, they’re in the air. See, there are no balls, clubs or green fees at this course… only discs, players and baskets.

Drinking it in: staying hydrated at Hoopfest

Hopefully by now you’ve been running, stretching and playing lots of hoops both outdoors and indoors getting ready for this year’s Hoopfest.

But, whether you have just finished the NBA Finals, or you haven’t touched the “pumpkin” since last Hoopfest, I’ve got a few tips that should help you out for this year, and hopefully you’ll be taking home the T-shirt that says “champs” on the back soon! Aside from the obvious “external” preparations of making sure you warm up before your game (stretch and keep out of the sun as best you can), there are two main “internal” tips you’ll need to fuel your body.

Hoop City

Forget Indiana, forget Madison Square Garden. Forget the Boston Garden, forget Cameron Indoor Stadium.

For two days at the end of June, basketball lives in Spokane, Wash.

Supporting your sole

When you lace up for Hoopfest this weekend, keep in mind that your shoes are going to be hurting due to the wear and tear of the pavement courts.

But make sure your ankles don’t take a beating as well by finding the right kind of basketball shoes. Let’s face it, nobody wants to be in the medical tent all weekend with a bag of ice on their foot.

Moving up into the big sky state

Even though he comes from a track family, former West Valley High School star Andy Vennum will be out on the baseball diamond this fall, playing college ball at Montana State University-Billings.

His brother Chris was on the West Valley boys’ track team that won the state championship in 2005 and his father was a standout in track for Waitsburg High School. However, despite his pedigree, Vennum went with baseball.

Ascending the hoops Summitt

As a kid, Angie Bjorklund dreamed of playing basketball at the University of Tennessee. She looked up to legendary Lady Vols coach Pat Summitt, read her books and knew she wanted to play for her.

Bjorklund, a 2007 graduate from University High School, realized her dream this past season when she helped Tennessee to a 36-2 record and wrapped up her freshman campaign with a national championship. The Lady Vols, led by junior and number one WNBA draft pick Candace Parker and coach Summitt, knocked off the Stanford Cardinal 64-48 in the title game. Bjorklund came off the bench to contribute an offensive rebound in 15 minutes of play in that game. “I came to the right place at the right time with our five seniors. It was just an experience that doesn’t come around too often,” Bjorklund said.

Fan support comes as no Shock to any

There’s something I’m not sure many people know about the city of Spokane — this is a professional sports town.

Its citizens will become especially disgusted when the ill-informed say Seattle is the only city with a pro-sports mentality. For years, whether it has been the Chiefs or Indians, there has always been a buzz surrounding sports in the city tucked into the eastern end of Washington, far removed from any major media market.

Recovering from a wounded web

It wasn’t quite the season Jake Moug had envisioned for himself coming off of his stellar 2007 season. The Spokane Spiders’ leading scorer from a year ago with 11 goals (two fewer than the rest of the team had combined) was looking to improve on his, as well as the team’s, performance coming into 2008. Unfortunately, fate had other plans for him.

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