THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Sunday, May 15, 2016
If you think about it, it shouldn’t have been surprising to see Pullman citizen Mike Leach extolling the virtues of Donald Trump prior to The Donald’s speech in Spokane a week ago Saturday.
Ditto with that Bob Knight fellow prior to a recent appearance by Trump in Evansville, Ind.
After all, a head coach is often only as good as his offensive and defensive coordinators.
Nobody taught defense much better than Bobby Knight during his 29 seasons as Indiana men’s basketball coach.
And few, in the modern era of offensive football, are doing it as effectively as Mike Leach, more well known as the man directing the “Air Raid” offense as head coach at Washington State.
“He’s a genius. He’s an offensive genius,” Trump was quoted as saying about Leach, who had guided WSU to bowl games in two of the last three seasons.
Leach, for some reason, made it a point that he was speaking as a private citizen, not as Cougars coach, when he was endorsing Trump.
WSU, also for some reason, felt it necessary to release a statement after Leach’s endorsement, saying “the opinions of one employee ... do not in any way speak for the institition.”
No similar statement was made by any employer trying to distance themselves from Knight’s political views — not that he would care if they did anyway. The General said of Trump, “I will tell you, that son of a b---- could play for me!”
COULD YOU imagine Trump in the White House, with Leach and Knight as part of his staff?
Knight could be secretary of defense, as it were, though his international diplomacy took a hit in 1979 when he was charged with assaulting a Puerto Rican police officer while in San Juan coaching the U.S. team at the Pan American Games.
His long list of accomplishments — including three NCAA titles — is nearly equaled by the list of controversial incidents that have involved him.
In any event, a U.S. under Knight would be well-coached, disciplined, would perhaps have their issues with him, but most would also swear by him.
Leach isn’t nearly as controversial, though talking about his fascination with pirates — in addition to giving dating advice to WSU students — often makes for good copy.
IF NOTHING else, aligning with coaches Leach and Knight could help Trump land a few extra votes from the sporting public come November. Remember when former Sandpoint High guard Sarah Palin, who later went on to make some news in Alaska, showed up at one of Trump’s rallies recently?
Then again, folks like Dennis Rodman, John Daly, Terrell Owens and John Rocker have also reportedly expressed support for Trump, who once owned a team in the USFL in the 1980s.
How would Hillary Clinton counter all those celebrity endorsements? According to the Washington Post, among those backing Clinton include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Michelle Kwan, Abby Wambach and Jason Collins.
And Bernie Sanders has reportedly received endorsements from Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett and MMA fighter Ronda Rousey.
Now, we’re not here to endorse one candidate over another, no matter how many Hall of Famers are backing them.
Besides, from the reaction so far, given the candidates still in the race, it appears the preferred choice for president is a person named Noneof Theabove.
However, if we could find a way to get a critical thinker like Charles Barkley into the White House, well, perhaps that could help Make America Great Again.
Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter@CdAPressSports.