Angry Doug done? Facelift for Circling Raven
Notes and quotes while we wait for the rematch between Gonzaga and Florida State for a spot in the Elite Eight.
Oh, and while we rewind the remarkable highlights of Brandon Clarke’s 36-point, 8-rebound, 5-block effort in the Zags’ 83-71 victory over Baylor.
What the nation saw, besides Clarke’s remarkable polish and athleticism, was what can happen when a team decides to deny the ball to Rui Hachimura.
Baylor squeezed Rui at every opportunity, trying to take away Gonzaga’s high-low game.
So with that passing avenue closed, Clarke simply kept taking the ball to the rim — with amazing results.
Point guard Josh Perkins summed it up perfectly.
“We fed the beast,” Perkins said.
Moving along…
ITEM: It’s no secret that the Seahawks need another wide receiver, and that could well be where they turn with the 21st pick in next month’s NFL draft.
But now comes news that Seattle may need wideouts to fill major gaps — including one that could be left by veteran star Doug Baldwin.
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL.com, Baldwin has told friends that he’s considering retirement.
Baldwin, who will turn 31 in September, already has had shoulder and knee surgeries since the end of the season, and he startled listeners to a Seattle sports talk show by mentioning that he’s facing more surgeries during this offseason.
Yes, surgeries.
Plural.
Baldwin needs help for a sports hernia, but no one asked about other medical procedures.
The Seahawks’ top receiver, who didn’t miss a game between 2014 and 2017, has caught 493 passes and racked up 49 touchdowns in 123 games since he was signed as an undrafted free agent from Stanford in 2011.
If Baldwin does retire, Seattle would be left with Tyler Lockett as its only experienced wide receiver.
ITEM: Circling Raven is getting a facelift.
The course at the south end of the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel complex near Worley already has won numerous awards for its imaginative layout across 620 acres of woodlands, wetlands, and Palouse grasses.
But now well-known golf architect Gene Bates has been commissioned to develop a master plan for improvements to the course.
Among other things, Circling Raven will be getting several more strategically placed bunkers, while some of its traps that are no longer considered relevant will be removed.
Wait a second…
Average golfers consider ALL bunkers relevant, so taking out a trap sounds just fine.
Back to serious changes, Circling Raven will have tees levelled, a practice facility enlarged and its bentgrass greens reseeded to eliminate creeping poa annua grass.
“Circling Raven continues to be held in high esteem by golfers and golf course raters but, like hotels, it’s important to periodically reinvigorate them so they’re the best they can be,” said Francis Sijohn, CEO of the hotel.
“Gene Bates did an incredible job designing Circling Raven originally, and we know his vision through the master plan for our golf course will be equally remarkable.”
ITEM: There has been a dramatic power shift atop the Pac-12 Conference.
Commissioner Larry Scott’s influence has dwindled, while athletic directors at member schools now have a far greater say in conference affairs.
This change was probably coming in any case, but the whole issue came to a head during last fall’s USC-Washington State football game, when an untrained conference administrator interfered with the replay process communicated to officials on the field.
That embarrassing episode occurred at a time when revenue projections were not being met, the Pac-12 Networks were underperforming, and Scott’s office in San Francisco seemed to be telling various schools what their priorities should be.
No one was happy.
Going forward, the athletic directors — and various subcommittees they’ve formed — will have a much stronger role in conference policy.
“The athletic directors are the keys to the success of the Pac-12,’’ said Colorado Chancellor Phil DiStefano, who took over as chair of the Pac-12’s board of directors last year and has been a prime driver in the power shift.
That instant replay fiasco apparently was the last straw for already steaming athletic department bosses at various schools.
“That was a difficult time, with the challenge around football officiating,’’ said Arizona’s Dave Heeke, who serves as chair of the athletic directors’ council.
“It further galvanized the ADs. We talked about how we are a conference of 12 institutions. We’re not one office. We all have to work together.”
Scott, whose contract runs through 2022, now will be taking his cues from university athletic directors — not the other way around.
Sit back down, Larry.
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns for The Press appear on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He also contributes the “Zags Tracker” package on Gonzaga basketball each Tuesday.
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