http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/apr/05/klay-thompson-will-join-steve-puidokas-as-only-cou/
Chun is making all the right moves.
Chun is making all the right moves.
Klay's # to be retired
- Thread starter COUGinNCW
- Start date
Klay Thompson Field at Martin Stadium sounds good.
How many $$$ needed to make that happen?
Yes it is. I don't have a problem with this, and the announcement acknowledges that it is for his pro career and public service in addition to Klay's time at WSU. And it is great that he continues to publicly follow the Cougs, which is more than can be said for some former athletes.
All that said, Klay's numbers at WSU alone don't justify retiring his number. Example - he's #2 in 3 pt FG's attempted and made, but ranks only 12th in 3 point FG %. Klay also never led us to the NCAA tournament. His freshman year, with Baynes, Taylor and others still in the fold, would have been his chance.
So, I'm fine with it, it not as if he isn't deserving when considering everything. Just the fact that he came here and stayed is worth something. But yes - it is all about the money. And we need it. So congrats Klay! Bet we see him honored at an early FB game so as not to conflict with the NBA season.
https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.si...018_19_Washington_State_Information_Guide.pdf
Here is Grippi's take on the Thompson jersey retirement. Decidedly a different tone than Theo's. He seems to make the whole thing some kind of negative as he highlights things that, although true, seemingly diminish Thompson's career as a Coug: (WSU lucky to get Thompson in the first place, WSU doesn't get into the NCAAs with Klay, Klay gets busted for pot, etc...)
Grippi on Klay & WSU
Glad Cougar
Grippi on Klay & WSU
Glad Cougar
I don't expect rah-rah but Grippi's now consistently reaching to find the Blanchette-angle.
Yeah, lame article. And inaccurate. Not sure how Klay "changed our fortunes" after two trips to the NCAA before he arrived. And as we all know, Rochestie offered but in the end didn't have to give up his scholly.
"The decision freed a previously committed scholarship. A call (or four or five) was made, the deal sealed and Thompson headed north, changing his life, and Washington State’s basketball fortunes.
(In fact, to open a scholarship for Marcus Capers, who committed after Thompson, guard Taylor Rochestie gave up his and paid his own out-of-state tuition as a senior.)"
Hall of Fame and retiring numbers are 2 different things. I'm sure Klay will get in there as well. Right after Aron Baynes.
https://wsucougars.com/sports/2013/8/16/209173560.aspx
Smart business decision. You need Klay to be the face of this program. Do everything
Smart business decision. Klay has a ton of money and is about to sign a giant contract. Get him in and keep him in.
You know he also conveniently fails to mention Gonzaga offered Thompson around the same time but GU didn't end up in his final 3 of WSU, Michigan, and Notre Dame. In fact I don't know that he ever really considered becoming a Bulldog. We all know WSU was probably his last choice in the Pac 10 but it was still well above Gonzaga.
Why is it that WSU, Pullman, Spokane, Moscow ID, Lewiston ID, Local Media, etc, is so freaking either OVERLY neutral, or OVERLY negative, or IF, WHEN, IF positive about WSU, Sports, Academics, etc, its done begrudgingly, backhanded complimentary, like pulling teeth, etc, Why Is That?
I just dont get it, dont understand.
This doesnt seem to happen very often at other colleges in other cities, counties, states.
This seems like it ONLY happens at WSU.
Why?
Can any of you all answer that?
I feel that Spokane wants to feel relevant and do to so it feels the need to down play anything "eastern" outside of Gonzaga. Its easy to cling to WSU old school rep (not always reality) of a party school with bad sports teams while the "prestigious" GU allows them the opportunity to show that an "academic" school on the eastside (and so much better that its in Spokane) has the "best sports program in the state". If WSU does well and is supported its a "black eye" to the story that in some wierd and twisted way that Spokane (and eastern WA) has "evolved" from the blue collar/union/fishing community to a Seattle-lite.
Ok, I could buy that. But if I was a Sports Journalist(Was a Collegiate Journalist)in Spokane, doing sports stories about WSU, or was a WSU Sports Beat writer, I would be neutral, just barely by skin of teeth, slight WSU Sports Lean, that would probably do both negative, and positive stories about WSU. If WSU does well, I would do a story about WSU doing well(not a negative story.)
If WSU did bad, I would do a negative story about WSU, and not like having to do a negative story about WSU.
And I wouldnt care a dam about the Narrative that Spokane had, has evolved from Ole Spokane to Seattle Lite.
And since thats the way I would be, and since I have seen journalist also be like how what I would be, do, and since I have seen Journalist also not care a dam about a Narrative like unto Spokane wanting to be Seattle Lite, I cant imagine, dont think most journalist would follow the Spokane to Seattle Lite thing in their writing, stories, if they were Spokane Sports Journalist.
So that might shoot down the Spokane to Seattle Lite Narrative Theory thing.
So if not that thing.
Is it just Vince Grippi, Blanchette, etc, that just have a axe to grind with WSU?
Or is it just that MAYBE WSU is MAYBE UNLUCKY that MAYBE MOST Spokane Sports Journalist, are like Grippi, Blanchette, etc, and that Theo Lawson, etc, is, are the exceptions?
I dont know. Maybe it is the Spokane Narrative thing. Sounds good on the surface, to where I could almost buy that.
I could write pages about the relationship between WSU and Spokane but it can be summed up by going back and looking at the poltical and racial dichotomy that developed during the Vietnam era between the 2. There were right wing politicians in Spokane advocating shutting down the campus due to anti war protests. The conservative Spokane vs liberal WSU remains until this day.
There was a time when the Spokesman Review had the most shameless Coug supporter imaginable in Harry Missildine.
There was a time when the Spokesman Review had the most shameless Coug supporter imaginable in Harry Missildine.
I grew up with Harry. I am a Coug fan because of Harry. Please no negative comments about the most iconic sports reporter in the entire state for the past 70 years. If Spokane truly was "Seattle-lite" they would in no way still embrace right-wing dogma.
I've been told that Pullman/WSU is a conservative community in a liberal state while Moscow/UI is a liberal community in a conservative state. Don't know if that's true but it comes from a couple of longtime residents of the area.
Glad Cougar
Glad Cougar
Spokane was a fishing community at one time? What? Where were these fish - in lake CDA/Spokane River? Columbia? I'm asking seriously.
The Moscow part is totally accurate. Pullman part, not so much. Pullman is moderate compared to Seattle, but quite liberal compared to eastern Washington overall. Pullman almost always votes blue in races at all levels, with the strange exception being local, where the Mayor (Johnson) is a card-carrying Republican, and the City Council is about 50/50. The rest of the 9th (state) District is about the reddest in the state, and all legislators from the 9th are always Republicans. Some extremely red (Schoesler and now Mary Dye - she who questioned female HS visitors to Olympia about their virginity). Spokane is definitely right of Pullman, but IMHO a bit left of E. Washington in general.
Pullman proper is full of educated people (professors, etc) who tend to be moderate or Democrats for some strange reason.
. They have more teeth than the average Repugnantlican too. I'm too young to personally recall the 60's era campus demonstrations, or the alleged patrols of the allegedly KKK-backed "Lacrosse Nightriders" in response.Anyway, to summarize. Left to right, in order:
Seattle
W. Washington
Pullman
Spokane
E. Washington
Mississippi
Colfax and Ritzville (tie)
Missildine rocked.
That is a pretty accurate and more comprehensive analysis of Wash politics.
I was a student at WSU from 1967 to 71. We were all anti Vietnam war, and many of us felt a little a little cheated that our campus was still so lily white.
As for the original we question concerning why Spokane media is often so tepid in its WSU support, I probably hi jacked it a bit with my theory because they are certainly other factors at play
I was a student at WSU from 1967 to 71. We were all anti Vietnam war, and many of us felt a little a little cheated that our campus was still so lily white.
As for the original we question concerning why Spokane media is often so tepid in its WSU support, I probably hi jacked it a bit with my theory because they are certainly other factors at play
So, can you comment on the "Lacrosse Nightriders" story? Fact, fiction, exaggeration? Or the Kolfax Korner Klub bar? True or not, I'm not making these stories up.
And not trying to tread into a racial discussion here at all. Although I am very proud of WSU's long history of racial equality, particularly in sports. Duke Washington and the Texas game in FB, Raveling's hire in BB, etc.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Washington
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Only corner club I knew was in Moscow. Never heard of the LaCrosse group and I grew up in Ws Whitman county.
WSU was trying very hard to make advances in racial diversity when I was in school. However they started pretty far behind the curve. Only about 100 black students out of 12k enrollment . Hoops only had one scholarship black player during my 5 years.
Raveling was probably the most important hire in WSU sports.
WSU was trying very hard to make advances in racial diversity when I was in school. However they started pretty far behind the curve. Only about 100 black students out of 12k enrollment . Hoops only had one scholarship black player during my 5 years.
Raveling was probably the most important hire in WSU sports.
I'm ok with honoring KT somehow, but hanging a number is for accomplishments while at the school, imho. And as you said, his numbers DON'T justify it.
The thing that irks me the most is that KT SHOULD have the numbers that would justify retiring his number, but he was simply too immature to be "the guy" and honestly, still isn't "the guy"; its just not in his DNA. That's fine, and he's obviously a huge part of what has been going on in Oakland.
Flame away...
So what does it Mean to be THE GUY?
Well lets look at some THE GUY(s).
Jordan: MVP NBA scoring champ multiple times
Scored 60+ points a lot of times
Reggie Miller: Put up 20 to 45 ppg via Almost mostly 3 pointers Scored 57+ points a lot of times
Kobe Bryant: scored about around 30 ppg. Was MVP NBA Scoring champ. Scored 84 points in 1 game. Scored 47+ points lots of times.
Now lets compare Klay Thompson to that:
Averages about 23 to 27 ish, maybe even a little +, points per game.
Has scored about, around 33 to 39 to 43+ a LOT of times.
Has scored about 45 to 49 to 53 point somewhere between a handful, to some to almost a lot of times
Has scored about 57 to 63 to 67 to 73 points a couple, few, handful of times
Has broken a NBA 3 point record whether that was number of 3 pointers made in a game, or season, or 3 point shooting%, etc, I dont remember. But I do remember it was a hard record to beat, and hasnt been beat in about 20 to 40 years, and beat out a well known NBA player who set the record previously.
Multi Year All Star.
Tho has never been a NBA MVP, has been close, was close in MVP balloting 1 time.
Hall of Fame NUMBERS PRODUCTION
Probably FUTURE HALL OF FAMER
Helped CO LEAD, WAS CO THE GUY WITH CO THE GUY Stephen Curry, helped lead Golden State Warriors to Multiple NBA Championships.
Without Klay Thompson no way would GS Warriors won a NBA Championship.
If Stephen Curry was not on the Team, Klay Thompson would have BEEN THE GUY, instead of CO THE GUY with Stephen Curry.
Remember GS Warriors had 2,3,4 THE GUYS(ALL STARS, SCORING CHAMPS, MVP'S, SUPER STARS, ETC), on their team.
But despite that Klay still put up INSANELY good numbers
Just think how good his numbers would have been, if it had only been Klay Thompson, just like Chicago only had 1 Rhe Guy, Jordan, instead of 2,3,4 The Guy Jordans.
If Jordan would have had 1,2 other The Guy(Jordans) on his team, Jordan probably wouldnt have put up The Guy numbers he put up.
Klay Thompson is a SUPER STAR(FOR GOOD REASON: BECAUSE HE IS A THE GUY)
So altho Klay Thompson has not quite done as good, not quite acconplished what Jordan, Reggie Miller(Miller Time), Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, etc has done:
He Klay Thompson is, has been Semi, Somewhat Almost as good, but not quite as good as those players.
But one doesnt have to be as good as those players to be THE GUY.
But since Klay Thompson has been semi somewhat semi almost as good as those players, that makes Klay Thompson a THE GUY.
And Klay Thompson has only been in the NBA for about 6 to 10 years.
Which means Klay probably has 4 to 7 more years to either have Stephen Curry, etc leave Klay to be THE GUY of the GS Warriors, or to go somewhere else to BE THE GUY of some other NBA team.
And 4 to 7 years would give him time to maybe become even more INSANELY GOOD, BETTER, put up even more INSANELY GOOD, BETTER NUMBERS STATS, ETC, and lead either GS Warriors, or some other team to EVEN MORE NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS, and break even more NBA records.
So Klay Thompson is one of the, a THE GUY's, and is THE GUY.
Saying Klay Thompson is supposedly NOT THE GUY, would be Just as stupid as saying Stephen Curry is supposedly NOT THE GUY.
Stephen Curry is a THE GUY
Klay Thompson is a THE GUY.
And the INSANELY HIGH NBA MVP LIKE STATS, NUMBERS, AWARDS, ACCOLADES, BEING SUPERSTARS, BREAKING RECORDS, CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEING ALL STARS, ETC, ALL COMBINED TOGETHER PROVES IT.
Well lets look at some THE GUY(s).
Jordan: MVP NBA scoring champ multiple times
Scored 60+ points a lot of times
Reggie Miller: Put up 20 to 45 ppg via Almost mostly 3 pointers Scored 57+ points a lot of times
Kobe Bryant: scored about around 30 ppg. Was MVP NBA Scoring champ. Scored 84 points in 1 game. Scored 47+ points lots of times.
Now lets compare Klay Thompson to that:
Averages about 23 to 27 ish, maybe even a little +, points per game.
Has scored about, around 33 to 39 to 43+ a LOT of times.
Has scored about 45 to 49 to 53 point somewhere between a handful, to some to almost a lot of times
Has scored about 57 to 63 to 67 to 73 points a couple, few, handful of times
Has broken a NBA 3 point record whether that was number of 3 pointers made in a game, or season, or 3 point shooting%, etc, I dont remember. But I do remember it was a hard record to beat, and hasnt been beat in about 20 to 40 years, and beat out a well known NBA player who set the record previously.
Multi Year All Star.
Tho has never been a NBA MVP, has been close, was close in MVP balloting 1 time.
Hall of Fame NUMBERS PRODUCTION
Probably FUTURE HALL OF FAMER
Helped CO LEAD, WAS CO THE GUY WITH CO THE GUY Stephen Curry, helped lead Golden State Warriors to Multiple NBA Championships.
Without Klay Thompson no way would GS Warriors won a NBA Championship.
If Stephen Curry was not on the Team, Klay Thompson would have BEEN THE GUY, instead of CO THE GUY with Stephen Curry.
Remember GS Warriors had 2,3,4 THE GUYS(ALL STARS, SCORING CHAMPS, MVP'S, SUPER STARS, ETC), on their team.
But despite that Klay still put up INSANELY good numbers
Just think how good his numbers would have been, if it had only been Klay Thompson, just like Chicago only had 1 Rhe Guy, Jordan, instead of 2,3,4 The Guy Jordans.
If Jordan would have had 1,2 other The Guy(Jordans) on his team, Jordan probably wouldnt have put up The Guy numbers he put up.
Klay Thompson is a SUPER STAR(FOR GOOD REASON: BECAUSE HE IS A THE GUY)
So altho Klay Thompson has not quite done as good, not quite acconplished what Jordan, Reggie Miller(Miller Time), Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, etc has done:
He Klay Thompson is, has been Semi, Somewhat Almost as good, but not quite as good as those players.
But one doesnt have to be as good as those players to be THE GUY.
But since Klay Thompson has been semi somewhat semi almost as good as those players, that makes Klay Thompson a THE GUY.
And Klay Thompson has only been in the NBA for about 6 to 10 years.
Which means Klay probably has 4 to 7 more years to either have Stephen Curry, etc leave Klay to be THE GUY of the GS Warriors, or to go somewhere else to BE THE GUY of some other NBA team.
And 4 to 7 years would give him time to maybe become even more INSANELY GOOD, BETTER, put up even more INSANELY GOOD, BETTER NUMBERS STATS, ETC, and lead either GS Warriors, or some other team to EVEN MORE NBA CHAMPIONSHIPS, and break even more NBA records.
So Klay Thompson is one of the, a THE GUY's, and is THE GUY.
Saying Klay Thompson is supposedly NOT THE GUY, would be Just as stupid as saying Stephen Curry is supposedly NOT THE GUY.
Stephen Curry is a THE GUY
Klay Thompson is a THE GUY.
And the INSANELY HIGH NBA MVP LIKE STATS, NUMBERS, AWARDS, ACCOLADES, BEING SUPERSTARS, BREAKING RECORDS, CHAMPIONSHIPS, BEING ALL STARS, ETC, ALL COMBINED TOGETHER PROVES IT.
