"Western woman thump the Wildcats" -- Jan. 24, 2006

By C. Jennings Breakey
The Western Front

Captivated by the feisty full-court defense of Western guard Samantha Hubbard, Western fans seemed energetic when the Vikings defended its hoop Saturday afternoon against rival Central Washington University.

The 5-foot-6-inch senior pestered Wildcats guards from rim to rim across Haggen Court, and thrilled Carver Gym’s crowd with six assists, six rebounds and three steals — tiring Central with relentless defense en route to a 65-45 Great Northwest Athletic Conference win.

“That’s Sam’s game right there,” Western senior forward Tina Donahue said, who contributed 11 points. “That’s the kind of basketball we all like to play.”

Hubbard, who finished with five points, said her defensive role with the team — pressing the opposition for the full length of the court — is demanding, but playing hard is her passion.

“I don’t play for any other reason,” Hubbard said. “That’s what I love to do.”

Western, 15-1 overall and 7-0 in the conference, wasn’t playing up to its potential during the first half. The Vikings shot a mere 32.1 percent from the field during the first 20 minutes — far below its 48.4 percent season average coming into the game.

But Western battled through the game and overcame the Wildcats, who are 8-6 overall and 3-4 in GNAC.

“Sam always keys our defense,” Western head coach Carmen Dolfo said. “We could not get the flow offensively this game, but we definitely did a good job defensively.”

After winning the opening tip-off, Western struggled getting its offense started. The Vikings missed its first five shots and botched a lay-up under the hoop before Western senior guard Kelly Dykstra sunk a jumper to put Western on the scoreboard.

The Wildcats lurked behind the Vikings throughout the first half, but never trailed by more than eight points.

In the final seconds leading to halftime, Central forward Hanna Hull dished the ball to forward Stephanie Mckinney on the right wing, who nailed a three-pointer at the buzzer to narrow Western’s lead to 27-23.

The Wildcats came within one point of the Vikings 45 seconds after halftime, but Dykstra took over from there, scoring 11 of her 18 points in the second half. Western steadily widened the scoring gap and closed out the Wildcats.

Dykstra finished the game 7 of 14 from the field, making two three-pointers and matching Western senior center Courtney Clapp with a team-high nine rebounds.

Coming out strong in the second half was vital for the Vikings, Dykstra said.

“We just started attacking more, and so we were able to pitch out and get more open shots rather than having to force things up,” she said. “I think we just started playing our game.”

Donahue said Western players were just trying to make extra passes in the second half to find open shots, and a number of those passes fell in the hands of Dykstra.

“That happened to be her, and she was hitting her shots,” Donahue said. “She was on tonight, so we were just trying to get the ball to her. Whatever is working for us is what we go with.”

Jared Yoakum / The Western Front

Western senior center Courtney Clapp goes up against Central forward Hilary Tanneberg during the women’s game on Saturday.

"Lynden myths disclosed" -- Jan. 10, 2006

By C. Jennings Breakey
The Western Front


Western alumnus Lauren Clarke had no intention of breaking the law as he drove to a Lynden store near his home one Sunday afternoon. Clarke wanted to buy beer - a misdemeanor, according to Lynden law. The conservative town prohibits the sale of alcohol on Sundays.

Even though Clarke doesn't drink and was going to use the beer for pest problems around his house, a Lynden ordinance states that businesses cannot sell alcohol on Sundays.

While this law stands firm, other myths negatively affect people's perceptions of Lynden laws.

Clarke said asking Western students about Lynden's strange laws can evoke multiple responses - no mowing lawns, dancing or operating business on Sundays. Other rumors circulating include a law against corporations such as Starbucks opening stores and Lynden's sidewalks closing at 10 p.m.

With generation-old legends distorting the meaning of Lynden laws, the town might need to set the record straight. But, Mayor Jack Louws said he is in no hurry to do so and the myths don't bother him.

“I like to have a little bit of fun with it,” he said.

Louws said visitors who talk with people in the community will understand that these tales are urban legends.

One of the most widespread misconceptions about Lynden laws is regarding lawn length. While Louws said an ordinance concerning grass height does exist, people misconstrue the ordinance's meaning.

“Urban legend has it that we're out mowing people's lawns,” he said with a chuckle. “We don't do that. It's not something that we're having the police drive around town to see whether or not we can make people's lives miserable.”

The grass height limit of seven inches is to prevent fire hazards, Louws said. Lynden officials have only mowed five lawns in the last 15 years. Moreover, the ordinance doesn't apply to tracts of land used for farm animals.

Louws said lawn-mowing restrictions on Sunday is not technically a law. Unwritten agreements between Lynden residents might be the reason for this misconception, he said.

“Most people within the community probably develop like patterns with their neighbors, and there aren't too many people who do mow their lawns on Sunday,” he said. “But that doesn't mean the mayor, at times in his life, hasn't had to go out and mow the lawn on Sunday.”

Jean Taylor, Lynden Public Works building technician, said the residents billed by Lynden usually have large acreage and community members have complained of grass height.

“They think of it as a big field,” she said. “Their neighbors think of it as a lawn.”

Many Lynden myths probably began because Lynden is a community-oriented town that sometimes rubs people the wrong way, Clarke said.

“Lynden definitely has the '50s image, kind of like 'Leave it to Beaver,' ” he said.

Louws said Lynden doesn't have a law restricting stores from remaining open on any day of the week. The voluntary Sunday closures have historically been a part of a community effort to preserve and enhance family values - but the pendulum has started swinging a different direction.

“As a matter of fact, more and more of the town is open on Sundays,” Louws said.

While some shops are open seven days a week, urban legend has it that Lynden law restricts certain businesses from opening in the town. Louws refutes that myth.

“We don't have any restrictions against any businesses,” he said. “If Starbucks came in and put an application in to renovate a building or put a structure up and go into the community, I wouldn't see why they wouldn't be welcome.”

Louws said cities can't pass ordinances that exclude particular corporations. Towns can have restrictive ordinances on businesses' size - such as a law that prohibits buildings from being larger than 30,000 square feet.

While Lynden has no such restriction, the urban legend of no dancing on Sundays is subtly connected to what types of businesses can open in the town.

According to Lynden Municipal Court Code, the town requires a permit for “any dance conducted in any place in the city where dancing is allowed or permitted with or without charge, and where persons are allowed to consume alcoholic beverages.”

In other words, the law prohibits all Lynden establishments from allowing dancing and drinking simultaneously without a permit.

“The intent of that law was not to restrict somebody from having a private party and having a band and so on,” Louws said. “It makes it more difficult for taverns and the adult entertainment business to establish residency within your community.”

Louws said this type of restriction is necessary to have any sort of leverage on Lynden's community standards, which states that “the citizens of Lynden have worked together to compose a vision for the city in the years to come. The predominate objective of this vision is that Lynden will retain its community spirit, small town atmosphere and agricultural roots.”

Business licenses aren't meant to penalize people, Louws said. Instead, the restrictions give Lynden the right tools in the toolbox to take care of the problem, he said.

Unlike the other urban legends, the thought that Lynden closes its sidewalks at 10 p.m. is more of a cliché, Louws said. Evening entertainment options are limited because Lynden doesn't have a Bowling alley or Mall as Bellingham does, he said.

“We suffer from the same thing a lot of small communities do,” Louws said. “If there's not a basketball game going on, then there's just not a lot more to do.”

Even though misconceptions of Lynden law skew the meaning of some ordinances, Louws said he doesn't know if urban legends affect Lynden negatively.

“I wouldn't know how to quantify that - they've been around all of my life,” he said. “I think the community is quite successful and we're thriving.”

C. Jennings breakey / The Western Front

Lynden’s well-groomed lawns sparked rumors that became an urban legend that grass must be kept below two inches, Mayor Jack Louws said.

"Mariners fans should embrace new players" -- Jan. 6, 2006

By C. Jennings Breakey
The Western Front

Off-season roster shuffling appears to be done for the Seattle Mariners, but faithful fans are puzzled and enraged by the Mariners’ roster makeover.

Most fans grimace at mentions of Carl Everett, the Mariners new designated hitter known for attitude problems and others detest the $38 million-dollar signing of lefthander, Jarred Washburn.

Both signings left a sour taste in the mouths of season ticket-holders, and even fans that attend one game a season might think twice before traveling to Safeco Field this season.

Everett’s signing evoked bitterness in fans because they believe he will disrupt the Mariners nice-guy image and family atmosphere. Mariners greats Jamie Moyer, Edgar Martinez and Jay Buhner made cheesy Mariners commercials, heading fundraisers and giving back to the community. Everett, however, is feisty and says whatever is on his mind.

As for the middle-of-rotation pitcher Washburn, Mariners fans wanted more bang for their buck and expected a top-notch starter.

Whether fans favor or despise the roster juggle, all Mariners enthusiasts need to take a hint from baseball legend Yogi Berra: “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.”

Scores of people are counting the Mariners out even before spring training, but this off-season’s acquisitions highlight a message of hope — the Mariners are changing direction, and fans may be surprised come opening day April 3.

Everett has the potential to bring life to the Mariners with more than just his switch-hitting power, and Washburn, although some critics think he’s being overpaid, could turn around the Mariners’ lackluster pitching staff.

Fans who bash the Mariners’ front office for bringing in Everett need to step back and ask themselves if the Mariners’ family-oriented makeup builds a winning baseball program.

The Mariners nice-guy approach, which proved to be enough for a record 116 wins in 2001, won’t be enough to push them to the World Series this year. Perhaps a little jolt in the clubhouse — just what Everett offers — will catapult the Mariners out of their two-year stint in the American League West cellar.

Even if Everett can’t bounce back to All-Star form, when he hit .300 with 34 homeruns and 108 runs batted in with the Boston Red Sox in 2000, he is a polished player who can ignite the Mariners’ fizzled mojo.

Although Everett is best known for his tantrums as a player for the Red Sox — especially his head-butting incident with umpire Ron Kulpa — he has mellowed and is a valuable force on even the best teams.

Everett was on his best behavior as a member of the 2005 World Series champion Chicago White Sox, and Mariners’ management seems comfortable with more than just the punch in his bat.

Everett is a low-risk investment because he will only make $4 million in his one-year contract.

But, the same can’t be said of Washburn, who flashed a 3.20 earned run average in 29 games last year. Washburn signed a four-year contract, and some critics argue the Mariners gave him too much money.

But just as children desired the biggest present under the tree this Christmas, Mariners fans wanted Santa to bring them no less than free-agent right-hander Kevin Millwood. Ending the season with an impressive earned run average of 2.86, Millwood was considered this year’s top free-agent pitcher.

The main reason Mariners fans balked at Washburn’s signing is because they preferred Millwood, who bolted for a five-year $60 million contract with the Texas Rangers.

However, Mariners’ general manager Bill Bavasi’s reluctance to offer free-agent pitchers more than four years halted that possibility.

Both signings could blow up in the Mariners’ face, but as all the classic baseball movies suggest; this is baseball — anything can happen.

“They might need a push,” Everett said at a Dec. 15 press conference. “Hopefully I can be that push.”

So long as Everett doesn’t head-butt the Mariner Moose, let him push as hard as he can.

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