John Blanchette
SpokesmanReview
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Past articles by John:
Gonzaga distance runner James Mwaura ready to test himself against elite field at Lilac Grand Prix
In his still somewhat abbreviated collegiate experience, Gonzaga distance runner James Mwaura has chased elite competition and the clock to tracks all over the west — Eugene, Seattle, Palo Alto, Sacramento, College Station, Riverside. → Read More
John Blanchette: Nick Rolovich’s Apple computation adds to his growing popularity at Washington State
It took 25 minutes for Nick Rolovich’s introduction as Washington State’s 33rd head football coach to crest on Thursday afternoon. → Read More
John Blanchette: Heart-and-soul Spokanite Randy Burkhart truly whistled while he worked
During summers at Priest Lake, Randy Burkhart was known to drag his son Jackson down to the boat before breakfast, motor offshore of Kalispell Island, bring a megaphone to his lips and holler, “Arise and shine, everyone!” → Read More
John Blanchette: Let’s boost Washington State’s status by packing it in with Pac-12
It sounds as if Mike Leach and athletic director Pat Chun are going to the mattresses to try to rub out the Barzinis, Tattaglias and Cuneos -- otherwise known as Florida, LSU and Penn State – muscling in on what they believe to be Washington State’s New Year’s bowl turf. → Read More
John Blanchette: Cougars lose a legend, if only to retirement
Whatever the Washington State Cougars achieve this football season and beyond, they’ll do it without the comforting narration – or even just the avuncular asides – of Bob Robertson, who went into victory formation on Monday after 52 years as their beloved voice. → Read More
John Blanchette: Bobby Hauck tasked with making Grizzlies relevant in football again
News is as unlikely as rain at college football’s mid-July conference gabfests, unless Nick Saban announces he’s changed his brand of coffee filters. As the coaches of the Big Sky Conference gathered in Spokane for probing and prodding on Monday, the drought was especially dire. The one woulda-been cloudburst – Montana State coach Jeff Choate benching the Bobcats’ starting quarterback for the… → Read More
John Blanchette: Robinson Cano forces Mariners into another dose of reality
What a great day for the Seattle Mariners. They got themselves a Gold Glove second baseman and saved $12 million. → Read More
John Blanchette: Pat Chun’s hire all about closing fund-raising gap
Washington State has a new athletic director. Pat Chun, introduced Tuesday with the usual fanfare, was hyped even before he was offered and accepted the job. WSU president Kirk Schulz had insisted more than a month ago that the Cougar constituency would let out a “Wow!” upon hearing of the choice – which has happened exactly never in the history of anyone’s AD hires. → Read More
John Blanchette: Don’t take offense, but Gonzaga’s scoring starts on defensive end
Fifty-four points in the second half. Zach Norvell Jr. going from zero to 21 in not quite that many minutes. Silas Melson, career high in points. Killian Tillie, career high in points. This drive, that dunk, this 3, that three-point play. → Read More
John Blanchette: Zags should gain stature through these growing pains
PORTLAND – All grown up? OK, maybe not quite. → Read More
John Blanchette: Mature attitude helps Spokane’s Kailer Yamamoto earn spot on Oilers roster
A perverse obsession with the next thing became sport’s designer drug some time ago, lapping the passé high of getting off on something as mundane as today’s game. → Read More
John Blanchette: Cougars shed underdog label that they didn’t deserve anyway
One play, decided nothing, revealed everything. → Read More
2017 football: Five best Seahawks QBs of all-time
The Spokesman-Review selects the five best quarterbacks to play for the Seattle Seahawks. → Read More
John Blanchette: Short-season baseball fits Spokane well
Let’s set the WABAC machine for the year 1982, when Spokane was feeling butt-hurt, burned and betrayed when its baseball team was spirited off to Las Vegas, and by local guys, no less. → Read More
John Blanchette: New Chiefs coach Dan Lambert has always been up for challenge
For all the many testimonials – compassionate, a communicator, a teacher – whether Dan Lambert is what the Spokane Chiefs need in a head coach will be answered in the standings. → Read More
Blanchette: 2013 Bulldogs reflect on what’s in store for No. 1 Gonzaga
Semantics, folks, but this is the fourth time Gonzaga’s been the No. 1 team in college basketball. Not the second. → Read More
53-year-old rodeo rookie took her time getting to Vegas
So, soon-to-be empty nesters, what’s your plan when the kids are out on their own? Remodel the house? Get a masters? Just enjoy the peace? Travel? → Read More
John Blanchette: Future looks bright for Gonzaga with play of young Bulldogs
ESPN’s Tipoff Marathon goes on – and on and on and on. Be careful not to lose yourself in that Niagara vs. Hartford telecast this morning and make yourself late for work. → Read More
Blanchette: ‘Old shoes’ Przemek Karnowski, Silas Melson fit just right
It’s a new season of Gonzaga basketball. Also a season of the new. → Read More
John Blanchette: Cougars respond to dramatic events with calm, assured win
Near the end of Friday’s ambush of the Board of Regents here on the Washington State campus, one of the exasperated revolutionaries demanded immediate action in the Robert Barber affair with the plea, “We don’t need any more drama.” → Read More