This Pac-10 preview by Daven Harmeling is worth calling out all on its own. Harmeling played four years for the Cougars, averaging a pedestrian 5.5 points and 2.1 rebounds. What I like about this piece is that he’s writing honestly and from experience (a rare combination in sportswriting — athletes generally couch their responses in generalities to avoid creating “bulletin board material,” and writers are writers, not ballers, try as we might to get inside the heads of the guys on the court).
Sure, Dawg fans are likely to bristle (as I did) at Harmeling’s description of Washington as a “chaotic team” that lost its “voice of reason” (Jon Brockman). But, you don’t have to agree with Harmeling to enjoy his writing. He is, after all, a Cougar, and we’re not supposed to agree anyway.
Clearly Harmeling isn’t very up on the freshman entering the league this season, but his impressions of current players and coaches are insightful, and he speaks more critically about former opponents than I’ve seen from most athletes. I’m always looking for insight to help inform the way I watch and follow the game, and here’s a little dose from a true insider.
Thanks for coming!