Morrow's Musings
- By Jeff Morrow
509-582-1507
Posted June 9, 2000
Eaton relishes time in Hungary
Benton City's Jeremy Eaton finished his first professional basketball season last month, learning a few valuable lessons.
For one, he learned that sports fans around the world are basically the same.
His experience came in Hungary, where he helped his team finish fourth in a 12-team league - a finish that was much better than expected.
"We weren't supposed to make the playoffs," Eaton said.
While there, Eaton developed a great relationship with the fans.
"They were great. They love you," Eaton said. "It's life. Sports are like life to people over there."
He had a tough time with the language, but by the end of the season he knew enough to go out on the town on his own.
Eaton loved the Hungarian food, too - although every once in a while, he'd drive the 20 minutes to a McDonald's for some American food.
"But I ate a lot of Hungarian food. A lot of poultry, turkey and pork," said Eaton.
So much so, he was able to add 20 pounds to his 6-foot-11 frame, and he now weighs 240.
"I just started to grow into my height," said the Richland High graduate. "I want to be able to stay at 240-245. That allows me to still run up and down the court."
Eaton had to adjust to the European game, a game in which referees call things differently - especially traveling.
"You pretty much have to bounce the ball before you move," he said. "The jab step is almost non-existent."
As is the crossover.
And while he started out the season slowly - playing just half the game - by the end of the season Eaton was playing all 40 minutes and averaging 18 points and nine rebounds in the playoffs.
"I had a good season," said Eaton, "But I learned more about the business than anything."
Next up, he's waiting for the NBA Draft to see which teams pick forwards. From there, his agent will set him up with the right NBA team for summer camp.
# # #
Taking in the Mariners-Padres game at Safeco Field on Sunday, it was interesting to note there were at least three future Hall-of-Famers playing in the game: San Diego's Tony Gwynn, and Seattle's Rickey Henderson and Alex Rodriguez.
Throw in Seattle's Edgar Martinez, whom some believe could get into the Hall by the time he's done with his career, and there could have been four.
Gwynn, who is near the end of his career, can still hit the ball. But unless things change soon, his chances of getting back to the World Series are nil.
"It's hard to say because everybody is so banged up," Gwynn said, referring to the six pitchers currently on the Padres' disabled list. "Offensively, we have a good club that can put the bat on the ball. We had an opportunity to win this series (the Mariners won 2-1).
"The thing you have to remember is this is a 162-game season, and you just have to win each series," Gwynn said.
Asked about his time in Walla Walla, when he started his career in 1981, Gwynn said, "It was just baseball. Baseball is baseball. You don't know how good you were, but the idea was not to stay too long."
Gwynn didn't. A month into his Walla Walla gig, he was moved up to Double-A. Not long after, Gwynn was with the Padres on his way to 3,000 hits.
People still remember Gwynn riding his bike around Walla Walla.
"A bunch of guys on the team pooled their money together and bought this raggedy old car," Gwynn said. "John Kruk and I bought these 10-speed bikes and we rode all over town. Not long after, I went up to Double-A. I was in the right place at the right time."
Henderson, meanwhile, has been on his best behavior since the Mariners picked him up last month.
He's joked with everyone in the clubhouse, and that includes the media. He'll stay and answer every question thrown his way.
In Sunday's win over San Diego, Henderson, center fielder Mike Cameron and right fielder Stan Javier all made outstanding defensive plays in the outfield.
"That helps the pitching out," Henderson said. "Now, if I can just get some hits."
Henderson's batting average dipped below .200 after Sunday's game. But he still found a way to get on base and score by walking.
"That's the biggest key. Just try to get on the basepath and score," he said. "But I'd like to get some hits."
On Monday, he did, picking up two against the Colorado Rockies.
He did it by stealing one of A-Rod's bats.
"After I got the first hit, he said it was mine," Henderson said.
Henderson has been doing that for years whenever he played against the Mariners. He would come over to the Mariners dugout, and then he'd swipe a bat from either A-Rod or Ken Griffey Jr.
He apparantly just likes the feel.
# # #
The Pasco pipeline to the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay men's soccer team continues.
Defender Shaun Gleason, who graduated last week from Pasco High, is heading to Green Bay after signing a letter-of-intent.
He'll join Pasco grad David Hileman, who'll be a sophomore this fall.
Pasco grad Chad Bodnar finished his four-year career with the Phoenix last fall.
# # #
Touchet's Cody Jessee had a great weekend May 20.
The 22-year-old bareback rider, who just finished his junior year at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas as a public relations major, won the average titles in both the Redding (Calif.) Rodeo and the Rowel Ranch Rodeo in Hayward, Calif.
He outrode world champs Mark Gomes, Lan LaJeunesse and Marvin Garrett in those rodeos.
Jessee scored 163 points in Redding, taking home $4,002, while he earned another $1,251 in Hayward.
He'll be competing for UNLV at the College National Finals Rodeo from June 13-17 in Casper, Wyo., then it'll be a swing through the pro ranks this summer.
- Jeff Morrow can be reached at 582-1507 or via e-mail at jmorrow@tri-cityherald.com
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