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Morrow's Musings
By Jeff Morrow 509-582-1507	Posted May 31, 2002 Didier invites others to tee it up for FFTF Now that school is almost out, there are plenty of summertime activities to keep us busy. Like watching the Mariners on television, mowing the lawn and golfing. The latter activity has its share of charity tournaments, and some of them have already occurred this year. But former NFL tight end Clint Didier has thrown his weight behind a cause that has its own tournament at 1 p.m. Monday at Canyon Lakes - the Fighting Children's Cancer golf tournament, sponsored by the Citizens for Medical Isotopes. The group is fighting to keep the Fast Flux Test Facility alive for production isotopes. Didier, now an Eltopia farmer, is a tournament spokesman for CMI. He has seen isotopes work successfully first-hand when he watched his neighbor, Clark Watkins, fight off cancer by using isotopes treatment. "Clark is putting together a team for this tournament," Didier said. "And we need more golfers." Didier has helped take care of the celebrity end of the tourney, with former NFL players Ed Simmons, Don Hover, Doug Wellsendt and Paul Sorenson committed to play, as well as NHL goalie Olaf Kolzig and former Seattle Mariners Bill Caudill, Julio Cruz and Dave Heaverlo. "Drew Bledsoe sent a football, a jersey and a hat - all autographed," Didier added. "He wanted to come, but he has mini-camp." For $100, each golfer gets greens fees, a cart, range balls and a banquet following play. "This is a starting point, but this is also a 2-minute warning," Didier said. "We need to be loud and shout it from the mountain top that we want to start FFTF back up." Interested golfers of sponsors should call Citizens for Medical Isotopes at 737-8463. * Speaking of golf, it's rare for a duffer to get that coveted hole-in-one. But last month, former Benton County Sheriff Jim Kennedy got an ace at the Holy Land of all golf courses, St. Andrews, during a 12-round, three-week golf trip through Scotland and Ireland. It came on the New Course at the 211-yard 17th, and former Herald publisher Jack Briggs, Briggs' brother Keith, and friend Scotty Getchall were all there. It was Kennedy's third career ace, and he got it with a driver. "I was amazed I could get to 211 with a driver," Kennedy said. "Jack's brother saw it. I looked everywhere but the hole. The whole trip was great. I really enjoyed all the history." * Though it didn't win the NWAACC tournament last weekend, the Columbia Basin College baseball team has been pretty good at sending its players off to Division I schools. The Hawks are up to 10 players this season and another, Troy Martin, just signed with Division II Western Oregon. A few of the Hawks could get drafted next week in baseball's annual amateur draft. Now comes the news that CBC right-handed pitcher Luke Palmer signed Sunday with the Kansas City Royals. He was a 28th-round draft-and-follow pick by the Royals, who determined he was worth signing. Palmer reports to Florida on June 10 and begins play in the Gulf Coast League on June 18. n More CBC news: athletic director Dave Dunterman was named AD of the year by the NWAACC on Wednesday in Portland. Dunterman helped organize and run the men's and women's basketball tournaments at the Tri-Cities Coliseum in March. NWAACC officials were impressed with the results. ... The Hawks hope to have the field for the new men's basketball coach narrowed down to five finalists by next week. * When the WSU women's varsity eight takes to the water today in the NCAA Women's Rowing Championships at Eagle Creek Reservoir in Indianapolis, Southridge High grad Emily Rains will be among the Cougars rowing. The Cougars are one of 16 teams vying for the national championship.
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