Barstow deserves better fate

Today we celebrate America’s Declaration of Independence, the document adopted by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, that declared the original 13 colonies as “free and independent states.”

Included in that most cherished of documents are truths that are held to be self-evident, such as life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Well, here’s another self-evident truth, at least in Maine high school basketball circles- that legendary Katahdin of Stacyville girls varsity coach Dick Barstow has earned the right to go out on his own terms.

Now while this particular truth may not carry the gravity of the birth of a nation, the fact it’s even a topic for discussion reflects a disappointing development in the state’s high school sports scene.

School officials won’t detail reasons for seeking new applicants for Barstow’s coaching job, citing confidentiality reasons in personnel matters.

I’ll assume it doesn’t have to do with Barstow’s age – he’s 74 – or health – he was treated for Lyme disease last winter but is feeling much better these days. For to go either of those routes is to take a potentially litigious direction.

It seems inevitable that complaints from those who watch the games from seats far removed from the Cougars’ bench have been passed on to those most directly involved in hiring coaches.

I’d be interested to compare the win totals of those who complain about game strategies and timeouts with that of Barstow, an inductee of both the Maine Sports Hall of Fame and the New England Basketball Hall of Fame who has more than 665 victories through 48 seasons at Sherman, Katahdin, Central Aroostook of Mars Hill, Waterville and Presque Isle high schools.

I haven’t seen Barstow in action too often in recent years, but it seemed like he managed his team pretty effectively in last February’s Eastern Maine Class D quarterfinals, when a Katahdin team severely lacking in both experience and height scored a stunning overtime victory over No. 1 Washburn.

And that came right after an another overtime win over rival Southern Aroostook of Dyer Brook in the preliminary round just to get to Bangor.

Surely the Cougars didn’t win in spite of their coach.

Only one of the 11 players on that team graduated last month, meaning next winter’s squad – while still facing a significant height disadvantage against most opponents – will have an experience advantage against many foes.

But whether that experience factor carries over to the bench remains to be seen.

As of now, Barstow is leading the girls basketball summer program at Katahdin but isn’t a candidate for the winter job, having removed his application upon learning that the interview committee consists of one administrator who recommended against his rehiring and a second who recommended rehiring him with reservations.

But he hasn’t completely ruled out reapplying for the job.

One of the great things about the Declaration of Independence that we celebrate each Fourth of July is it set the stage for the freedoms we now share.

That includes the freedom of speech, and the chance to voice opinions both in support of and against decisions made on the public’s behalf.

Perhaps the folks who don’t follow the internal-politics aspects of how the local school hires its coaches but do track the highs and lows of the Katahdin girls basketball team are content in the likelihood that someone other than Dick Barstow will be leading their team next winter.

But if they’re not, now’s the time to speak up.

eclark@bangordailynews.net

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