PULLMAN - Washington State honored one of the region's own on Tuesday, inducting Gonzaga basketball analyst Craig Ehlo into the WSU athletic Hall of Fame. Prior to his notable career as a color commentator, Ehlo enjoyed a fourteen year career as a player in the National Basketball Association. He is best known as a "wordsmith" on television, and for defending Michael Jordan during his infamous 1989 jump shot. Ehlo also played basketball for WSU between 1981-1983.
"This is a great day for Gonzaga basketball," said Ehlo, sporting a purple shirt and yellow tie that according to Ehlo were "the only thing that wasn't in the wash right now." Ehlo went on to say that he is "honored WSU would reach out to a Gonzaga broadcaster" and felt "humbled about the award".
When asked about his brief stint as a collegiate player in Pullman Ehlo remarked "George Raveling told me Pullman might not be the best place on Earth, it might not be the worst place on Earth, but you can sure see the end of the Earth. It may not be the best place, but it is in college terms. Or something like that. I always liked Moscow better."
When asked about the current team Ehlo said he was impressed by the Zags' blowout win over the Cougars in December, but likened Cougar guard Klay Thompson to "a young Austin Daye."
We're kidding of course.
Congratulations, Craig.
Although would it kill you to act a little more excited about the Cougs than the Zags every once in a while?
Nuss EDIT: There actually are six other Cougs being inducted as well -- football coach Jim Walden, Olympic distance runner Bernard Lagat, volleyball all-American Keri Killebrew, all-american distance runner Peter Koech, all-American running back Duke Washington, and former sports information director Richard Fry.
You can read the full WSU release here.