Stockton's Warehouse
I went to Spokane last week to interview John Stockton for our wrap-up to the Tribune's season-long "Jazz at 35" series.
Two thoughts:
No. 1, credit to the bosses for finding the money in these budget-conscious times to send a reporter on the road for a non-game story that will hopefully give the readers a little something extra this weekend.
No. 2, Stockton hasn't changed a bit, which translates into a willingness to do the interview, even if he wasn't crazy about the idea at first.
Initially, John invited me to the new home his family moved into about four years ago -- a concession to year-around living in Spokane and the fact his six kids were outgrowing the old home in the Gonzaga University section of town.
"The three-bedroom house just wasn't cutting it any more for anybody," Stockton said. "Even though I love that neighborhood and would prefer to be there, it was time."
Our interview plans changed, however, when Stockton found himself running a couple of errands as the time approached. So he stopped by my hotel.
We were going to do the interview in the lobby, but that quickly turned into a bad idea when a few people recognized Stockton and started hanging around. So went went into the pool area, which was empty at two o'clock in the afternoon, and talked there.
Among the dozens of topics we discussed during an hour-long session was the construction of a recreation center-type complex called the "Warehouse" that Stockton opened in 2002.
Space limitations prevented me from writing much about the Warehouse in my story for the paper, but I think it shows Stockton's commitment to the kids in Spokane.
The Warehouse is a huge multi-sport facility that features a baseball area with five batting tunnels and five basketball courts, including one formerly used by the Utah Jazz that team owner Larry Miller sent to Stockton after storing it for him for years.
"For years Larry kept asking me, 'Are you ready for it? Do you have a place for it yet?'" Stockton said, laughing. "While I was playing, I didn't have any place for it, of course. But when we started this project I thought, 'Maybe we can stretch that court out in here.'"
Stockton acquired the building that was turned into the Warehouse "by accident." It was -- surprise, surprise -- an old warehouse.
"It was purchased as an investment," Stockton said. "... A real estate friend of mine said, 'I can get something for you, turn it over in a short period of time and it'll be a good investment.' I said, 'O.K.'"
Stockton expected to re-sell the building within six months, but almost two years later, it was still his property. He recalls asking his real estate friend, "Why do I still have this?"
About that time, Stockton had a discussion with Scott Cates who, while living in Salt Lake, helped build the state-of-the-art athletic complex at Cottonwood High and, in the process, turned the school's program into one of the most successful in Utah.
"He did a lot for my kids, as far as learning how to participate and learning how to compete," Stockton said. "Finally, one day I asked him how he did those things at Cottonwood and whether it could work with this building. He said,' Simple -- bing, bing, bing. And it will be unbelievable.'"
I stopped by the Warehouse on a cold and snowy night. Nobody would have been able to play baseball or basketball outside in such weather. But inside, one game of four-on-four basketball was being played, another college-age guy was shooting baskets by himself and every batting tunnel was being used. As I was leaving, another group of kids walked in, looking like they were also going to play a little basketball.
Assist, Stockton.
"It's been a neat thing to be part of," he said. "There is almost no one in town who doesn't know where the Warehouse is or what it does. ... It's where a lot of kids go to play basketball or volleyball or baseball. It's very neat to see that."
-- Steve Luhm
Two thoughts:
No. 1, credit to the bosses for finding the money in these budget-conscious times to send a reporter on the road for a non-game story that will hopefully give the readers a little something extra this weekend.
No. 2, Stockton hasn't changed a bit, which translates into a willingness to do the interview, even if he wasn't crazy about the idea at first.
Initially, John invited me to the new home his family moved into about four years ago -- a concession to year-around living in Spokane and the fact his six kids were outgrowing the old home in the Gonzaga University section of town.
"The three-bedroom house just wasn't cutting it any more for anybody," Stockton said. "Even though I love that neighborhood and would prefer to be there, it was time."
Our interview plans changed, however, when Stockton found himself running a couple of errands as the time approached. So he stopped by my hotel.
We were going to do the interview in the lobby, but that quickly turned into a bad idea when a few people recognized Stockton and started hanging around. So went went into the pool area, which was empty at two o'clock in the afternoon, and talked there.
Among the dozens of topics we discussed during an hour-long session was the construction of a recreation center-type complex called the "Warehouse" that Stockton opened in 2002.
Space limitations prevented me from writing much about the Warehouse in my story for the paper, but I think it shows Stockton's commitment to the kids in Spokane.
The Warehouse is a huge multi-sport facility that features a baseball area with five batting tunnels and five basketball courts, including one formerly used by the Utah Jazz that team owner Larry Miller sent to Stockton after storing it for him for years.
"For years Larry kept asking me, 'Are you ready for it? Do you have a place for it yet?'" Stockton said, laughing. "While I was playing, I didn't have any place for it, of course. But when we started this project I thought, 'Maybe we can stretch that court out in here.'"
Stockton acquired the building that was turned into the Warehouse "by accident." It was -- surprise, surprise -- an old warehouse.
"It was purchased as an investment," Stockton said. "... A real estate friend of mine said, 'I can get something for you, turn it over in a short period of time and it'll be a good investment.' I said, 'O.K.'"
Stockton expected to re-sell the building within six months, but almost two years later, it was still his property. He recalls asking his real estate friend, "Why do I still have this?"
About that time, Stockton had a discussion with Scott Cates who, while living in Salt Lake, helped build the state-of-the-art athletic complex at Cottonwood High and, in the process, turned the school's program into one of the most successful in Utah.
"He did a lot for my kids, as far as learning how to participate and learning how to compete," Stockton said. "Finally, one day I asked him how he did those things at Cottonwood and whether it could work with this building. He said,' Simple -- bing, bing, bing. And it will be unbelievable.'"
I stopped by the Warehouse on a cold and snowy night. Nobody would have been able to play baseball or basketball outside in such weather. But inside, one game of four-on-four basketball was being played, another college-age guy was shooting baskets by himself and every batting tunnel was being used. As I was leaving, another group of kids walked in, looking like they were also going to play a little basketball.
Assist, Stockton.
"It's been a neat thing to be part of," he said. "There is almost no one in town who doesn't know where the Warehouse is or what it does. ... It's where a lot of kids go to play basketball or volleyball or baseball. It's very neat to see that."
-- Steve Luhm
9:53 AM
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