ShoWare Shootout could be something special | Column

A bounty of mullets, the notion that every truck includes a gun rack, and it’s a city that “doesn’t sleep.”

That’s the information I was given about Kent before I moved to the area a little more than 10 years ago.

Of course, the mullets-and-gun-rack theory came from the local comedy show Almost Live! As for the part about a city that doesn’t sleep, well, that came from a local police officer, whom I now believe mixed up Kent with Las Vegas.

None of those traits seem to be Kent specific these days, though I do see mullets from time to time.

Sure, Kent once was tabbed the “Lettuce Capital of the World” due to its fertile farmland, but that idea has since literally been paved over.

So what is Kent about? What’s it’s trademark?

“I think it’s a big-time sports area,” said Steve Turcotte. “You’ve got to think Thunderbirds and all the high school sports, heck, Kentwood won the state baseball and state basketball titles all in the same year.”

Turcotte just might be on to something. And of all people, he should be. Turcotte, who has spearheaded this weekend’s ShoWare Shootout 3-on-3 basketball festival, has essentially become the Don King of Kent, minus the sleaze and crazy hair.

Think about it.

In the last decade, essentially since I first came to town, Kent high schools have produced state championship teams in football, basketball (boys and girls), baseball and tennis among others. The high schools have become a hot bed for some of the state’s top wrestlers, track athletes, and gymnasts. Pretty much in any sport you can think of, Kent has at least one — and generally multiple — state champions across the board.

Heck, since 2005, when Kent was named by Sports Illustrated as Sportstown Washington, the Seattle Thunderbirds, Seattle Majestics, Seattle Mist and the Kent Predators all have come to town.

I’m still not quite sure why the Mist and Majestics call “Seattle” home, but that’s a column for another day.

New to the scene this weekend (Aug. 7-8) will be the ShoWare Shootout, which has become Turcotte’s baby. In recent years, Turcotte has brought professional golf tournaments to Kent, and the Les Schwab Shootout.

But make no mistake, this weekend’s event is the Big One.

“I think this thing is a monster now,” said Turcotte, who noted that he actually had to turn some teams away when the 16-division basketball festival reached 160 teams, which is an increase of 100 squads during the final week of registration. “This thing is going to be unbelievable.”

If the Spokane Hoopfest, which is the blueprint for which Turcotte followed when designing the ShoWare Shootout, is any indication, this should be a huge event. The Spokane Hoopfest, which takes place at the end of June, draws more than 5,000 teams and 25,000 players from around the nation each year.

For now, consider the ShoWare Shootout the little brother of the Spokane Hoopfest as the event is in its first year.

But, if all goes well this weekend, this could grow into something truly special.

“It’s just going to be a good community event that shows off that Kent’s a big sports town,” Turcotte said.

With all due respect, I can only hope a sports town minus the mullets.

SHOWARE SHOOTOUT

• WHAT: The ShoWare Shootout presented by Allied Waste.

• WHERE: ShoWare Center parking lot.

• WHEN: August 7-8. Competition begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday and runs through 4 p.m. The festivities begin at 9 a.m. on Sunday and the championship games are tentatively schedule for 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

• WHO: 160 teams of all ability levels and genders across 16 divisions.

• OF NOTE: There will be a special area at the event specifically set up for young children. There is no admission and a concession stand will be available.

• NBA APPEARANCE: Guard Aaron Brooks of the Houston Rockets will be putting on a 30-minute clinic on Saturday at noon. Brooks, a Franklin High and University of Oregon product, averaged 19.6 points per game last season.