Time to move on

As his team worked out in the weight room preparing for the upcoming season, Three Rivers men's basketball coach Gene Bess was in his office Friday afternoon talking about something that happened at the end of last season.

Just days after the college's Board of Trustees said Bess had "acted in an unprofessional and unacceptable manner," the Raiders coach for the past 37 years wanted to talk more about the upcoming season or the changes made to the Activity Center for the fans.

"I've enjoyed the kids so far and I'm excited about the season," Bess said. "I think we have good potential."

It seems that everybody else at the college and around town want to talk about what happened in April when freshman Michael Lance signed with Arkansas State.

Usually at this time of year, when the team is out running laps at Bacon Park, talk about the Raiders usually centers around the letter W, not letters of reprimand or letters to the editor.

Here's all I need to know:

"Coach Bess and our family have talked and we have resolved this issue," said Mark Lance, Michael's father. "Attending Three Rivers was the best decision our children could have made and we will continue to support TRCC in both academic and athletic programs in the future."

The conversation between Bess and the Lance family happened long before a Sept. 2 letter to the editor printed in this newspaper. And while the parties involved have moved on, just about everybody else is using it to further their own agenda.

It seems Side A and Side B have some issues of their own to resolve. Bess hopes that with some time and reflection, maybe everybody will sit down and talk.

"Sooner or later we'll all be on the same page and we'll be trying to make this college better," Bess said. "That's the bottom line."

To show support for Gene Bess, then go to games this season at the Activity Center starting Nov. 2, wear Black & Gold and cheer.

You can support Michael Lance as well, by heading down to Jonesboro this winter, wear Scarlet & Black and cheer.

I have a feeling they'll be rooting for each other.

"I don't want anything but the best for Michael Lance and his family," Bess said.

Unfortunately, nobody else seems to be thinking that way.

If the agenda is to push Bess into retirement, it didn't sound Friday like that was going to happen anytime soon.

"I'll know and it's not come yet," he said.

Right now it's time to teach class and work towards another trip to Hutch.

"I just want to get the excitement going again," said Bess, referring to the gym and not the board room.

"I think we finished the season off pretty well last year," he added. "We just want to build on that."

And move on.