The Front Row: Lute versus the press

DON’T MESS WITH LUTE: Arizona basketball fans tend to have this image of Lute Olson as this kindly, grandfatherly basketball ambassador.

That persona took a backseat on Tuesday.

I wouldn’t categorize Olson’s approach toward a handful of the media members as hostile, but it was certainly adversarial.

I have attended a number of Olson’s press conferences, and I had never seen him battle reporters quite like this.

Granted, the man was frustrated with some of the stuff that had been printed about him during his leave of absence. He is entitled to a private life, and if there are certain details he doesn’t want to share with the public, that is perfectly understandable.

What caught me off guard was the Bob Knight-esque sarcasm and condescension.

For example, he prefaced one answer by saying, “Frankly, I don’t read your articles” to one reporter.

He also took to calling one of the Arizona beat writers “Columbo” for most of the press conference.

While Olson’s leave has certainly sharpened his tongue, only time will tell if it helps sharpen his team’s performance on the court.

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BASEBALL IS BACK: Finally.

Despite published reports to the contrary, baseball’s “real” opening day took place on Monday, with the Arizona Diamondbacks taking on the Cincinnati Reds.

After shaking off some early control problems, Brandon Webb looked like his old self, flustering Cincinnati hitters with his unhittable sinker in the 4-2 win.

Webb has to be the only pitcher who becomes more difficult to hit as the game wears on.

While it might be too early to make such bold proclamations, I believe that the National League Gold Glove award at second base is Orlando Hudson’s to lose.

O-Dog was everywhere on Monday, making plays no other second baseman can make, and doing it in routine fashion. Good to have him back.

Tune in at 4:10 p.m. today to see Dan Haren’s first start in a D-Backs’ uniform. This Webb-Haren combination at the top of the rotation is simply lethal.

Check the Green Valley News throughout the summer for weekly Diamondbacks reports, as I’ll be bringing back the “D-Backs Notebook.”

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747