A GRIP ON SPORTS

Good morning and welcome to your work week. Yes, I know it is a Tuesday. But thanks to the holiday Monday, you probably didn't have to drag yourself into the office until today. So it's a short week. And a light day of links. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

There is one thing I like to do each Memorial Day. I reread the Gettysburg Address. It's my way of saying thanks to those the day was designed to honor. Fittingly, Abraham Lincoln wrote the speech and delivered it in 1863 as part of a ceremony to consecrate a cemetery, honoring the thousands who fell on the Pennsylvania battlefield just a few months before. It's not long, taking Lincoln only a couple minutes to deliver, but it's full of iconic phrases that still resonate through the years. However, the one that always hits me on this day concerns the sacrifice made by those being honored. “That from these honored dead,” Lincoln wrote, “we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion.” The last full measure of devotion. Wow. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

We've reminisced here before about Sunday papers, how they were always little magazines crammed full of stories to read. But there is one other aspect of that we may have forgotten to touch upon, though we will this morning. They were – and still are – at their best when they bring you an unexpected story or two. A little gem at the bottom of a mound of the predictable. It's that aspect we celebrate today as our blog is sprinkled, like a ruined doughnut, with colorful stories you probably didn't expect on a crowded weekend. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

Summer unofficially begins this weekend. Schools not out around here, sure. And it's still cold in the morning at times. But according to lore, Memorial Day Weekend is the kickoff to summer. Fine by me. It's time to get into that summer mode. Shorts every day. Flip-flops instead of shoes. An ice chest ready to be filled – and drained – each day. The barbecue. And baseball on the radio. Read on.

COUGARS

It's been a while since we greeted you in the morning, so we'll go ahead and pass along some links today that we thought you might enjoy. Plus some non-WSU video — with a Cougar-related backstory — that is just too incredible not to share. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

It is Friday of a holiday weekend. Seven really exciting words, no? With Memorial Day coming up Monday, there is a chance to get out and enjoy all that the Northwest has to offer (if you live outside the area, I'm sorry – in more ways than one). Watch out for the wind today, it may get Mary Poppins bad. If you want to stay inside and read our morning report, we promise not to blow you away. Wait, that didn't come out right. Read on.

I'm guessing ticket sales are about to go up for the Spokane-Utah game on June 16. Here's why:

Former Spokane head coach Rob Keefe is the new defensive coordinator for the Utah Blaze, one of the Shock’s West Division rivals.

Keefe, 31, was fired as Orlando’s offensive coordinator after four games this season. Keefe, along with current Blaze offensive coordinator Matt Sauk, helped Spokane win an ArenaBowl title in 2010 but Keefe was fired after a 9-10 campaign in 2011.

Utah (6-4) is coming off an 86-70 loss to Arizona. Secondary coach Mike Brown was fired to make room for Keefe. Spokane (5-4) entertains Utah on June 16.

Utah has several ex-Shock players, including Shaun Kauleinamoku, Antwan Marsh, Caesar Rayford, Antonio Narcisse, William Mulder and Al Phillips.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

After the past few days, any sunshine is appreciated. Even the diffuse stuff we're getting now. Let's shine some light on the Inland Northwest's sports news, shall we? Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

Remember that old ditty you used to sing as a kid about the rain? Something about it staying away and coming again another day? Well, if we could remember all the words we would be singing it today, as we have to head out to the golf course to catch up with the 4A boys golf – and we don't want to get wet. Read on.

COUGARS

Washington State announced that Ray Lopes will be its newest assistant men's basketball coach. Read on for more.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

It's an eclectic mix we present for you this morning, with links ranging from New Jersey, where former Gonzaga star Adam Morrison had a tryout with the Nets, to Tampa, where the Bucs said goodbye to Kellen Winslow and sent him to the Seahawks. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

Mondays are never easy. It's a day of searching, especially this time of year. Trying to find enough to link is pretty dang hard. But thanks to a guy we've known – and learned from – for years, we have a great piece of reporting to pass along. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

It's been a long time since a Spokane college baseball team has been to these heights. Fifty-two years. That's the last time a team from the Lilac City has headed off to a college world series. But it will happen next week. Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

As I said on the radio yesterday, my father used to invoke the blind-squirrel-acorn theory often when I was young (usually right after I did something he approved of). That philosophy came to mind last night with Kevin Millwood's complete-game shutout victory in Colorado. Was it like a vision-impaired rodent stumbling into a nut, or was it the beginning of something good? Read on.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

For quite possibly the first time in my life, today I would rather live in Cleveland. At least there the major league baseball team battles through adversity and has an ownership that will spend a bit of money to help its team compete. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we have trouble saying such things with a straight face. Read on.

COUGARS

FROM PULLMAN — For a regular ol' Thursday in mid-May, yesterday was pretty heavy on WSU news of the basketball variety. Oh, and Mike Leach apparently shot a bear. Read on.

Spokane is nearly halfway through the AFL season. The Shock reach the midpoint after Friday's home showdown with No. 2 Philadelphia and there's a lot at stake. Read more in my game preview that will run in Friday's S-R.

COUGARS

FROM PULLMAN — Ken Bone confirmed today that center Richard Peters, who signed as part of WSU's 2012 recruiting class, will not make it into school. Read on.

COUGARS

FROM PULLMAN — WSU officially confirmed today that former assistant basketball coach Jeff Hironaka has accepted a new role as the team's director of player development/special assistant to the head coach, a move made in order to allow coach Ken Bone to hire a new assistant with broader recruiting reach. Read on for more.

A GRIP ON SPORTS

College football in August. A good thing or bad thing? Discus among yourselves. I'm still trying to figure out if Larry Bernandez was actually in Felix's uniform last night. Read on.