Another day closer to the game
A GRIP ON SPORTS
It's Tuesday morning of Super Bowl week. Are we supposed to be excited or something? Read on.
• OK, I promise that's the last day for that lead-in. It seemed like a cute idea yesterday if I did it every day until Sunday but, as I typed this morning, it hit me for what it really was: a lazy way to fill a week. So we'll get back to our normal fun, informative opening paragraphs tomorrow. (Or is that boring and uninformative? I'm not sure.) As I read through the Super Bowl stories today – and there were so many of them even I gave up about three-quarters of the way through – I realized there is nothing in our country, other than a presidential election, that captures the media's attention like a Super Bowl. And today is the "media day," (pictured) when non-sports types are allowed to invade the inner sanctum and ask whatever they want of our modern-day gladiators. (Speaking of that, wouldn't it be cool if Russell Crowe showed up at media day and started asking questions as if he were his Maximus character?) In other words, today is the fun day and then it gets really serious. For my part, I'm ready for the game. I want to see how the Legion of Boom and the Hawk pass rush handles Peyton Manning and the Denver offense. I want to see if the Seattle offensive line can open holes for Marshawn Lynch and give Russell Wilson time to throw against a suspect Bronco secondary. I wonder if the game will come down to a field goal in the swirling New Jersey winds. I just want some football. I don't care who was waving the flag in the Seahawk plane when they arrived in New York. I don't care if Lynch wants to talk or not. I don't care if Richard Sherman is America's next true villain or actually a hero cast in the role. Well, that last one sort of interests me but I don't need a week of buildup to learn the answer. I believe the answer is pretty obvious. Read this Los Angeles Times story and you may just see him the same way I do.
• You might have noticed I used the first part of the column today as a repository of story links. That's because there are so many they would have overflowed the usual Seahawk section. There are, however, more below.
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• WSU: Though Jacob Thorpe didn't have any on-field or on-court competitions to cover yesterday he did fill up the blog with his Pac-12 basketball power rankings as well as a high school football and basketball player announcing he'll attend WSU. ... Jacob also has his morning post as well. ... Oregon State lost its offensive coordinator yesterday.
• Gonzaga: Though the injuries are healing up for GU, the flu is now making its appearance, despite the players being given flu shots before the season. Jim Meehan has more in this notebook. ... BYU has been consistent in some areas. ... Gonzaga's Haiden Palmer was the WCC Player of the Week. ... A former Zag is in the news.
• EWU: For some reason the Eagles just can't get over the hump on the road. They received 32 points from freshman center Ognjen Miljkovic (or as he's known to his teammates, OG), 18 from Tyler Harvey and another 11 from Venky Jois (along with 10 rebounds) and still squandered a 10-point halftime lead, losing 92-83 at Portland State.
• Seahawks: One of the discussion points yesterday revolved around medical marijuana and whether it would be right for the NFL to examine its use. Pete Carroll was pretty positive (surprise) it would be. The subject may have arisen because the Hawks and Broncos represent the only two states in the union to have legalized recreational use of the drug but it's a serious subject worthy of a conversation. ... Each day certain players sit at tables and answer questions from the media. Yesterday guys like Michael Robinson, who has a history like none other, Kam Chancellor, Golden Tate and Michael Bennett were highlighted but Russell Okung and Zach Miller were also among those interviewed. ... Of course, the two coaches, John Fox and Pete Carroll, also spoke and their every word was dissected. ... Speaking of Chancellor, he could have a big role Sunday. Mainly because he and Earl Thomas are the best pair of safeties in the league. ... The mayors of Seattle and Denver made a bet yesterday though the Denver mayor's offering was pretty weak. ... So is the way the NFL handles Super Bowl tickets. ... And, finally, the weather is a big topic but it seems as if it will not be that big a deal.
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• Another day on the radio with Dennis Patchin and Rick Lukens. You can listen here between 3 and 6 p.m. Until then ...
