Is it one and done around here?
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Alabama can lose one, maybe two games, and still will be in the hunt. Texas A&M can have a loss. Ditto Auburn. Heck, LSU and Georgia are still in the national playoff picture and they've already lost. But Oregon loses last night and it's kaput. Done. Finished. Well, maybe not. Read on.
• If there's a saving grace for the Pac-12's spate of night games, it's that very few actually saw Oregon lose to Arizona last night, 31-24. Actually, though, that's probably another strike against the Ducks. Yes, Oregon played poorly. But if you just read the score this morning, you might not realize how well the Wildcats played. Or how circumstances sort of bit Oregon in the butt. I'm not going to criticize the officiating again – no one wants to be called a whiner and you know where I stand – but there seems to be a difference between celebrating and taunting, right? Let's move on. Arizona's road win does two things for the Pac-12: It shows the conference's depth once more and it may just eliminate it from the final four. We all knew it would be hard for anyone to go through this conference undefeated. Knew it. But reality is something else. And a loss to USC or UCLA or Stanford is something quite different then a loss to unheralded and under appreciated Arizona. Or at least is perceived differently around the nation. Just as the SEC is perceived differently nationally. Say Alabama loses this weekend at Ole Miss. The narrative surrounding Oregon's loss today is all about how poorly the Ducks played. Hard to argue. But if Alabama plays poorly and loses, the narrative will be about the depth of the SEC West. And the Crimson Tide won't fall in the polls nearly as far as the Ducks will. Guaranteed.
•••
• WSU: Before we link a few pieces on last night's shake up in the Pac-12 – hey, WSU is tied atop the Pac-12 North right now – let's cover the ground around Pullman. Jacob Thorpe's story today is about how much the Golden Bears have changed since just last year. Jacob also has a practice summary from last night as well as a morning post with links. ... Howie Stalwick, writing for SportspressNW.com, has a piece on a Cougar linebacker whose roots are as far away from Pullman as one can get, if you are using way of life as the criteria. ... Bud Withers has a feature on River Cracraft in today's Times. ... He also has some thoughts on Oregon's loss. As does the Oregonian's John Canzano. The latter piece is pretty rough. ... California has a wide receiver with huge hands. As Pee-wee Herman used to say, huge hands, huge problem finding gloves.
• Gonzaga: College basketball season seems to begin earlier and earlier. The Zags and others in the area begin practice today. ... The Gonzaga volleyball team snapped a long losing streak to a conference rival last night.
• EWU: The man in the middle of your defense better be tough. Eastern's Cody McCarthy is. Jim Allen profiles the Eagles' middle linebacker in this morning's paper. ... Jim also held a live chat yesterday and a morning post with links today. ... John Blanchette has a column today on an athlete who starred in two sports at two Inland Northwest schools. Though, back when he played, it was called the Inland Empire.
• Chiefs: Chris Derrick has a feature on the newest Chief, who has been traveling a lot lately.
• Preps: Thursday night means high school football, with a doubleheader at Albi Stadium last night. Greg Lee covered both games, Mt. Spokane's 27-24 win over Ferris and Lewis and Clark's 24-7 win over North Central. Jesse Tinsley adds photographs from the early game. ... We also can pass along a roundup of yesterday's other prep action as well as a short story on Rogers' soccer.
• Seahawks: Is there anything Russell Wilson can't do? Yesterday, Wilson debuted as a writer, editor and pundit on Derek Jeter's website. He decried violence, especially domestic violence, and reveled he was a bully as a youngster. I wonder when Wilson will be taking over from Roger Goodell as commissioner? Next month? ... The Seahawks' season is now a marathon to the finish line, 13 consecutive weeks without a break. ... Sounds fine to Marshawn Lynch. ... The defense is ready for any challenge. The group will be challenging the Redskins, that's for sure.
• Mariners: The M's spent more than $100 million on payroll this season.
• Sounders: Obafemi Martins had a pretty good September. And he was rewarded for it.
•••
• That's all we have. I hope you have a good Thurs ... er, Friday. I occasionally lose track. Sorry. Until later ...