It’s all about the action, isn’t it?
A GRIP ON SPORTS
Oh, what a night. Early October back in 'ought 14. Or something like that. Being that my voice is nothing like Frank Valli's I won't try to sing, or even hum, the tune, but its sentiments are appropriate after last night's baseball action. Read on.
• Want to win in major league baseball playoffs these days? Well, don't win your division, that's for sure. The new wild-card play-in game? Hasn't seemed to hurt the at-large participants yet. The Royals have gone into Anaheim and won two improbable extra-inning games. And the Giants – let me impress upon you how much I hate to write this – have already stolen a game from the Nationals in D.C. But the winners really don't matter to most of us, it's all about the action, right boss? And that's been great. Exceptional really. Last night was baseball at its finest and just another reason why I've loved the game for, oh, I don't know, about six decades.
• I also love college football, though college football games that begin at zero dark thirty and end on Sunday aren't my favorite. That's about what will happen tonight, though the games have a tendency to surprise us. It may just roll along faster than we expect. Mainly, I suspect, because the defenses should put up a better fight than most would think. Two reasons for that. The guys on that side of the ball have heard all week about how this is going to be an offensive show and that probably ticks them off more than you know. And both teams have the advantage of facing the same basic schemes each day in practice. That has to help, doesn't it? So maybe this game is lower scoring and quicker than everyone thinks. And one other thing. I'm pretty sure all the folks that are picking WSU to win might be off tonight too, even though almost 90 percent of you who answered our poll felt that way. I just can't shake the image of Dres Anderson running free behind the Cougar secondary twice last week and Travis Wilson unable to get the ball to him. If Trevor Davis or Bryce Treggs break free like that this week, Jared Goff will get them the ball. The Cougars' youthful secondary hasn't been tested all season like they will be tonight. The grade they earn may just decide the game.
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• WSU: Jacob Thorpe has your usual Saturday full of information for tonight's game, including an advance touting both teams' aerial attacks. He also has his keys to the game, a blog post this morning with links and starting lineups from Washington State and California. ... The WSU soccer team went into Berkeley yesterday and upset the ninth-ranked Bears, 1-0. ... Back to football, the Chronicle has an advance of tonight's contest. ... It's Saturday, so ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog has its usual mailbag. There's a WSU question.
• EWU: Idaho State has been at the bottom of the Big Sky for a while but not anymore. Former Eastern coach Mike Kramer has the Bengals playing better. And that has EWU's radar on high upset alert. Jim Allen has the advance of today's game. Jim also has a morning post with links from around the conference.
• Idaho: The Vandals are on the road again this week. John Blanchette has an advance.
• Chiefs: Spokane made its first trip north of the border last night and suffered its first loss of the season. ... Seattle handed Portland another home defeat. ... Everett dropped an overtime decision at home to Kelowna.
• Preps: Most of the time when you read about Shadle Park's football team, it's about quarterback Brett Rypien. But last night the Highlanders showed they can play some smash-mouth football too, though it was on the defensive side (pictured). Shadle handled Gonzaga Prep up front and won the showdown at Albi, 25-13. Greg Lee has the game story and Jesse Tinsley has the photographs. ... The duo teamed up on the nightcap as well, with Greg covering University's 56-20 win over Rogers. ... Cheney rolled past East Valley, 29-14. ... Over in Idaho, Jim Meehan watched as Lake City started fast and cruised past Sandpoint, 54-25. ... Coeur d'Alene held off Hermiston (Ore.) 31-27 on homecoming. ... We can also pass along a roundup of the rest of the football action as well as another roundup of the other prep sports.
• Seahawks: Russell Wilson has a rather full plate. He's an NFL quarterback, of course, but he's also a pretty common sight on the television, what with all his commercials. And now he's taking on another role. Why is he speaking out about violence? What inspired him to act now or to change his ways years ago? ... Dan Quinn has some thoughts on the Redskins' offense. Wilson has some thoughts on the game as well. ... The Hawks, despite the bye week, aren't completely healthy.
• Mariners: The M's spent more than $100 million on payroll in the season just completed. They need to spend more next season.
• Sounders: Seattle hits the road again for a Sunday match in Colorado, facing some of the same challenges it has faced recently. ... Obafemi Martins faces the challenge of duplicating last month's great play. ... A couple of younger Sounders have been picked to represent the U.S. in an international contest.
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• It's going to be a late night no matter how quickly the game is played. The 7:30 start ensures that. I will be twice as busy tonight, helping out with the S-R coverage as well as preparing to take your phone calls with Dennis Patchin after the postgame show. If you are driving back from the game, the eyelids feeling a bit heavy, use your hands-free device to call us. We'll perk you right back up. Just remember to focus on the road and turn your radio down. Until then ...
