A GRIP ON SPORTS • What is it about a shirt with U-S-A written across the front, even if it's not really there? Why does it cause a seemingly rational adult male to root loudly for a women’s team in a sport, at times, he can barely tolerate? Is it jingoism, nationalism, idiocy? Read on.

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• The only sporting event I watched from (near the) start to the finish yesterday was the U.S. Women’s 2-0 win over Germany in the World Cup semifinals. (If you are wondering why I missed the start, it was because I didn’t believe a Fox-telecast would actually start at the time listed and I was getting the barbecue started for the halftime dinner.) At first I was disgusted by the U.S. women’s play. I hate turnovers in any sport and, after watching an occasional Premier League match with my son, I understand they don’t always have to happen on every pass in a soccer match. But that seemed to be the case last night, at least early for the U.S. Only the stout nature of the United State’s defense – and one completely choked penalty kick from tournament leading scorer Celia Sasic – kept the American’s in the match. Then the U.S. got the type of break teams oftentimes need to win huge competitions. Germany’s Annike Krahn decided to stop Alex Morgan from a shot attempt by fouling her. But Krahn thought she did it outside the penalty box. The replays seemed to show she did, though it was close. No matter. Referee Teodura Albon awarded the U.S. a penalty kick. Carli Lloyd didn’t miss. The U.S. led 1-0. When sub Kelley O’Hara made a nice run and converted Lloyd’s pass 15 minutes later, the U.S. was headed to the finals. “We didn’t come here to make the finals,” Lloyd told reporters afterward. “We came here to win it.” They will face up-and-coming England (kind of a sad way to describe the nation that invented the sport, isn’t it?) or the most-wanted foe, Japan in Sunday's final. It was the Japanese that defeated them in the final four years ago, denying the United States team its third trophy. So there could be the revenge factor in play come the Vancouver final. If Japan does its part tonight. No matter what, though, this guy will be watching. And, though it’s not something I do much anymore, cheering. For a sport 10 years ago I really didn’t understand. Yes, I get the reason I’m in to it has to do with the name on the front of the jersey. It’s our country’s team and we want it to do well. But I’ve come to appreciate the sport when it’s played well. And this team plays it well, especially on the defensive end. So the U.S. women have 90 more minutes. Ninety minutes of competition then either four years to celebrate or four years like they spent the last four. I’m sure, as is the case with the rest of us, they would rather have the former.

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• Gonzaga: Santa Clara came to the defense of its new athletic director hire after a series of blog posts by Jon Wilner. He passes it along. If anything, though, from what I know of Renee Baumgartner from her time at Oregon – and I have a lot of connections to that tenure, some that stretch back to college days – Wilner has probably been more than fair.

• Indians: Spokane rallied for eight runs in the seventh and eighth innings to get past Salem-Keiser, 9-7, and win the road series 3-2.

• Chiefs: The CHL held its Import Draft yesterday and Spokane picked a Danish forward.

• Seahawks: You had questions, so Bob Condotta answered them. ... No, there is nothing new about Russell Wilson’s contract even though training camp opens in less than a month. ... Marshawn Lynch made an appearance with Conan this week.

• Mariners: Has there been a nicer surprise this season than the pitching of Mike Montgomery? No, no there hasn’t. Montgomery, who received his shot after James Paxton’s injury, threw his second consecutive shutout – a one-hitter – in the M’s 5-0 win at San Diego. He is 3-2 but more importantly has a 1.62 ERA in six starts. There is no way the M’s could send him to Tacoma when Hisashi Iwakuma returns from the disabled list, is there? Oh, I forgot. This is the Mariners we are talking about. ... Nelson Cruz was in the lineup last night but he won’t be in the Home Run Derby no matter if he makes the A.L. All-Star team or not. He turned down an offer recently. ... Things are really heating up behind the scenes in Anaheim.

• Sounders: Each MLS team is allowed to have three designated players, guys they can pay a little more than the big-contract-adverse league allows others. Today, the league might announce the addition of a fourth, though it will be called a “core player.” You can be sure the Sounders will use the option to add another strong player.

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• You tired of the warmth yet? Other than having to water certain plants by hand to keep them from going belly up, I’m not. But the limit will be reached if the heat wave doesn’t end soon. July 6 would be nice. Until later ...

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