Grip on Sports: It’s the time of year when sports worlds coliide

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s Sunday. For more than a third of the year that means NFL football. But we are in the other two-thirds right now, which means the conversation can roam all over the place. As long as it’s about football, right? Read on. 

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• OK, we really don’t want to talk about the Mariners right now. And it isn’t solely because they are like that squirrel that tried to cross North Monroe at rush hour. Though that’s part of it.

It’s just that we will have to rely on the M’s to get us through the summer. And that might be asking a lot.

So when we have a chance to dwell on football for possibly the final Sunday until September, we might as well.

The Cougars invaded Albi Stadium yesterday, made more than 7,000 of their fans really happy and watched Luke Falk do what Luke Falk does, throw touchdown passes and lead his team to a win.

The Eagles spent the morning scrimmaging at Roos Field and while the pomp and circumstance of the final spring scrimmage comes this upcoming weekend, there was still much to learn in Cheney.

Or is there?

Spring football does have its interests – in the South, it is seemingly more popular than regular season basketball – and its uses. But it is also a mirage in some ways.

We all can probably remember a player or two dozen over the years who stood out in spring drills, only to disappear when the games start in the fall.

Sometimes it is because the player in question just happened to fill a need at a senior-less position in the spring. And the new troops that arrived in the fall overpowered him.

But often it’s just because spring is about practice and some players just look better at practice than they really are.

Whatever the reason, a certain amount of skepticism is in order when evaluating “breakout” spring performances. Celebrate them, sure. The effort should be rewarded. But don’t be surprised if the success doesn’t carryover when the trees start to lose those leaves they are growing these days.

By then we will all be in full football mode. And Sundays will be back to normal.

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• WSU: The S-R had the full compliment at Albi Stadium yesterday to document the action, with Jacob Thorpe leading the way with his story on the action, another on the changing nature of the defense (again), the offensive player of the game, the defensive and the most important play. … John Blanchette’s column is centered on the young wide receivers that need to step up in the fall. … Whitney Ogden checked in with the more than 7,000 in attendance. Well, not all of them. … And Tyler Tjomsland has this photo gallery from the day. … The WSU baseball team took its second consecutive game from Washington yesterday. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 yesterday, California held its spring game yesterday – sort of – and answered some questions, but not the most important one. … The Huskies scrimmaged Saturday as well (though Bob Rondeau wasn’t calling the action) as they prepare for an offseason filled with thoughts of last-season’s success. Quarterback Jake Browning was able to play a bit. … Oregon is happy with its number of quality running backs, Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez isn’t happy to not have an indoor practice facility and UCLA’s newest assistant is really happy to be in Westwood. … Utah’s basketball team added a former BYU commit yesterday.

• EWU: The Eagles scrimmaged yesterday morning in Cheney and Jim Allen was there. He has this story on how the defense played better in this one. … Former Eastern Washington basketball coach Jim Hayford is settling in at Seattle University.

• Empire: Spokane put together a big fourth quarter to claim a key Intense Conference road win in Arizona.

• Preps: We missed Dave Nichols’ baseball notebook yesterday, but we pass it along today. … A former Ferris golfer is doing well at the college level.

• Mariners: We won’t ever miss Dave’s Mariners Log, though, with the way the M’s are playing on the road, you probably think something is missing with them. We’ve added the story links to the Log.

• Seahawks: With the draft this week, there are all kinds of mock drafts floating around. The only way someone could ever get one right is to time travel. With Marty McFly’s sports almanac. … John Schneider and Pete Carroll seemed to have the right book for years in the draft. Can they find the correct chapter for offensive linemen?

• Sounders: Seattle travels to Los Angeles to face the Galaxy, a franchise that always seems to be re-inventing itself. The Sounders’ attack needs to start clicking. … Stefan Frei talks about a goalkeeper’s worst nightmare. … Portland scored late to take a 2-1 decision over Vancouver. … Real Salt Lake lost to Atlanta.

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• The odd thing about spring? If you spend any time indoors, the next time you walk outside the weather could be entirely different. Not better, mind you, just different. By the way, we’ll be back this evening with a column on the M’s, who finish up a four-game series in Oakland today just hoping to be swept. Until later …