Grip on Sports: The Simpsons, Ken Griffey Jr., and baseball history all collided long ago

A GRIP ON SPORTS • An anniversary slipped by the other day, obscured by the mists of time. Yes, it’s been 25 years since “Homer at the Bat” aired, the greatest of all Simpsons episodes, premiered. Greatest, if you are a baseball fan. Read on.

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• It was a simpler time. George Bush, the elder, was still president. Right Said Fred was too sexy to be anywhere but atop the charts. “Wayne’s World” was partying on. And “The Simpsons” were in the middle of their third season.

All was right in the world.

Then worlds collided. Homer and his incredible “Wonder Bat” led the power plant’s team to the Springfield league softball championship game, Mr. Burns wanted more and Ken Griffey Jr. grew a huge head.

OK, let me explain.

No, not why I’m writing about an animated TV show. That’s self-explanatory. If there ever has been a cultural touchstone that meant more to people than Bart and the gang, I’m not sure what it is. Maybe sports, sure, but “The Simpsons” is close.

My boys grew up on it, except “The Itchy and Scratchy” parts. We wouldn’t let them watch the blood and guts until they were older. But the rest of it, sure. Heck, they looked at Homer as the dad they never had.

And when their favorite baseball player made a guest appearance back in 1992, they were glued to the couch. Probably because of melted Milk Duds or something, but that’s another story.

And what an episode it was. It blended something their dad did on a near-nightly basis – play softball – and their on-screen heroes.

There was Homer and Chief Wiggum being told the rules. (It had something to do with drinking beer at every base.)

There was Homer knocking the lights out, a la Robert Redford in “The Natural.”

And there were all of the baseball players. Jose Canseco, Roger Clemens (hey, what do those two have in common?), Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, Mike Scioscia and more. All hired by Mr. Smithers as ringers. And all, except Darryl Strawberry, lost, hurt or injured in some bizarre way. (Hence, Griffey’s huge head.)

And there is – spoiler alert – Homer’s game-winning hit. Or, more precisely, hit in the head. What a half hour. It’s right up there with the “as God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly” classic on WKRP or any Get Smart episode ever.

Anyhow, why “The Simpsons?” Well, that’s a stupid question. And the stupid answer is, the Baseball Hall of Fame, in all its wisdom – and lack of timing – is going to honor the show. On May 27.

Why May 27? Well, there is an old-timer’s game that day. And the weather in upstate New York is probably better in late May than in late February. But, more than likely, it’s because Smith and Boggs could be in Cooperstown then.

Ken Griffey Jr.? Maybe his head is too big to show up. And yes, I got the joke 25 years ago. Though my boys didn’t. And that’s another reason to love the show.

• OK, we touched on one of our favorite TV shows. Ever.

Today John Blanchette takes his annual look at the movies, with his version of Oscar nominations.

It’s one of our favorite columns of his every year.

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Gonzaga: Nicknames have been a part of sports for more than 25 years. So it’s little wonder the Zag basketball team has its set of oddly humorous names for each other. Jim Meehan lets you behind the curtain with this story. … The women’s basketball team would like a nickname all for themselves. Something along the lines of WCC regular season champions. Jim Allen has that story. … The Zags are a big deal all the way back East. … Around the WCC, BYU has upgraded its basketball facilities.

WSU: The Cougar women will finish their regular season this weekend, and Jim Allen tells us they are hoping to improve seeding in the Pac-12 tournament. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 in hoops, UCLA keeps winning but are the Bruins impressing the tournament committee? … Arizona’s top freshman is also one of the top freshmen in the nation. … Utah is falling back. … So is California, who, along with Stanford, hosts the Oregon schools in a big weekend for some of those schools. … In football, spring practice is rolling along at Colorado and Oregon State. … Arizona State is losing a couple of would-be seniors.

EWU and Idaho: The Vandals and Eagles will take identical records into the last weekend of Big Sky women’s play. As Jim Allen’s story shows, there is a gold ring at the end of their road trips: fourth place and a bye in the conference tournament. … Josh Wright delves into the relationship between Idaho’s Victor Sanders and his father (pictured), one that couldn’t be broken.

Whitworth: The Pirates’ 7-foot center, Drew Sears (pictured), is looking forward to one final run at an NCAA Division III national title. Jim has that story as well.

Mariners: There are many stories from Peoria, but my favorite today? That would be Kyle Seager talking about his fielding from last season. I’m with him. Errors matter. … The guy with the body most like mine spoke yesterday. … Angel Miranda will start the first exhibition game. … Major league baseball isn’t happy with its union. … Steve Cishek is happy to be able to throw. … The WBC is going to disrupt spring training again. … Leonys Martin was scared.

Seahawks: There are answers here to questions you didn’t even think of asking.

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• One of my favorite parts of “The Simpsons” episode was Terry Cashman changing his song to fit the episode. Of course you can watch it YouTube. And the episode is there as well, broken into a bunch of parts. My favorite Chief Wiggum line? “We know the rules.” Just about every softball player I ever played with could have delivered that. Until later …