Grip on Sports: It may be the calm before the storm, but the storm is well over the horizon

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Quiet doesn’t begin to describe this time of year. Graveyard-at-midnight might be better. But it’s really more like that moment in your favorite slasher movie just before a character in a mask jumps out from behind a tree. Read on.

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• Yes, I know the NBA playoffs are in full sweep mode. And the Washington Capitols are trying to re-write their sordid NHL playoff history.

The major league baseball season is starting to find its legs. Spring prep sports, the ones with the most participants, are headed toward the finish line, Memorial Day weekend. And thousands of grass-destroying duffers have descended on our local golf courses.

Yes, I know all that.

But there’s no football. And that makes my hands shake a little.

That and way too much coffee.

We’re exaggerating for effect, sure, but only a little. When the Mariners take the day off, as happened yesterday as they traveled to the East Coast, then the regional sports scene seems to shut down this time of year.

Maybe it’s because we no longer have an NBA team in Seattle. Or maybe it’s because when spring finally does hit around here, participatory sports are a lot more important than viewing ones.

Whatever it is – and, yes, no football is a part of it – it makes for a slow time in this space.

Though, thankfully, there are Bloomsday numbers to crunch again. (And Don Kardong, one of the smartest men I ever met other than that, you know, running-all-the-time thing, agreed with my thesis about the poor spring weather hurting the race’s totals.)

And the M’s begin a road trip in the City of Brotherly Love (and the constant boo) tonight. Win or lose, they will give us something to talk – and write – about.

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WSU: We all know the Cougars are in good shape at quarterback. How good? This ranking has them second in the Pac-12. … Elsewhere in the conference, Oregon State is at the top of the world in baseball while Arizona State is at a low point in its history. … Oregon has some veterans at linebacker.

Gonzaga: BYU’s Eric Mika still hasn’t hired an agent. But he will attend the NBA combine this weekend.

Preps: The recent bad news about Boise State dropping wrestling has been countered a bit by the news Greg Lee shares with us this morning: Post Falls’ wrestler Cierra Foster (pictured) has won a prestigious national high school award. … Steve Christilaw takes a look at the upcoming 4A tennis tournaments. … A no-hitter highlighted yesterday’s baseball playoff action. … Missed this yesterday, but the Spokane Youth Sports Awards finalists were announced.

Mariners: The M’s fans seem to be taken by their new diminutive catcher. … Root will begin streaming Mariner games live. But my cable provider, and the biggest in the Northwest, Comcast, isn’t on board yet.

Seahawks: We told you about Justin Britt’s car yesterday. He got it back. … The Hawks now have 11 running backs on their roster. … What does the offensive depth chart look like?

Sounders: Opponents have adapted well to the offensive philosophy that carried Seattle to the MLS title last season. Can the Sounders adjust again?

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• It will get better. I promise. If not, I’ll start sharing more stories from my past. Now that would be awful. Until later …