Grip on Sports: It seems like a good day for you to pick your own adventure

A GRIP ON SPORTS • If you were in my slippers today and had to write something for this column, which subject would you pick to emphasize? It isn’t an easy choice. Read on.

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• Would you focus on the surprising Mariners, despite having written about them almost every day the past couple weeks? Or maybe you would rather examine their draft picks, at least one of which, if history is to be our guide, will struggle, be traded for next-to-nothing, and then blossom for another franchise?

Would you opine about the Stanley Cup Finals, which are either about to be over or setting up for Washington choking more than it ever has – and the Caps have choked often over the years?

Would you wonder why the Pac-12 decided its football teams had to win six games to participate in a bowl game and wonder if this really is just another decision made for financial reasons? Or would you rather share your memories about Dwight Clark, the man who made “The Catch” and who died yesterday at age 61, which just happens to be my age?

Would you stay more local and look forward to one of the best parts of summer in Spokane, Indians’ games at the Fairgrounds? If that doesn’t tickle you fancy, how about looking even further ahead, to next high school football season, which will have a new look come playoff time?

Or would you rely on the old staple, Gonzaga basketball, which is expected to be among the nation’s elite? The Zags are so highly thought of by former ESPN reporter Andy Katz, he’s got them atop his rankings heading into next season. You can celebrate the selection or you can wonder if Katz has invoked the kiss of death by expectations.

It is your choice today. I’m taking the day off.

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WSU: Don’t wonder any longer. The Pac-12’s bowl rule was a money-driven decision. If a 5-7 conference team is selected for a bowl, it’s hard for the school to turn down, even if it will cost more than a bowl in Texas or Florida would bring in. So now the athletic directors don’t have to make an unpopular decision. Their hands are tied. … Dennis Erickson, who had three different coaching stints in the Inland Northwest (Idaho twice and WSU once), is on the college football Hall of Fame ballot again. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, Utah’s new athletic director said all the right things at his introductory press conference yesterday. … There is basketball news today, with the conference reportedly contemplating changing how it schedules. … Washington has scheduled a tough non-conference game. In other news, Lorenzo Romar is no longer the Huskies’ coach. … USC’s Bennie Boatwright underwent offseason surgery. … UCLA has lost a tight end due to continuing injuries. … Washington lost the opening game of the NCAA’s three-game softball championship series, 1-0, to Florida State. … Oregon State dominated its baseball regional. 

Gonzaga: Katz’s ranking of the Zags allows GU fans to chant “we’re No. 1” for a while, as Jim Meehan explains. 

Indians: The Rangers picked a high school senior pitcher with their first draft choice. We’ll have to wait and see if he comes here this summer. Dave Nichols has the story.

Preps: The WIAA has tweaked the basketball RPI again and will seed the football playoffs after the teams have been winnowed down to the final 16. Dave has more in this story.

Mariners: Yesterday was a travel day – the M’s begin a two-game series in Houston tonight – but it was a big day for the future. We’ll start with our coverage, as Dave has an Out of Right Field column on the M’s first two picks. And Larry Weir’s Press Box pod covers similar ground. … The draft selections dominated the news from Monday, even though baseball’s draft is the biggest crapshoot of them all. For every seven that hits the felt, there are at least five snake eyes rolled.

Seahawks: OTAs rumbled on yesterday, with those who are not in attendance gaining as much attention as those who are. … The offensive line will have a new philosophy this season. Will it help? 

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• I am going to take a day off one of these days, if only to rest the tips of my two index fingers. As a two-finger typist, those digits bear the brunt of my day-after-day pounding on the keyboard. A rest would do them good. Besides, I picked the picture with today’s column for a reason. I’ve done very few brave things in my life, but throwing my body into the water at The Wedge when I was in college was one of them. Peer pressure won. Anyway, I would never pick that as an adventure anymore. How about you? Until later …