Our spirit should never be cowed
A GRIP ON SPORTS
The Monday after the Masters is usually a quiet day in the world of sports. But that quiet was shattered yesterday by the explosive devices at the Boston Marathon that killed at least three people and injured scores more. Such events remind us how much times have changed in the past couple decades and how all of us are at risk of being touched by the idiocy of others. Read on.
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• One of the first things I did when I moved to Spokane in 1983 was begin training for this Bloomsday thingamabob I heard so much about. After running most every day for a month, I took part in Spokane's annual celebration of spring – and perspiration. Heck, I still have the pictures then Spokesman-Review photographer Chris Anderson took of my tired-looking face at the finish line, at a spot that is now RiverPark Square's lobby. It was all part of a plan to integrate myself into my new community, to learn more about my neighbors and to have them learn more about me. Never in a million seconds did I ever once think I was in any danger, other than from my heart giving out heading up the aptly named Doomsday Hill. And yet, maybe we were. There was a cancer growing in the area and we hardly knew anything about it. It was the Aryan Nations, and it was metastasizing in North Idaho. Over the years, the tendrils of this tumorous organization would spread out, morphing into a quasi-terrorist group that would be responsible for some heinous acts. It was part of school of thought (to use that term probably incorrectly) that believed it was appropriate to terrorize others. The result would be bombings and attempted bombings in the Spokane area, including one of the Spokesman-Review's buildings. Just a couple years ago, a wacko – sorry, I can't see these people any other way – left a backpack bomb on the route of the Martin Luther King Jr., parade, hoping to kill or injure innocent people. It was discovered thanks to diligence on the part of the public and police and no one was injured. Sadly, such was not the case yesterday in Boston. Wherever people gather in great numbers, they can become targets for some sicko's – again, sorry, but I can't see them any other way – idea of making a statement. We understand that here in Spokane. With Bloomsday and Hoopfest, we have huge gatherings of innocents every year. And, with people like Kevin William Harpham, the guy who pled guilty to planting the MLK bomb, in the area, we have to stay on guard. But we can't – and don't –abandon the events. There are good reasons why 40,000 people run through Spokane's streets or gather together to play hoop. It's part of who we are as a community. And we can't let the fear of some wacko or sicko or crazy change that. Should we be diligent? Certainly. Should we be attentive? Yes. But we shouldn't be cowed. Ever.
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• Washington State: Spring practice returns today and Christian Caple will be there. Until then, he has this morning blog post. ... ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog thinks the Cougars' most important football game this fall is the Apple Cup. Well, ya.
• Gonzaga: When a GU assistant speaks at a clinic in Edmonton, it's a pretty big deal. In Edmonton.
• EWU: The Eagles' running game is on the upswing, as Jim Allen's story tells us why.
• Mariners: No game yesterday, but we want to pass along a piece that could feed your optimism. No, it's not this story about Mike Zunino (shown in a Seattle Times photo), though he is the latest savior in the minor league system. And it's not this minor league report or this one. It's this blog post from Geoff Baker on a possible ownership change in Seattle. Yep, something might be in the works. ... Baker also has this long blog post on the infatuation of some with Casper Wells and the Mariners' decision concerning the outfielder. ... Stephen Pryor is on the disabled list with a torn lat muscle.
• Sonics: The Maloofs wanted the Sacramento group to match the Seattle offer by last Friday or they threatened to ignore the offer. Well, there is no proof any matching offer was ever made.
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• That's it for this morning. Sorry if my ramblings today were not all that sports oriented. It seemed like a subject that couldn't, and shouldn't, be ignored. Until later ...
