Ski season may be a bit late, but bowl season is right on time
A GRIP ON SPORTS
For some folks there are five seasons. Winter, spring, summer, fall and bowl season. We're about to begin the last one – with the first one just around the corner. Read on.
• Ever since those fine Chamber-of-Commerce gents in Pasadena began the Tournament of Roses more than 100 years ago, college football has owned Christmastime. Jingle bells, Santa smells and eye-blacked linebackers. They all seem to go together this time of year. And to think, if the chariot races had worked out in the Arroyo Seco, we may not have the bowl system. Darn you Ben Hur, it's all your fault. Anyhow, bowl season is now ingrained in our lives. From now until after the Epiphany, we are awash with matchups featuring teams from the North vs. South, East vs. West, big vs. little, rich vs. poor. It's the most democratic time of the football season. Win six games and you have a shot of meeting someone from another conference on the football field. Bigger TV contracts don't matter. Bigger stadiums don't matter. All that matters is you bring your A-game. And fresh batteries for the remote control. Though these days basically all you will be doing is switching between different ESPN channels. The worldwide leader owns almost every bowl, so it's not a matter of hunting up and down the dial anymore. You just have to figure out if the game you want – or the game that will fill your next three hours – is on the Ocho or the News. After that it's easy.
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• WSU: It may be bowl season, though you wouldn't know it in Pullman. After last year's interlude, the Cougars are back to staying home for the holidays. That doesn't keep Jacob Thorpe from putting together his morning post, however, on this fine Saturday. ... We also can pass along the mailbag from ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog as well as a couple of picks for Pac-12-related bowl games.
• Gonzaga: It seems sort of ironic that, on the day the Zags play their annual game in Seattle, a game that is getting tougher to fill, we at the S-R publish a special section dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the McCarthey Athletic Center. Concerning the former we can pass along Jim Meehan's advance. The latter? John Blanchette has this story and there is also a timeline. ... John McGrath has a column on GU's opponent today. ... St. Mary's had a good shot of emulating Gonzaga's early season win over St. John's. Then the Gaels spit the bit, losing 53-47.
• EWU: Tyler Harvey was magnificent, Venky Jois was really good. After that, the Eagles didn't have all that much else as they fell to California, 78-67, on the road. Harvey and Jois combined for 54 points, which left just 13 for the rest of the Eagles. ... California has been playing tough defense all year and Friday night was no exception. ... Idaho State lost at Utah State.
• Whitworth: The Pirates return to action at home tomorrow. Tom Clouse has an advance.
• Preps: I attended a high school game last night, wedging myself into the stands to watch what turned out to be a rout. At least the halftime entertainment was fun. And other games around the area were close. Greg Lee was at University's relatively easy win over Central Valley, 59-45, and has this story. ... We also can pass along a GSL girls roundup as well as girls and boys roundups from other game in our area.
• Shock: The AFL announced its schedule yesterday. The Shock will begin the season at Arizona on March 28.
• Seahawks: Let's see. You get a contract extension and you get a contract extension. And, yes, you too. All I can say is I wish the companies I worked for handed out Christmas bonuses like the Seahawks. They gave out another yesterday, signing defensive end Cliff Avril (pictured) to a four-year extension worth $28.5 million, $16 million of it guaranteed. That comes one day after giving K.J. Wright a four-year extension and means the Hawks have six starting defenders wrapped up long term. ... The timing of these announcements seem a little odd, what with a key game on tap Sunday in Arizona. The Hawks offensive line will have a new look (again) with two starters out but the Cardinals also have some injury woes of their own. It's pretty much even. ... Pete Carroll spoke about all that stuff yesterday.
• Sounders: The MLS is releasing its schedule in piecemeal once again. The league announced the openers yesterday, with the Sounders once again beginning the season at home. They'll face New England at CenturyLink on March 8.
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• So what are you getting me for Christmas? Peace on Earth, goodwill toward men? We'll take either. And, lest we forget, a copy of "The Interview." DVD, Blu-ray, download. Doesn't matter. It just seems to be our patriotic duty to watch it. After all, I've always been a big fan of that actor/quarterback, James Flacco. Until later ..
