It seems as if there should be a game Sunday
A GRIP ON SPORTS
OK, I admit it. I'm starting to get a bit burned out on the Super Bowl. Maybe it's because I've read just about every story I can find. Maybe it's because I spent most of my 12 hours on the radio talking about it last week. Or maybe it's because the buildup time is too long. I don't know. Read on.
• When something is labeled "super" up front (that Pete Rozelle guy was a marketing genius), then I guess it needs more time and energy to get ready. Two weeks has been the timeframe for most of the game's history (with an occasional game played with one week buildup), which not only allows the teams to heal, the fans to get to the site and the anticipation to build, but also marks the game as different, better, "super" if you will. It mirrors the buildup to bowl games and big boxing matches, the most anticipated of sporting events when Rozelle shepherded the merger between the NFL and AFL, which led to the title game, the one he named the Super Bowl. Intellectually, I understand the idea. It's just about now my body is in a rhythm, on a schedule, and this Sunday it is ready for a football game. The Pro Bowl doesn't cut it. It wants – no, needs – a football game. It won't get it.
• I'm being a bit tongue-in-cheek, of course. Yes, the buildup can seem interminable, but it also serves a purpose. So we can life with it. The one thing I've always wondered about is how it affects the game itself. Do the few extra days of practice make for a crisper games, a more true test of a champion? Or does the time lead to a contest that is a bit boring, as each team is better prepared to take away their opponent's strengths? I don't know the answer. Do you?
•••
• WSU: Speaking of long layoffs, the Cougars are on one of those Wednesday-Sunday breaks that are all the rage in this year's Pac-12. Jacob Thorpe fills in your time with a morning post featuring links. I can add some more. ... Being that it is a Saturday, we have the mailbag from ESPN.com's Pac-12 blog. There is even a Washington State mention. ... Deone Bucannon was No. 16 on the blog's list of top 25 Pac-12 players. ... Stanford promoted a defensive coordinator from within. ... Former Cougar assistant Jody Sears has found a job as a defensive coordinator.
• Gonzaga: After earning a hard-fought victory in a defensive battle with the University of San Diego on Thursday night, the Zags turn around tonight and face high-scoring BYU and Tyler Haws (pictured), who scored 48 points earlier this week. Jim Meehan has an advance in today's paper and had a day-after USD post on the blog yesterday. ... The Cougars will head to the Kennel with tired legs after a triple-overtime loss in Portland on Thursday. ... USD and Johnny Dee will try to rebound against Portland.
• Chiefs: The Chiefs needed a win. They got one, 3-1 over Moose Jaw at the Arena. Chris Derrick was there and has this story and blog post. ... One of the reasons the Chiefs needed to win is because Portland and Tri-City are starting to heat up.
• Preps: A typically big Friday night of basketball action with Greg Lee at Mead to witness the Panthers' second-half comeback fall just short against Ferris. ... There is also a GSL girls roundup to pass along. ... Undefeated Northwest Christian's girls clinched the Northeast 2B title last night with a win over Colfax. Colin Mulvany has a picture gallery. ... We can also pass along roundups in girls and boys action. ... Rogers High football coach Matt Miethe has resigned to take an assistant's position at Whitworth.
• Boxing: With the national championships in town, John Blanchette examines the state of boxing in Spokane in this column. And Jim Allen has a feature on one of the defending champions.
• Seahawks: Speaking of hype, we have stories from Denver, stories from Seattle, stories from, well, those two cities. And one about New York. ... The biggest news yesterday was general manager John Schneider talking with the media. He doesn't do that often – he's not as quiet as Marshawn Lynch but close – so it was a big deal. He talked about building a winning team. ... If you are in Seattle on Sunday and want to send off the team to New York, there have been plans made. ... We talked about the cost of going yesterday and though ticket prices are falling (maybe only a few folks want to sit in the cold), the number of seats to get you there is shrinking. ... Russell Wilson's success is no surprise to his old teammates. ... Percy Harvin is looking good at practice according to that old sour-puss, Pete Carroll. As for injuries, the list seems to be shrinking. ... Richard Sherman was fined by the NFL but it's nothing more than the usual taunting fine. ... All I can say is it's about time.
• Mariners: The M's made the front-office changes official yesterday, though there were two of them, not just one. ... Taijuan Walker is staying put and will probably be in the rotation. ... New manager Lloyd McClendon has a covenant he will enforce.
• Sounders: It's almost time for Seattle to begin training camp. Hope they have they introduce themselves to each other first.
•••
• Never got to the radio show yesterday. By the time I was able to get the truck fixed it was too late. And to whoever smashed the window to steal a water bottle and a sweatshirt, thanks a lot. I mean that from the bottom of my wallet. Until later ...
