A GRIP ON SPORTS • Went to sleep last night in Spokane. Woke up in Milwaukee. At least the weight of the overnight snow made me feel as if I were in Wisconsin. Read on.

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• I have a long-time friend who grew up just outside the city with Miller beer taps on each corner. He used to laugh at our snow. How light and fluffy it was. It was nothing like the stuff that blew in off Lake Michigan, he would say. Heart-attack snow he called it. Heavy, wet, ugly. He’s moved away from the Spokane area now so I don’t how he would feel about this morning’s pile of heavy-as-horse-manure stuff. Trying to dig out today was like trying to pick up the wet leaves after last month’s windstorm. What’s next, an avalanche of frogs or locusts? What did we do to anger our local deity? Is this payback for the run of good luck recently? You know what I mean. After all, when Washington State’s football team wins eight games, you have to start checking your Lotto numbers, right? I mean when did that happen last? I can’t remember 2010 let alone 2001 or 2002 or 2003. Heck, after the run of mediocre to poor to downright awful football WSU has played since Mike Price’s skedaddle south, some folks thought it would never turn around. Now that it has, there has to be a price to pay, doesn’t there? I mean, it seemed to kick in before the Apple Cup when winds gusts blew down power lines from here to Seattle. Then it continued in the game itself, with Luke Falk absent and, seemingly so, most of the rest of the Cougs. Now we get enough wet snow – and some freezing rain – that my lights flickered on and off as I was prepping to shovel snow. It made me worried my AED wouldn’t work if needed. Then I remembered. It has a battery. Thankfully. We could all use some good news about now.

• And we have it. Gabe Marks returned to practice yesterday – the weather pushed WSU into the bubble – and it looks as if he might be able to play in eight days. The Cougars leading receiver was lost during the Apple Cup with what looked like an awful leg injury. Now he’s off crutches and practicing, though his status for next Saturday is still a bit unclear. With Falk recovered from his head injuries and practicing as well, the WSU offense might just be rounding back into form.

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• WSU: Miami may not have had its best year – the 8-4 record that Cougar fans are so happy about? Miami has the same record and the Hurricanes’ coach was fired halfway through it – but the U still has players who can run. And that speed is a concern to Cougar defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. Jim Allen has more in this story. ... Jacob has video of post-practice interviews with Mike Leach, Falk, who addresses Marks being back, and Peyton Pelluer. Jacob also has a morning post with some links. ... You want picks? We have bowl picks for you. And a look at the ups and downs of bowl season.

• EWU: Cooper Kupp picked up more honors yesterday but like the rest of the Eagle faithful, he wasn’t able to watch the basketball team play in Cheney. It’s been a long time since Eastern has played a game in its home gym, a situation Jim Allen explores in this story. ... Portland State played at home last night and lost 77-71 to Cal State Northridge.

• Whitworth: The strong just get stronger. Whitworth’s undefeated basketball team welcomed back star guard Kenny Love this week. Love was out with an eye injury suffered in practice. Now he’s back. Tom Clouse has more in this story.

• Preps: Despite the tough driving conditions last night, only a couple of games were postponed. None were lost in the GSL, with Steve Christilaw covering Lewis and Clark’s win over University's girls in this roundup. We also have a boys basketball roundup. ... Wrestling went on last night with Mike Vlahovich covering the Central Valley and Mead match as part of a roundup. ... We also can pass along a gymnastics story.

• Seahawks: If you have ever sat and wondered why you enjoy watching the Hawks play so much recently, maybe this story from Jayson Jenks in the Times will explain it. ... It is hard to see the Hawks losing by 10 or more this week either, what with the Cleveland Browns in town, towing about $250 worth of baggage. ... Ya, but who will carry the ball for Seattle? ... And, after all, Russell Wilson isn’t an elite quarterback. He’s just playing like one. Right, Mike?

• Mariners: Talk about good news, and early Christmas presents, Hisashi Iwakuma’s three-year guaranteed deal with the Dodgers fell apart this week due to medical concerns. So he was available. The M’s signed him to a one-year guaranteed contract yesterday with options for two more. Now that’s good news. Reports are the Dodgers were worried about the back-end of the deal, not next year. The M’s won’t have the same problems. ... The M's are giving some veterans a minor-league chance.

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• I had to quit shoveling the snow before the driveway was clear this morning. No, I wasn’t worried about a heart attack – OK, a little. It was getting late and I wanted to get my post finished. Maybe the snow gremlins will appear and finish off the work. It seems to work with the dishes and the laundry. Until later ...

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