From 49ers to Zags and everywhere in between
A GRIP ON SPORTS • What do we have this morning? Well, the best, most exciting time of the year is upon Mariner fans. WSU coach Mike Leach said something that has perked up the national media. The Gonzaga assembly line continues to hum along. And there is a great headline in a Bay Area newspaper. Read on.
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• Let’s take the last one first. As you may know, I’m not a fan of San Francisco-area teams, with the possible exception of tolerating the Warriors (and only since Klay Thompson took up residence in their lineup). My L.A. roots preclude even admitting they can play baseball, football or whatever. (What is odd was my father was a 49er fan. It dated back to Frankie Albert or someone. Anyhow, in my rebellious high school years, when I would drink Coke instead of milk – how’s that for being a rebel? – we would argue whenever the Rams and 49ers played. Memories.) The fact the 49ers have been the Seahawks’ rival the past handful of years has played into my prejudices well. So when I found this headline in the San Francisco Chronicle this morning, I had to laugh. “Disarray.” Perfect.
• OK, let’s get serious again. The Zags received a commitment from a 6-foot-6 shooting guard from Chicago yesterday, Zach Norvell. Let me repeat that – and elaborate. A 6-6 shooting guard from Chicago’s Simeon Career Academy. That’s Jabari Parker’s high school. Simeon has produced guys like Parker, Derrick Rose and Nick Anderson. Norvell, who is a high school senior, is also an athletic, long wing who can fill it up from outside. He’s the Zags’ highest-ranked Illinois recruit since Jeremy Pargo, and we all know how he turned out. But why Gonzaga? Jim Meehan goes into that in his story. There is the connection with the coaching staff, something Norvell mentioned when talking with the S-R’s Jim Meehan. There is the 2016 recruiting class’ talent, which includes two other commits and three transfers already on campus. There is Pargo’s success. And, in the small-world category, Norvell’s coach at Simeon, the legendary Robert Smith, played for Adam Morrison’s dad John at Casper Junior College in Wyoming a long time ago.
• When Leach uses words such as “investigation,” it conjures up bad memories. But it also makes people from around the country listen. He used that word yesterday at his weekly press conference in reference to Arizona State and allegations from Utah’s and Oregon’s coaching staffs the Sun Devils are stealing signs. Now no one minds ASU, or anyone else, trying to decipher calls in from the sidelines. No, that goes on everywhere. But after Utah and Oregon played Arizona State, there was some allusions the Sun Devils may be doing it by means that are prohibited. In other words, using Bill Belichick-like methods. The Utes huddled in the fourth quarter against ASU and the offense took off. Oregon used what looked like blank advertising signs to shield its calls. And now Leach has commented on the suspicions. Just what Saturday’s game needed. More bad blood.
• When are Mariner fans the happiest? When they are looking toward the future. After all, the present is never much fun. So the Hot Stove League is better than the regular season, right? Who will be the next great prospect? (To fizzle out.) Who will the M’s pursue in the free agent market? (Only to sign elsewhere.) It’s exciting only because the rest of the year is usually so mundane.
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• WSU: Leach’s comments get the full Jacob Thorpe treatment, with coverage in his Cougar notebook as well as video of them and the rest of Leach’s press conference. Jacob also has video of the three players to speak yesterday, Jamal Morrow, Cole Madison and Taylor Taliulu. Then there is a discussion of the final few minutes of the Stanford game in his morning post – if you listened to the radio show yesterday you know where I stand on this non-issue – and the game notes for ASU. Finally, there is the first look at Saturday afternoon’s contest. ... ESPN.com’s Pac-12 blog has its weekly quarterback rating, which is weighed heavily on what happened last weekend. ... It also has another story on the Cougars’ loss to Stanford as well as a final check on the weekend. ... Stanford is feeling lucky to get out of Pullman with an all-important win.
• EWU: ESPN.com’s Pac-12 blog checked in with some folks in Cheney about Vernon Adams. ... Portland State is winning with defense.
• Preps: The Washington girls soccer playoffs are underway and Jim Allen has a look at this week’s matches.
• Seahawks: Ricardo Lockette will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing neck surgery yesterday in Texas. Whether he will ever play football again is still to be determined. Pete Carroll spoke yesterday about what Lockette means to his team. ... The hit and subsequent injury to Lockette hits home to everyone who plays football and serves as a reminder of the dangerous nature of the game. ... The bye week is a chance for the 4-4 Hawks to get ready for the stretch run. Especially the guys up front. And Russell Wilson.
• Mariners: A couple of M’s players are doing well in Arizona.
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• I will be on the radio again today from 3 to 5 p.m., joining Keith Osso and Rick Lukens on 700 ESPN. The show will be on until 6 p.m., but I have to leave early. Such is the case for a busy retired guy. You can listen here if you like. Until then ...
