Wed., Dec. 2, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • There was some great news out of Cheney on Monday that cheered the hearts of Eastern Washington fans. But there was some news yesterday from a little farther south that probably caused a little heartburn. Read on.
Thu., Nov. 26, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The easiest thing to do today is write a column based on the holiday. But we never do the easy thing, do we? Read on.
Wed., Oct. 21, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • What a morning. In more ways than one. Read on.
Tue., Oct. 20, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Remember that speech in “Braveheart” in which William Wallace rides in front of his troops and rails about the English not being able to take the Scots’ freedom? Me too. Gets me every time. And came to mind today concerning a local sports story. Read on.
Fri., Oct. 16, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • You like predictability? Then look at the Pac-12 basketball media poll released yesterday. Arizona is on top, Washington State is on the bottom. Predictable. And, if history is any guide, predictably wrong. Read on.
Wed., Oct. 14, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • For some reason it is a little tough to get going this morning. Maybe it’s because I stayed up late – a relative term – to watch the Dodgers remain alive in the World Series hunt. Read on.
Sun., Oct. 11, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It wasn’t all that long ago, in geologic terms, that Washington State used to defeat Oregon in football with regularity. But in football fan terms, eight years is a lifetime. Which is part of the reason why WSU’s 45-38 double-overtime win last night in Eugene was so unexpected – and feted. Read on.
Sat., Oct. 10, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • On a day when the Mariners reminded us job security in major league baseball is fleeting, another news event reminded us life itself is fleeting as well. Read on.
Sat., Sept. 26, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s a college football Saturday and, thanks to something called “UPS express critical,” all’s right with the world. Read on.
Wed., Sept. 23, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • As Yogi used to say, it ain’t over until it’s over. Sadly, the saying is true of life as well as baseball. Though maybe not in Yogi Berra’s case. The Yankee legend died yesterday at age 90. ... And lest we look foolish, we have to mention the other big news of the day. Kam Chancellor’s holdout is over. Read on.
Wed., Sept. 2, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The most talked about guy at Eastern Washington football practice yesterday was a guy who wasn’t even there. I bet that went over well with the Eagles. Read on.
Sun., Aug. 30, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • One quick question. If Steven Hauschka’s field goal last night had traveled a foot less, would you still feel the same way about the Seahawks this morning? Read on.
Wed., Aug. 26, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Who would have thought the most important number associated with Washington State football right now would be 100. As in the air quality index and the line between healthy and unhealthy air. Read on.
Mon., Aug. 24, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It doesn’t seem all that bad out there this morning. And the absence of bad air is a good thing. Read on.
Sun., Aug. 23, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Fernando Rodney’s experience in Seattle is over. So is The Fernando Rodney Experience. I, for one (and possibly the only one) am sad to see the latter leave. Read on.
Tue., Aug. 18, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • “Compare and contrast” is a time-honored tradition in high school English. You know, as in “compare and contrast the ways Shakespeare deals with death in ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Macbeth.’ “ This morning, we’re taking you back to those awful, awful days. Read on.
Mon., Aug. 17, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • What’s going on this week? Nothing unusual for this time of year. Though yesterday we saw a few out-of-the-ordinary things. For example: a Mariners’ win; a Sounders goal, another Sounders goal, another and another; and a professional golfer cry on a green, before his round was over. Read on.
Sun., Aug. 16, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The football jokes began quickly. More so than I’ve ever seen during or after a Mariners game. Of course, it was the first time the M’s had ever given up three touchdowns and a two-point conversion. (Cue rim shot.) Read on.
Sat., Aug. 15, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • We’re pretty adamant we don’t give a rat’s whiskers about NFL preseason games, but we have to admit, watching Pete Carroll getting knocked on his whiskers during Tyler Lockett’s kickoff return was pretty funny. Read on.
Thu., Aug. 13, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It is Thursday, right? After what happened earlier this week I wanted to double-check. It’s a big day in a lot of places, but very little, if anything, can top the size of the Wednesday in Seattle. Read on.
Tue., Aug. 11, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Thursday is the most important day in Vernon Adams’ life. At least the most pivotal. Read on.
Mon., Aug. 10, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Mariners won again. The Seahawks didn’t lose. The Sounders did, but what do you expect? It’s been a bad summer for the boys in Rave green. That’s your professional sports report for this Monday morning. Read on.
Sun., Aug. 9, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Sunday mornings are always a good time to look back, to reflect on what’s been happening in our world. It’s also a good time to look ahead, to plan for the week to come. At least it is until next month, when Sunday morning will be all about football. Read on.
Sat., Aug. 8, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • For those of you who have been waiting for Washington State football since, I don’t know, last December, today is the day. Not the first game of the 2015 season, mind you. Just the first practice. But it will have to do. Read on.
Thu., Aug. 6, 2015
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Pete Carroll is always positive, right? He is Mr. Upbeat, a character from Saturday Night Live a thousand years ago. Well, it should have been a character, because no matter what Carroll is talking about, he makes us laugh with his relentless optimism. Which is why something he said yesterday caught my ear. Read on.
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Vince Grippi's daily take on all things regional sports has been moved to our main sports section online. You can find a collection of these columns here.
