Stories by Vince Grippi for the Spokesman-Review

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Rory McIlroy and the Mariners’ offense both fly higher Friday than anyone could have forseen

Sat., April 11, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Modern miracles never cease to amaze me. Yesterday, on my way to Salt Lake City, encased in a steel tube some six miles in the air, I watched Rory McIlroy take apart Augusta National for the second consecutive day. And I tried to remember if 10-year-old Vince ever envisioned anything like this in his future.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: The way the Mariners have been hitting, we all may need the calmness of golf on TV to keep our blood pressure down this weekend

Fri., April 10, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Not that anyone probably wants to stay inside this weekend – it is April, it will be decently warm and there are no showers in the forecast – but what if you are forced to be in front of the TV set? What’s on? I’m betting the answer won’t surprise you one bit.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: It’s a busy day when another Indians’ legend from the past leaves us, more local players decide to change schools and Hall of Fames announce inductees

Thu., April 9, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Davey Lopes. Transfers. Hall of Fames. Maybe my memory isn’t what it used to be, but all still reside in a little corner of it. And all seemed worth touching on this fine Thursday – already? – morning.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: There are some old favorites of spring still hanging around but there are new aspects in the sports world as well

Wed., April 8, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • As I sat on the back deck yesterday afternoon, enjoying the sunshine and blooms, I contemplated our favorite parts of springtime. And thought I should share them on a fine Wednesday morning.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Michigan’s win over UConn on Monday night may not have come in a game for the ages but it did include an ageless wonder bringing it to us

Tue., April 7, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It was a competitive game. There were exciting plays. Runs. Histrionics. Tension. But Michigan’s 69-63 win over UConn was not one of the NCAA title games many outside of Ann Arbor or Storrs will remember for a long time.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: It’s not a national holiday – it should be – but today is a good day to skip work and prepare for the culmination of the college basketball season

Mon., April 6, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Today is a national holiday. Not really, of course. But in my mind it is. Our should be. Call it James Naismith Day and give everyone the day off everywhere. Except the folks connected to the NCAA Division I men’s basketball title game.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: A Hall of Fame weekend has unfolded in Spokane, though neither NCAA men’s semifinal games reached that level

Sun., April 5, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, yes. Celebrating an incredible spring weekend with the thought basketball rocks. And “Roundball Rocks” as the soundtrack.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: The next four days your TV will be filled with championship basketball and, if you want, another chance to see if the M’s power hitters can actually supply some power

Fri., April 3, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • What’s on tap for this weekend? Besides the first warm days of the spring, of course? Basketball, basketball and more basketball. And, lest we forget, baseball – on TV and in person if you wish.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: April has a lot going for it, not the least of which is warmer weather, and has held that distinction for many years

Thu., April 2, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • All the nonsense that happens on April 1 is behind us now. Thankfully. Now we can prepare for the month that always seems to change our outlook on life.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Mark Few’s belief in Gonzaga’s future not only led the program to a place among the nation’s best, it led him to basketball’s Hall of Fame

Wed., April 1, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • When the news broke Tuesday morning Mark Few was headed to the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the first person I immediately thought of was Ted Lasso. Weird, I know. But the best college basketball coach the Inland Northwest has ever seen and a fictional English soccer manager have one important aspect in common. Belief.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: The final day of March isn’t the final day of the madness in college hoops but does hold hope for ‘Hard Knocks’ fans who also wear a 12 jersey

Tue., March 31, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • This is supposed to be a lamb-like day, though March is giving the Spokane area a lion-like cold shoulder. Better put off the shearing for a few days. Maybe a few notes will keep everyone warm.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: When a game-winning shot drops through, is your first thought about the joy of the winners or the sorrow of those on the other end?

Mon., March 30, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Big shots at big times. Comebacks for the ages. Mistakes too. Joy. Despair. Perspective is everything, isn’t it?

Sports

A Grip on Sports: When old friends have new success, it is easy to celebrate along with them

Sun., March 29, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Good things happen to good people. At about the same percentage, I’m sure, as they happen to bad people. There is a difference, though. It is easy to celebrate the former.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: As time marches on, the madness is different the last weekend of the month than it was when the lions roared a few weeks ago

Sat., March 28, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The last Saturday of March is so different than the first one. Even if I limit my observations of this year’s changes to the sports realm. And avoid everything else. As hard as that may be.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: As we prep for a weekend full of college hoops and searching for the next M’s game, we had to take a little time to look back at a disappointing Opening Day

Fri., March 27, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Why do the Mariners do this to us so often?

Sports

A Grip on Sports: The M’s Opening Day is upon us and we are promised TV coverage that is as easy to access as last season

Thu., March 26, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Time begins anew today. It is Opening Day. Baseball season. And all that the sport brings from here to October. Around these parts, there is hope the Mariners will be playing in that final month. And that we’ll all be able to watch.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: The secret to a great midweek column? A hefty serving of spicy thoughts from Arizona to Pullman and everywhere in between

Wed., March 25, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • When you step into the kitchen to cook, are you committed to faithfully following a recipe? Or are you more of a wing-it type of chef that would be at home on “Chopped?” I’m a little a both, though today, cooking up this midweek column, I decided to go with a little pinch of this and a dash of that.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Before the deluge of college basketball transfers begin, one major West Coast coach makes a major change

Tue., March 24, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are times that I wish Carl Spackler was a real person. And was employed as a SportsCenter talking head. This time of year is one of them. Mainly because how he would view what’s about to happen in men’s college hoops.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: We interupt our college basketball thoughts this morning to bring everyone some breaking news – and yes, it has to do with the NFL

Mon., March 23, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s not often breaking news happens this early on a Monday morning. But today is the exception. Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting the Seahawks and star receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba have reached agreement on a contract extension.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: In a season when Gonzaga’s defense was the driving force behind its success, the Zags couldn’t get the one stop they needed

Sun., March 22, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • After all the flotsam and jetsam is swept away, sometimes a college basketball game, an NCAA Tournament game, comes down to making one play. Saturday night in Portland, Texas did. And Gonzaga’s season once again fell short of its ultimate goal.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: Then there was one and even that one, the Gonzaga men, face a tough task if they want to swing the Inland Northwest banner in the NCAA’s second weekend

Sat., March 21, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The first two days of the men’s tournament are over. It’s on to the second round. The first day of the women’s tournament is over. And every local NCAA Division I basketball team has played. Who does that leave us for the weekend?

Sports

A Grip on Sports: The Zags survive a first-round rock fight in Portland, one that also caused contusions for those watching from home

Fri., March 20, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • There was one thing I was certain of when I began writing this column almost 15 years ago. The day Chuck Norris died, I would share my story of the lone interaction I had with the “Walker, Texas Ranger” star. It has everything. High school football. A rickety press box. Family. Sports writing. But, alas, it may have to wait. Today is just not the day.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: If you are working today, sorry, but that was poor planning considering what begins to unfold on the TV all day

Thu., March 19, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Today is one of the best two days of sports TV each year. Not because of the diversity but because of volume. Sixteen NCAA Tournament men’s basketball games, starting at 9:15 in the morning and running until, well, whenever the Idaho game with Houston ends after 9 p.m.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: This week is too good to miss even if an injury strikes you down before the first game is beamed into your living room

Wed., March 18, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Sneezing is nothing to sneeze at. As I found out Tuesday night. One explosive sneeze, one rib injury. Now the rest of the week’s activities will slow to a crawl.

Sports

A Grip on Sports: When it comes to filling out an NCAA bracket, there is only one piece of advice you need, though I don’t know what it is

Tue., March 17, 2026

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Like a lot of us, my bracket is due today. It’s something I’ve done forever, if by forever you mean since 2024. After being shamed into it at my 50th high school reunion. If the guy who wrote the highly esteemed Knight Breeze sports column, Grippi’s Gripes, isn’t in the pool, what are we even doing here?

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