It all seemed a little out of place

• I’ve known Dave Boling for a long time, so long, in fact, I can remember when he could eat an entire day-old pizza and not turn green. Those type of decisions are best left to men in their 20s, we’ve all grown old enough to understand. And I’ve known Dave long enough to trust his judgment about all things NFL. He’s been with the News Tribune in Tacoma for a long, long time, ever since leaving the S-R, and he’s covered the league all those years. So when he wrote today concerning Richard Sherman and Doug Baldwin’s little skit (pictured) during Sherman’s media availability yesterday, I was smart enough to read Boling’s column . And to agree with just about every word. I understand the notion of striking when the iron is hot, so I can empathize with Sherman feeling this was the week to hit back at the NFL for its media rules and the ensuing fines of Marshawn Lynch. It’s old news by next week. But the Seahawks have the most important game of their season tomorrow night, a make-or-break contest in the Bay Area against the rival 49ers. Everything is compressed in a week with a Thursday night game, media responsibilities, game prep, practice time and, yes, recovery treatments for the players. If Sherman and Baldwin had stood at the podium and focused on that aspect of the week, which they did mention as part of their performance yesterday, then it would have had possible far-reaching resonance. But the duo went far-afield and while so doing, splintered their message in a week when there isn’t enough time to put it all back together again. Maybe it was Sherman’s way of avoiding questions about Michael Crabtree and Sherman’s comments after last year’s NFC championship game. Or maybe it was a sincere protest the two Stanford grads felt had to be made. No matter the motivation, it just didn’t feel like the correct time to make their point. Not when there is so little time to think about what they said.

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• WSU: There is a bit more time until the Apple Cup – heck, we have all day Saturday as well, what with the 7:30 start – but a lot more to cover, as usual. This is a rivalry that defines the term, though, as John Blanchette writes today, it doesn’t seem as if the coaches understand or care about it much. … One guy who does know what the rivalry means, Steve Gleason (pictured), will be honored after the first quarter Saturday night – before all the folks in New Orleans go to bed, presumably. Jacob Thorpe has more on that in this blog post . … Mike Leach and concussions don’t seem to fit well together, as Dale Grummert’s story in the Lewiston Tribune illustrates once again. There sounds as if there was a lot of miscommunication between the football staff and Kristoff Williams about senior night. … Jacob has his Pac-12 notebook today and his conference power rankings . … He also has a practice report and a morning post on the blog. … The new college football playoff rankings look almost like the old ones, and that’s good news for Oregon and the Pac-12 Conference . As Bud Withers writes , this Pac-12 football season has been so odd, it’s sad to see it end. … Former Chelan High star Joe Harris, who probably would have been a Coug if Tony Bennett hadn’t left Pullman, is now in the NBA, though the trip to Cleveland was a winding one.

• Gonzaga: The Zags are in New York once again, this time in the preseason NIT semifinals in Madison Square Garden. Jim Meehan is with them and has this advance as well as a blog post looking back at GU’s (mostly) unproductive visits to the over-rated venue. … BYU seems to have some guards who will challenge the Zags’ defense during WCC play. … USF couldn’t seem to make a shot last night.

• EWU: The Eagles have to put Monday night’s upset of Indiana behind them quickly, as they face Northern Kentucky at Reese Court. Jim Allen met up with the players and coaches and has this story . … It’s awards season in football and Jim also has this piece on Vernon Adams winning the Big Sky’s top offensive award despite missing four games with an injury. Eastern has won the award eight of the past 11 years.

• Idaho: Is Chad Chalich (pictured) leaving Idaho? Don’t ask football coach Paul Petrino. John Blanchette did and didn’t get an answer. The Vandals finish up their season this weekend on the road. … The basketball team lost to Boise State again. The 86-75 defeat is examined in more depth by Sean Kramer in this post . … The Idaho women picked up a non-conference victory last night.

• Whitworth: The Pirates had a handful of players earn all-conference football honors .

• Chiefs: Though the Chiefs weren’t in action last night, Portland was and the Winterhawks picked up another win. … Everett hopes to get one of its players back soon. … The Americans will be home for a while.

• Seahawks: The Sherman and Baldwin Show elicited other responses as well as more coverage than the usual press conference does. … Speaking of press conferences, Dan Quinn and Darrell Bevell talked mainly about football in theirs. One of the areas Bevell covered is the holes in the protection of Russell Wilson , something the 49ers hope they can exploit tomorrow. … Despite his star status, Colin Kaepernick has never really torched the Hawks with his arm. … Part of that is the play of Kam Chancellor , who also helped fire up the Seahawks before last week’s game. … Yes, there are still some key Seahawks missing due to injuries. … By the way, Kaepernick thinks Jim Harbaugh is staying in San Francisco.

• Mariners: OK, I know this isn’t a story about the M’s. But when one of the guys I actually played against retires , even if it is as a coach, I have to mark the occasion. So long Timmy.

• Sounders: Talk about a great pickup. Chad Marshall won his third MLS defender of the year award yesterday, the first time he’s won the award, though, while a member of the Sounders. … Seattle hopes to have two key players who missed the opener with Los Angeles ready for Sunday’s second leg.

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• One more day until turkey. We prepped for the occasion by having a great, straight-from-my-roots Italian dinner last night, celebrating one son’s birthday and Thanksgiving for the other, who has to work Thursday. It was a special night. It makes me so happy that my sons like Spokane and decided to make their life here. Until later …