Rolling down memory lane with roller derby

A GRIP ON SPORTS • I guess it is an appropriate weekend for a surprise. Nothing’s more surprising than when your 4-year-old discovers an Easter egg under a bush that was hidden there when she was a 3-year-old. So being able to pass along a story on roller derby, while surprising, isn’t in that category. Read on.

••••••••••

• Yep, we have a roller derby story to link . Seeing it on the S-R website this morning, I was immediately transported back to 1967, when KTLA 5 used to broadcast the L.A. Thunderbirds from the Olympic Auditorium. I even remember the announcer, Dick Lane, an old – and by “old,” I mean a man much younger than I am today – bespectacled guy with a distinctive voice. Talk about a trip down memory lane. All I can remember is my mom never wanted me to watch, so I had to be creative in ways to hide the fact from her during warm summer Sunday nights. I was allowed to stay up and watch Mission: Impossible during the summer, so while the parents were busy with Bonanza or The High Chaparral, I would sneak a peak at the roller derby action. And what action it was. The blocks, the jumps, the elbows. It was like watching I-5 at rush hour without the cars. And, c’mon, there were women in skimpy outfits involved. I was a pre-teen male. Enough said. So, yes, there was no chance I wouldn’t watch, no matter the edict from on high.

• My picks for today’s NCAA semifinals are … heck, you don’t care. I will be rooting for Duke and Wisconsin, if you want to know, though I’m sure you don’t care about that either. Duke because it defeated Gonzaga and Wisconsin because, well, I like cheese. Or something like that.

•••

• WSU: Kind of a quiet day but the Cougars’ baseball team did win its second consecutive game at No. 12 California, with Joe Pistorese throwing a four-hit shutout.

• Idaho: The Vandals will hold a scrimmage today and, if the past is any indication, it will be a long one. Sean Kramer has a whole bunch of things to watch.

• Chiefs: The playoff series with Everett seems to have turned in the Silvertips’ favor. A 3-1 win last night in the Arena gives Everett a 3-1 lead in the WHL first-round series. Chris Derrick has a game story and a blog post on the defeat while Colin Mulvany has a photo report .

• Shock: The Shock don’t want to start the Arena season 0-2. But to even their record, they will have to get past Philadelphia tonight with a third-string quarterback. Jim Meehan has the advance .

• Preps: Gonzaga Prep’s girls couldn’t hold off Miami-Country Day, losing 60-59 in New York yesterday. Greg Lee has a story on the loss that snapped the Bullpups’ 50-game winning streak. … USA Today also has a story .

• Seahawks: Bob Condotta never rests. Or, at least, the Times writer never stops answering questions . … He also has a question for you . … I hope the next time Pete Carroll holds a press conference he begins it by saying “I sure wish George R.R. Martin would get the next Game of Thrones book done in my lifetime.”

• Mariners: Man, the M’s must be serious . After sending out indications the roster was set, boom, the ax fell on Dominic Leone (pictured), who was optioned to Tacoma yesterday. A poor spring actually did cost a guy a spot on the opening day roster. … A late home run lifted the M’s past Colorado 5-4 . … Nelson Cruz has been through the crucible , with many of the resulting burns self-inflicted. Now he’s expected to be the cleanup hitter the M’s haven’t had since Edgar retired. … Felix Hernandez is ready for the season to begin, even if his numbers don’t show it.

• Sounders: The Houston Dynamo has been MLS wanderers recently , moving between the Eastern and Western Conference. They are back in the West these days and will be in CenturyLink tonight . … They have a history with the Sounders. … There is also a history between a couple of the principals . … If you were wondering, the Sounders have found a new Spanish-speaking broadcast partner . … Vancouver faces the L.A. Galaxy tonight while Portland has a match with FC Dallas. … Real Salt Lake’s new defense has been OK.

•••

• Enjoy your Saturday. I’ve tried to give you an early start. Until later …