Grip on Sports: Cortez Kennedy anchored the Seahawks at a time when they were barely above water
A GRIP ON SPORTS • You may not remember, but there was a time when the Seahawks were no better than the Mariners are now. In other words, they were mediocre. But they had one player who was anything but. That would be Cortez Kennedy, the rock in the middle of the defensive line. He died yesterday at the way-too-young age of 48. Read on.
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• We’re not going to spend the morning delving into our memories of Kennedy. They are too numerous and they all come from one perspective: that of a fan.
I wasn’t working in sports when Kennedy was a Hawk star – their biggest one, literally and figuratively – so I could detach my critical eye and just watch he and the team play.
With my sons.
And that’s what I remember. How the big man impressed my boys. Not only with his play, but with his attitude.
Kennedy was one of the best to ever play his position, but you wouldn’t have know it by the way he acted. He was just a guy who happened to be incredible at his profession.
His career was a joy to watch. His Hall of Fame induction an expression of joy. And now that joy is gone forever.
• Mike Zunino returned to the Mariners yesterday, called up from Tacoma because there just isn’t another option in their system right now. (We could get into how that’s an indictment of the organization, but it’s a subject for later.)
Ryan Divish had a piece on the Seattle Times’ website yesterday concerning the rules the M’s have laid out for Zunino’s hitting. Scott Servais went over how he quizzed the catcher on the seven – yes, seven – bullet points he wants him to remember and work on consistently.
That’s great. The M’s need more hitting out of the catching spot. And Zunino supplied some yesterday, a solo home run in their 10-1 loss.
But Zunino also plays the most important defensive position on the field. With all this emphasis on hitting, with bullet points to remember and to work on, when does he find the time to fine-tune his defensive skills?
The simple answer is he may not. And that’s the rub. His defense has deteriorated since he’s been in the big leagues. You can see it with the naked eye and the metrics support the eye test.
The M’s need both, a decent-hitting catcher who can be a rock behind the plate. That’s not Zunino right now.
• Don’t forget, Father’s Day is coming up. And I want you to share your fishing stories of your dad with me – and the readers of this column. Just as I did yesterday.
You put your memories down on your computer and send them to my email address – vincegrippi55@yahoo.com. I’ll take care of the rest. Please include your name and a phone number so we can verify them. That’s it.
It can be a story of fishing with your dad. It can be a story of taking your kids fishing. Heck, it can be a story of your dad fishing with your mom. Or for your mom.
No, wait, that last one won’t work.
Hopefully, unlike mine, it will be a happy memory.
We’ve already received some but unlike your favorite spot, the more the merrier.
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WSU: We have more remembrances and tributes to Kennedy in the Seahawks’ section below, but Jacob Thorpe touched bases yesterday with former WSU and Seattle coach Dennis Erickson to get his thoughts on the hall of famer. … ESPN.com’s Pac-12 blog has its three offseason questions for the Cougars. … Around the conference, UCLA learned two of their better players will be returning next season. … Arizona’s addition of a high school player early was determined by competition. … One of Utah’s better players is also coming back. … Colorado will be revamping some policies after an embarrassing problem with the football staff last season. … An exiting Oregon quarterback is headed to junior college.
Gonzaga: Mark Machtolf was named the WCC coach of the year yesterday. Which is appropriate because the Zags won the WCC regular season and no GU player earned one of the four major awards. Jacob has the story of Machtolf’s award and the Gonzaga players who did pick up all-conference honors. … They’re back, and they need your help. Whitney Ogden has a story on Few Good Men, who are trying to play in the national tournament again. … Don’t forget, today is a big day. It’s the day those who declared for the NBA draft and didn’t hire an agent have to decide to either stay in or head back to college. The Zags are waiting on Johnathan Williams’ decision. He worked out for the Nuggets yesterday.
EWU: Matt Norlander of CBSSports.com has written an excellent in-depth piece on Jake Wiley, who hopes to land with an NBA team.
Whitworth: The Pirates’ Kayla Leland is going to be busy this weekend at the NCAA Division III track meet. John Blanchette has the story.
CCS: The Sasquatch women’s track team won the NWAC title yesterday.
Preps: Washington’s spring state championship week kicked off yesterday with the first rounds of the golf tournaments. Jim Meehan was at Liberty Lake to cover the 4A boys (pictured at left).
Mariners: The Mariners Log is back. Dave Nichols has one today, so we added the links to it, including the story about Zunino I linked above.
Seahawks: Kennedy’s surprise death reverberated throughout the Northwest, with just about everyone who knew him or covered him weighing in with their thoughts. There was a similarity to them. He was lauded as an all-around good guy. … There is a report out there Colin Kaepernick will work out for the Hawks today. … The Hawks signed another draft pick yesterday. … The NFL changed the overtime rules yesterday.
Sounders: Seattle picked up their MLS championship rings yesterday and now must turn their attention to their rivals from down Interstate 5. Portland is on tap for Saturday.
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• It was in the low 80s around here yesterday. It felt great. It will be in the low 60s today. It will still feel great, if the sun sticks around. Until later …