Grip on Sports: Baseball may not command the attention it once did, but it’s still hot this time of year
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The boys of summer aren’t what they used to be. But the World Series, the Fall Classic, is still a big deal. Read on.
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• Baseball once held the nation’s focus more than any other sport. It was truly the National Pastime, when the nation used to take the time to slowly digest its sports news.
But that’s not the way it is anymore, in anything. Action is crucial, in every walk of life.
So baseball has fallen in the sports hierarchy in our country, from the pinnacle to mid-mountain, trailing football and, possibly, basketball.
Our national attention span is too attuned to 140 characters, it seems, to watch a book-length sport anymore. That’s not a complaint, mind you, just an observation. Tastes change. Heck, back when baseball was still king, tie-dye and Nehru jackets were all the rage. Who wants that again?
Yet, the World Series shoulders on, still must-see TV despite the struggles of the game. And in the cities of the participants, in this year’s case recently under-water Houston and scorching Los Angeles, it’s really a big deal.
Dodger fever has caught on in L.A, along with the fever that burns when it’s 100 degrees outside.
The thermometer is supposed to hit triple digits today around here – I’m in the area, heading to Dodger Stadium tonight, if we can get there – and won’t be all that much cooler when Clayton Kershaw throws the first pitch. It’s appropriate, considering baseball is a game designed to be played in summer’s heat, though no World Series game in the more than 100 years they have been played will have seen such high temperatures.
It’s too bad the matchup isn’t as hot. The Dodgers versus the Yankees. Now that would have burned up the ratings. When the Astros rallied at home to eliminate New York, more than a few Fox executives cancelled plans for new yachts. Houston against Los Angeles harkens back to the not-so-distant-past, sure, when both were in the National League, but it’s just not as exciting as the representatives of the nation’s two largest cities getting together.
(Funny, it just hit me. The four finalists, the Yankees, Dodgers, Cubs and Astros, represented the four largest cities in America. Coincidence?)
No matter. Ratings are the least of baseball fans’ concerns. Will the Series be competitive? It should be. Each team won more than 100 games. Each took a turn at being the best in baseball, the Astros early in the season, the Dodgers much of the rest of it. And both dealt with adversity, coming out stronger on the other side.
Hopefully that will translate into a seven-game series that holds the nation’s attention for a few days.
Then we can all get back to wondering if any NFL starting quarterback will make it through the season without a broken bone.
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WSU: Next up for the Cougars is a road trip to the desert, where the Pac-12’s hottest team and hottest player reside. The last part of that statement is not debatable, as Khalil Tate has been named the conference’s offensive player of the week three times running. The Wildcats, however, haven’t been dominating in their wins, though their last loss came longer ago than Washington State’s. Theo Lawson has his first look at Arizona as well as the news Tavares Martin Jr. will be back and a story on Luke Falk’s newest label, scrambler. … A Montana high school offensive lineman committed to WSU. … Falk’s running also caught the eye of the Times’ Stefanie Loh. She also takes a look at the Wildcats. … President Kirk Schulz sent out an email yesterday outlining a series of cuts at the university. It makes one wonder if Bill Moos saw the writing on the wall. … Tate just turned 19 years old. … By the way, Mike Leach sure holds a grudge.
Elsewhere in the Pac-12, it’s a good time to look at bowls and at power rankings. Then again, there never is a bad time. … Washington hosts UCLA this weekend and the Huskies are focused on stopping Josh Rosen. The question is, can the Bruins stop UW’s offense? … Colorado doesn’t know who will be playing quarterback Saturday when the Buffs host California. … The weekend starts Thursday with Oregon State hosting Stanford and Bryce Love. … The winner of the Utah versus Oregon game will probably be bowl bound. The loser? Probably not. … The most important game this weekend is in Tempe, with USC and Arizona State trying to take control of the South.
Gonzaga: John Blanchette said goodbye today to a part of Gonzaga’s history, writing about Jerry Vermillion’s import on the program and beyond. … Joe Lunardi takes a look at the WCC race for ESPN.
EWU: Around the Big Sky, Southern Utah is certainly a contender after its win over Eastern. … Idaho State is having a good year by its standards. So first-year coach Rob Phenicie has agreed to an extension. … There was good news and bad news in Missoula. Both were contained in a report on equity and the latter happened as a player was arrested.
Preps: We can pass along Dave Nichols’ look at state cross country in Idaho as well as a roundup of other action on Monday.
Seahawks: Seattle needs some help with its pass rush. There is a veteran pass rusher available. Will Dwight Freeney and the Hawks get together? … Pete Carroll fell on his sword concerning the latest sideline incident. … Justin Britt has a bad ankle. He might not practice until Friday.
Mariners: The Dodgers have a couple of ex-Mariners on their roster. Of course they do. … Is Kyle Lewis the M’s future star?
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• It is hot here in Southern California. We have our tickets for tonight’s game, but my sister forgot the crucial possession in the land of the eternal traffic jam: A parking pass. The lots at Dodger Stadium are sold out. We have been forced to make alternate plans. There may be some walking involved. In L.A. It seems sacrilegious. Until later …