A Grip on Sports: One day in and we’re already two episodes behind in the Michael Jordan documentary, so don’t spoil it
A GRIP ON SPORTS • A little of this and a little of that to start your workweek. It’s what Monday mornings are for, right?
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• First, a confession. We didn’t watch the first two episodes of “The Last Dance” last night.
Nope. Kim and I are in the middle of a binge-watch of “Community.” She wanted to laugh over the weekend. After what she been going through at work the past month or so, who am I to argue? So while all of you were covering your children’s ears, we were laughing at timeless jokes that seemed so fresh in 2010.
When I get done here this morning, I’m going to watch the documentary. However, through the magic of the Twitter machine, I feel as if I know everything that went on. One question, though. Why does everyone hate former Eastern Washington head coach and Gonzaga assistant Jerry Krause so much? Guess I’ll find out later this morning. (Just kidding.)
Anyhow, back to the sports news of the day. And the Michael Jordan documentary seems to be dominating it. Did you know the Portland Trail Blazers made a huge mistake taking Sam Bowie instead of Jordan? Did you know Scottie Pippen was underpaid? Did you know Dean Smith encouraged Jordan to chase his NBA dream early?
If you didn’t, you didn’t experience the ‘90s. Or paid attention to the NBA back then. But, thanks to Twitter, I know there are other, less well-known facts about Jordan, the Bulls and the NBA the documentary is revealing. I look forward to experiencing them over its 10-part run. By the way, here’s one for you. Did you know Klay Thompson’s uncle played a huge role in the documentary’s existence?
• The Mercury-News’ Jon Wilner often thinks of angles to stories others miss. Good for him. But this one, on the pandemic and a little-known impact it may have on college football this fall, is worth examining by everyone.
With the response to the virus varying from state to state, how does college football keep equity in place before the start of the season, whenever it is? It’s a tough question.
Each state will open up at a pace determined by the state government. Arizona, which has never really completely closed down, will probably allow more activities long before Washington does. And the Washington schools already missed out on spring practice dates of which the Arizona schools took advantage. What if this extends to colleges opening and, ultimately, football beginning?
Right now the Power 5 schools are on the same page. But divisions could show quickly. It could be between regions or it could be between states within a single conference, like the Pac-12. It’s worth keeping an eye on.
• Not too long ago we put together a list of sports movies to watch while you were locked in your home with your cat, two dogs and 17 children. Now the Associated Press has jumped into the fray.
I thought it would be appropriate if I linked both, so you can compare and contrast. Like all rankings, the beauty of each individual part is in the eye of the beholder. So there is no right list. Except mine.
• Washington Post writer Neil Greenberg put together another list. This is his approximation of the best baseball roster of all-time. He used analytics and everything. Good for him.
He forgot one thing, though. If you are going to have a greatest roster of all-time, it’s going to undergo the greatest drug testing of all-time. Any steroid use at anytime will show up. (Hey, if he’s going to have an imaginary roster, we’re going to have an imaginary, foolproof, test.) At least three of his players – and as many as eight – will be suspended for the year. Hopefully, he’s can fill the gaps from a decent minor-league system.
• One last note. There has been a glitch in the matrix recently. I was unable to move my columns to the top of the sports page online on Saturday or Sunday morning. If you’ve had trouble finding them, I apologize. Everything worked correctly this morning.
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WSU: The college baseball season didn’t get all that far before it was shut down by the pandemic. When the shutdown did come, however, it cost Washington States’ Kyle Manzardo, a Coeur d’Alene High graduate, a special season. Theo Lawson talked with Manzardo and has this story. … Gonzaga Prep graduate Evan Weaver is ready for the next step. He’s about to take it. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12, after the recruiting and transfer seasons are done, after the NBA allure has faded for the middle-of-the-draft player, which conference school will emerge with the best roster for next basketball season? Here’s one vote for Arizona State. … And, assuming there is a football season, which schools will have the best roster in that sport? … Utah has a defensive back who is ready for the NFL. … There are receivers from USC and Colorado in the same position.
Chiefs: Defenseman Noah King signed a professional contract over the weekend.
Seahawks: We have two draft previews to pass along, one on the secondary and the other on the running backs. … David Moore has re-upped with the Hawks.
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• I usually don’t stray much away from sports, but I have to pass along this column from S-R editor Rob Curley. I spent much of my career in the S-R newsroom and rarely, if ever, saw my fellow journalists’ personal opinions bleed into how they covered the facts of a news story. We may have argued, loudly, on what we thought was important, but everyone had a calling to educate the public on the realities of the world. And that was paramount in every decision made. Until later …