Vince Grippi

A GRIP ON SPORTS • A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a source said three words to Bob Woodward that still ring true today. Follow the money. And with that, a presidential administration fell.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s been a long time, and about 60 degrees of temperature, since a weekend has popped up and the main focus isn’t on college football. But that’s the case today. Welcome to the real start of winter.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, right. Thinking about byes. Odd seedings. Targeting. Missed kicks. Revenge. Sadness. The college football playoffs’ quarterfinal games had all that. And more. What a way to start 2025.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The final day of 2024. Usually, this is the day to reflect. To look back on the past year and either celebrate successes or lament failures. But, lucky for us, everything that’s happened since 2023 exited stage left is something of a blur. Though the sunsets over the Pacific Ocean stand out.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Back-to-back years. Remember the last time the Seahawks missed the playoffs consecutive seasons? Me neither. It was 2009, when Jim Mora was the coach. Ya, I sort of forgot he was ever in charge too.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • An intriguing hire. An interesting game. A couple losses without even playing. It was that type of Saturday around these parts.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It would have been fun to watch a fully stocked Washington State football team play last night in the Holiday Bowl. One with its head coach, quarterback and most of its defense in place. It didn’t happen. But rest assured, even if that group had been available, had played its best, had won, it wouldn’t have brought the football program more glory than the players who did take the field at Snapdragon Stadium and fell 52-35 to the Orange.

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Bowl games were once a reward. Hard work, success, a week in the warmth somewhere. These days they seem more like unpaid overtime. And no one loves working unpaid overtime. Not even football fans.