Grip on Sports: The other Washington isn’t a state the NFL recognizes

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Mistakes happen. No one knows that better than yours truly. But the one the NFL Shop made recently was a doozy. And hard to fathom. Read on.

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• You like the NFL, right? It’s the league that brings us such exciting, wide-ranging events as the scouting combine and Deflategate.

Every week in the fall and early winter the NFL puts its product on display, beaming into our home exciting football games that are decided by mistakes.

Yes, that’s the bottom line. Ask any NFL coach and they’ll tell you winning the turnover battle is the most reliable predicator of victory. And what are turnovers except mistakes?

The league thrives on them.

Except mistakes like the one the NFL’s marketing arm made this week.

See this license plate cover? What wrong with it?

There’s the Redskins’ logo – and believe me, lots of people think that’s a mistake right there – which is appropriate, because the Redskins are one of 32 NFL teams.

And there is the burgundy and gold colors, which are the correct colors of the team.

And there is the state of Washington outline. Wait, what? The Washington Redskins play in our state?

No. Well, occasionally, when they travel here to play the Seahawks, the team that calls Washington home. But, as a rule, no.

The Washington Redskins represent our nation’s capital. (And, yes, that’s a discussion worth having, but not today.)

You know, Washington D.C. The D.C. stands for District of Columbia. The 68.34-square mile area tucked between Virginia and Maryland in which our nation’s leaders do the work of governing our country. Stop laughing. They work. Hard. (And, yes, whether they do it well is a discussion worth having, but not today.)

Washington D.C. is not a state. It does not have voting rights in Congress, the legislative body it hosts. And it certainly isn’t Washington state.

In fact, in the continental United States, no state is farther from D.C. than Washington.

So when a multi-billion dollar enterprise like the NFL confuses a state in the Northwest with our nation’s capital on the opposite side of the country, it makes you wonder what else the organization screws up.

I’m sure you have your own list.

• Speaking of mistakes, I made one the other day. I missed this story from the Los Angeles Times on the L.A. Kings drafting the Chiefs’ Jaret Anderson-Dolan. I saw it today. And read it, from top to bottom. It’s worth passing along.

Even though the story called the newspaper I worked at daily for nearly 30 years the Spokane (Wash.) Statesman-Review.

No, I’m not bitter. It’s pretty freaking hard to Google “Spokane newspaper” and find out the name. OK, that’s mean. I do understand if the writer made a mistake. Really, I’ve made enough of them. But one of the tenants of being an editor is to check facts. And the name of the newspaper that ran the story is pretty basic fact. Check it.

Makes you wonder if the NFL had something to do with it.

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WSU: There are reports out there Josh Hawkinson will continue his basketball career next season in Japan. … Around the Pac-12, the Huskies picked up a commitment from a Tucson offensive lineman. As you can guess, that’s not going over well around Arizona. … Washington’s freshmen football players are already on campus. … Oregon State’s dream baseball season ended on nightmarish note in Omaha, but the Beavers may be back next season. … Even at Oregon, where the golf coach is recognizable and successful, there is an under-the-radar quality.

Gonzaga: Ryan Edwards said recently he was done with basketball, that he was going to graduate (he did) and begin his after-college life. But Edwards has changed his mind. Jim Meehan has this story detailing what’s next for the 7-foot center. … There are also other stories about Edwards’ decision. … Jeremy Jones is hoping to help the Zags more this season. … Zach Collins was introduced in Portland yesterday.

Indians: Another game, another tough defeat. The Indians returned home Monday night and fell 5-4 to Tri-City. Whitney Ogden has the story and Colin Mulvany the photo report. … Around the Northwest League, Eugene defeated Hillsboro and Everett won for the third consecutive time.

Chiefs: Spokane announced the date of the home opener yesterday and will probably release the rest of its schedule today.

Preps: Missed this over the weekend but a Cheney High graduate is going into the Pacific Lutheran University hall of fame.

Hoopfest: Kevin Durant’s visit was a secret. A secret that was a while in the making. Whitney has the background in this story.

Mariners: There was no Mariner game yesterday – there was a charity golf tournament though – but that didn’t stop Matt Calkins of the Times from going out on a limb. … Seriously, the M’s have been playing better. … There is another new face in the bullpen, but you will have to look up to see this one.

Seahawks: The Hawks announced their training camp schedule.

Sounders: The Gold Cup is a chance for some players to make an impression.

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• Spent a lot of time yesterday watching many of our local high school basketball teams compete at Gonzaga’s team camp. It was a nice way to spend a summer’s day. And made me appreciate once again the (semi-) retired life. Until later …