Grip on Sports: It wasn’t the biggest Bloomsday ever, but does that matter?
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The first weekend in May is a big deal around these parts, right up there with the final weekend of June. This year it was a bit less crowded, however. Read on.
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• It may sound weird, but only 38,748 people finished the Bloomsday run/walk yesterday. Weird, because most road race organizers would never think they could draw that many people to their event.
Yet, for Bloomsday, it was a low turnout. How low?
How about the smallest number to register (42,985) and finish since 1985, the year before Bloomsday exploded into the biggest thing in the running world.
There are probably a lot of reasons for less than 40,000 folks finishing – only the second time that’s happened since 1985 – starting with the weather.
Not just yesterday’s weather, but the awful winter and spring we’ve endured. It was been hard to get outside on a consistent basis in March and April, the prime training months for those who make up the bulk of back-of-the-pack joggers.
It’s those folks who push Bloomsday into the 40,000 to 50,000 numbers, not the guys and gals at the front who are going to run no matter what.
Then there is the on-going Riverfront Park construction.
Yes, the park needed to be renovated. And yes, those in charge are trying to disrupt downtown as little as possible. But it is a disruption, and will be to Hoopfest – the final weekend in June – as well.
There had to be a few people who thought about participating in Bloomsday, realized this year’s finish was going to be a bit awkward and decided to wait until next spring.
Funny thing. Bloomsday began in 1977 when 1,198 people followed Olympic champion Frank Shorter through Spokane’s streets. It grew and grew and grew, hitting its peak in 1996, the 20th race. More than 60,000 people registered – that’s only happened twice – and a record 56,156 finished. It wasn’t a particularly warm Sunday in 1996, but the month of April had been nice. And it was an anniversary.
Yesterday wasn’t. And the crowd wasn’t what it once was.
• Yesterday was a big day for the Mariners.
They won. But it was how they won that mattered. They rallied from a three-run, seventh-inning deficit to win, 4-3, on Kyle Seager’s first Safeco home run of the season.
That’s huge. The win pulled the M’s to within two games of .500 in a year they started 2-8. And in a year in which 60 percent of their starting rotation – arguably their three best starters – has already spent time on the disabled list.
The M’s are traveling today. They have six games on the upcoming road trip: two in Philadelphia and four in Toronto. Those two teams are a combined 24-37. It is a chance to improve on their 5-12 road record. And, hopefully, pick up some ground on the first-place Astros.
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WSU: Sunday was a good day for the Cougars. Not only did one of their own win the Pac-12 heptathlon for the second time in three years, the baseball team rallied from five down to defeat Oregon, 6-5. The win not only gave WSU its third consecutive series win, it also dealt a blow to the Ducks’ NCAA hopes. … Around the Pac-12, Arizona State is in unfamiliar territory with its baseball program. … The Oregon football program is still trying to revive its defense up front. So is Arizona. … Here is one man’s view of Pac-12 football headed into the offseason.
EWU: The offseason beckons. But before it arrives, Jim Allen took some time to talk with new football coach Aaron Best about the spring and the upcoming fall.
Bloomsday: The sports department covers the competitive nature of the race each year, with Greg Lee responsible this one for the men’s racers, Whitney Ogden the women and the two combining on the wheelchair racers. … The S-R photo department has always covered the race with its lenses and yesterday was no exception, with Colin Mulvany, Dan Pelle, Tyler Tjomsland and others combining on this photo gallery. Colin also has an interesting look at the starting line.
Mariners: We sat down yesterday and took a hard look at the Mariners’ catchers over the years. (It is a position I have some familiarity with.) Funny, but the M’s haven’t really produced much in the way of homegrown talent at the spot. The last two top draft picks they’ve used to bolster it, Jeff Clement and Mike Zunino, have been busts. … With no Mariners Log today, we have the links from the 4-3 win over the Rangers here. If there is a team with more pitching problems than the M’s, it is Texas. … The M’s had three players in the lineup yesterday with Fabio-like hair, including emergency starting pitcher Dillon Overton. I feel like I’m back in the 1970s again. … Hisashi Iwakuma will have his next start pushed back. That makes 80 percent of the rotation at least marginally affected by injuries. … Edwin Diaz did his job again yesterday and did it relatively quickly.
Seahawks: Justin Britt needs your help. His car has been stolen. … If you have questions, they may be answered here.
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• Seems like a good day to take a long walk. The sun is out, the grass is green and summer is drawing nearer. Time to get into swimsuit shape. Which might require a time machine. The last time I was in “swimsuit shape” was 1983. Until later …