A Grip on Sports: As smoke from West Coast wildfires infiltrates INW, sometimes the best thing to do is hunker down and watch sports on TV

A GRIP ON SPORTS • When the weekend hits and smoke gets in your eyes, what is a sports fan supposed to do? Sit and watch sports on the tube, of course. We’re here to help.

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• As the smoke from wildfires from far away as the town I grew up in makes its way to the Inland Northwest, no one really wants to spend any time outside. It’s understandable. And boring. Unless the remote’s batteries are fully charged.

Today is not a problem, what with Boston and Toronto playing a game seven from Orlando and the Clippers looking to eliminate the Nuggets. That’s a pretty high-powered NBA quarterfinals slate. And it’s just the beginning.

Tampa Bay is poised to take a 3-0 lead in the Stanley Cup semifinals, though the Islanders probably won just roll over tonight.

There is plenty of baseball all day, including the M’s returning to action this evening in Phoenix. Ditto for golf, with the women playing their second major – without the winner of the first in the field – and the men trying to their best to breathe in California.

Plus, four men you may never have heard of – that sounds suspiciously like a Cliff Clavin “Jeopardy” answer – will face off in the U.S. Open tennis semifinals. (In an aside, poor Serena Williams. The way the draw worked out, she had to play a three-set quarterfinal match Wednesday night and then come back for a semifinal on Thursday. She just seemed to wear down in last night’s three-set loss, though Victoria Azarenka had a lot to do with that.)

Finally, if you need a football fix, there will be a high school game on SWX.

Saturday, when the smoke is expected to really be thick, is packed.

Heck, there is a Notre Dame game on. And a dozen other college football games. The best of the lot? Georgia Tech at Florida State could be interesting, though No. 1 Clemson is playing at Wake Forest.

The other sports continue as well, with five baseball games, the women’s U.S. Open final and Dallas facing Vegas in the NHL playoffs. If you need a basketball fix, the Lakers, who took a commanding 3-1 lead last night, will try to close out Houston.

Sunday is the NFL’s day. Always is in mid-September. There are four games on the schedule in Spokane, with the Seahawks opening the season in Atlanta at 10 a.m. Want to know the weirdest thing I saw this week on the TV schedule? The listing for Las Vegas at Carolina. I did a double take before I remembered the vagabond Raiders were now based in Las Vegas. Al Davis would be proud of his son.

Maybe it’s a good thing you won’t be able to go outside. The yard work can wait. There are too many sporting events on the TV.

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WSU: It doesn’t matter what happens with the USPS (or COVID-19, for that matter), Theo Lawson will always make sure his mailbag gets through. He read your questions and supplies some answers. … Around the Pac-12, coaches around the conference are keeping quiet, but they are watching the calendar. … Washington revealed its planned budget cuts yesterday and they are extensive. … Oregon State’s football fans are doing their part to help the Beavers get through their money woes. … For the third consecutive day, Oregon lost one of its best players. Thomas Graham Jr. will focus his time on preparing for the NFL draft. … The first college football game televised by ESPN? That would have been the 1979 season opener for Colorado. … Jim Livengood, who was once Washington State’s athletic director, was also the AD at Arizona. So of course he remembers Lute Olson.

Gonzaga: The latest Press Box podcast from Larry Weir includes his conversation with Tom Hudson. As you might guess, they are talking about the Zags.

Preps: If a pandemic can’t stop high school football in Idaho, how can a little unhealthy air? The expected smoke in the area has the potential to disrupt games covered here in Dave Nichols’ preview, but probably won’t.

Chiefs: Dan Thompson continues his trip down Memorial Lane, looking back at Spokane’s first Memorial Cup-winning team. Today’s episode focuses on Pat Falloon.

Mariners: No game yesterday so let’s think about the future. The future shortstop, who just happens to be playing the position right now.

Seahawks: With the season kicking off Sunday, there are plenty of stories previewing the Hawks’ chances. … Russell Wilson wanted more star players. The Hawks obliged – on defense. Still, the quarterback sees opportunity this pandemic-impacted season. …  … Last night what Kansas City fans were in attendance booed the idea of unity. Maybe there is work to be done. Bobby Wagner believes so. … The Hawks will play more nickel defense this season.

Sounders: After Seattle built a touchdown lead, they sat on the ball and ran out the clock. Oops, wrong football. San Jose’s defense was shredded by the Sounders, who won 7-1. That doesn’t seem right.

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• The weather folks are predicting the air quality to disintegrate in Spokane throughout the day. Which means if I want to cut the lawn, I have to do it early. But I have an appointment in the morning. Darn it. Retired live is just too complicated. I need an executive assistant. Until later …