A Grip on Sports: Yes, college football is kicking off this weekend but there is still a pennant race to follow and that’s important
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Not everyone who is reading this will know what we’re talking about. But that’s OK. We get it. It’s been a while. There is really nothing like a pennant race when “your” team is involved. Or the ensuing postseason.
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• Back in 1982, we took a vacation into the hinterlands of Canada. Backpacked in the Rockies. Lost a quart of blood to mosquitos in control of a high-mountain lake. You know, the typical stuff for a 20-something childless couple.
The Dodgers, our team, were involved in a pennant race. Like always. Which made the few days out of touch a bit of hell. You know the first thing we did when we retreated from the mosquitos’ stronghold? Yep, we found a motel. With cable. Just so we could watch the Dodgers and the Braves play. Back then it wasn’t that easy, especially in Alberta.
There we were, a young couple in love, sitting on the bed, jumping up and down every time something important happened. What we really remember is Jerry Royster booted a routine ground ball and L.A. won. We loved it.
A decade and a half later we sat in our palatial – OK, serviceable is a better word – South Hill home and, two young boys by our side, watched every night as the Mariners ran down the Angels in pursuit of their first American League West title. A different vibe, sure, but just as fulfilling. And a heck of a lot louder.
Maybe that was your introduction to pennant-race baseball. Maybe it wasn’t. Either way September of 1995 has to rank right up there in your memories if you were around. How would it not?
The M’s future was on the line. The franchise was on the block and the Kingdome was not part of the club’s future – no matter what. The Mariners had never been very good. But the young nucleus was – and was really fun. That joie de baseball was needed, what with Seattle so far back in August. But the Angels collapsed. And the M’s picked up ground nearly every day.
It’s that day-after-day grind that makes a pennant race so special. Only rare pauses. Every game mattering. The pressure increasing each day. One mistake might make the difference between being in or out.
The M’s tasted it last season for one of the few times in the past two decades. But, after so much failure, there was an almost fatalistic expectancy they wouldn’t get it done. Not this season. In the bars, living rooms and garages of the Northwest, folks are tuning in, watching and listening to each game.
They are living on each pitch. Each swing. And cheering on a team with expectations.
This group can get it done. Break the drought. Heck, we might even say they should get it done. They have the pitching. The hitting (we think). The destiny.
Somewhere, as they get deeper into September, there may just be a not-so-young couple on the road, looking for a motel. One that carries the Mariners’ game.
Hopefully, it will be easy to find.
• You know how we were complaining Tuesday how many college football stories we had to read? We’re sorry football gods. We didn’t know you were going to take it so personally.
Have the day off today? You may need it. The S-R’s annual football guide is included in today’s on-line report, with stories from Whitworth to the Seahawks, from records to record-setting quarterbacks. And everywhere in-between.
We recommend one of two things.
You can bookmark the section’s cover page on your work computer and read a story each time you have a break – or need one in the middle of a boring meeting. Or you can get in touch with the “old days” by buying the print edition on Thursday, taking out the football section, setting it aside in a quiet spot of your house or apartment and read it at your leisure.
Either way works. If you are over age 47-and-a-half, we expect the latter. Under that magical mark – the age you find your body begins making noises every time you get up from a chair – we figure you’ll stick with the electronics.
Your choice. The only wrong decision is to do neither.
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WSU: Quarterbacks, new and otherwise, are the maestros of the college football scene. And the focal point for each section the S-R’s college football section. The Cougars are among those who have a new one. And he’s the subject of Colton Clark’s lead story from the section. … Colton also has a look at how transfers fit in and a game-by-game look at the season. … Being this is the top section of the links, we also will pass along each of the stories that cover more than one school, like John Blanchette’s ranking of the area’s quarterbacks over the past 40 years, here. Also in that category is Dan Thompson look at the new starting quarterbacks in the Northwest. … Dan finishes off this part of our report by examining a bunch of records in the area that probably never will be broken. … Before we move on, Colton talked with Jake Dickert yesterday and has a story covering the depth chart for the weekend, which doesn’t include transfer receiver Zeriah Beason. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 and college football, there are new faces at Washington as well. Dave Boling delves into them in this piece. … The Huskies have some position battles still in progress. … We linked Jon Wilner’s pieces on the conference’s season before (and the best players), but that was ran they were in the Mercury News. They are part of the football section and you can read them with your S-R subscription. … Jon also has his picks for the week, impactful newcomers and quarterback depth rankings in the Mercury News. … Oregon has the toughest opener of any Pac-12 school. Dan Lanning is aware of that. … Utah has the most important opening game of any conference school. … Chance Nolan is eager to begin the season as Oregon State’s quarterback. … Colorado has a new look to its offensive line. … UCLA , with its highest-paid staff ever, opens with Bowling Green. … USC is still trying to figure out who will start at left tackle. … Arizona State begins the season by hosting Northern Arizona, an in-state rival of sorts. … A former WSU player is in charge of Arizona’s defense this year.
EWU: Eastern will be adjusting to a new quarterback for the first time in a half-decade. Dan’s football section story focuses on that change. … Around the Big Sky, Dan has a preview of what’s ahead. Could a national title be the result for a conference overflowing with talent? … Montana has its depth chart out. … Could this be a normal season for Northern Colorado? … Jay Hill has been around awhile but the Weber State coach still gets excited for season-opening games.
Idaho: There is a new coach in Moscow, which means a lot of changes. Peter Harriman has more in this story.
Whitworth: OK, continuity is not missing for the Pirates. They bring back many pieces from last season’s team that started fast but didn’t finish that way. Dan has the preview.
Indians: It is not a good way to begin a key seven-game series. Spokane got down early and never could catch up in a 9-4 loss at home to Vancouver. The Indians now trail the Canadiens by 2.5 games for the second playoff berth. Dave Nichols was at Avista Stadium and has this story.
Seahawks: Dave Boling returns to the special section with a story on the Hawks and a game-by-game look at their season. … The Hawks made their cuts yesterday to get the roster down to 53. Now it’s wait-and-see who they re-sign – Justin Coleman comes to mind – if they clear waivers. And who they might pick up off the waiver wire. … Actually, the quarterback competition continues.
Mariners: The power was on, and the switch for clutch hitting was clicked up too. The M’s scored early and often, got great pitching and won 9-3 in Detroit to start the road trip. … Ty France is out of his slump. … Dylan Moore starts, gets hurt and Abraham Toro is back.
Storm: Still no Gabby Williams as Seattle prepares to take on host Las Vegas in the second game of their five-game WNBA semifinal. … A trio of Storm players were picked for the league’s all-defensive team.
Sounders: Must-win time? Sure. Seattle travels to Orlando and needs the three points. If not, the playoffs look bleaker and bleaker.
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• This is the final day of August. We will wear black despite the heat. We are in mourning. Another summer gone too soon. We love June, July and August. The rest of the months we just tolerate. Until later …