A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where have been we? Oh, sure. Thinking about presents, Roberto Duran and the weekend’s TV schedule. Eclectic? Sure. Electric? Nope.
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• The rain was pounding on the roof only a few minutes in the past. Pounding. Like the bathe at the one resort again in the day that ruined me for different resort showers for all eternity. My muscle groups nonetheless smile once I think about it. But rain? In Spokane? On Boxing Day? That’s simply mistaken.
What must be taking place is the gentle sound of snow. Piles of it. Drifts, even. Enough the electrical snow blower is taxed, the roads are virtually impassable and children are slipping and sliding and laughing at the park close by. So a lot snow, in actual fact, Norman Rockwell would really feel overwhelmed.
And there can be one thing regular to complain about.
Sure. There are new complaints obtainable. Netflix’s upside-down NFL broadcasts on Christmas Day comes to thoughts. They have been fairly unhealthy, weren’t they? At least Amazon delivered a greater product – and a Christmas win for my buddy Kent’s workforce – whereas displaying slightly restraint in the product-placement world.
“Stranger Things.” “Peaky Blinders.” Mickey Mouse and mates. Snoop Dogg and friends. Nikola Jokic. Everything in sports activities appeared to have to be over the prime yesterday.
Remember when there was just one or two NBA video games on? It was particular. Mainly as a result of Michael Jordan appeared at all times to be the headliner. Now there’s a full slate of video games, from daybreak to nightfall and past. When each sport is particular, none of them are. Usually. Though Jokic’s performance belied that.
• It’s Friday. Again. And meaning, even with our pounding sugar hangover – cookies, sweet and carbs dominated the menu round right here – the weekend’s sports TV schedule is entrance and heart.
The NFL dominates. Of course. Two video games Saturday, the Seahawks attempting desperately to grasp on to the NFC prime spot – each 12 is a Bear fan this week, aren’t they? – Sunday and the Rams rolling over Atlanta on Monday night time.
Bowl season actually will get transferring, with three at present and eight on Saturday. That’s virtually a dozen probabilities to get out of the rain, plop in a chair and watch two groups that includes 17 new starters every attempt to restrict their unlawful formation penalties.
It’s additionally the first weekend of basketball video games for the second (and final) season of the expanded West Coast Conference. The seventh-ranked Gonzaga males at Pepperdine (5 p.m., SWX) spotlight Sunday’s six-game slate, although Washington State at Portland (2, ESPN+) and Saint Mary’s at Loyola Marymount (4, ESPN+) are additionally value spending a while with. The ladies’s schedule, begins a bit earlier in the day and is all on ESPN+ – besides the Gonzaga ladies internet hosting LMU (2 p.m., SWX).
• I have to ask. What was the finest present you acquired Thursday?
Mine was easy. Perfect. Memorable. A day with the household (together with the canine). Gathered round the tree. The dinner desk. The sport desk. Everyone laughing, speaking, smiling. Joyful. Appreciative. Expressive. Thoughtful.
Not positive what number of extra Christmas gatherings like this are forward however yesterday’s was particular. I attempted to sit quietly, simply soaking it in. Imprinting it on my reminiscence to name upon all through the 12 months, every time I want a pick-me-up. It’s assured to work. And comes and not using a price ticket.
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WSU: I didn’t need to miss any tales from the previous couple days, so if I have linked them earlier than, sorry upfront. I do know I didn’t move alongside Greg Woods’ piece on new assistant football coaches. And I did hyperlink Jon Wilner’s ideas on Washington State’s season, although that was after they have been in the Mercury News. They are now on the S-R site. … Elsewhere in the (present, outdated and future) Pac-12 and the nation, a brand new No. 1 goal appears to have emerged at Michigan, and I do consider I had that. No, not Washington’s Jedd Fisch. Nor former UW coach Kalen DeBoer. The Wolverines appear to have zeroed in on former Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. An ideal non-Michigan man to proceed the Michigan-man legacy. … Wilner has his weekly game picks in the Mercury News. They embrace the CFP quarterfinals. … John Canzano has a Christmas-themed column. And one on the forest fire that is college football. … Oregon goes to have bother with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders, sporting the best defense money can buy, is the sort of workforce that has given the Ducks matches lately. … Instead of the time-honored time period each Cougar fan hates regarding stunning failure, possibly it’s time to alter it to “Bear-ing it.” California grabbed defeat from the jaws of victory once again Christmas Eve, blowing a three-touchdown lead to the hosts of the Hawaii Bowl. … How good was Bronco Mendenhall’s first season with Utah State? … Arizona State’s quarterback believes the NFL’s doorways will open to him. … Arizona is happy about a Holiday Bowl that features homegrown quarterbacks. … The Arizona Bowl has an fascinating storyline as nicely. … San Diego State will attempt to sluggish No. 23 North Texas’ offense on Saturday in Albuquerque. … In basketball information, the Colorado ladies have misplaced a key participant for the season. … Fourth-ranked UCLA has questions to reply heading into the Big Ten schedule. … The top-ranked Arizona males have had a season to keep in mind already. … Utah added a global participant midseason.
Gonzaga: Theo Lawson’s Christmas current to Zag followers was this story on the men’s nonconference success, which ranks proper up with the finest in class historical past. And not simply due to the 12-1 file. … Greg Lee has this preview of the West Coast Conference women’s race. There actually doesn’t appear to be a favourite, as just about each college, from GU to WSU and past, had a tougher-than-usual nonconference file. … Elsewhere in the WCC, here’s another look at the women’s basketball race that begins this weekend.
EWU and Idaho: Around the Big Sky, the FCS semifinal Brawl of the Wild drew record TV crowds. … Aaron Pflugrad is well-known in these elements. He’s headed to James Madison after leaving Michigan State. … In basketball information, assistant coaches are the players’ best connection to the employees in simply about each program.
Preps: Dave Nichols has a look at the holiday basketball tournaments in the area over the subsequent few days. The schedule is highlighted by West Valley’s Eagle Holiday Classic, which begins Saturday and finishes Monday and Tuesday.
Horse racing: Jim Price takes a look back at the long-gone Playfair Race Track. The former jewel of the Inland Northwest thoroughbred scene closed 25 years in the past.
Seahawks: The Hawks will be a bit shorthanded once more for Sunday’s sport at Carolina (10 a.m., CBS). Then once more, each NFL workforce is that this time of 12 months. … The Hawks’ special teams are a force. … Not many playoff berths are left. But the seeds? They are nonetheless up in the air.
Mariners: The new man the M’s signed? He is better than most fans think.
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• I have a protracted to-do record at present. Watching three new episodes of “Stranger Things” isn’t on it. Did that final night time. Until late. Which is why this column might be slightly weirder than standard. By the means, earlier than you hearth off an electronic mail, I do know Boxing Day has nothing to do with the sport. I used to be simply considering about Duran yesterday once I dropped certainly one of my presents. Hands of stone and all that. Until later …