Saturday, November 13, 2004
FIN DE SEMANA
So I was sitting here watching Maria Sharapova against Vera Zvonareva here on ESPN2 because the Hawaii/Fresno State game ran a little long (and had a field umpire get a neck brace). The point? I thought Monica Seles grunted loud while playing tennis, but that Maria Sharapova, my goodness, she's young and has many years ahead of her to be featured multiple times on Letterman's Late Show Grunt of the Day when the US Open comes around.
After opening up on that weird note, here's the daily bonanza...
BASEBALL
Jeff Newman is close to being hired as the Mariners' next third-base coach. Manager Mike Hargrove says he wants his coaching staff to have "energy and good teaching skills." Newman and Hargrove have a few years of familiarity, as stated in the Finnigan article.
Well, the GM meetings are over, and it seems to me like it was a whole lot of nothing, but since no one could talk to other teams' free agents, that's not really a surprise. The only non-rumor oriented things that I remember coming out of these meetings (that I've read about) were instant replay, Kevin Towers' birthday bash, and the kidnapping in foreign countries, namely that Ugueth Urbina's mother is still being held captive.
SEAHAWKS
Synergy. That's what the offensive line and Shaun Alexander have seemed to have as of late. As Jeremy has mentioned before in this space, the Rams are absolute dog meat against the run (Clare Farnsworth sets up the damning stats nicely in the article). The Seahawks are good right now running the ball. Put one and one together... I don't have to tell you what the game plan against the Rams should be on Sunday. Farnsworth also offers a golden rationale as to why the linemen would rather have the offense run the ball than throw it.
Bruised lung be damned, Ken Lucas will play on Sunday. He was able to breathe normally during special workouts, to which coach Holmgren responded, "[t]he human body is an amazing thing." As for other injuries, Grant Wistrom is taking the plane to Saint Louis (gametime decision), Chike Okeafor is coming off some aggravated back spasms, and Bobby Engram practiced for the first time in three weeks. However, Itula Mili (sore groin) and Ken Hamlin (sore knee) didn't practice. Also in that article, Jeff Garcia opened a "fitness location" in Eastlake.
Also, Grant Wistrom took snaps with the scout team, and gameballs for last week went to Darrell Jackson, Antonio Cochran, and Marquand Manuel (special teams), who might step in for Hamlin if the latter is unable to play on Sunday.
SONICS
For my take on the game, scroll down or click here.
To the dailies...
Danny O'Neil gets to some stuff I didn't dig up. The Sonics sank three 3-pointers in the last five minutes of the game (Ridnour, Daniels, Lewis). Also, Reggie Evans found himself as a perimeter defender against Vince Carter on the final play of the game, and was able to hold him to a reverse layup attempt.
Jayda Evans has the Times' end of the recap madness. Reggie Evans had 12 of his 16 rebounds in the first half, no doubt helping the Sonics open up a 14-point lead heading into the locker room. After the game, Toronto coach Sam Mitchell lost his mind: "We're gonna find some guys in that (locker) room that are gonna play some team basketball. The guys that are not gonna play team basketball are not going to play. I do know one thing, if they do it their way, we're gonna lose, and if I don't do it my way, I'm gonna get fired. If I'm gonna get fired, then I'm gonna get fired doing it my way."
Yes, David Stern was in the arena. Percy Allen presents a lot of facts that were presented yesterday by Angelo Bruscas in the P-I. I guess the Sonics and the city of Seattle agree on one thing. KeyArena in its current structure is not economically friendly to either party, and Stern notes that the NBA player salaries are escalating at a higher rate than what the Sonics can come up with through suites and other revenue streams.
Lastly, Jayda Evans reminds us all once again not to be surprised if the Sonics come back down to earth. But can you guess why this article was printed at this time? The Sonics play Memphis at the Key on Sunday. After that, it's a killer road trip, lasting six games in length. Yes, the schedule makers have decided to let Seattle suffer once more, and this road trip will answer once and for all whether this Sonic team is a step beyond the one from last year.
Upcoming...
Sunday: Memphis at Seattle
Tuesday: Seattle at Philadelphia
HOCKEY
Jim Riley has a little Thunderbird blip/record-breaking WHL goalies piece. The Seattle blueline is not allowing opposing teams to get off many shots. Also, Aaron Gagnon is a teammate of Vancouver's Gilbert Brule on the WHL team which will face Russia in the Canada Russia Challenge in Red Deer/Lethbridge. Gagnon has the possibility of playing five nights in a row between the Thunderbirds and team WHL.
Everett beat Regina, 5-1. Everett snapped out of their 0-for-11 power-play funk over the last two games to go 3-for-6 tonight on the man-advantage against the Pats. Five different players scored for the Silvertips, and Curtis Billsten, Torrie Wheat, and Tyler Dietrich had one assist each to go with their goals. Backup goalie Leland Irving stopped 23 of 24 Regina shots as the 'Tips have tied Seattle in points for first place in the WHL's US Division (Seattle has three games in hand). Everett finished the five-game swing through the Eastern Division with a 4-1 record.
Spokane beat Seattle, 5-1. The Thunderbirds' recap won't tell you that Seattle has a games-in-hand lead over Everett, just that they still retain the lead in the division (and they do). The T-Birds lost this game to finish 3-1 on their road trip and head home for a six-game homestand at KeyArena. Bryan Bridges didn't have too good of a night, letting four shots out of 20 past. He was pulled after the Chiefs jumped out to a 4-0 lead just past the halfway point of the second period. Tyler Metcalfe scored the only Seattle goal 1:35 after Bridges was pulled in favor of backup Brad Lepp, but that was it for the T-Birds. Seattle outshot Spokane 35-25.
Portland beat Vancouver, 7-5. This was a wild one. The Giants scored five times and lost, their third loss in a row. Mitch Bartley staked the Giants out to a 1-0 lead, but Portland scored the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead after a goal early in the second period. Vancouver would score four unanswered goals to actually get a 4-3 lead heading into the third period, and JD Watt scored to get the Giants a 5-3 lead 1:41 into the third period. Then the Winter Hawks would negate the four straight goals scored by Vancouver with four straight goals of their own. Crazy game. Watt also rammed into Portland goalie Blake Grenier during the game, who had to leave the game with a related injury.
Manitoba beat Cincinnati, 4-2. Peter Sarno and Alexandre Burrows helped Manitoba jump out to a 2-0 lead on the Mighty Ducks and Russian World Cup goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. A frequent Anaheimer from last year, Stanislav Chistov scored on the two-man advantage to cut the deficit in half heading into the third period. But Manitoba made good on a two-man advantage of their own thanks to Lee Goren. Jeff Heerema added the dagger on the empty net with 28 seconds left. Wade Flaherty stopped 26 of 27. Regular goalie Alex Auld sat out with a concussion.
Puget Sound beat Tri-City, 5-3. The Tomahawks fought back from a 2-0 deficit early en route to their 17th win against only two losses. Jay McFadden and Chase Ambuter tied the game at 2-2. Mike Truex scored to get the T-Hawks a 3-2 lead, but the Titans got an equalizer. Truex scored again for the game-winner, and Carl Horten scored the dagger to account for the final score.
The rest of the hockey weekend...
Tonight: Vancouver at Seattle, Portland at Spokane, Manitoba at Cincinnati, Puget Sound at Tri-City
Sunday: Vancouver at Kootenay
---
Enjoy the stuffing out of your weekend. It's a weekend I'm using as a placeholder...I just want Tuesday and volume 3 of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force DVDs to come out. Onward!
After opening up on that weird note, here's the daily bonanza...
BASEBALL
Jeff Newman is close to being hired as the Mariners' next third-base coach. Manager Mike Hargrove says he wants his coaching staff to have "energy and good teaching skills." Newman and Hargrove have a few years of familiarity, as stated in the Finnigan article.
Well, the GM meetings are over, and it seems to me like it was a whole lot of nothing, but since no one could talk to other teams' free agents, that's not really a surprise. The only non-rumor oriented things that I remember coming out of these meetings (that I've read about) were instant replay, Kevin Towers' birthday bash, and the kidnapping in foreign countries, namely that Ugueth Urbina's mother is still being held captive.
SEAHAWKS
Synergy. That's what the offensive line and Shaun Alexander have seemed to have as of late. As Jeremy has mentioned before in this space, the Rams are absolute dog meat against the run (Clare Farnsworth sets up the damning stats nicely in the article). The Seahawks are good right now running the ball. Put one and one together... I don't have to tell you what the game plan against the Rams should be on Sunday. Farnsworth also offers a golden rationale as to why the linemen would rather have the offense run the ball than throw it.
Bruised lung be damned, Ken Lucas will play on Sunday. He was able to breathe normally during special workouts, to which coach Holmgren responded, "[t]he human body is an amazing thing." As for other injuries, Grant Wistrom is taking the plane to Saint Louis (gametime decision), Chike Okeafor is coming off some aggravated back spasms, and Bobby Engram practiced for the first time in three weeks. However, Itula Mili (sore groin) and Ken Hamlin (sore knee) didn't practice. Also in that article, Jeff Garcia opened a "fitness location" in Eastlake.
Also, Grant Wistrom took snaps with the scout team, and gameballs for last week went to Darrell Jackson, Antonio Cochran, and Marquand Manuel (special teams), who might step in for Hamlin if the latter is unable to play on Sunday.
SONICS
For my take on the game, scroll down or click here.
To the dailies...
Danny O'Neil gets to some stuff I didn't dig up. The Sonics sank three 3-pointers in the last five minutes of the game (Ridnour, Daniels, Lewis). Also, Reggie Evans found himself as a perimeter defender against Vince Carter on the final play of the game, and was able to hold him to a reverse layup attempt.
Jayda Evans has the Times' end of the recap madness. Reggie Evans had 12 of his 16 rebounds in the first half, no doubt helping the Sonics open up a 14-point lead heading into the locker room. After the game, Toronto coach Sam Mitchell lost his mind: "We're gonna find some guys in that (locker) room that are gonna play some team basketball. The guys that are not gonna play team basketball are not going to play. I do know one thing, if they do it their way, we're gonna lose, and if I don't do it my way, I'm gonna get fired. If I'm gonna get fired, then I'm gonna get fired doing it my way."
Yes, David Stern was in the arena. Percy Allen presents a lot of facts that were presented yesterday by Angelo Bruscas in the P-I. I guess the Sonics and the city of Seattle agree on one thing. KeyArena in its current structure is not economically friendly to either party, and Stern notes that the NBA player salaries are escalating at a higher rate than what the Sonics can come up with through suites and other revenue streams.
Lastly, Jayda Evans reminds us all once again not to be surprised if the Sonics come back down to earth. But can you guess why this article was printed at this time? The Sonics play Memphis at the Key on Sunday. After that, it's a killer road trip, lasting six games in length. Yes, the schedule makers have decided to let Seattle suffer once more, and this road trip will answer once and for all whether this Sonic team is a step beyond the one from last year.
Upcoming...
Sunday: Memphis at Seattle
Tuesday: Seattle at Philadelphia
HOCKEY
Jim Riley has a little Thunderbird blip/record-breaking WHL goalies piece. The Seattle blueline is not allowing opposing teams to get off many shots. Also, Aaron Gagnon is a teammate of Vancouver's Gilbert Brule on the WHL team which will face Russia in the Canada Russia Challenge in Red Deer/Lethbridge. Gagnon has the possibility of playing five nights in a row between the Thunderbirds and team WHL.
Everett beat Regina, 5-1. Everett snapped out of their 0-for-11 power-play funk over the last two games to go 3-for-6 tonight on the man-advantage against the Pats. Five different players scored for the Silvertips, and Curtis Billsten, Torrie Wheat, and Tyler Dietrich had one assist each to go with their goals. Backup goalie Leland Irving stopped 23 of 24 Regina shots as the 'Tips have tied Seattle in points for first place in the WHL's US Division (Seattle has three games in hand). Everett finished the five-game swing through the Eastern Division with a 4-1 record.
Spokane beat Seattle, 5-1. The Thunderbirds' recap won't tell you that Seattle has a games-in-hand lead over Everett, just that they still retain the lead in the division (and they do). The T-Birds lost this game to finish 3-1 on their road trip and head home for a six-game homestand at KeyArena. Bryan Bridges didn't have too good of a night, letting four shots out of 20 past. He was pulled after the Chiefs jumped out to a 4-0 lead just past the halfway point of the second period. Tyler Metcalfe scored the only Seattle goal 1:35 after Bridges was pulled in favor of backup Brad Lepp, but that was it for the T-Birds. Seattle outshot Spokane 35-25.
Portland beat Vancouver, 7-5. This was a wild one. The Giants scored five times and lost, their third loss in a row. Mitch Bartley staked the Giants out to a 1-0 lead, but Portland scored the next three goals to take a 3-1 lead after a goal early in the second period. Vancouver would score four unanswered goals to actually get a 4-3 lead heading into the third period, and JD Watt scored to get the Giants a 5-3 lead 1:41 into the third period. Then the Winter Hawks would negate the four straight goals scored by Vancouver with four straight goals of their own. Crazy game. Watt also rammed into Portland goalie Blake Grenier during the game, who had to leave the game with a related injury.
Manitoba beat Cincinnati, 4-2. Peter Sarno and Alexandre Burrows helped Manitoba jump out to a 2-0 lead on the Mighty Ducks and Russian World Cup goalie Ilya Bryzgalov. A frequent Anaheimer from last year, Stanislav Chistov scored on the two-man advantage to cut the deficit in half heading into the third period. But Manitoba made good on a two-man advantage of their own thanks to Lee Goren. Jeff Heerema added the dagger on the empty net with 28 seconds left. Wade Flaherty stopped 26 of 27. Regular goalie Alex Auld sat out with a concussion.
Puget Sound beat Tri-City, 5-3. The Tomahawks fought back from a 2-0 deficit early en route to their 17th win against only two losses. Jay McFadden and Chase Ambuter tied the game at 2-2. Mike Truex scored to get the T-Hawks a 3-2 lead, but the Titans got an equalizer. Truex scored again for the game-winner, and Carl Horten scored the dagger to account for the final score.
The rest of the hockey weekend...
Tonight: Vancouver at Seattle, Portland at Spokane, Manitoba at Cincinnati, Puget Sound at Tri-City
Sunday: Vancouver at Kootenay
---
Enjoy the stuffing out of your weekend. It's a weekend I'm using as a placeholder...I just want Tuesday and volume 3 of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force DVDs to come out. Onward!
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