Friday, November 26, 2004
SHOP OFF THAT FOOD
It's the day after Thanksgiving. Have you saved on something at your local retail outlet? Me neither. I'm typing this in the wee hours of the morning, though, so I haven't really had the chance.
On to the headlines...
MARINERS
Hiroshi Yamauchi has sold his stake in the Seattle Mariners to Nintendo of America, making the latter the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners. I'm not sure how or if this will affect the secret Japanese players' secret-stash fund they had (it figured into the Mariners' fuzzy math somehow), and I'm not sure whether the Mariners will have more nights like Nintendo Ichiro vs. Mario Baseball DS Trial Version Night at the Safe, or whether they'll come out with both guns blazing and have PS2/Xbox Demolition Night. Can we say with a straight face that Nintendo has been playing catchup in the videogame realm since about four months after the first PlayStation came out? Sony and Microsoft are the videogame world right now, and Nintendo's just living in it.
SEAHAWKS
No surprise. The Seahawks are a better team with Grant Wistrom on the field. However, the statistical correlations between his being on the field and the Seahawks' success are pretty sickening. They've given up a touchdown more when Wistrom has been out, and have given up 56.3 more yards with Wistrom out. Considering how crappy the special teams unit has been this year, that's at least an extra field goal for the other team in itself every game (the prior one-more-touchdown stat notwithstanding). Notice how the number of big plays by the defense seems to skyrocket with Grant Wistrom on the field.
You know what? Drew Bledsoe has had one weird career. He was around for the big uniform change in New England (you remember the first incarnation of the new uniforms, right?), and he seemed like he was the cornerstone of those teams. Then the Mo Lewis hit comes, Bledsoe's put in one tough situation (it was grisly, and the article reminds me of that), and then Tom Brady goes and wins the Super Bowl. Drew Bledsoe, meet Trent Green. Trent Green, Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe had the Pro Bowl year his first year in Buffalo, but the team hasn't really gotten too far post-Jim Kelly, which is a shame because their fans are great. At least when they were losing four Super Bowls in a row, they were still getting there. It's just that the NFC was too good in that era. Yes, Bledsoe had the one good non-Pat season, but the rest of the team hasn't turned the corner. That and Bledsoe's always been hounded for his propensity to get picked.
Matt Hasselbeck practiced!! That's the first step to getting him back, anyway. I doubt he'll start on Sunday, though he says he'll find out for sure today whether he will start against the Bills. In the same article, there is a little bit made of Buffalo's special teams unit, though no direct numbers are given. You know how the Seahawks' special teams unit has been, and knowing they're going to go toe-to-toe with Buffalo's special teams, well, it scares me. Also, Chris Terry returned to practice from Florida, and Bobby Engram also returned.
This is quite the article by Les Carpenter on what's eating Mike Holmgren. Sure, the one article linking Holmgren to the to-be-vacant Miami job was mostly wiped away, but not a seemingly corroborating article in the SF Chronicle (one which I've dug up for you). At possible issue is the fact that Holmgren lost his chief contract negotiator and salary cap guru last winter, who was supposedly at odds with Bob Whitsitt. Yes, it's possible Bob Whitsitt could be driving his second big-name coach out of Seattle. The other issue is the fact that Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Shaun Alexander, and Ken Lucas all do not have contract extensions, leaving the core of the team with an uncertain status for next year. Hey, if Holmgren's axed because the team is getting off to slow starts and doesn't seem to be adequately prepared for that, then great. If he's given the boot because Whitsitt wants to meet Holmgren head-on in a power struggle, then that's no good at all.
BASKETBALL
Just one tidbit before the Sonics here. Michael Olowokandi went to the club, was having so much fun he didn't want to leave, and then was stunned. Really, just read the article. The Kandi Man can! Also, Rodrick Stewart is going to transfer to Kansas. I followed Kansas basketball a lot in my junior high years and into high school, and I have a feeling this Rodrick Stewart has Lester Earl written all over it. Earl was an LSU transfer who was supposed to be freakin' good. He came to Kansas, didn't really fit into the team, and didn't do jack. Sure, the jury's out on Rodrick, but I had to get that Earl thing off my chest.
To the Sonics...
Percy Allen chronicled the 90-minute bus ride that may be a watershed moment in this season for the Sonics. The whole thing is quite interesting. People were railing Rick Sund for not making a bunch of changes in this team, but look at them now (hindsight, I know); they're winning and that as well as the fact that most were holdovers from last year have bred camaraderie and chemistry (we heard a lot about chemistry when George Karl was still here). Percy Allen says "they seem to genuinely care about each other." I got a little chuckle from the article when Antonio Daniels took a small jab at last year's "Five as One" ad campaign.
Man, this team is going to be totally different next year. Three of the four Sonics averaging double figures in scoring can become free agents next offseason (Ray Allen, Antonio Daniels, Vlad Radmanovic). Ron Murray (remember him?), Reggie Evans, and Coach Nate McMillan are also nearing the ends of their respective contracts. Let's hope the Sonics parlay this into one mother of a season, because who knows what the heck's gonig to happen next season and who's going to be presiding over said heck.
You knew the article was going to come concerning the Sonics and the situation of arena security following last week's Indiana/Detroit ruckus. I did security at a Sonic game once. It was a game against the then-Charlotte Hornets that ended with a buzzer-beating Vin Baker shot that hit the base of the rim, banked off the front of the shot clock, and went in for the Sonic win. I'm not sure why, but a few minutes before that shot, one of the supervisors told me to go to the tunnel were the players come back to the locker room. So I went down there, and saw the Hornets come into what I guess is the vomitorium. In the hallway to my left were the players' entourages. Keep in mind this is little 5'7" me being counted on for security at this point. To answer your question, no, I don't plan on doing security in post-9/11 America. I also did security at Bumbershoot and a Deck the Hall Ball.
Upcoming...
Tonight vs. New Jersey
Sunday vs. Indiana
Tuesday at Portland
Wednesday vs. Utah
HOCKEY
Ed Belfour has been medically cleared by the Toronto Maple Leafs. What does this mean? The Maple Leafs don't have to pay his salary during the lockout. In a related story, the NHLPA is handing out lockout pay, $10k for Nov-Dec, and $5-10k in months thereafter. You know, I'm glad that whole World Cup of Hockey thing happened, because it's held off my NHL hockey withdrawal for just that much longer. I'm going to be sitting here in about a month, though, and just be going nuts. Once I fully realize how into the Canucks I was a year ago at this time, I'm going to just lose it.
Aaron Gagnon of the Seattle Thunderbirds has gotten some press. Gagnon can score, but he's gotten some praise for his faceoff wins and his grunt work in the corners. Gagnon was an eighth-round pick (240th overall) in last year's NHL entry draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.
Upcoming...
Tonight: Medicine Hat at Everett, Tri-City at Portland, Regina at Vancouver
Saturday: Medicine Hat at Seattle, Calgary at Portland, Milwaukee at Manitoba
Sunday: Calgary at Everett, Medicine Hat at Vancouver, Milwaukee at Manitoba
---
Have a good after Thanksgiving day, all. If you're going shopping, just keep cool in traffic and in those parking lots and stuff. It can get crazy out there, even here in Kitsap County (believe it or not).
On to the headlines...
MARINERS
Hiroshi Yamauchi has sold his stake in the Seattle Mariners to Nintendo of America, making the latter the majority owner of the Seattle Mariners. I'm not sure how or if this will affect the secret Japanese players' secret-stash fund they had (it figured into the Mariners' fuzzy math somehow), and I'm not sure whether the Mariners will have more nights like Nintendo Ichiro vs. Mario Baseball DS Trial Version Night at the Safe, or whether they'll come out with both guns blazing and have PS2/Xbox Demolition Night. Can we say with a straight face that Nintendo has been playing catchup in the videogame realm since about four months after the first PlayStation came out? Sony and Microsoft are the videogame world right now, and Nintendo's just living in it.
SEAHAWKS
No surprise. The Seahawks are a better team with Grant Wistrom on the field. However, the statistical correlations between his being on the field and the Seahawks' success are pretty sickening. They've given up a touchdown more when Wistrom has been out, and have given up 56.3 more yards with Wistrom out. Considering how crappy the special teams unit has been this year, that's at least an extra field goal for the other team in itself every game (the prior one-more-touchdown stat notwithstanding). Notice how the number of big plays by the defense seems to skyrocket with Grant Wistrom on the field.
You know what? Drew Bledsoe has had one weird career. He was around for the big uniform change in New England (you remember the first incarnation of the new uniforms, right?), and he seemed like he was the cornerstone of those teams. Then the Mo Lewis hit comes, Bledsoe's put in one tough situation (it was grisly, and the article reminds me of that), and then Tom Brady goes and wins the Super Bowl. Drew Bledsoe, meet Trent Green. Trent Green, Drew Bledsoe. Bledsoe had the Pro Bowl year his first year in Buffalo, but the team hasn't really gotten too far post-Jim Kelly, which is a shame because their fans are great. At least when they were losing four Super Bowls in a row, they were still getting there. It's just that the NFC was too good in that era. Yes, Bledsoe had the one good non-Pat season, but the rest of the team hasn't turned the corner. That and Bledsoe's always been hounded for his propensity to get picked.
Matt Hasselbeck practiced!! That's the first step to getting him back, anyway. I doubt he'll start on Sunday, though he says he'll find out for sure today whether he will start against the Bills. In the same article, there is a little bit made of Buffalo's special teams unit, though no direct numbers are given. You know how the Seahawks' special teams unit has been, and knowing they're going to go toe-to-toe with Buffalo's special teams, well, it scares me. Also, Chris Terry returned to practice from Florida, and Bobby Engram also returned.
This is quite the article by Les Carpenter on what's eating Mike Holmgren. Sure, the one article linking Holmgren to the to-be-vacant Miami job was mostly wiped away, but not a seemingly corroborating article in the SF Chronicle (one which I've dug up for you). At possible issue is the fact that Holmgren lost his chief contract negotiator and salary cap guru last winter, who was supposedly at odds with Bob Whitsitt. Yes, it's possible Bob Whitsitt could be driving his second big-name coach out of Seattle. The other issue is the fact that Hasselbeck, Walter Jones, Shaun Alexander, and Ken Lucas all do not have contract extensions, leaving the core of the team with an uncertain status for next year. Hey, if Holmgren's axed because the team is getting off to slow starts and doesn't seem to be adequately prepared for that, then great. If he's given the boot because Whitsitt wants to meet Holmgren head-on in a power struggle, then that's no good at all.
BASKETBALL
Just one tidbit before the Sonics here. Michael Olowokandi went to the club, was having so much fun he didn't want to leave, and then was stunned. Really, just read the article. The Kandi Man can! Also, Rodrick Stewart is going to transfer to Kansas. I followed Kansas basketball a lot in my junior high years and into high school, and I have a feeling this Rodrick Stewart has Lester Earl written all over it. Earl was an LSU transfer who was supposed to be freakin' good. He came to Kansas, didn't really fit into the team, and didn't do jack. Sure, the jury's out on Rodrick, but I had to get that Earl thing off my chest.
To the Sonics...
Percy Allen chronicled the 90-minute bus ride that may be a watershed moment in this season for the Sonics. The whole thing is quite interesting. People were railing Rick Sund for not making a bunch of changes in this team, but look at them now (hindsight, I know); they're winning and that as well as the fact that most were holdovers from last year have bred camaraderie and chemistry (we heard a lot about chemistry when George Karl was still here). Percy Allen says "they seem to genuinely care about each other." I got a little chuckle from the article when Antonio Daniels took a small jab at last year's "Five as One" ad campaign.
Man, this team is going to be totally different next year. Three of the four Sonics averaging double figures in scoring can become free agents next offseason (Ray Allen, Antonio Daniels, Vlad Radmanovic). Ron Murray (remember him?), Reggie Evans, and Coach Nate McMillan are also nearing the ends of their respective contracts. Let's hope the Sonics parlay this into one mother of a season, because who knows what the heck's gonig to happen next season and who's going to be presiding over said heck.
You knew the article was going to come concerning the Sonics and the situation of arena security following last week's Indiana/Detroit ruckus. I did security at a Sonic game once. It was a game against the then-Charlotte Hornets that ended with a buzzer-beating Vin Baker shot that hit the base of the rim, banked off the front of the shot clock, and went in for the Sonic win. I'm not sure why, but a few minutes before that shot, one of the supervisors told me to go to the tunnel were the players come back to the locker room. So I went down there, and saw the Hornets come into what I guess is the vomitorium. In the hallway to my left were the players' entourages. Keep in mind this is little 5'7" me being counted on for security at this point. To answer your question, no, I don't plan on doing security in post-9/11 America. I also did security at Bumbershoot and a Deck the Hall Ball.
Upcoming...
Tonight vs. New Jersey
Sunday vs. Indiana
Tuesday at Portland
Wednesday vs. Utah
HOCKEY
Ed Belfour has been medically cleared by the Toronto Maple Leafs. What does this mean? The Maple Leafs don't have to pay his salary during the lockout. In a related story, the NHLPA is handing out lockout pay, $10k for Nov-Dec, and $5-10k in months thereafter. You know, I'm glad that whole World Cup of Hockey thing happened, because it's held off my NHL hockey withdrawal for just that much longer. I'm going to be sitting here in about a month, though, and just be going nuts. Once I fully realize how into the Canucks I was a year ago at this time, I'm going to just lose it.
Aaron Gagnon of the Seattle Thunderbirds has gotten some press. Gagnon can score, but he's gotten some praise for his faceoff wins and his grunt work in the corners. Gagnon was an eighth-round pick (240th overall) in last year's NHL entry draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.
Upcoming...
Tonight: Medicine Hat at Everett, Tri-City at Portland, Regina at Vancouver
Saturday: Medicine Hat at Seattle, Calgary at Portland, Milwaukee at Manitoba
Sunday: Calgary at Everett, Medicine Hat at Vancouver, Milwaukee at Manitoba
---
Have a good after Thanksgiving day, all. If you're going shopping, just keep cool in traffic and in those parking lots and stuff. It can get crazy out there, even here in Kitsap County (believe it or not).
/ Click for main page
