Thursday, December 09, 2004
INSERT MONEY IN MOUTH
It was a fairly busy Wednesday night, thanks to a game for the Sonics, some winter meetings buzz for the Mariners, the usual Seahawk stuff (lately), and a few hockey games.
MARINERS
Dave Andriesen says that the top-tier free agents are taking it a bit slow right now, hence the relative dead time in Marinerland.
However, it's more and more likely that the big money the Mariners spend is going to be on offense, thanks to the signings of Jaret Wright and Jon Lieber yesterday. While I know the big money will go for bats, I just cringe at the way Bill Bavasi says it: "...if we can add top offensive punch, and if that eats up a lot (of their available resources), we'll probably try to figure out the pitching later." I know they're pressed, but man, what a one-sided approach. Of course, if Travis Blackley and Clint Nageotte come around and win 20 games each next year, Bill Bavasi will look like a genius for not spending on pitching. Since that's not going to happen, I guess I have to just nail him for his wording of things. He probably could have said something profound and/or cryptic which would have gotten off the same meaning, though it would take a while to think about it. "Free agents after we are." Keep in mind, this is the same guy has used the line "he can pick it up and throw it."
FOOTBALL
Huskies
Now, I didn't track Husky football with any regularity last fall, and I don't even really dig Husky football at all. This coaching search is fun to keep track of, though. The latest names to come up today are Mike Tice and Jim Mora, Jr. Tom O'Brien of Boston College also has his name in the latter article, but it'd be hilarious to see Diddly-Poo Lite walking the sidelines at Montlake.
Seahawks
It turns out the fan base has finally turned in a detectable way against Mike Holmgren, as if the second loss this year to Saint Louis wasn't enough (it sure was for me). The season appears to be eating at him too, though he vows to "keep coaching the same way," a remark which can be taken in any number of directions. It seems to me that the last couple of times I've seen Holmgren do a press conference, he seems like he's grasping for straws while trying to answer some of the questions.
Steve Kelley seconds the notion that this season is taking a lot out of Holmgren. But Kelley sort of lays out a case for and a case against Holmgren. How much of it really is his fault? How much of it is the players? How much of it is bad luck? Will it even matter because Bob Whitsitt will probably run him out of town anyway?
Not long after the Monday night loss, I saw the ESPN NFL Live crew talking about the game. I think Trey Wingo said it best: "How long does it take you to get over a loss that happened in Week 5?" Coming up on nine weeks later...
As for the roster, Terreal Bierria has a sore back, but Michael Boulware would have gotten the start on Sunday at strong safety anyway. Rookie Craig Terrill has been signed off the practice squad and will play on Sunday in Minnesota, partly because Rocky Bernard and Marcus Tubbs are out. Jerry Rice had a right thigh twinge, and Darrell Jackson was ill. Tracy White could practice today, though. Also, Chad Brown practiced yesterday for the first time after having his knee scoped 2 1/2 weeks ago.
John Levesque says Mike Holmgren might be regretting his role in the implementation of the replay rules, wherein a coach can't challenge a call in the final two minutes of each half. Also, apparently a guy named Bobby Skelton is the guy who saw all of the replay angles and thought that Keyshawn Johnson did make a catch in the end zone, apparently ignoring Keyshawn's arm hitting the ground, or thinking he as pushed out or something. Still, Ken Lucas was flagged on the play for illegal contact, so Dallas would have had a new set of downs from the 29-yard line. It probably would have just delayed the inevitable. As much as I hate that lack of replay call, I can't blame it all on that. One replay didn't make the difference when it came to the Seahawks not being able to stop the run.
SONICS
For my take on the game, scroll to the post below this one or click here.
Beat articles for the game are here. I don't think they bring you too much of what I didn't already say above on my own (boxscore and play-by-play influenced) accord. Ron Murray and Vitaly Potapenko could be activated for Saturday's game against Boston, which surely doesnt bode well for Damien Wilkins and Mateen Cleaves. Nate either will go with straight numbers, or keep enjoying better living through chemistry.
Upcoming...
Tonight at Dallas
Saturday vs. Boston
Tuesday vs. Lakers
HOCKEY
The London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League have tied an all-time record for starting the season with a 29-game unbeaten streak thanks to their 5-3 win last night over the Kitchener Rangers. The Knights will try to break the record Friday at home against the Guelph Storm.
Kamloops beat Seattle, 3-2. I listened to part of this on KKNW 1150-AM (as can anyone in the Seattle area), and it was late-night pucks because the game started at 9pm. Apparently the T-Birds boarded their bus at 11am yesterday morning, and two semis jackknifed up in BC somewhere (I'm guessing it's snowing like a mother up there), and the bus got held up. As a result, they started two hours late. As I listened to the end of the game, play-by-play man Thom Beuning thought the T-Birds ran out of gas, and that they played like they'd been on a bus for nine or ten hours. Other than the lunch break, they were. The Thunderbirds never led in this game. They had answered both the Rockets' first and second goals, but not the third. The first goal was answered with just 51 seconds remaining in the first period by Ryan Gibbons. The second was answered by Chris Durand on a power play. Durand recorded the only two point night for Seattle and was a plus-1. Bryan Bridges stopped 14 for the T-Birds, who outshot the Rockets 23-17.
Kelowna beat Vancouver, 4-3. JD Watt took a very untimely tripping penalty with 56 seconds to go in regulation to set up the coup de grace on Vancouver blowing their two-goal lead in the third period and somehow losing to the Rockets. The Giants took their three-goal lead thanks to one goal in every period -- Mitch Bartley scored at 7:44 of the first period on a power play, Kyle Lamb scored just past the midway point in the second period, and Matt Robinson put the Giants up 3-1 with 15:27 to go in the game before it all went to hell. The Rockets tied the game on goals 13 seconds apart, and the game stood tied with 6:51 to go before the final goal just before the final horn. Kelowna outshot the Giants 31-21, and Adam Jennings stopped 27 in net for Vancouver. A note along the way is to avoid the doors in the boards in front of the benches of you're ever at the Rockets' rink because they can fly off the hinges. A player was checked into a door, and exactly that latter situation took place, causing a stoppage in play.
Everett beat Spokane, 4-1. The Silvertips jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Ivan Baranka's point shot on the power play and Tyler Dietrich with time ticking down in the first period. Randy King tallied in the second period for Everett to net a 3-0 lead, and Torrie Wheat put the Chiefs down 4-0 before Chad Klassen eventually ruined the shutout in the third period. Spokane outshot Everett 25-18, and Mike Wall stopped 24 for the Silvertips. Zach Hamill had two assists, and Alex Leavitt was plus-2 with an assist.
Upcoming...
Friday: Vancouver at Kamloops, Everett at Portland, Manitoba at Edmonton
Saturday: Portland at Kelowna, Seattle at Regina, Everett at Spokane, Kamloops at Vancouver
Sunday: Seattle at Brandon, Portland at Kamloops, Manitoba at Edmonton
---
You've got one more day until Friday, everyone. Surely that enthuses you, no? Enjoy your day.
MARINERS
Dave Andriesen says that the top-tier free agents are taking it a bit slow right now, hence the relative dead time in Marinerland.
However, it's more and more likely that the big money the Mariners spend is going to be on offense, thanks to the signings of Jaret Wright and Jon Lieber yesterday. While I know the big money will go for bats, I just cringe at the way Bill Bavasi says it: "...if we can add top offensive punch, and if that eats up a lot (of their available resources), we'll probably try to figure out the pitching later." I know they're pressed, but man, what a one-sided approach. Of course, if Travis Blackley and Clint Nageotte come around and win 20 games each next year, Bill Bavasi will look like a genius for not spending on pitching. Since that's not going to happen, I guess I have to just nail him for his wording of things. He probably could have said something profound and/or cryptic which would have gotten off the same meaning, though it would take a while to think about it. "Free agents after we are." Keep in mind, this is the same guy has used the line "he can pick it up and throw it."
FOOTBALL
Huskies
Now, I didn't track Husky football with any regularity last fall, and I don't even really dig Husky football at all. This coaching search is fun to keep track of, though. The latest names to come up today are Mike Tice and Jim Mora, Jr. Tom O'Brien of Boston College also has his name in the latter article, but it'd be hilarious to see Diddly-Poo Lite walking the sidelines at Montlake.
Seahawks
It turns out the fan base has finally turned in a detectable way against Mike Holmgren, as if the second loss this year to Saint Louis wasn't enough (it sure was for me). The season appears to be eating at him too, though he vows to "keep coaching the same way," a remark which can be taken in any number of directions. It seems to me that the last couple of times I've seen Holmgren do a press conference, he seems like he's grasping for straws while trying to answer some of the questions.
Steve Kelley seconds the notion that this season is taking a lot out of Holmgren. But Kelley sort of lays out a case for and a case against Holmgren. How much of it really is his fault? How much of it is the players? How much of it is bad luck? Will it even matter because Bob Whitsitt will probably run him out of town anyway?
Not long after the Monday night loss, I saw the ESPN NFL Live crew talking about the game. I think Trey Wingo said it best: "How long does it take you to get over a loss that happened in Week 5?" Coming up on nine weeks later...
As for the roster, Terreal Bierria has a sore back, but Michael Boulware would have gotten the start on Sunday at strong safety anyway. Rookie Craig Terrill has been signed off the practice squad and will play on Sunday in Minnesota, partly because Rocky Bernard and Marcus Tubbs are out. Jerry Rice had a right thigh twinge, and Darrell Jackson was ill. Tracy White could practice today, though. Also, Chad Brown practiced yesterday for the first time after having his knee scoped 2 1/2 weeks ago.
John Levesque says Mike Holmgren might be regretting his role in the implementation of the replay rules, wherein a coach can't challenge a call in the final two minutes of each half. Also, apparently a guy named Bobby Skelton is the guy who saw all of the replay angles and thought that Keyshawn Johnson did make a catch in the end zone, apparently ignoring Keyshawn's arm hitting the ground, or thinking he as pushed out or something. Still, Ken Lucas was flagged on the play for illegal contact, so Dallas would have had a new set of downs from the 29-yard line. It probably would have just delayed the inevitable. As much as I hate that lack of replay call, I can't blame it all on that. One replay didn't make the difference when it came to the Seahawks not being able to stop the run.
SONICS
For my take on the game, scroll to the post below this one or click here.
Beat articles for the game are here. I don't think they bring you too much of what I didn't already say above on my own (boxscore and play-by-play influenced) accord. Ron Murray and Vitaly Potapenko could be activated for Saturday's game against Boston, which surely doesnt bode well for Damien Wilkins and Mateen Cleaves. Nate either will go with straight numbers, or keep enjoying better living through chemistry.
Upcoming...
Tonight at Dallas
Saturday vs. Boston
Tuesday vs. Lakers
HOCKEY
The London Knights of the Ontario Hockey League have tied an all-time record for starting the season with a 29-game unbeaten streak thanks to their 5-3 win last night over the Kitchener Rangers. The Knights will try to break the record Friday at home against the Guelph Storm.
Kamloops beat Seattle, 3-2. I listened to part of this on KKNW 1150-AM (as can anyone in the Seattle area), and it was late-night pucks because the game started at 9pm. Apparently the T-Birds boarded their bus at 11am yesterday morning, and two semis jackknifed up in BC somewhere (I'm guessing it's snowing like a mother up there), and the bus got held up. As a result, they started two hours late. As I listened to the end of the game, play-by-play man Thom Beuning thought the T-Birds ran out of gas, and that they played like they'd been on a bus for nine or ten hours. Other than the lunch break, they were. The Thunderbirds never led in this game. They had answered both the Rockets' first and second goals, but not the third. The first goal was answered with just 51 seconds remaining in the first period by Ryan Gibbons. The second was answered by Chris Durand on a power play. Durand recorded the only two point night for Seattle and was a plus-1. Bryan Bridges stopped 14 for the T-Birds, who outshot the Rockets 23-17.
Kelowna beat Vancouver, 4-3. JD Watt took a very untimely tripping penalty with 56 seconds to go in regulation to set up the coup de grace on Vancouver blowing their two-goal lead in the third period and somehow losing to the Rockets. The Giants took their three-goal lead thanks to one goal in every period -- Mitch Bartley scored at 7:44 of the first period on a power play, Kyle Lamb scored just past the midway point in the second period, and Matt Robinson put the Giants up 3-1 with 15:27 to go in the game before it all went to hell. The Rockets tied the game on goals 13 seconds apart, and the game stood tied with 6:51 to go before the final goal just before the final horn. Kelowna outshot the Giants 31-21, and Adam Jennings stopped 27 in net for Vancouver. A note along the way is to avoid the doors in the boards in front of the benches of you're ever at the Rockets' rink because they can fly off the hinges. A player was checked into a door, and exactly that latter situation took place, causing a stoppage in play.
Everett beat Spokane, 4-1. The Silvertips jumped out to a 2-0 lead thanks to Ivan Baranka's point shot on the power play and Tyler Dietrich with time ticking down in the first period. Randy King tallied in the second period for Everett to net a 3-0 lead, and Torrie Wheat put the Chiefs down 4-0 before Chad Klassen eventually ruined the shutout in the third period. Spokane outshot Everett 25-18, and Mike Wall stopped 24 for the Silvertips. Zach Hamill had two assists, and Alex Leavitt was plus-2 with an assist.
Upcoming...
Friday: Vancouver at Kamloops, Everett at Portland, Manitoba at Edmonton
Saturday: Portland at Kelowna, Seattle at Regina, Everett at Spokane, Kamloops at Vancouver
Sunday: Seattle at Brandon, Portland at Kamloops, Manitoba at Edmonton
---
You've got one more day until Friday, everyone. Surely that enthuses you, no? Enjoy your day.
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