Wednesday, January 26, 2005
TRIFLIN'
Welcome to Wednesday. I was stumbling around on the ol' Internet, as I often do, and I was surprised to see that the Explod-O-Pop popcorn from the Letterman show might actually be real. Whether it's real or not, that logo with the mushroom cloud of the popped popcorn kernel is just priceless.
And with that completely random and probably useless piece of information, I bring you the rest of the post...which is probably filled with even more random and useless pieces of information, except with a little more structure (that's deception).
On TV tonight -- SuperSonics at Jazz (6p, FSNNW)
MARINERS
We're about 21 days from pitchers and catchers reporting. Yes, that smell in the air around Valentine's Day isn't just love. It's baseball, dammit.
SEAHAWKS
Yesterday, one of the above Chris Warrens pleaded guilty to the feds for failing to pay child support. Which one was it?
If you chose the Seahawks' career rushing leader on the left instead of the NorthWest Cable News weather anchor on the right, then pat yourself on the back.
Former Seahawk running back Chris Warren pleaded guilty and will be recommended instead to have five years of probation and pay restitution. Chris Warren of NorthWest Cable News has rushed for considerably less yards then the former Seahawk running back, but the weatherman hasn't lost in the court of public opinion.
BASKETBALL
The Marvin Williams Watch
Marvin Williams and the Tar Heels play at Virginia on Saturday (9a, ESPN).
Huskies
The Huskies have a Steve Scheffler, and his name is Zane Potter. Zane Potter -- because it has to be somebody. Still, even if you're just a walk-on riding pine the whole season, it'll still be something to tell the kids that you sat courtside for some bitchin' Husky basketball teams. In another note, it's weird to think that Robert Swift of the Sonics is actually younger than this guy.
Also, Blaine Newnham takes a look at Lorenzo Romar's master plan with recruiting. It looks like some good players could be coming down the pipe.
As we know, Dick Bennett flipped the bird to the student section at Hec Ed. Oregon coach Ernie Kent reacted, saying that something should be done about having the Husky student section sitting behind the visitors' bench. But I guess the weirdest thing out of this is that having the Husky student section behind the opposing bench was Bob Bender's idea -- he was trying to recreate some of the Cameron Crazies' magic.
The Huskies play at Arizona tomorrow (5:30p, FSNNW) and at Arizona State on Sunday (12:45p, CBS).
Bulldogs
The Zags are home against the Portland Pilots on Saturday (8p, ESPN2).
Sonics
For my take on last night's game, scroll down a post or click here if the page you're looking at only shows this post.
You know all that stuff that Vladimir Radmanovic pulled off last night? The 26 points? The 8 three-pointers? He did it all with a sore throat and some massive head congestion. Radmanovic hit 8 of his first 10 three-point shots and was within one more of tying the franchise record set by Dale Ellis in 1990. He had four more tries in the closing minutes, but bricked all of them, possibly because he didn't have his legs under him, and probably because he was under the weather coming into the game.
The Sonics shot their share of three-pointers last night. Sure, sometimes the Sonics should be taking the ball to the hole more, but as Ray Allen says, "[a] couple of my shots, I was wide open. I hesitated a little bit thinking, 'Damn, I don't want to shoot this, but I'm wide open.' " Needless to say, you aren't going to get a better look at the basket than when you're wide open.
Damien Wilkins and Mateen Cleaves will finish the season with the Sonics and collect the entirety of their $385277 contracts. We may not see them on the floor all that often, but they put in their work. Also, I find it both hilarious and cool that Cleaves is the Sonics' player rep.
David Locke lets us into some numbers concerning the Sonics, namely the statistic of trips up the floor and how that figures into offensive efficiency. Basically, Nate McMillan preaches scoring early or scoring late. In other words, if the first look isn't a good one, then get into the halfcourt set and move the ball (or set screens and picks) until you find the best shot. Like Locke says, if the Sonics keep this up, it could be very playoff friendly. I remember a couple of the Sonic teams of the Kemp and Payton era being mission-in-transition teams, but when they got into the playoffs, everyone (fans) would be afraid because they just weren't anywhere near as good in the halfcourt offense as they were in transition. But this team we're watching right now can run plays in the halfcourt, and they can grab the offensive boards, which can all go a long way.
Also referenced in that article was site reader and SuperSonics.com writer Kevin Pelton, who I noticed did an article (part one of a series) on the Sonics' performance analysis doings. To all you statheads out there, Marginal Wins are involved. Part two of the series will be posted tomorrow, according to the blurb at the bottom of the article.
Upcoming...
Tonight at Utah (6p, FSNNW)
Friday at Golden State (7:30p, FSNNW)
Monday vs. San Antonio (7p, FSNNW)
Tuesday at Sacramento (7p, FSNNW)
HOCKEY
Seattle beat Spokane 4-2. The Thunderbirds got their first two goals seven seconds apart in the first period, and both were unassisted. Matt Hansen fired one that went off Spokane goalie Jim Watt's glove and into the net. Seven seconds later, Spokane won the ensuing faceoff, but Mitch Fadden stole the puck away from a Spokane defender and beat Watt with a slap shot. Still, just the two goals wouldn't be enough as Spokane managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period, one of their goals being shorthanded. Aaron Gagnon's 24th goal of the year to lead Seattle held up as the game-winner 5:31 into the third period. Mitch Fadden tallied another just past the halfway point in the final period. Seattle badly outshot the Chiefs 40-21. Gavin McHale stopped 19 in the Seattle net to raise his record to 7-2. Fadden, Ryan Gibbons, and Zack FitzGerald were plus-2 skaters for the T-Birds.
Seattle captain Tyler Metcalfe was a minus-1 and served a two-minute hooking penalty in the second period of the aforementioned game, but before that, he sat down with Matt Gaschk.
Also, injuries have hit the Everett Silvertips bigtime, and the Portland Winter Hawks are nipping at their heels in the WHL's US Division. The light at the end of the tunnel, however, is that Everett has eight home games in February. That's some friendly schedule-making. Of course, the tough stretch they're in right now isn't so nice, but the eight home games next month is still good.
Upcoming...
Tonight: Everett at Kelowna, Vancouver at Kamloops, Tri-City at Seattle
Friday: Kamloops at Seattle, Portland at Everett, Tri-City at Vancouver, Manitoba at Utah, Spokane at Puget Sound
Saturday: Everett at Seattle, Tri-City at Portland, Kelowna at Vancouver, Manitoba at Utah, Spokane at Puget Sound
Sunday: Everett at Tri-City
Monday: Grand Rapids at Manitoba
Tuesday: Grand Rapids at Manitoba
---
Have a wicked Wednesday, folks.
And with that completely random and probably useless piece of information, I bring you the rest of the post...which is probably filled with even more random and useless pieces of information, except with a little more structure (that's deception).
On TV tonight -- SuperSonics at Jazz (6p, FSNNW)
MARINERS
We're about 21 days from pitchers and catchers reporting. Yes, that smell in the air around Valentine's Day isn't just love. It's baseball, dammit.
SEAHAWKS
Yesterday, one of the above Chris Warrens pleaded guilty to the feds for failing to pay child support. Which one was it?
If you chose the Seahawks' career rushing leader on the left instead of the NorthWest Cable News weather anchor on the right, then pat yourself on the back.
Former Seahawk running back Chris Warren pleaded guilty and will be recommended instead to have five years of probation and pay restitution. Chris Warren of NorthWest Cable News has rushed for considerably less yards then the former Seahawk running back, but the weatherman hasn't lost in the court of public opinion.
BASKETBALL
The Marvin Williams Watch
Marvin Williams and the Tar Heels play at Virginia on Saturday (9a, ESPN).
Huskies
The Huskies have a Steve Scheffler, and his name is Zane Potter. Zane Potter -- because it has to be somebody. Still, even if you're just a walk-on riding pine the whole season, it'll still be something to tell the kids that you sat courtside for some bitchin' Husky basketball teams. In another note, it's weird to think that Robert Swift of the Sonics is actually younger than this guy.
Also, Blaine Newnham takes a look at Lorenzo Romar's master plan with recruiting. It looks like some good players could be coming down the pipe.
As we know, Dick Bennett flipped the bird to the student section at Hec Ed. Oregon coach Ernie Kent reacted, saying that something should be done about having the Husky student section sitting behind the visitors' bench. But I guess the weirdest thing out of this is that having the Husky student section behind the opposing bench was Bob Bender's idea -- he was trying to recreate some of the Cameron Crazies' magic.
The Huskies play at Arizona tomorrow (5:30p, FSNNW) and at Arizona State on Sunday (12:45p, CBS).
Bulldogs
The Zags are home against the Portland Pilots on Saturday (8p, ESPN2).
Sonics
For my take on last night's game, scroll down a post or click here if the page you're looking at only shows this post.
You know all that stuff that Vladimir Radmanovic pulled off last night? The 26 points? The 8 three-pointers? He did it all with a sore throat and some massive head congestion. Radmanovic hit 8 of his first 10 three-point shots and was within one more of tying the franchise record set by Dale Ellis in 1990. He had four more tries in the closing minutes, but bricked all of them, possibly because he didn't have his legs under him, and probably because he was under the weather coming into the game.
The Sonics shot their share of three-pointers last night. Sure, sometimes the Sonics should be taking the ball to the hole more, but as Ray Allen says, "[a] couple of my shots, I was wide open. I hesitated a little bit thinking, 'Damn, I don't want to shoot this, but I'm wide open.' " Needless to say, you aren't going to get a better look at the basket than when you're wide open.
Damien Wilkins and Mateen Cleaves will finish the season with the Sonics and collect the entirety of their $385277 contracts. We may not see them on the floor all that often, but they put in their work. Also, I find it both hilarious and cool that Cleaves is the Sonics' player rep.
David Locke lets us into some numbers concerning the Sonics, namely the statistic of trips up the floor and how that figures into offensive efficiency. Basically, Nate McMillan preaches scoring early or scoring late. In other words, if the first look isn't a good one, then get into the halfcourt set and move the ball (or set screens and picks) until you find the best shot. Like Locke says, if the Sonics keep this up, it could be very playoff friendly. I remember a couple of the Sonic teams of the Kemp and Payton era being mission-in-transition teams, but when they got into the playoffs, everyone (fans) would be afraid because they just weren't anywhere near as good in the halfcourt offense as they were in transition. But this team we're watching right now can run plays in the halfcourt, and they can grab the offensive boards, which can all go a long way.
Also referenced in that article was site reader and SuperSonics.com writer Kevin Pelton, who I noticed did an article (part one of a series) on the Sonics' performance analysis doings. To all you statheads out there, Marginal Wins are involved. Part two of the series will be posted tomorrow, according to the blurb at the bottom of the article.
Upcoming...
Tonight at Utah (6p, FSNNW)
Friday at Golden State (7:30p, FSNNW)
Monday vs. San Antonio (7p, FSNNW)
Tuesday at Sacramento (7p, FSNNW)
HOCKEY
Seattle beat Spokane 4-2. The Thunderbirds got their first two goals seven seconds apart in the first period, and both were unassisted. Matt Hansen fired one that went off Spokane goalie Jim Watt's glove and into the net. Seven seconds later, Spokane won the ensuing faceoff, but Mitch Fadden stole the puck away from a Spokane defender and beat Watt with a slap shot. Still, just the two goals wouldn't be enough as Spokane managed to tie the game at 2-2 in the second period, one of their goals being shorthanded. Aaron Gagnon's 24th goal of the year to lead Seattle held up as the game-winner 5:31 into the third period. Mitch Fadden tallied another just past the halfway point in the final period. Seattle badly outshot the Chiefs 40-21. Gavin McHale stopped 19 in the Seattle net to raise his record to 7-2. Fadden, Ryan Gibbons, and Zack FitzGerald were plus-2 skaters for the T-Birds.
Seattle captain Tyler Metcalfe was a minus-1 and served a two-minute hooking penalty in the second period of the aforementioned game, but before that, he sat down with Matt Gaschk.
Also, injuries have hit the Everett Silvertips bigtime, and the Portland Winter Hawks are nipping at their heels in the WHL's US Division. The light at the end of the tunnel, however, is that Everett has eight home games in February. That's some friendly schedule-making. Of course, the tough stretch they're in right now isn't so nice, but the eight home games next month is still good.
Upcoming...
Tonight: Everett at Kelowna, Vancouver at Kamloops, Tri-City at Seattle
Friday: Kamloops at Seattle, Portland at Everett, Tri-City at Vancouver, Manitoba at Utah, Spokane at Puget Sound
Saturday: Everett at Seattle, Tri-City at Portland, Kelowna at Vancouver, Manitoba at Utah, Spokane at Puget Sound
Sunday: Everett at Tri-City
Monday: Grand Rapids at Manitoba
Tuesday: Grand Rapids at Manitoba
---
Have a wicked Wednesday, folks.
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