Saturday, January 01, 2005
WELCOME TO 2005
Here it be, the first post of 2005.
The P-I has named their athletes of the year for 2004. Ichiro and Lauren Jackson were named pro athletes of the year for their respective genders. I should note that in yesterday's Bremerton Sun, Tara and Dana Kirk's run to Athens was named sports story of the year, and given enough content to fill pages 1 and 2 of Friday's sports section. I'd link it to you, but the only reason I've budged is because to see the article, you'll need to register. To register, they want your mailing address, soemthing which I find to be so incredibly wrong. I'm also not sure if the mailing address thing makes it BugMeNot-proof or not. Thankfully for me, I get the print edition. If I ever move out of town, though, I might have to succumb to the Sun's evil registering ways. Absolutely preposterous.
MARINERS
The only thing more sorry than Ruben Studdard for 2004 was the Mariners' season. Ugh. At least December was good. Also, I'm brimming with anticipation for the Mariners' new batch of commercials in a couple months here. The Sexson/Beltre ad merely gets the job done, but that's all it does. However, you can't go wrong with an ad featuring Dave Niehaus voice-overs. "The bash is back!"
SEAHAWKS
The new year is upon us and Mrs. Holmgren wants a more sensitive Mike. The fallout from losing has Mike dragging some of his frustrations home. But the calendar just turned the page. The whole year just turned the page. How about an undefeated 2005? Yeah, it's a stretch. I'll gladly take five wins in a row starting on Sunday, and ending the season in February. Sounds good to me. Clare Farnsworth also has some things he hopes the Seahawks get done in the new year.
Aside from Robbie Tobeck being handed a miniature game ball, the other news is that Walter Jones and Heath Evans practiced, Darrell Jackson is expected to start, and Matt Hasselbeck will start.
Yes, it's the second column in a week regarding the Seahawks putting Seneca Wallace on the scout team to mimic Michael Vick (say those last three words five times really quickly). Of course, the nugget is that Mike Holmgren might use Wallace for returning and/or wide receiving (implied by the article) next season. Of course, this assumes Holmgren is back as head coach of the Seahawks next year.
BASKETBALL
The Marvin Williams Watch
North Carolina hosts the College of William and Mary on Sunday, and is off until the following Saturday when ACC play kicks off; they'll be hosting Maryland.
Huskies
There are three articles on the Huskies' 81-67 win over the Cal Bears. I hadn't had a good week when it was coming to college sports. Between Gonzaga losing and a ton of my big-confidence prognostications coming up empty in that ESPN tournament thing, I wasn't too enthused when Cal had the lead in the second half of this game. But like the Sonic game last night, luckily one team was just plain better than the other, and too good to lose that night.
The Huskies host Stanford tomorrow in a game which conveniently will run concurrently with the Seahawk game. Then the Huskies travel to USC on Thursday.
Bulldogs
Gonzaga is off until they travel to Santa Clara to open West Coast Conference play on Thursday. They'll be at Saint Mary's the following Saturday.
Sonics
For my piece on last night's game, scroll down a post (or click here if this post is archived).
There are many candidates as to who might be the x-factor on this Sonic team, but I think I'm going to have to go with Vladimir Radmanovic. They can win without Radmanovic doing well, but it's not as easy. If Vlad is on, I think the Sonics are very hard to beat. Of course, Percy Allen's article also says that Vlad's lack of defense led to Okafor's career night and Brezec's 22-point contribution. Also, Danny Fortson and Jerome James had some problems with the refs for the second straight game, though this time with no ejections. Fortson correctly said, "Drama is OK as long as you win. Drama really looks bad whenever you lose. Thank God we won this game or else I'd be answering a whole different set of questions." Ray Allen also suggests that the sharp elbows of Fortson may be getting the Sonics a mental edge over opposing teams that may want to travel into the paint.
Danny O'Neil highlights two of Rashard Lewis' plays down the stretch. Lewis stole the ball from Gerald Wallace and got a dunk on the other end. Also highlighted was a play involving the jump-hook I referred to in the game post. Lewis had to arc that one over Emeka Okafor and Wallace, which is no easy task. I'd have to say it is kind of surprising to see that the Bobcats didn't get to the free-throw line even once in the 4th quarter.
Back to Danny Fortson and refs, it appears that Fortson is definitely on the s#&@ list of referee Jim Clark. Pointing the index finger after the game before walking off the court? Yup, Danny's definitely on his bad side. Why does a referee have to show this? Clark also T'd up the Sonic bench after no one answered the question, "who said that?!" As Nate said, "he said something was said to him. But you don't go chase it. You let it go." Unsurprisingly, no one was able to reach Clark for comment after the game.
Upcoming...
Monday at Miami
Wednesday at Orlando
Thursday at Washington
HOCKEY
Seattle beat Portland, 3-1. Seattle is clearly the better team and pulled out the likely outcome, but their second goal (Denis Tolpeko) came on a two-line pass that was never whistled. Dan Da Silva of Portland got into a scrum with Gibbons and equal penalties were handed out until Da Silva got a 10-minute misconduct tacked on for arguing the call. To the dressing room went Portland's leading goal scorer. Cody McLeod of Portland got into a skirmish with Bretton Stamler, and only McLeod was sent to the box. Chris Durand cashed in, making it 3-0 Seattle around the halfway point of the third period. Seattle apparently had some things go uncalled in front of their own net; Cody McLeod got plowed while waiting for a pass on the boards to get to him, Shane Halifax slashed Zack FitzGerald of Seattle from behind after the former was checked into the post. That drew a 5-minute major, but the subsequent pulling of FitzGerald to the ice, also from behind, drew a 5-minute match penalty. He might not play in the next game, let's just say that much. Derek Couture, Tolpeko, and Durand scored for Seattle, and Brian Woolger got the only Portland goal. Portland outshot Seattle 32-25. Dustin Butler stopped 22 for Portland, and Bryan Bridges stopped 31 for Seattle. Scott Jackson of Seattle was the only plus-2 player in the game.
Chicago beat Manitoba, 4-3. Chicago has a Finnish goalie, something which is a great asset lately (ref. Calgary Flames). Kari Lehtonen did the job in the Chicago net and spoiled the Moose's New Year's Eve party. Ryan Kesler scored twice in the first period and the Moose headed into the dressing room ahead 2-1. Chicago was able to tie it in the second period. Three Moose penalties early in that second period enabled the Wolves to reel off 10 straight shots. Chicago found themselves up 4-2 with just under 10 minutes left in regulation. Kent Huskins scored on the powerplay to bring the Moose within one, but that was as close as they'd get. Chicago outshot Manitoba 29-27. Lehtonen stopped 24 for Chicago. Wade Flaherty stopped 25 for Manitoba. Manitoba starting goalie Alex Auld is still in Switzerland playing for Canada in the Spengler Cup.
Tri-City and Puget Sound skated to a 3-3 overtime tie. The Tomahawks were able to salvage the tie out of it with 2:45 left in the game, but the Tomahawks had their chances, including a late power play, and some instances in the second period where loose pucks were near the crease and they had two or three skaters around the crease but none of them could ever get a stick on the puck and put it up toward the net. The tie wouldn't feel so bad if Portland wasn't nipping at the Tomahawks' heels in second place. Mike Truex sat out for reasons described in the link. Anyway, they'll have the league's leading scorer back tonight, and it should help a lot.
Also, play at the World Juniors starts up again today.
Today: Germany vs. Switzerland (relegation game), Finland vs. Czech Republic (quarterfinal), United States vs. Sweden (quarterfinal)
Tomorrow: Slovakia vs. Belarus (relegation game), Canada vs. CZE/FIN (semifinal), Russia vs. SWE/USA (semifinal)
---
Everybody have a happy, fun, and safe start of the year for 2005.
The P-I has named their athletes of the year for 2004. Ichiro and Lauren Jackson were named pro athletes of the year for their respective genders. I should note that in yesterday's Bremerton Sun, Tara and Dana Kirk's run to Athens was named sports story of the year, and given enough content to fill pages 1 and 2 of Friday's sports section. I'd link it to you, but the only reason I've budged is because to see the article, you'll need to register. To register, they want your mailing address, soemthing which I find to be so incredibly wrong. I'm also not sure if the mailing address thing makes it BugMeNot-proof or not. Thankfully for me, I get the print edition. If I ever move out of town, though, I might have to succumb to the Sun's evil registering ways. Absolutely preposterous.
MARINERS
The only thing more sorry than Ruben Studdard for 2004 was the Mariners' season. Ugh. At least December was good. Also, I'm brimming with anticipation for the Mariners' new batch of commercials in a couple months here. The Sexson/Beltre ad merely gets the job done, but that's all it does. However, you can't go wrong with an ad featuring Dave Niehaus voice-overs. "The bash is back!"
SEAHAWKS
The new year is upon us and Mrs. Holmgren wants a more sensitive Mike. The fallout from losing has Mike dragging some of his frustrations home. But the calendar just turned the page. The whole year just turned the page. How about an undefeated 2005? Yeah, it's a stretch. I'll gladly take five wins in a row starting on Sunday, and ending the season in February. Sounds good to me. Clare Farnsworth also has some things he hopes the Seahawks get done in the new year.
Aside from Robbie Tobeck being handed a miniature game ball, the other news is that Walter Jones and Heath Evans practiced, Darrell Jackson is expected to start, and Matt Hasselbeck will start.
Yes, it's the second column in a week regarding the Seahawks putting Seneca Wallace on the scout team to mimic Michael Vick (say those last three words five times really quickly). Of course, the nugget is that Mike Holmgren might use Wallace for returning and/or wide receiving (implied by the article) next season. Of course, this assumes Holmgren is back as head coach of the Seahawks next year.
BASKETBALL
The Marvin Williams Watch
North Carolina hosts the College of William and Mary on Sunday, and is off until the following Saturday when ACC play kicks off; they'll be hosting Maryland.
Huskies
There are three articles on the Huskies' 81-67 win over the Cal Bears. I hadn't had a good week when it was coming to college sports. Between Gonzaga losing and a ton of my big-confidence prognostications coming up empty in that ESPN tournament thing, I wasn't too enthused when Cal had the lead in the second half of this game. But like the Sonic game last night, luckily one team was just plain better than the other, and too good to lose that night.
The Huskies host Stanford tomorrow in a game which conveniently will run concurrently with the Seahawk game. Then the Huskies travel to USC on Thursday.
Bulldogs
Gonzaga is off until they travel to Santa Clara to open West Coast Conference play on Thursday. They'll be at Saint Mary's the following Saturday.
Sonics
For my piece on last night's game, scroll down a post (or click here if this post is archived).
There are many candidates as to who might be the x-factor on this Sonic team, but I think I'm going to have to go with Vladimir Radmanovic. They can win without Radmanovic doing well, but it's not as easy. If Vlad is on, I think the Sonics are very hard to beat. Of course, Percy Allen's article also says that Vlad's lack of defense led to Okafor's career night and Brezec's 22-point contribution. Also, Danny Fortson and Jerome James had some problems with the refs for the second straight game, though this time with no ejections. Fortson correctly said, "Drama is OK as long as you win. Drama really looks bad whenever you lose. Thank God we won this game or else I'd be answering a whole different set of questions." Ray Allen also suggests that the sharp elbows of Fortson may be getting the Sonics a mental edge over opposing teams that may want to travel into the paint.
Danny O'Neil highlights two of Rashard Lewis' plays down the stretch. Lewis stole the ball from Gerald Wallace and got a dunk on the other end. Also highlighted was a play involving the jump-hook I referred to in the game post. Lewis had to arc that one over Emeka Okafor and Wallace, which is no easy task. I'd have to say it is kind of surprising to see that the Bobcats didn't get to the free-throw line even once in the 4th quarter.
Back to Danny Fortson and refs, it appears that Fortson is definitely on the s#&@ list of referee Jim Clark. Pointing the index finger after the game before walking off the court? Yup, Danny's definitely on his bad side. Why does a referee have to show this? Clark also T'd up the Sonic bench after no one answered the question, "who said that?!" As Nate said, "he said something was said to him. But you don't go chase it. You let it go." Unsurprisingly, no one was able to reach Clark for comment after the game.
Upcoming...
Monday at Miami
Wednesday at Orlando
Thursday at Washington
HOCKEY
Seattle beat Portland, 3-1. Seattle is clearly the better team and pulled out the likely outcome, but their second goal (Denis Tolpeko) came on a two-line pass that was never whistled. Dan Da Silva of Portland got into a scrum with Gibbons and equal penalties were handed out until Da Silva got a 10-minute misconduct tacked on for arguing the call. To the dressing room went Portland's leading goal scorer. Cody McLeod of Portland got into a skirmish with Bretton Stamler, and only McLeod was sent to the box. Chris Durand cashed in, making it 3-0 Seattle around the halfway point of the third period. Seattle apparently had some things go uncalled in front of their own net; Cody McLeod got plowed while waiting for a pass on the boards to get to him, Shane Halifax slashed Zack FitzGerald of Seattle from behind after the former was checked into the post. That drew a 5-minute major, but the subsequent pulling of FitzGerald to the ice, also from behind, drew a 5-minute match penalty. He might not play in the next game, let's just say that much. Derek Couture, Tolpeko, and Durand scored for Seattle, and Brian Woolger got the only Portland goal. Portland outshot Seattle 32-25. Dustin Butler stopped 22 for Portland, and Bryan Bridges stopped 31 for Seattle. Scott Jackson of Seattle was the only plus-2 player in the game.
Chicago beat Manitoba, 4-3. Chicago has a Finnish goalie, something which is a great asset lately (ref. Calgary Flames). Kari Lehtonen did the job in the Chicago net and spoiled the Moose's New Year's Eve party. Ryan Kesler scored twice in the first period and the Moose headed into the dressing room ahead 2-1. Chicago was able to tie it in the second period. Three Moose penalties early in that second period enabled the Wolves to reel off 10 straight shots. Chicago found themselves up 4-2 with just under 10 minutes left in regulation. Kent Huskins scored on the powerplay to bring the Moose within one, but that was as close as they'd get. Chicago outshot Manitoba 29-27. Lehtonen stopped 24 for Chicago. Wade Flaherty stopped 25 for Manitoba. Manitoba starting goalie Alex Auld is still in Switzerland playing for Canada in the Spengler Cup.
Tri-City and Puget Sound skated to a 3-3 overtime tie. The Tomahawks were able to salvage the tie out of it with 2:45 left in the game, but the Tomahawks had their chances, including a late power play, and some instances in the second period where loose pucks were near the crease and they had two or three skaters around the crease but none of them could ever get a stick on the puck and put it up toward the net. The tie wouldn't feel so bad if Portland wasn't nipping at the Tomahawks' heels in second place. Mike Truex sat out for reasons described in the link. Anyway, they'll have the league's leading scorer back tonight, and it should help a lot.
Also, play at the World Juniors starts up again today.
Today: Germany vs. Switzerland (relegation game), Finland vs. Czech Republic (quarterfinal), United States vs. Sweden (quarterfinal)
Tomorrow: Slovakia vs. Belarus (relegation game), Canada vs. CZE/FIN (semifinal), Russia vs. SWE/USA (semifinal)
---
Everybody have a happy, fun, and safe start of the year for 2005.
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