My First Spring Training

It only took 50 years but the wait was worth it. I was able to spend my first spring training in the valley of the sun. My good friend Jeff Parker was a great host, but even better tour guide. He definitely knows where the hot spots are, and he found us the cheap beers too. A 24 oz. Corona for only six dollars and change, now that's a bargain.

The biggest thing I got out of this was the acquisition of Milton Bradley by the Mariners. Or was it an acquisition? The dude definitely sports an attitude. He was a big gamble in a lot of people's eyes, and this game proved the point. The attitude reared it's ugly head. He had a terrible error in this game resulting in two runs scored and two other runners left in scoring position. Now when you go to spring training with a guy who hangs out there every day you learn the tricks of the trade. You spend the first three innings or so on the third baseline. And the boys around us were getting their money's worth with the taunting of Milton Bradley. As the beer kicked in it got worse. Some of these spring training fans are relentless. Bradley had enough after a couple innings and made a less than desirable gesture toward the fans on his way off the field. They start practice early at around 8:00 am and then play a game at 1:00. By the time the six or seventh inning comes around the veterans start to file out after a long day at the office. That is when our tour guide Jeff informed us it's time to move to the first baseline to watch the veterans leave. Bradley left by himself two innings earlier. It was a tough day all around for Milton. As Ken Griffey Jr. was filing out with his wide smile my friend Jeff asked him why Milton wasn't hanging around with his teammates. Griffey covered the side of his mouth and snickered, "dentist appointment".

My first spring training, and definitely not my last.

A Hump Day To Remember

You know the beers will be flowing in Pullman come late Wednesday afternoon. The local bars will be rocking because a good ole' boy is coming home. Bill Moos will be formally introduced as the new athletic director at Washington State, his Alma mater. It only took WSU president Elson Floyd 10 days to replace Jim Sterk, who left to take the same job at San Diego State. Sterk saw the writing on the wall and bolted south. Moos was hired as a consultant and Sterk knew it was a matter of time when the pressure would be just too much. WSU will get exactly what they bargained for, a man who knows how to raise money, something I believe was lacking under Sterk. Moos also brings charisma back to WAZZU, something that has disappeared since Mike Price left for Alabama. WSU has the smallest athletic budget in the conference and when you lack in funds and resources, you better make up for it with someone who can work a room and get it done.

Give props to Elson Floyd. He found his man.

There's a Moos in the Palouse

This will go down as the bench mark for Elson Floyd's tenure at Washington State University. It's a matter of time for the WSU president to name Bill Moos as the new athletic director, or something similar for the time being. The former Oregon AD has a non-compete clause in his contract not allowing him to take a job at any other BCS school. He would give up close to 1.9 million dollars if he does. Obviously WSU officials are confident they can put ink to this deal. President Floyd sent out an inter-office letter today indicating he invited Moos to campus Wednesday to meet with athletic officials and participate in a public forum. It's all but a done deal. And what a deal it will be for WSU boosters and fans, especially with the renovation project for Martin Stadium. Moos was instrumental in building the University of Oregon athletics department to what it is today. He changed the landscape of Oregon athletics, and as far back as 2003 he facilitated more than $160 million in improvements, which includes 12,000 new seats, 32 new suites, a new club at Autzen Stadium, and a new press box. There is no better fit for the Cougar Nation. Moos began his athletics career in 1982 as assistant athletics director at Washington State University. He was also associate athletic director from 1988-90. Moos was also an all Pac 8 lineman in 1972.

Bill Moos was raised on a wheat and cattle ranch in Eastern Washington. He knows the landscape, much like former Cougar AD Jim Sterk, who resigned to take the athletic director position at San Diego State. According to sources, Floyd and Sterk were never on the same page. Well, that page has been turned now.

I can hear it now, "there's a Moos in the Palouse".

A Night With Cougar Football

I keep referring to him as one of the guttiest quarterbacks I have ever seen. He helped beat UCLA with a broken leg, ultimately leading the Cougars to their last Rose Bowl. Despite the attention he has received both as a former football player and now as an analyst on Fox Sports Northwest (last time I checked it was the Husky Network), Jason Gesser remains humble and determined to promote WSU Football to the great northwest. Gesser delivered an impassioned speech that resulted in a standing ovation from the 200+ people who attended "A Night with Cougar Football" at Meadow Springs Country Club--an event designed to raise money for scholarships. Glenn Johnson, Mayor of Pullman and Public Address Announcer for football and basketball, did a masterful job as Master of Ceremonies. Gesser said it was the family atmosphere, similar to the one he was raised in, that made his decision to attend WSU an easy one. Following his recruiting visit to the U-Dub, three different Husky players from Hawaii told him Montlake wasn't the best place for him. Too much of the "me me" going on they said. He obviously made the right choice.

Things are changing in the Palouse. The Cougar faithful are seeing some light at the end of the tunnel after listening to Gesser, wide receiver Gino Simone, and redshirt freshman cornerback Nolan Washington, a real funny character to say the least. All three brought with them new life to the Cougar Program. There hasn't been much to celebrate the last couple years, and many close to the program are very aware of how one sided the outcomes have been. Embarrassing, humiliating, down right awful to say the least. But I can honestly say there's something that can be said for people who stick to their plan and believe in it. Head Coach Paul Wulff is one of those. The kids are believing too. WSU is recruiting quality people, like Simone and Washington. After raising $35,000, the alumni are obviously buying in too. The grade point average last year was the highest in the history of the school. Although we grade coaches on wins and losses, these are some of the things that are often times overlooked. Good things are happening in Pullman. Just ask these kids.

Paul Wulff needs time. I hope the administration gives it to him. Then we will learn that like Gesser, they too made the right choice.

The Peeping Toms of Social Networking

When I first joined Facebook a year or so ago it was a chance to reconnect with old friends and former colleagues I haven't seen or heard from in awhile. Whether it be old classmates, friends, former co-workers, coaches, or even teachers, it was a fun way to 'catch up'. I think it's safe to say this is exactly what it was originally designed to accomplish. I have been fortunate enough to re-kindle some old acquaintances because of social networking. But I think it may have gotten a little out of hand. Now it's filled with what I refer to as 'peeping toms', people who constantly monitor what everyone else is doing but very seldom post or respond themselves. One friend told me, "it's like they are peeking in your window". It's kind of unsettling if you ask me.
I guess my thought is if you are going to engage in social networking, be social. Interact. Respond to people's comments, and have fun doing it. Enjoy what it is designed to accomplish in the first place. If not, then you shouldn't be on there in the first place.

A "Voice" I Remember

He tagged Fred Brown "Downtown". He put the Seattle Supersonics on the map. He was Seattle sports. Bob Blackburn, longtime voice of the Seattle Supersonics was remembered Sunday as family, friends, and colleagues jammed into First United Methodist Church in Bellevue for one last salute to this honorable family man. As people were filing into the church, his booming voice was heard one last time as he delivered another perfect game in the final minutes of the replay of the Sonics' 1979 NBA Championship win over the Washington Bullets. There wasn't a dry eye in the house.

"Bob was a legend", those words from a legend himself, Lenny Wilkens. Wilkens talked about how he became neighbors with "Voice" after he was traded to the Sonics from the St. Louis Hawks. He later guided the Sonics to the NBA Championship as their coach. No legend myself, I was fortunate to grow up in Woodridge, an old school neighborhood just east of downtown Bellevue. It was a dream neighborhood where locking doors was few and far between. I was friends with Bob's son Dave, a quick witted multi-sport athlete who afforded me the chance to learn and choose who my childhood idol would be. It wasn't Spencer Haywood or Bob Rule. It wasn't Dick "The Duck" Snyder, or even "Leaping'" Lee Winfield. It was a man who inspired me to enter the broadcasting profession. His work ethic, drive, passion, and attention to detail is what peaked my interest. The Sonics had a 7:30 game one evening and I asked him what time he needed to leave for the Seattle Center Coliseum. "Four fifty-eight", he responded.

I knew then that Bob Blackburn was my idol.

Oh For Pete's Sake

Department of redundancy department. The Seahawks have done it again. They've hired another good looking coach (excluding Mike Holmgren). He is going to bring them to the promised land. No more 5-11 seasons, no more Superbowl debacles. Just good ol' fashioned smash mouth football with former USC Coach Pete Carroll. Please. One of the remaining Seattle newspapers did a poll and the majority of readers (those Huskies that could read) didn't think it was a good hire. Why? Because most of them are Huskies and don't like the fact the Seahawks hired someone from USC. I agree. Remember Barbara Hedges? You know, the lady that was so infatuated with Rick Neuheisel that she decided to hire him. She turned on him just as quickly when he fell in love with the San Francisco 49ers without letting her know. Maybe he should have consulted Tiger on the best way to handle this. Don't get too excited about Pete Carroll. His motivational ploys that worked with USC won't work in the pros. His athletes with the Seahawks aren't as good as the ones he had at USC.

For Pete's sake.