A GRIP ON SPORTS • One thing that seems incredibly obvious (and a bit ominous) about this coronavirus pandemic is conditions change quicker than one would have thought. A month ago it seemed a given college football would be played. Today it seems a long shot. And college hoops? Well, November is, thankfully, a long ways away.
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• I have to admit it. Though I spent many a day on the beach as a boy and a young man, I never had the courage to try a surfboard. Oh, I watched “Endless Summer” and “Five Summer Stories” more than once, but that’s as close to surfing as this guy got. Body surfing, that’s another story. And my experiences getting crunched under the weight of something caused by a hurricane thousands of miles away have helped in this odd spring and summer.
We have all been trying to stay afloat as the pandemic’s waves threaten to wash over us on a daily basis. But no matter how hard we try to stay safe, occasionally we get pulled to the bottom. Not that long ago, it seemed as if we had paddled out far enough we were in control. We could pick and choose how we got back to shore.
Not anymore.
Now the waves are so big as to swamp us all. Football, volleyball, soccer, sports that are a part of our autumn landscape, are struggling to keep their head above water in the recent tsunami-like conditions (thanks a lot Sun Belt). Around here, the wave we experienced in March was a ripple compared to what’s happening now. And, back in those times, everything we could do outside the home disappeared.
We’ve learned, hopefully, how to deal with the surges better. We have simpler, easier, less-intrusive guidelines to follow in late July than we did four months ago. The hope is we will all put on our virtual life jackets and float safely above the fray until the storm dies out. If that happens, there is still a chance we can sit in our easy chairs and enjoy college football. Wouldn’t that be grand?
(Professional sports are a different animal, the great white sharks in this analogy. The leagues have enough resources, and enough at stake, to build walls around their islands and keep the waves at bay. Colleges aren’t as well funded and have way too many sites to protect.)
But who knows how long any measures will last? If the past few months have shown us anything, they have shown people in this nation have attention issues that can prove deadly to others. Say this wave peaks high enough as to scare everyone except a foolish few into following the science and putting others first. If that happens, all other waves that follow have a chance to be small enough as to be a discomfort instead of destroying our daily way of life. As long as the focus remains on the prize: getting past the worst of this virus until a vaccine is available and enough group immunity is reached. Then we can enjoy basketball and all other winter sports.
It may be 90 degrees outside my home today, but that’s what I’m focused on. Calming the waters enough today that after the leaves fall and the frost returns, we can put on our shades, Hawaiian shirt and flip flops and confidently paddle into a gym on a cold winter’s night.
Or, at least, watch at home as the players and coaches do if for us.
• If it’s any consolation, there are some sports to look forward to in the short term. Heck, today there is a final round of a decent golf tournament on the TV. And, if you are in the Northwest, two area MLS teams will face off this evening with something at stake.
Not too long from now, baseball, basketball and hockey are scheduled to grace our televisions. That’s a far cry from where we were a couple months ago when the only thing to watch was table tennis from a secret bunker in Finland. Or something of that sort.
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WSU: Around the Pac-12 and college sports, if football isn’t played, it’s easy to place blame. Mainly because it is everywhere. … Colorado is as set at running back as any team in the conference. … In basketball news, Alonzo Verge has decided to return for another year at Arizona State.
EWU: Our 20 for 20 series continues this morning with Eastern Washington next up on the hit parade. Ryan Collingwood’s list is topped by the only athlete possibly: Cooper Kupp. For a school with such a deep quarterback tradition, it’s entirely appropriate the best FCS receiver of the past 20 years is No. 1. The rest of the list is also fun to sort through, with arguments possible for many different spots.
Hoopfest: The recent announcement this year’s edition of Spokane’s most diverse athletic event won’t be played didn’t bring with it a diversity of opinion. Nope. Everyone understands – but is sad anyway. That’s the thrust of Ryan’s story after talking with a group of longtime successful players.
Mariners: Before we get into what happened yesterday, this story about one of our neighbors – in the larger community sense – is really worth reading. Christine Wren is one of a handful of women who tried to make their way up the umpiring ladder to the bigs. That was a long time ago, but women still find the ladder pretty greased up these days. … Marco Gonzales made his final intrasquad start last night at T-Mobile. Next up is the 60-game regular season. … Mallex Smith was in the lineup yesterday and is also ready to see the season begin. … With a week until the first game, some roster questions remain. … The future is still the main focus for the M’s.
Seahawks: The NFL is adamant. No matter what the players’ union believes, no matter how many issues remain, training camps will open on time. … There is some elation among Washington tribes as the professional football team’s nickname disappears in the other Washington.
Sounders: Win or go home. That’s the gist of it tonight for Seattle. The Sounders’ match tonight vs. Vancouver has pretty high stakes. … Portland, in a different group, has already clinched a spot in the knockout round.
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• Summer’s heat has finally arrived. Temps in the 90s should be common. Thank goodness the backyard has a lot of shade – thanks, pop, for buying us that maple tree 34 years ago – and the house has air conditioning. Yes, I do know how lucky we are. I count my blessings every day and twice on warm Sundays. Until later …
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