Regular readers, friends, and family know I am not much of a football fan. My game is baseball. I adore watching all levels, from community kids playing Babe Ruth to serious young women throwing heat (underhand!) in college softball to the terrific Apple Sox of the college league to the majors. As I write this, … Continue reading The importance of sport, or, it’s only a game
sports
Being there…116 times
Tonight the Seattle Mariners celebrated the tenth anniversary of their record-setting, 116 win season in 2001. It's not that kind of season this year; it's not even a 2009 kind of season, which will go down in history as the happiest third-place in a four-team division finish ever. And I confess I haven't been following … Continue reading Being there…116 times
Come on, Canucks – next year, eh?
The one thing you ask for from sports is to be taken away - to watch physically talented men and women compete fiercely and with deep respect for the game and each other - so for a while you can forget there's a whole complex and challenging world out there, and pretend there is nothing … Continue reading Come on, Canucks – next year, eh?
Miracles can happen, at least in baseball
If you ever find yourself doubting that miracles can happen, just remember this... after a dismal start to the season, the Seattle Mariners won their fifth in a row tonight, all five on the road, handing the Red Sox their first shut out at Fenway in a little more than a year. Doug Fister threw over … Continue reading Miracles can happen, at least in baseball
We interrupt this novel: Tribute to Dave Niehaus
It is six thirty pm Wednesday, November 10, and we've known for a little more than an hour that Dave Niehaus, voice of the Seattle Mariners, passed away today. It seems a heart attack took him from his family, his friends, his colleagues, and his game. And from all of us who counted on his … Continue reading We interrupt this novel: Tribute to Dave Niehaus
Go down swinging
Back in June, I declared this Mariners’ season officially dismal. A month ago when Cliff Lee went to Texas, the season was over; two days ago, with the trade of veteran Mike Sweeney to the Phillies (a contending team!), the team was done. Today, with the firing of the manager and two coaches, this season … Continue reading Go down swinging
Sweet Lou
Update: Today (July 20) Sweet Lou announced he would retire at the end of the season. Click here for an interview with Jeff Nelson, who pitched for Lou here in Seattle before going to the reviled NY Yankees. Here's the original post from June when the Cubs came to Seattle: The Chicago Cubs are in … Continue reading Sweet Lou
Billy Moon
Remember that name. Billy Moon. Last night I went to a collegiate summer league baseball game, West Coast League. The Wenatchee AppleSox at home vs. the Portland Stars. I showed up at the middle of the third inning, and the score was already 4-1 in favor of the home Sox. I got the last available … Continue reading Billy Moon
Shinny
June's Story of the Week was called Shinny. Shinny is the name Canadians - and some eastern Washingtonians, I've since learned - give to pick-up hockey. Shinny It was super cold that day, but Will decided to cut school to go play shinny on the skating pond anyway. The ice’d be good and hard and … Continue reading Shinny
The outer limits of failure
There’s a lot in the press these days about Ken Griffey Junior waiting too long to retire. Should he have bowed out at the end of last year, after his teammates carried him off the field in the happiest celebration of a third-place finish in a four-team division in baseball history. Should he have called it … Continue reading The outer limits of failure
Elizabeth Fountain, Author 