The Saga Continues...

Hey there sports geeks,



it's been way too long since my last update.



Call it laziness. Call it forgetfulness. Call it poor planning.



Call it whatever you want! You'll appreciate this one a lot more than the one I should've written a week ago (I hope).



erhem.

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So yesterday was a fairly exciting day. Dianna invited me to tag along with her for her sideline report at the Tacoma Rainers game, so of course I jumped at the chance.



The Rainiers are an institution in the city of Tacoma. Even if they are partially owned by Nick Lachey(doh!).



At one point during the game, around the fourth inning or so, Dianna beat feet to the concessions stand to snag a chicken sandwich and lemony frutista freeze...okay, I know that's Taco Bell, but I don't know what else to call it.



The chicken sandwich was very dry(sorry Dianna, I stole a bite while you weren't looking...such a trusting woman).



But I digress(digest?). While Dianna was out getting her Chicken Sandwich, suddenly I became aware of a soft hand, slowly sliding from the back of my neck to around my left shoulder. I turn to see a 6'7" reindeer sidled up next to me.



Not one to be easily embarrased, I upped the ante on this touchy feely mascot and took his hand in mine.



Next thing I knew, he copped a feel on my right pec(I NEED AN ADULT!).



Great googley, moogley.



As I attempted to suppress my memory of being touched inappropriately by Rhubarb the Reindeer, I watched Ryan Rowland-Smith pitch a scoreless, two-hit, seven-plus inning gem of a game.



He could have pitched nine, were it not for relief pitcher Cezar Jimenez, who is on rehab assignment and needed to get some work in.



Rowland-Smith will be called up to the Mariners, and soon. It's only a matter of time, especially now that Brandon Morrow has (FINALLY) been sent back down to develop something other than his trademark "right-in-the-wheel-house" fastball. The big Aussie is coming off two stellar performances in Triple-A ball against Salt Lake and Portland, and appears poised to make his comeback to the majors.



His stock is definitely on the rise.



Here are my risers and fallers of the week:



RISERS:



1. Jarrod Washburn. The man has pitched like an all-star for two years, and how have Mariners repayed him? With one of the lowest averages for run support in the league. How do you combat that? Pitch even better. Washburns line over his past two starts looks a little something like this: 16 innings pitched, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 2 walks, 6 strikeouts(and one complete game shut-out). Should the Mariners trade him? Their recent trade of Yuniesky Betancourt to the Royals for two minor league prospects would suggest they're looking to rebuild, but the aqcuisition of Joel Hannahan from the A's and the fact that they've sent Brandon Morrow packing would suggest they're intent on winning now.



2. OLD PEOPLE: (Lance Armstrong, Mark Martin). 37 years old and sitting pretty in third at Le Tour de France? oui, oui. Although his team may be suffering as result of the inner-squad conflict between Lance and Alberto Contador, I(and most Americans) are inclined to think that perhaps Lance has earned the right to not play the role of a subservient protector to the teams best. In all likelihood, Lance IS the best rider on the Astana team bus right now.

And how about four wins on the season for 50-year-old Mark Martin in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series? Most men his age experience heart palpitations while driving over speed bumps in a Safeway parking lot. Score one more for the geezers.



3. MY fantasy baseball team. Sorry kids, had to toot my own horn here. I went into my fantasy draft with a plan, and despite injuries early on and some lackluster performances to start the season(I'm looking at you David Ortiz), the "Irish Avengers" have moved from tenth (out of eleven) to seventh place in a span of two and half weeks. Top six make the play-offs. Key Waiver wire additions: Jarrod Washburn, Michael Bourn, J.A. Happ, Wandy Rodriguez.



4. Michael Phelps. Four gold medals and a world record at the World Championships with a strained neck? Is this guy serious? Apparently his short lived affair with "Mary-Jane" hasn't affected his ability to swim...fast.



5. Team USA U-19 Basketball. The Americans ended an 18 year drought in the medal department with their defeat of Greece(88-80 final score) in the FIBA U-19 Basketball Championship. Tayshon Taylor led the Americans with 18 points and five steals, and Washington State Guard Klay Thompson(here's a shout out from a Coug alum, Klay) chipped in 10 points, not too mention some timely threes to help bury Greece.



FALLERS:



1. Brandon Inge. After becoming a late addition to the All-Star game and Home Run Derby, he put up a giant goose egg on the score board. This link pretty well sums up his night: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A .

2. UFC. Brock Lesnar's antics following his win were just plain stupid. THIS is the man that will save UFC? Fred Flintstone on steroids? After flipping off the booing crowd and bashing event sponsor Budweiser, Lesnar apologized for his antics at the post-fight press-conference, with a Bud Light strategically placed next to his microphone(so much for his facade of being an anti-corporate rebel...).

3. WSU Cougar Football. As much as it pains me to say this, things don't look good going into next season. With nearly as many arrests as two- and three-star recruit commitments, the Cougars just don't appear poised to improve much on their two wins from last season. If second year coach Paul Wulff doesn't take control of this team and purge it of the bad seeds left over from the hapless Doba regime, the WSU football program could be looking at another two to three years minimum of suck(excuse me while I plug in my toaster, the bath tub is nearly full...).

4. The Los Angeles Clippers. Many would argue that the Clippers are poised to turn things around following a stellar 2009 draft, including former Sooners stud Blake Griffin. This "faller", therefore, is conditional. The Clippers appear to be in serious talks with free agent Allen Iverson. On the surface, this move appears plausible, as Iverson has a few good years left, and would definitely boost attendance. But despite his nickname, Iverson is NOT the Answer for a team looking to build toward the future. He's a black hole of possessions, kills a teams field goal percentage and refuses to play off the bench. Just look at the difference between the Denver Nuggets and the Detroit Pistons following one of the worst trades in Piston history. Detroit floundered and Denver looked a legit contender against the Lakers in the playoffs. If the Clippers sign Iverson, they'll be stunting the growth of their talented young with a guard who will never pass them the ball.

And with that, I'm off to wallow in shame for my prediction that Brandon Inge would win the Home Run Derby this year. I won't live that one down in the near future.

Until next time, keep it real sports nerds.

...and keep watching sports.

Sincerely,

Your Friendly Neighborhood Sports Intern: Sean

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Note: Want to see what all the hullabaloo is about? Watch the Dave "Softy" Mahler show on Comcast Channel 179 from 10 AM to 1 PM, Monday through Friday.

My weekly Wednesday Segment will air this Wednesday, so be sure to tune in and check it out!