Seth Kolloen | Sportspress Northwest

Seth Kolloen

If you drove down Corliss Avenue North in mid-80s Seattle, you probably saw Seth.

He was the kid sorting Alvin Davis cards on his porch, mimicking Paul Skansi in street football games, or arguing the merits of Alton Lister with his friends. Seth has grown up just enough that his interests now include politics, the arts and the value of his Roth IRA; yet he also has season tickets to the Mariners, Sounders and Huskies, and frequently attends high school basketball games for fun. That is to say, he loves sports and still cant stop talking about them.

Shortlisted for a Genius Award by The Stranger for his sportswriting, Seth was a frequent guest columnist for the Seattle P-I the best young sportswriter you never heard of and has also written for Seattle Metropolitan and Deadspin. Seths sports posts have been cited by The Washington Post, USA Today, and ESPN.

He served as executive editor of Sports Northwest magazine from 2008-2009. He was also sports editor for Seattlest.com and The SunBreak, and founded a Seattle sports blog, Enjoy the Enjoyment. Join Seth in suffering the daily slings and arrows of Seattle sports fortune in his column, Exit 164.

Kolloen: Peguero helps win a World Series ... in 2013

BY Seth Kolloen 11:15AM 07/08/2011

If the Seattle Mariners are ever going to win a World Championship, theyll do it with players like Carlos Peguero. Not the Peguero you see on the field now--the guess-hitting, defensive liability--but the Peguero of seasons future.

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Kolloen: Zduriencik, don't go all Bavasi on us

BY Seth Kolloen 07:00AM 06/24/2011

Jack Zduriencik and I are in the same boat. I'm trying to figure out whether to go to Hawaii in October, and he's trying to figure out whether to trade a prospect for a left fielder. Both decisions hinge on how we assess this question: Do the Mariners really have a shot at October's playoffs?

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Kolloen: Riot after a loss? Fans confuse, impress

BY Seth Kolloen 12:08PM 06/17/2011

I am a first-generation American. My parents speak perfect English, they understand the rules of baseball, they do not force me to enact odd folk rituals, but one of them was not born here. My mother is Canadian.

(My grandparents emigrated here when she was two; partially on the basis of a less-than-honest residency application, I've since learned, making us illegal immigrants. Sorry for taking your job.)

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Kolloen: Ichiro haters pointing the wrong direction

BY Seth Kolloen 10:13AM 06/10/2011

Politicians sometimes pick up the worst behavior of athletes: Like when a U.S. Congressman imitates Brett Favre's seduction strategy. And sports fans sometimes latch onto the worst aspects of politics nuts: Like finding a single scapegoat. Gas prices are too high? It's Bush's fault! No, it's Obama's fault! When, of course, it's manifestly all of our faults for buying ginormous vehicles that go through tanks of gas like Michael Pineda's opponents go through bats.

Which brings us to Ichiro.

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Kolloen: Pete Carroll, be my boss

BY Seth Kolloen 10:52AM 06/03/2011

Did you hear this? Inside the Seahawks draft war room, Pete Carroll muted the TVs and played reggae music instead. Pete Carroll is the anti-Lumbergh: Hes the greatest boss in the world.

If Pete Carroll was your boss, every day would be casual Friday, with Pete leading the way in his polos and khakis. If Pete Carroll was your boss, you could chat music with him, everything from oldies to reggae to new bands. Recently Carroll declared Mumford & Sons week. (As folk rock goes, I prefer Avett Brothers, but I'm sure we could have a rational discussion about it).

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Kolloen: Sigi Schmid, what game are you watching?

BY Seth Kolloen 07:05AM 05/27/2011

Whos the best passer on the Sounders? Sigi Schmid.

When will the Sounders' head coach take some responsibility for the team's mediocrity, instead of sloughing blame onto his players?

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Kolloen: Ready for the Thunder in the Finals?

BY Seth Kolloen 09:00AM 05/13/2011

I see a bad moon risin'. It looks likely that the Oklahoma City Thunder, just three years after breaking both our hearts and a franchise record for losses, will reach the NBA Finals. And you thought Fred Brown selling his 1979 championship ring was depressing.

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Kolloen: Free Figgins Now

BY Seth Kolloen 01:00PM 05/06/2011

As a Seattle Mariners season ticket holder, I feel a little guilty. For one year and one month now, I've been privy to the singular baseball experience that is Chone Figgins.

Whenever I see the 5-foot-8 Figgins take a huge swing at a high fastball and drive it nearly 120 feet, I think: "Shouldn't we be sharing this with the world?"

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Exit 164: A boring pick, but boring can be good

BY Seth Kolloen 07:41AM 04/29/2011

First off, let me say what a pleasure it's been to write this column for the past few months. Thanks to everyone for reading. This will be the last Exit 164, but I'll be writing a column for SportsPress Northwest once a week, and you can also read my writing at an awesome local news/commentary web site called The SunBreak. Okay, on to this morning's news.

Tough to get excited about an offensive lineman who was graded as a second-round prospect. But we all know that you build a football team from the inside out, and if the Hawks did get what they think they did -- a book-end for Russell Okung, who'll protect our quarterback (whoever he is) for a decade, then kudos, kudos, kudos.READ MORE»

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Exit 164: Day of mock draft jamboree

BY Seth Kolloen 07:37AM 04/28/2011

No one can agree on where Jack Locker will go

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Exit 164: Olivo hits history's lamest homer

BY Seth Kolloen 07:37AM 04/27/2011

Mariners 7, Tigers 3 [box]: The M's teed off on Phil Coke again, this time scoring on hits instead of walks. In the two games the M's have faced Coke, they've averaged 10 runs scored. In their other 22 games, they're averaging 2.95 runs. More Phil Cokes, please! M's 9-15, 4th place, 5.5 GB. Next game today @ Detroit.

Flipped on the game yesterday and heard Dave Sims mention that Miguel Olivo had hit his first home run of the year. "That's a good sign," I thought. Until I saw the highlight. If you haven't seen it, I'm not going to spoil it for you.

How 'bout the M's pulling out a game when Felix Hernandez wasn't at his best. It was a "total team effort." John McLaren would've been proud. The offense hammered out six extra-base hits, and the bullpen came through with three scoreless innings.

Seahawks poobahs John Schneider and Pete Carroll are a model of corporate cooperation, writes Doug Farrar.READ MORE»

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Exit 164: Paul Allen on his sports team children

BY Seth Kolloen 07:17AM 04/26/2011

If both were drowning which would he save?

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Exit 164: Brandon Roy's Crazy Week

BY Seth Kolloen 07:53AM 04/25/2011

Former UW star goes from malcontent to hero

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Exit 164: Felix stifles A's again

BY Seth Kolloen 07:53AM 04/22/2011

Mariners 1, Oakland 0 [recap]: The King turned away the A's again with a 7 2/3, 126-pitch masterpiece. Adam Kennedy had a terrific game, homering for the game's only run and making a running, over-the-shoulder catch of a foul pop in the 9th with the winning run on second. Mariners 7-13, 4th place, 5.5 GB. Next game tonight vs. A's.

In other news...

Milton Bradley was scratched with an upset stomach. Carlos Peguero got the start--and his first major league hit -- a slow roller to shortstop. Peguero then got picked off first. Not how you dream it when you're a kid...

Doug Fister is throwing his curveball more and more accurately, writes Jeff Sullivan.

The M's will push Erik Bedard's scheduled Tuesday start back a day so Felix Hernandez can stay on his normal rest, reports our John Hickey.

The Nike Air Max Griffey II shoes are on sale today.

The NFL is having retired players announce the second-round picks at the draft. Cortez Kennedy will announce the Seahawks' selection.READ MORE»

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Exit 164: T-minus one week mock draft roundup

BY Seth Kolloen 07:37AM 04/21/2011

One week until the NFL draft, I just sent out the invitations for my annual draft party, and it's time to check out the mock drafts again.

Only two of the mock drafters have updated their mock drafts (get with it, mock drafters!). Fox Sports' Adam Caplan still doesn't have Jake Locker in his first round, but Pro Football Weekly has moved The Savior from #15 (MIA) to #12 (MIN). Two new names appear for the Seahawks, Jimmy Smith, a 6-3, 211 lb. CB. No more getting pawned by Larry Fitzgerald with Smith around, you'd hope. Pro Football Weekly now has the Hawks selecting Andy Dalton, the ginger TCU QB, who our own Doug Farrar has called a "fringe prospect" because of his lack of arm strength. Doug didn't exactly say Dalton's passes weren't strong enough to knock Jack Wilson over, but he sure implied it.

My exclusive mock draft is available via fax for $250. I have yet to actually write a mock draft, but if anyone wants to pay me the $250, I will.READ MORE»

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Exit 164: Why Hawks will want a long lockout

BY Seth Kolloen 07:58AM 04/20/2011

Halloween would be just about perfect

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Exit 164: The "trade the good players" mania begins

BY Seth Kolloen 07:37AM 04/19/2011

"The best time to trade Felix will be this summer." -- Buster Olney, ESPN
"Trading (Ichiro) now is the best way to toss more eggs in the spawning stream," -- Mike Seely, Seattle Weekly READ MORE»

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Exit 164: Now it's Wedge yelling at Mariners

BY Seth Kolloen 07:38AM 04/18/2011

Mariners scolded: The Mariners got yelled at Saturday, but this time it wasn't by me or other fans, it was by manager Eric Wedge. After leaving 11 men on base in a 7-0 loss to the Royals, Wedge aired the M's out, citing a lack of aggressiveness. I see more of a lack of talent, but...here's John's story. Then Sunday, on a clutch two-RBI single by Brendan Ryan and more stellar pitching by Michael Pineda, the M's won! Wedge should yell at them every day! M's 5-11, 4th place, 5.5 GB. Next game tonight vs. Detroit at Safeco, Scherzer vs. Vargas.

Gutierrez scratched again: Franklin Gutierrez' planned rehab start Friday didn't happen--his stomach pain came back. The M's are planning to send Gutierrez to a national clinic to try to identify the source of his problems. As it is, don't expect to see Guti anytime soon.READ MORE»

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Exit 164: T-minus-13 days mock draft roundup

BY Seth Kolloen 07:28AM 04/15/2011

We're just 13 days from the draft, when the Seahawks reap the reward of their surprising playoff run and Jake Locker becomes the highest UW QB draftee ever. But, for the Hawks, who? And, for Jakey, where? Huh. Well, what are experts saying? Chart time!

Two of the mock drafters, including our own Doug Farrar, have our Seahawks taking hometown hero Jake Locker. Two more suggest our pick will be Mississippi State OT Derek Sherrod. National Football Post stands alone in suggesting that Temple DT Muhammad Wilkerson is to wear the silver and blue.

Four of the five drafters have Jake Locker going in the first round, but none have him in the top 5. That exalted and remunerative honor will go to one of nine players, according to these five drafts. Only Texas A&M OLB Von Miller is listed on all the mockers' top fives.* Links to all of these are at the bottom of the post.READ MORE»

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Exit 164: Huskies aren't alone in NBA losses

BY Seth Kolloen 07:35AM 04/14/2011

M's bullpen destructs: Mariner relievers had thrown 16.2 scoreless IP, but they more than made up for lost time in the 8th inning of yesterday's game, turning a 3-2 lead into an 8-3 laugher. Chris Ray was the primary villain, but Josh Lueke added his own flames to the conflagration. Justin Smoak homered, which is encouraging. Mariners 4-8, 4th place, 5 GB. Next game tonight @ Kansas City.

Another Pac-12 elite declares for draft: Arizona star Derrick Williams is headed to the NBA draft, where he may be the first pick. UCLA lost underclassmen Malcolm Lee (a junior) and Tyler Honeycutt (a sophomore), USC lost junior Nicola Vucevic. Add in Isaiah Thomas and that's half the All-Pac-10 first team headed to the NBA. Still undecided: Wazzu's Klay Thompson and DeAngelo Casto, and Colorado sophomore Alex Burks. So Thomas is a big loss, but the rest of the league is weaker as well.

Top 5 possible Mariner promotions for next homestand (by David Swidler of Seattle comedy group The Habit)READ MORE»

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