Last week was a pinprick of hope peeking through the gloom of the past few years in Seattle sports. Maybe, just maybe, the three-day Husky SoCal sweep and the Hawks’ division championship indicated a turnaround in our area’s sports fortunes. Then you get the text that Husky starting point guard Abdul Gaddy tore his ACL and is out for the season.
Gaddy’s injury leaves the Dawgs with just two legit ballhandlers. But SPNW’s Bob Sherwin says don’t be concerned: “Its not a major hit to the team. The Huskies experience and their depth will allow this team not only to cover for the loss but to potentially be even better.” I see Bob’s point. Two experienced ballhandlers is two more than a lot of college teams. The 1998 Sweet Sixteen Dawgs, who lost that regional final to UConn, didn’t have any experienced ballhandlers.
Edgar Less Hall-of-Famey Than Last Year: Roberto Alomar and Bert Blyleven made the Hall of Fame, but Edgar Martinez’ vote percentage dropped from 36% last year to 32% this one, well short of the 75% he’ll need. SPNW’s Steve Rudman writes that Edgar’s 2012 campaign should focus on his membership in the elite .300/.400/.500 club. Former Mariners Tino Martinez (6 votes), John Olerud (4 votes) and Bret Boone (1 pity vote) are off the ballot for good.
Nope, Still No Quarterback: Pete Carroll is now clearly just toying with us. He once again refused to name a starting QB–then a reporter asked: “Do you know who’ll start and you’re just not telling us?” Said Carroll: “You’ll never know.” Ha!
What they’re saying…
“This is another bump in the road. I’ll just comeback and start from where I left off.” — Gaddy
“I think I still have a chance. I’m hopeful it will happen. But I realize I’m probably going to have to wait awhile.” — Edgar Martinez
“A glorious 7 days of 206 sports ends with a thud.” @DavidSwidler
In other news…
Washington State starting point guard and Rainier Beach grad Reggie Moore was charged with misdemeanor mary jane possession back in December. The coaches knew about it, but the news just went public yesterday. How do you keep something like that under wraps that long in Pullman?
Seahawks P Jon Ryan is NFC Special Teams Player of the Week!
Here are Alomar’s stats against Seattle: 106 games, a .306 average, (.822 OPS) and 7 HR. Alomar’s final game was against the Mariners, and he was struck out by a pitcher who is older than him but played in 2010. Any guesses? (Answer below.)
Bert Blyleven was 14-7 with a 2.86 in 27 career games vs. the Mariners. Five of those wins were shutouts, including a complete-game two-hitter in 1984.
UW recruit and Garfield High star Tony Wroten packed a spectacular off-the-backboard dunk last night that was the talk of Twitter. NOTE: Wroten missed last season with a torn ACL…clearly hasn’t affected his hops.
Today in SPNW…
Art Thiel writes that Seattle sports fans owe a debt to former USC AD Mike Garrett.
Doug Farrar on the massive contrast between the Saints’ and Seahawks’ drafting strategies.
Todd Dybas with an end-of-year review of the Washington receiving corps.
Today’s action…
GoDaddy.com Bowl: Miami (OH) vs. Middle Tennessee St., 5 p.m. (ESPN)
NCAA Hoops: Huskies vs. Oregon, 5:30 p.m. (FSN)
NCAA Hoops: Oregon St. @ Washington St., 7 p.m. (850-AM)
NCAA Hoops: Eastern Wash. @ Seattle U, 7:10 p.m. (710-AM)
NCAA Hoops: Cal @ Arizona, 7:30 p.m. (FSN)
A: Jamie Moyer struck out Roberto Alomar in the latter’s final MLB at bat. Moyer is five years older than Alomar.
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