Based on our teams’ unique record of non-championship play, Forbes Magazine says Seattle is “America’s Most Miserable Sports City.” Writeth author Tom Van Riper: “Through a cumulative 111 seasons and 37 playoff appearances, Seattle boasts only one champion: the 1979 Sonics.”
Do you feel miserable? I don’t really feel that miserable. Maybe I take the long view because my family has been in Seattle since 1889, but it could be a lot worse. I mean, take Portland: They have only one pro team, and it’s cursed. Or the larger metro areas without teams at all, like Las Vegas, San Jose, Austin.
Sure, only the one championship in those 111 seasons, but is a season without a championship necessarily a “miserable” one? The ’95-’96 Sonics, ’83 Seahawks and ’95 Mariners come to mind as seasons that won’t count in the championship tally, but were glorious nonetheless. The Sounders and Storm have provided some exciting moments recently — two U.S. Open Cups and a WNBA title just in the past 18 months.
Maybe you disagree. Maybe 1 championship in 111 seasons really is horrible. In that case, there’s still a bright side. I refer to the words of former Braves owner Ted Turner, who told his team after a long losing streak: “Look at it this way: We’re making a lot of people happy in other cities!”
In other news…
The Mariners tied 6-6 with San Diego. Presumed rotation lock Doug Fister allowed two runs in two innings, and closer candidate Chris Ray blew a save. Minor league sluggers Greg Halman and Johermyn Chavez each homered.
The Mariners pay tribute to Dave Niehaus in this year’s media guide.
Are you making plans to get to Tacoma Dome for the state high school hoops tourney? I’m pumped for Thursday’s 16 quarterfinal games — 8 boys’ games and 8 girls’ games–on the two Tacoma Dome courts. Games from 9 a.m. until probably 11 p.m. Good God that’s 14 hours of hoops! Glory be! Tickets are $12/day, or $28 for an all-tournament pass.
The National Football Post named Qwest Field the #3 stadium in the NFL. Lambeau Field and Cowboys Stadium are #1 and #2 — hard to argue that.
The Seahawks resigned special teams standout Kennard Cox, who you may remember as the dude with dreds who blocked a punt against Kansas City.
Former Seattle Pilot Greg Goossen died at 65. Goossen was the subject of one of the great baseball quotes of all time. Talking about his Mets’ spring training charges, Casey Stengel said: “This is Greg Goossen. He’s 19 years old, and in 10 years he’s got a chance to be 29.
The Seattle Times named their all-area high school basketball teams.
The next seven days in Seattle sports…(new feature, suggested by reader Debbie McDonald)
Today, March 1
NCAA Hoops: Seattle U @ Stanford, 7 p.m. (710-AM)
Wednesday, March 2
Nada
Thursday, March 3
State Hoops Quarterfinals at the Tacoma Dome, first game at 9 a.m., last game at 9 p.m.
Hoops: UCLA @ Washington, 6 p.m. (ESPN2)
Hoops: USC @ Washington St., 7 p.m. (850-AM)
Hoops: Oregon St. @ Arizona, 8 p.m. (FSN)
Friday, March 4
Baseball: Mariners vs. Cincinnati, 12:05 p.m. (710-AM)
State Hoops Semifinals at the Tacoma Dome, first game at 3:45 p.m., last game at 9 p.m.
Saturday, March 5
Hoops: Oregon @ Arizona, 11 a.m. (CBS-7)
Baseball: Mariners vs. Cleveland, 12:05 p.m. (710-AM)
Hoops: Big South Tournament Final, 1 p.m. (ESPN2)
Hoops: UCLA @ Washington St., 2:30 p.m. (FSN)
Hoops: Atlantic Sun Tournament Final, 3 p.m. (ESPN2)
Hoops: Ohio Valley Tournament Final, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Hoops: #4 Duke @ #13 North Carolina, 5 p.m. (CBS-7)
Hoops: Seattle U @ Idaho, 7 p.m. (710-AM)
Hoops: USC @ Washington, 7:30 p.m. (FSN)
State 3A Girls Hoops Championship Game @ Tacoma Dome, 3 p.m. (US-joined in progress)
State 4A Girls Hoops Championship Game @ Tacoma Dome, 5 p.m. (FSN)
State 3A Boys Hoops Championship Game @ Tacoma Dome, 7 p.m. (US)
State 4A Boys Hoops Championship Game @ Tacoma Dome, 9 p.m. (FSN)
Sunday, March 6
Hoops: Missouri Valley Tournament Final, 11 a.m. (CBS)
Baseball: Mariners @ San Francisco, 12:05 p.m. (710-AM)
Hoops: #10 Wisconsin @ #1 Ohio State, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Hoops: WCC Tourney Semifinal, 5 p.m. (ESPN2)
Hoops: WCC Tourney Semifinal, 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Monday, March 7
Baseball: Mariners @ Oakland, 12:05 p.m. (No radio)
Hoops: WCC Championship, 6 p.m., (ESPN)