Happy Thursday to you, Followers! Hope you are having a great week!
Today, we finally put the hit mini-series of the summer, “Three Questions,” to bed.
And that means that football has almost begun!
In case you missed a previous installment in the series, you can all of this season’s episodes by way of our “On Demand” feature below….
June 14th: Brock Huard
June 21st: Bob Condotta
June 28th: Ted Miller
July 5th: Howie Stalwick
July 12th: Cindy Brunson
July 19th: Brian Floyd
July 26th: Doug Haller
Aug. 2nd: Bruce Feldman
Aug. 9th: Christian Caple
Today, we offer a quick reflection or two about the summer series as well as a few takes on news around the sports universe. Click on that jumperoo, won’t you (read on)?
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Followers, those of you who have read this blog for some time know that the summer months offer us Blogfathers some SERIOUSLY slim pickings.
And, for me, well, as I faced summer number 9 in this seemingly never ending blog-odyssey, I felt like I was staring into one massive black hole.
So, just when it seemed that it might truly be high time to hang up my cleats, I got a HORRIBLE burning sensation in my head. And it was then that I realized that I might have just had a thought.
And so I began to wonder (wander?): What would happen if I solicited a few brief interviews with some of my favorite sportswriters and broadcasters? What if THEY actually provided the material so that the only thing I had to do was upload them to the Penguins, sit back, and enjoy the sunsets?
So, with those delusions of grandeur fully in tow, I got busy making my list. Ted Miller was the first, Condotta was second, Cindy B was third, Brock Huard was fourth, and Bruce Feldman—the longest of long-shots—was fifth. And Sports By Brooks—who actually picked WSU to go to the Pac12 Conference Championship game back in February, was sixth.
Once my initial list of folks was set, I then started the wonderfully humiliating process of soliciting interviews, recognizing that it would be a miracle if I could get even three responses.
However, within five minutes of mailing em out, Brock Huard responded and said that he would be happy to participate. A few minutes later, Bob Condotta said he would be back with his responses in a day or two. Three hours later, Condotta’s responses were already in my inbox. What’s more, when I got up the next morning, I got a message that said “Thanks so much for including me in this series!” And below? Bruce Feldman has already provided answers to his three questions!
So, the moral to the story is simple: The folks that are out there in covering Cougar News and, at times, representing Washington State University as alumni, are some pretty neat folks. Importantly, they love what they do, and because of that, they are more than willing to lend a helping hand to those of us who have been wallowing in the shadows, protecting the ever alluring golden ring known as Cougar Football.
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Now, in terms of favorite moments? Well, I ask you:
What were your favorite moments in this summer’s series?
Personally, I liked all of em. But the following tidbits from a few interviews remain vivid for me weeks after the fact:
- Brock Huard’s view that WSU still lacks the team speed top-to-bottom that characterized Leach’s better teams at Texas Tech.
- The seriousness and diligence that Condotta brings to his AP vote.
- Ted Miller’s view of the tensions between sports-as-business and the social-moral obligations of universities as educational institutions.
- Cindy Brunson’s love of her job and life
- Doug Haller’s take on how revered Herb Sendek is in the basketball coaching world.
- Bruce Feldman’s confidence in Mike Leach and his optimism for this year’s football team.
- And Christian Caple’s view that the basketball team may fare better with respect to conference standing than the football team (and Motum’s showing down under suggests that WSU Hoops may be a sleeping giant this year).
Finally, with respect to the “best overall interview,” well, as Sean suggested, it might have been Brian Floyd….
But again, you tell us…And also, if you feel like it, give us a word or two about who you’d like to have us interview next year? (assuming that the Penguins renew our deal)….
Now, onto the links…
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BIG DAY yesterday in the sports world. For starters, we have King Felix’s PERFECT game. Don’t know about you all, but outside of a few moments provided by Pedro Martinez about ten years ago, I am not sure that I’ve seen a guy with more electric stuff than what Felix had yesterday. I mean those breaking balls were starting up at guys’ eyeballs before dropping down and away toward their shoe strings.
It was simply a stunning performance.
A few hours later, the US Men’s National Soccer Team made history by winning in Mexico for the first time in the country’s HISTORY. You can read about the 1-0 win HERE and can also catch some pretty neat saves by keeper Tim Howard on the same link.
Also, don’t know if you all knew this or not, but the two most popular sports for young adults ages 18-22?
- Football
- Soccer
Oh, Times they are a changin’…
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Finally, last night marked the debut of the Pac-12 Network. Don’t know about the rest of you, but I have been waiting for months to watch the debut of the network that will forever connect me to our Cougars. And so, as the clock hit 9:00pm on the Least Coast last night, me a little Sutra were on the coach ready to watch the season preview for conference football.
But alas, it was not mean to be.
After spending 1 hour on hold last night with the folks at Time Warner in Syracuse, I was informed that the “guy” in charge of activating the network (e.g. Hitting the Switch) had forgot to, so I would get the network as soon as he would answer his fricking cell phone.
And today? Well, still no Pac-12 Network for those of us in Central New York. So, please keep us Westcoast transplants in your thoughts and prayers today, as I sit in front of the television in earnest.
Yesterday was almost perfect.
Almost.
That’s all we have for today. I’ll be back next week with my annual “Hope or Nope” column.
Only two weeks til game day, folks!
All for now. Go Cougs.
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