Recent Stories with tag sports

2010 Seattle Seahawks Team Photo

The Seattle Seahawks are losers. This is not an insult, it's documented fact. The Hawks won seven games and lost nine. Still, that was good enough for first place in their division.

And due to the NFL's lenient playoff policy, division winners host a playoff game. Just so happens that the Seahawks will host, and have a chance to dethrone, the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints. The Saints, a Heartwarming Story of Redemption For A City That Has Been Through So Much, are the NFL's favored children. The Seahawks, not so much.

Witness this scene when Saints quarterback Greg Marmalard Drew Brees visited the office of Faber College Dean Vernon Wormer NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell:

Goodell: "Drew, what is the worst playoff team in the NFL?"

Brees: "Well that would be hard to say, sir. They're each outstanding in their own way."

Goodell: "Cut the horseshit, son. I've got their statistics right here. Who gained 1,000 fewer yards than their opponents? Who finished 31st in the league in rushing? Who lost to Denver?"

Brees: "You're talking about the Seahawks, sir."

Goodell: "Of course I'm talking about the Seahawks, you twerp!"

While this dialogue has been liberally interpreted, you mustn't doubt that the Seahawks' appearance in this year's NFL playoffs displeases the league. The NFL tries above all to control media messaging, and political stats guru Nate Silver writing in The New York Times that the Seahawks are the worst playoff team in the history of pro sports is not the message they want to see. The NFL even tried to hide from the Seahawks' record on their website. What gives? Why are the Seahawks on trial? Otter Pete Carroll doesn't think it's fair:... (more)

Hundreds of Seattleites walked through the rain to Safeco Field this afternoon to remember Mariners broadcaster Dave Niehaus. It was the largest such memorial since Kurt Cobain's in 1994. Cobain and Niehaus shared this gift: They were both storytellers.

"We tell ourselves stories in order to live," Joan Didion wrote. I will append this: We also listen to stories in order to live. And when the storyteller dies, we feel compelled to thank them for their life-sustaining work.

Niehaus and Cobain performed in different media, to be sure, but the stories they told weren't as different as you might think. For Niehaus, it was the annual struggle of the Mariners--a team with a lousy stadium, disinterested owners, and a knack for bad decisions--to compete with their wealther, smarter big brothers of baseball.

Even when people didn't come to the games, they were listening. The Mariners had some of the highest radio ratings in baseball. This was the early 1980s, a dismal time for America, the time when my father, born and raised in Seattle, tells me he first saw a man looking for food in a dumpster.

It's also the time when a young Kurt Cobain was growing up on the evenm more economically depressed Olympic Peninsula, first in Montesano, then in Aberdeen. Cobain's stories of struggle came from that experience. Who knows, maybe he even listened to Niehaus, whose voice was heard throughout the Pacific Northwest.... (more)

Special to The SunBreak by John Hieger, sports music correspondent.

Our Flickr pool's Slightlynorth provides this Diana Mini shot of Qwest.

Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley isn't the only failed holdover from the Seahawks' past seasons of doom. During last Sunday's embarrassing loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Qwest Field tortured fans with the tired '90s ballad "Bittersweet Symphony" no fewer than 300 times, adding a cruel soundtrack of despair to an already depressing display by the home team.

It's inexcusable for a franchise consistently plagued by insufficient toughness to leave fans hostage to an aging pop anthem more befitting a romantic comedy than a vicious pass rush.

If blitzing, sacks, and intimidating tackles are few and far between in Seattle, inspired local music is not in short supply. You would think the guy who built the Battlestar Hendrix Museum might have an appreciation for pairing a tune with the appropriate vibe and venue--but in this case Allen or his tone-deaf Vulcan minions have left the tiresome "Bittersweet Symphony" on the stadium loop too long and the on-field consequences of repetitious, existential pop crap are obvious; Lofa Tatupu can no longer tackle. Marcus Trufant looks depressed.

"You’ re a slaaaave to money then you diiiiie."

Would you want to make a brain-injuring tackle after hearing that lyric for the third time in four plays? Me neither. I recommend Paul Allen unloan Jimi Hendrix's Woodstock guitar to prevent further Jimmy Kimmel Fallon blasphemy and familiarize himself with some of the local artists in his museum that could actually rock the anemic Seahawks back into crunching Northwest form.

You hate America if you're not roused by "Man in the Box." Perhaps Jerry Cantrell's heavy riffs might finally produce something from Aarron Curry other than high-priced confusion on bootlegs--we can only speculate until the change is made.... (more)

Husky fans that lapsed into a coma shortly after the 2002 Sun Bowl may awaken to find that they didn’t miss anything.

The team has not been close to a bowl game since, and need three wins in their final three games in order to become bowl eligible in this, Jake Locker's final season. The first of these three games is tonight vs. UCLA, and you're likely currently stuck in traffic as a result.

Since getting to a bowl will take wins, we asked a group of award-winning Husky fans to discuss how they think the season will play out:

Do you think the Huskies will win their final three games and become bowl eligible?

Frank (Mr. Anderson News Quiz Champion, 5/23/1995): Ehh, maybe if we didn't have to play Cal at Berkeley--the Bears have been sick at home.

Drew (Parking Spot Award Runner-Up the Last Four Months*): No, primarily because the week-on, week-off inconsistency of this team will mean likely one or two losses in these last three games. Even if the bye week helps them rest and prepare for UCLA this week, and UW gets a win, you have two tough road games against Cal, who plays really well at home and almost upset Oregon, and WSU where it'll probably be snowing and bitch-ass-cold. The Cougs are probably the most improved team in the Pac-10 this season, or at least the past 3-5 games.

Ansley (Funplex Pop-a-Shot Champion): I don't think they are going to get the three wins they need, but it hurts me so much to type it that I might just take it back.

Dusty (2002 Nobel Prize in Physics): Yes, they will become bowl eligible because there are now 60 bowl games, so every FBS school is required to play in the post-season.  That said, we will finish 3-9, so pack your bags for the Poodle Dog "Good Food" Bowl in beautiful Fife, WA!... (more)

"I can't imagine not doing it. I can imagine not doing it, but you might as well dig a hole and put me in it." -- Dave Niehaus, 2008.

I heard the old-fashioned way, from the disbelieving exclamation of a downtown bartender. "Didja hear? Dave Niehaus died." See, I had my pupils dilated this afternoon, and I hadn't been able to read the several text messages from longtime friends telling me that Hall-of-Famer Niehaus, the Mariners' radio and TV voice since the franchise's first pitch 34 summers ago, was gone.

Niehaus in 1982

Tens of thousands of us grew up with Niehaus' voice, an annual feature of Seattle life as steady and predictable as October rain. Niehaus' baritone resonated though my childhood--under my blanket, as I defied my parents' orders to go to bed. His voice was part of my teenage years--in beater cars, as my friends and I drove around town. It filled my young adulthood--through Manhattan pay phone receivers, when I'd call 1-800-MY-MARINERS to hear game highlights. And the sound was still there my early 30s--I'd pull a radio out onto my porch, turn on Niehaus, and listen to that voice for what I knew, at his age, might be the last time. I made a point to do so during this season's last game. Macabre, I know. Glad I did.

Seemed appropriate to hear about Niehaus' death at a bar, since when he started his career, that's how sports news spread. Born in Depression-era Indiana, Niehaus lived through four media revolutions, from radio to television to cable to the Internet. And because of those revolutions, no sports media figure in this town will ever have Niehaus' influence.

For most of Niehaus' career, Mariner fans saw our team through his eyes--literally, as so few games were televised. The Mariners' first season, 1977, only 17 of 162 games were on TV. As late as 1994, only 71 games were scheduled for TV broadcasts. Now, we watch the games on TV at the gym with the sound down, or spy the internet gamecast, or follow the score on our phones. Then, Niehaus was often our only live link to the team.... (more)

When the Seahawks acquired Charlie Whitehurst, the very bald Matt Hasselbeck joked that maybe new coach Pete Carroll was trying to send him a message by trading for the hairiest quarterback in the league.

Now that a concussion has knocked Hasselbeck out of Sunday's game, Hawk fans will be seeing Whitehurst's gorgeous locks and beard all afternoon.

Clipboard Jesus' first start will come as a blessed event for a growing number of fans tired of Hasselebeck's aging and continued ineffectiveness. Granted, he plays behind a patched-up offensive line, which because of injuries will be starting a stack of phonebooks at left tackle.

So instead of another Sunday of Hawk fans arguing over how many years Hasselbeck has left, I am calling for everyone to embrace the beard-fearing mantra of the Giants (the recent World Series champions, not Sunday's opponents). Go to this website, follow the directions, and get behind Whitehurst. We will have all next week to scream at each other about who should be starting at Arizona.

Sure, Giants fans drunk on champagne may get upset that we are borrowing their rally cry, but Seahawk fans have been down that road before.

You may have missed it, but last night was the first of NBA season. And though Seattle doesn't have a team, the 206 was represented. Three Seattle high-school grads--of the 12 on NBA rosters--showed their stuff on opening night.

Nate Robinson (Rainier Beach, Boston Celtics) played just 10 minutes in the Celtics' win over the Threet, but he did have a suh-weet play where he pumped-faked a three, drove left around his defender to the baseline, elevated, switched hands in mid-air, twisted, and scooped a shot behind his head off the glass and in. Nate Robinson is an absolute marvel.

Brandon Roy (Garfield, Portland Trail Blazers) led the Blazers with 24 points in their win over Phoenix. The Suns didn't ever find a player who could guard Roy, who made Josh Childress look especially silly. Roy's layup with 5:05 left began a 16-1 Blazers' run to close the game. The Blazers have gotten younger and faster with the additions of guards Wes Matthews and Armon Johnson. Look out.

Aaron Brooks (Franklin, Houston Rockets) had an 18-point first-half from his starting point guard spot, but it's the shot he didn't make in the second-half that's haunting him this morning. Rockets down two, Brooks drove baseline and got to the basket, but Lamar Odom blocked his last-second shot. Rockets lost.

So what's up with the nine other Seattle-area guys? Here's a quick rundown.... (more)

I’ve heard this sentiment from Laurelhurst to Leschi lately: “I just can’t figure the [Huskies/Seahawks] out! One week they beat a good team, the next week they lose to a bad one! What gives?”

What gives, friends, is that both the Huskies and Seahawks have emerged from the muck of terribleness. Joy! However, they have not stumbled very far. They now gambol in the slightly damp ground of mediocrity. The move will take some adjustment.

“Good enough to beat USC on the road. Bad enough to lose all momentum at home,” wrote the Seattle Times’ Jerry Brewer of the Huskies. “The only characteristic of this team is that it's indefinable.”

Not really, no. You can define them pretty easily with SAT math: (Good+Bad)/2 = Average.

The Seahawks are almost exactly comme çi, comme ça: They have scored one more point than they have allowed.... (more)

Winning Smile=Winning Ballclub!

If you think of the "Hat Trick" as a revolutionary development in entertainment, you will love the Mariners' manager search.

When the Seahawks needed a new on-field leader, they identified the best possible candidate, offered him truckloads of money, and secured his services stealthily. The NFL rule requiring they interview a minority candidate? The Seahawks basically ignored it.

The Mariners' manager search, by contrast, shows the same lack of imagination evident in the franchise's between-innings entertainment choices.

Despite the availability of Bobby Valentine, far and away the most talented manager on the job market, the Mariners are plodding along with their traditional interview process. First round of interviews is this week, with Valentine coming to town along with four inferior candidates.

You may ask me: Seth, why is Bobby Valentine far and away the best candidate for Mariners manager? And I will answer you simply: "Because he got a team to the World Series with an outfield of Benny Agbayani, Jay Payton, and Timo Perez."

If Valentine were a political candidate, this would be my "It's the Economy, Stupid."... (more)

The bar at Gordon Biersch, Pacific Place

Even my schwarzbier looked three-dimensional. I was down at Gordon Biersch, on the fourth floor of the Pacific Place shopping center, following up on a story about the World Cup in 3D. How good could it be? Would it be annoying or jaw-dropping? Neither, it turns out. It's just better, more immersive. You look into the game, not at it.

Two HD 1080p 46-in. JVC flat panels (not sold on the consumer market yet) flanked each side of the bar, carrying a Direct TV transmission of ESPN's 3D World Cup coverage. RealD 3D glasses (the polarized "sunglasses" style you get at the movie theater) were handed out. If anything, the results were almost too crisp and defined, giving me the impression I was watching someone else play an EA FIFA 10 game.

ESPN's 3D cameras gave an enormous depth to the pitch, and the sheer size of the crowd was visceral. Early on, the 2D ESPN transmission was showing replays the 3D transmission was missing, but eventually the 3D crew seemed to catch up. There were the same multiple angles, and the back-of-the-net cam paid real dividends in 3D.

In general, the 3D is not obtrusive--it emphasizes depth-of-field rather than coming-right-at-you! I noticed it more the times it helped make sense of a previously flat view. For instance, corner kicks, with a multitude of players clustered in front of the goal, made much more visual sense. Even in a tight space, I could "place" the players in relation to the goal. It was also easier to tell when shots on goal were curving wide.

The weirdest moments came when a fan's flag intruded suddenly into the foreground--it's a little alarming when things poke suddenly into view "near" your eye. And when it began to rain in South Africa--yes, "I bless the rains down in Africa"--the drops resolving near the lens had the feel of special effects magic.... (more)

Gordon Biersch in Seattle's Pacific Place is adding a third dimension to sports bar offerings--something called RealD 3D TV. They believe they're the only restaurant in Seattle that's gone 3D--with two new 46" HD-3D TVs installed in the bar area. (They're supplying the 3D glasses, but if you have your own special pair, by all means.)

That means this weekend, it's time for a RealD 3D World Cup: They'll be showing both the Saturday, July 10th match at 11:30 a.m., between Uruguay and Germany for third place, and the final on Sunday, July 11th, again 11:30 a.m., between Netherlands and Spain. (That's gonna be a lot of 3D orange to take in.)

Realizing not everyone is into "football," Gordon Biersch is also showing the Mariners v. New York Yankees on Saturday at 7 p.m. and again on Sunday, at 1 p.m. You can catch the All-Star Game in 3D on Tuesday, July 13th, at 5 p.m.

They're hoping you'll try out their new SommerBrau beer and Caribbean-style summer menu: Shrimp & Lobster Spring Rolls, Island Steak Tacos, and a Montego Bay Banana Split. These are also in 3D, but no special eyewear is necessary.

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

I'm not going to label Spanish sports fans as racists, especially when you can lump their athletes into that category as well. However, Spain is turning into quite the little sports factory. Pau Gasol bailed out Kobe and the Lakers in Game 7, and Ricky Rubio is apparently the point guard of the future. Their soccer team is the defending Euro Cup champions and are one win away from World Cup glory.

In honor of this, I was planning on a large tapas meal with some Jumilla wine. Then over Fourth of July weekend, a friend produced some quality chorizo, and well, I couldn't help myself. This Spanish sausage was dry and spicy, much like other tube meats I've eaten from warm and sandy locales.

As far as I know, taking the insides of animals, hair, and dead flies and then putting all of that in a casing made from a different dead animal started in damp Northern Europe. So when it came to German food, I knew that I was getting something juicy.

I went to Prost for an early Germany game, and found that for the low, low price of $25,  I could have an entire boot of beer, and then...keep the boot! These are the sort of things I probably won't be able to spend money on when I have kids.... (more)

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

Three international powers: England, France, and Italy, played well bellow expectations, with Les Bleus and Azzurri being sent home after group play. However, the French team caused their countrymen to beam with pride by going on strike.

So if these three countries weren't going to give it their all, I wasn't about to return the favor. For a simple French breakfast, I went to Le Pichet and ordered a baguette et beurre. Then in honor of Italy, I went to Pasta and Co. and picked up ravioli and fettuccini for dinner. Wow, even their half-assed food is really tasty.

Seriously, if I ever win the lottery, I am going to get a house in Southern France or Northern Italy, and just eat and eat and eat and eat and eat, and then dress cats up like Charles Dickens characters.... (more)

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

A popular storyline in the sports media (which is therefore completely moronic) is whether or not the U.S. will be able to overcome the Koman job they got at the end of the Slovenia game in order to focus on Algeria.

Well, while the American team has to get over a bad call, the Algerians had to overcome almost getting killed to defeat the favored Egypt team just to qualify. After violence in Cairo, their next match was moved to the Sudan to lessen the chance of violence--that's right, moved to the Sudan to lessen the chance of violence.

As my friend Jason pointed out, "Nothing steels the mind like having rocks thrown at you."

In honor of this game, I made couscous and Marquez, a North African sausage we purchased at Uli's, this project’s official sausage vendor (whether they like it or not).... (more)

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

What if there was a place that was just like your home with nicer weather and the people were more fun? Now before you scream out, "It's called the Bay Area," we love those "bridge crossers"--however, they tend to bring up the subject of social justice pretty fast, and then you're on the next BART to Snoresmont.

British people have two countries that fit that description, Australia and New Zealand. Because of this, a lot of the cuisine Down Under is similar to what one finds in England: flavorless meat in flavorless gravy.

Except that New Zealand lamb is the tastiest in the world, which makes sense because the country is like 80 percent sheep, with the other 20 percent consisting of people, plants, mountains, water, hobbits, and air. When I visit my English grandmother, she makes Yorkshire puddings with New Zealand lamb, and I am in dingo heaven.... (more)

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

How is it possible that the people of Washington and Mississippi belong to the same country, yet the citizens of Denmark and Holland do not?

Of their many similarities, both of these countries have a globe-covering mass-produced beer. Denmark gave the world Carlsberg, and Holland put Heineken in our lives, who in turn gave us the driving dog.

In fact, as far as I can tell, the only difference between Denmark, Holland, and the Netherlands is that Holland has been playing an exciting style of soccer since the days of Jen Van Der Vlasman, and the Danish like to publish children's books about suicidal mermaids.

Heineken was the first imported beer to enter the U.S. after prohibition ended and continues to be our number-one import. (Molson, you have no excuse.) Carlsberg has been brewed in Denmark since the mid-1850s, and some of its past logos include an elephant and a swastika. Can you guess which one was dropped in the 1930s?

Now as Three Sheets Denmark taught us, both countries have tasty microbrews, however, you try and find a Mirror Pond Pale Ale in Viborg or Haarlemmermeer.

For some reason, a six-pack of Carlsberg, which tastes like our mass-produced Budweiser Miller Coors, costs eleven bucks at both Bottleworks on 45th and at the QFC next door. Do the Danes make us pay their socialist taxes, or are they still mad about The Prince and Me? I ended up buying a pint at Murphy's down the street, where they don't serve Dutch beer (racists). So I had to find some other bar that would serve us a Heineken, which took about seven seconds.

Heineken and Carlsberg: from small, white person-filled, coastal, non-threatening regions come global beer empires. Ah, that is why the microbeer boom started in the Northwest and not down Dixie way.

David Swidler is eating, drinking, and cooking his way through all 32 World Cup countries, much like he does at his site cookingvssports.com.

The last two days were historic for South Africa and their meaning and impact should not be taken lightly. Many claimed it could never happen, but after years of struggling and overcoming long odds, South Africa is finally able to stand tall and say to the rest of the world, "We have an actor that is playing Murdock in an A-Team movie."

At this special time I am proud to point out that Seattle has a lot in common with South Africa! For example it’s currently winter in both places and over there, like at our Pike Place Market, it's easy to find their national sausage, boerewors.

Boerewors is an Afrikaner word meaning "farmer sausage," which is what I call the creepy guy who works at our local petting zoo. (Thank you).

I went to Uli’s Famous Sausage and thought about asking if their boerewors meet the official standards. However, it being June, they were busy with several tourists asking about the Sleepless in Seattle houseboat. So, I just assume that their mix of minced beef, pork, red wine vinegar, and coriander is pretty close to what Desmond Tutu tosses on his grill.

The boerewors itself is very dry and crumbly. Could that be because much like South African farmers would do, Uli’s hung them out to dry in the hot sun--or was it simply because the cows and/or pigs used had come down with World Cup fever, causing their insides to break apart? Much like the application of the offside rule, it will remain a mystery.

South Africa, we salute you, your borewors, and all of your future attempts at '80s TV-to-film adaptations.

Every four years, the people of earth set aside their religious, territorial, and cultural differences and funnel all of their hate through soccer.

In honor of this year’s World Cup, I will eat, drink, or make a meal inspired by each country in the the entire 33 team field…What’s that?…Belgium is out? They just packed up and left? Well fine, who needs them anyway.  Now, where was I, oh yes, I will eat, drink, or make a meal inspired by each country in the entire 32 team field by the final game on July 11.

Easy you think? Well because only one Scandinavian and three Asian teams qualified I’m at a serious hometown disadvantage. If anyone knows of a good Slovakian restaurant or Slovenian recipe, please let me know.

Now, if you’re asking yourself, what does this guy knows about international cuisine, I confess not that much. However, may I ask you what you know about doing your job? Yeah, that’s what I thought. We’re in the same boat you and I, so I won’t tell anyone if you don’t.

We’ll be starting on Friday with World Cup host South Africa, and their delicious KFC Popcorn Chicken.

About a month ago, I went to Safeco Field with a friend to watch the Mariners play the the New York Yankees, scum that they are. We met early at the beer garden across the street from the field. We each had a beer and a hot dog and we talked about our busy weeks while casually observing the tight denim backsides of the female fans. All very ordinary, except for one thing: I was wearing a brand new, brilliant white Mariners jersey. It was the first time I'd ever put on such a flaunting, flashing display of my little place in the fandom. And it felt great.

But I find myself wondering sometimes, how did I get here? It wasn't that many years ago that I not only avoided professional sports, but downright loathed them. It's not that I hated sports. Far from it. I had the time of my life playing co-ed soccer years ago, and again recently when I played on my company softball team. We lost every game, badly. In fact, the mercy rule came into effect in a couple of innings. But we had a blast losing those games.

No, it was never about sports. It was the corporate commercialization of the game. It was the performance-enhancing drugs. It was, I felt, wasting one's time and money on spoiled, over-paid jocks who didn't really represent my city or state, but were here only because they were paid to be. Jerks!

So what happened? How did I go from Major League Hater to the guy standing at the cash register of the Mariners Team Store, happily forking over a wad of cash for a jersey I probably wouldn't even wear that often?

I'd gone to Mariners games a few times a year since 2001 because the company I worked for at the time had season tickets. It was something to do. And I started occasionally watching the Seahawks in 2003 if nothing better was on television, but it wasn't until a lazy Sunday in 2005 that some inner sports fan scratched himself and then flipped a switch in my brain. Ambling through the channels, I landed on a Seahawks game, saw that they were beating the Atlanta Falcons and decided to stick around and watch. The following week, I watched again as they beat the Arizona Cardinals. The week after that, they lost to the Washington Redskins, but by this time something was already happening. I was becoming familiar with our team. I suddenly knew the names of our players. Brown, Tatupu, Wallace, Babineaux, Trufant, and of course, Hasselbeck and Alexander. It was becoming the perfect Sunday ritual. Me, the television, some guacamole.

At some point during the season, I bought a knit hat with the Seahawks logo emblazoned across the front, you know, to keep my head warm. Then I bought another one, in a different color.

For eleven weeks straight, the Seahawks never lost a game and it was during this time that I got it. That feeling. Something like hometown pride, but also camaraderie with people I didn't even know. I spent the playoffs cheering and screaming in bars with these people.

By playoff time I'd bought a cool Seahawks t-shirt with bright, lime green piping on the sleeves. By the end of Super Bowl XL, my voice was nearly gone from screaming at the Goddamn referees. I was a fan.

When I moved to the Seattle area in 1999, Ken Griffey Jr. had just left the building so I wasn't around for the many cheers and tears that man created during his ten years as a Mariner. I was, however, always aware of his impact and it was amazing to see how excited people were when it was announced that he was coming back. A woman in my office absolutely squealed with delight the moment she got the official word.

The 2009 Mariners season hasn't exactly been great, but it has without a doubt had its great moments. A lot of this obviously has to do with Griffey's return. It's been reported all over that his return to Seattle has done something spectacular, not only for the fans, but also for the moral of his team. He's made this season so much fun to watch if only because of the chance he might do something wonderful like he did in the August 12 game against the White Sox, in which, in the 14th inning, he pinch-hit an RBI single to give the Mariners a walk-off win. A scoreless 14 innings and I was ready to give up and go to bed. But when I heard Griffey was up to bat, I stayed up to see what would happen. And when he ripped that ball down the right-field line sending Adrian Beltre home, I jumped and screamed while the dog and cat fled to another room with their ears down.

It's moments like this that make me a fan. Not to mention Ichiro's recent record-setting achievement of 200 hits in 9 consecutive seasons. The man is simply amazing.

But I still haven't answered the question. What happened? Is it because I'm turning 30 in a couple of months? A simple matter of fading idealism as I get older? I have been reading less Noam Chomsky--opting instead to watch reruns of How I Met Your Mother. Aren't Marshall and Lily so adorable?

I'm not yet a sports nerrrd. I don't memorize stats. Half the time I don't even know what the stats mean. I've joined a fantasy tournament exactly once, resulting in the most neglected fantasy team ever. But I'll be sitting in the center-field cheap seats for this week's series against the White Sox. I'll be there in my gleaming white Mariners jersey and I'll be wearing that same jersey during this weekend's series against the Goddamn Yankees--even if I'm watching at home alone. It's more fun that way.

I am a fan.