A GROWTH IN SPORT • My father worked in the newspaper industry, making sure that everything that was written and printed the night before landed on the streets of customers early in the morning. It was a good life, although the hours were terrible.
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• My father had his own business. That’s how the system worked back then for the LA Times and people like it. He bought the papers from the Times, worked through the night to get them to the doorstep and collected the subscription fee.
He made enough to feed the family and help three children go to college, although in the late 1970s, a federal court ruled the deal violated antitrust laws. People like Dad couldn’t pay whatever they wanted for the newspaper. The Times determined the cost of the subscription. With the decision, the whole system fell apart.
Why am I bringing this up today? Mainly because, as a small business owner, Dad basically worked 365 days a year. Including Christmas Day. Always on Christmas Day, because there was no way all his dozens of carriers would show up that day. So dad filled in. (Me too, if I had to, after I was about 12 or so.)
Which meant we rarely opened presents on Christmas morning. It was Christmas Eve. Occasionally it is followed by midnight mass, but that is another story. Let’s focus on Christmas Eve. presents. Early gifts.
Like I’m going to deliver on this Christmas Eve.
• About Washington State and athletic director Anne McCoy: No, not a winning MegaMillions lottery ticket, although that would help her department a lot. Instead, the perfect soccer coach. Someone who loves Pullman, likes to be a Cougar, loves a challenge and will settle for at least 20 years. Sorry, but his identity will have to remain a secret, so as not to spoil the surprise when McCoy makes her announcement. You’ll just have to shake the present and try to guess whose name is inside.
• For Jed Collins, My favorite quarterback when I covered the Cougs and now co-chair of the Cougar Collective: Visits from the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Not for you Jed. But for Jody Allen. And all ghosts carry the same message. Fund WSU’s athletic collective with $1 million more per year than whatever Phil Knight gives Oregon. Become the golden of the golden geese in college athletics. Heck, WSU will name a building after her, her brother Paul, and anyone else she might want.
• To make a few notes: The perfect speech to deliver in the Gonzaga locker room before Saturday’s game against UCLA at Steve Ballmer’s new LA mansion. Not only will this false “Miracle” sermon fuel the Zags on this day, but for the rest of the season. It will bring together a disparate but complimentary group and allow them to make a run that culminates in Few’s first NCAA title.
• To all the Mariner fans I know: Ballmer. Well, not the one per se, but the focus of it. A change from the Clippers – really, Steve, the Clippers? That’s like Microsoft buying AOL or something – for the Mariners. Making John Stanton et al an offer they can’t refuse. Buying the team and investing in success, not profits.
• For John Schneider: The New York Giants’ first pick in the 2025 draft in a trade that included DK Metcalf and seven picks. And, no, he can’t use it on Travis Hunter. A quarterback would be nice.
• For Whitworth: Signing Rod Sandberg to an unbreakable 10-year contract. The Pirates have the right guy at the helm of their football program. He has earned the right to be there as long as he wants. And the school deserves to have someone who can continue to build the program. Build a program that can win more than a game or two every year in the NCAA playoffs. Sandberg is the guy.
• To Pac-12 Commissioner Teresa Gould: An email shortly after the start of the year from Jonathan Levin. It means Stanford’s new president has found a loophole in the school’s agreement with the ACC. Cardinal can get out of it. And he wants the school back home. Back to Gould’s reformation conference. But there is a condition. She should promise never to add those Yahoos from Berkeley.
• To all who read this column: Whatever your heart desires. You’ve earned it. Well, that and my undying gratitude.
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WSU: What are you doing on Friday night? We’ll be watching a bunch of guys in Washington State uniforms take on No. 1 Syracuse. 22 in the Holiday Bowl. No, it’s not the same group that won eight of their first nine games this season. Heck it’s not even the same group that finished 8-4. But she will represent the school, no matter who is on the field or practicing. Greg Woods has his first look at the game. … The Cougars lost a quarterback recruit to Wake Forest. … Elsewhere in the Pac-12 (current, past and future) and the nation, Jon Wilner has his best West ranking in men’s basketball at 22nd – nationally – UCLA No. 1 and no. 14 Gonzaga in second place. He has WSU 11th and Oregon State 14th. … Did you know Notre Dame is banking on this CFP? … We have mentioned the decision in the Diego Pavia case. KKSHA answered yesterday. She appealed, but it was also granted, adding a year of eligibility to JC athletes for next season. … This could have an impact for Washington, Oregon State and possibly Oregon. … The Ducks face a rematch in the Rose Bowl. It won’t be easy to lead Ohio State twice in the same season. Dan Lanning knows this. So does Ryan Day. … Is there a more talented team than Texas? Arizona State may just find out in the Peach Bowl. … Stewart Mandel has a mailbag at The Athletic. … John Canzano has one too. … Colorado is in San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl. … Utah has gotten a lot of players from the portal. Here are the best. … The Arizona State quarterback isn’t surprised by his or his team’s success. … Among the upcoming members of the Pac-12 in the Mountain West, Boise State is used to being underdogs. … Fresno State lost in Boise last night, but the real loser was ESPN. … Utah State had a better year than expected. … Yes, Colorado State has a new defensive coordinator. … In basketball news, Seattle U. upset the Washington men last night, snapping a long streak of losing in the series. … Oregon moved up to ninth in the AP Poll. … Oregon State rallied to win again in Hawaii and will play for the tournament championship. … Utah State’s road win over St. Mary’s was built on key elements. … San Diego State moved up three spots in the latest poll.
Gonzaga: The Associated Press men’s basketball poll was released early Monday. The Zags, who won easily twice last week, fell one spot to No. 14, jumped by Oklahoma. Jim Meehan has more on this story.
EWU and Idaho: Around the Big Sky, Montana State will play for another FCS title early next month. The Bozeman Gazette will look back at the other three that the schools have won. Today is 1976. … Montana’s schedule for 2025 is already worth a look. … In basketball news, the Northern Arizona men handled Southern Utah.
Seahawks: For the Hawks to continue making the playoffs, they will need to win twice and get some help. Mainly from Arizona on Saturday night against the Rams in LA… We can go along with another column that touches on non-believing Seahawks fans. … Mike Macdonald is in Geno Smith’s corner. At least for now. … Who will carry the ball this week?
Sailors: Now that the top free agent players are all off the market, where is M’s turn? If it’s for Ty France, along with a statement that Dan Wilson and Edgar Martinez can turn back time to early 2022 for France, we’re out. Done.
Kraken: Coach Dan Bylsma has an extensive library of self-help books. He is more than willing to share them with his players. I wonder if any of them have a surefire way to break a long losing streak?
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• Just a reminder. No column tomorrow. Enjoy your Christmas. We’ll be back on Thursday. Until then…