We first brought you the news of University of Washington center Joe Wolfinger’s pending transfer all the way back in February. So don’t say we’ve never provided you any gifts, Wolf haters.
That said, if you’re like me, and found the seven-footer mildly entertaining over the past four years, the official confirmation of his departure earlier this week came as relatively sad news in the world of local sports. No, Wolf wasn’t the greatest basketball player to ever grace the court, but at least he was fun to watch play, no matter your definition of fun.
A gangly bundle of awkwardly packaged limbs, Wolfinger arrived on Montlake in 2005 as the walking definition of odd. He possessed the height of a bona fide center, but the corresponding physique of a Red Vine. His size screamed “inside game,” but his mind told him “shooting guard.” We expected hook shots, post moves, and dunks; we got three-pointers….and, uh, that’s about it.
There are very few comparisons we can make between Wolfinger’s on-court play and anything else in life, but I have one.
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Local Newscasters Square Off In First Round
In perhaps the most interesting first round matchup of the entire Bigger Dance, two Seattle-based newscasters will go head-to-head for the right to move into Round Two.
Lisa Gangel, KING 5 sportscaster, takes on Rebecca Stevenson, KIRO 7 meteorologist, in this battle of local proportions.
Stevenson is a first-timer in this competition and will probably have to settle for the joy that comes with making the field. She’ll have a tough time taking care of Gangel, who has the edge in experience (this is her second Bigger Dance appearance) and familiarity with the voting audience (she does cover sports, after all).
We’ve chronicled Gangel on this website before, and it should come as no surprise to anyone when she steamrolls her way into the Round of 32. Gangel with the W.
Breaking down the rest of the region:
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As a kid growing up in the ’80s and ’90s, your typical Saturday morning meant one thing: the NBA on NBC.
Admit it, every time you hear the familiar tune of “Heart of a Champion,” you’re transported back to a childhood weekend in front of the old-school Hitachi TV set. There’s Marv Albert, calling the game. Mike Fratello providing commentary. Bob Costas, Peter Vecsey, and Hannah Storm in studio. Michael Jordan going head-to-head with John Starks. Those were the days.
Back then, professional sports made it their mission to reach out to the youth of the world. Primetime games were played at 10:00 AM on Saturday mornings. Shows like NBA Inside Stuff with Ahmad Rashad were geared towards engaging a younger crowd, as well as adults. Even the NBA All-Star Weekend featured a pre-event tailored especially for pre-pubescents. The stars of yesteryear were role models (despite what Charles Barkley might profess), and the best of the best capitalized on their kid-friendly fame to expand their fan base (think M.J. in Space Jam).
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