On a day we should be celebrating — wins by the Husky football team, Husky men’s basketball team, and the Seahawks were the highlights of this victorious sports weekend — tragedy has struck our region in horrific fashion.
Those of you in the area are likely aware, by now, of the murder of four local police officers, gunned down while sitting in a coffee shop early Sunday morning. Officers Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens and Greg Richards — all a part of the Lakewood Police Department — were randomly targeted while going about their daily activities, then shot and killed in a violent act of cowardice.
Law enforcement agents are currently in the process of arresting a person of interest in the quadruple murder, and we can only hope that there will be closure in the near future for all those close to this situation.
A senseless, malicious act that comes not one month after a Seattle police officer was murdered in similar cowardly fashion while sitting in his squad car on an otherwise routine evening.
Tonight we pause from our usual focus and remember four dedicated individuals who gave their lives in the line of duty. Our thoughts, our prayers, and our sincerest condolences go out to the family members, friends, loved ones, and co-workers of the fallen. May justice prevail.
Dawg Pack Dirt: Montana
Volume 6, Issue 6, November 29, 2009
Special to Seattle Sportsnet
After a little break, we are back at it Sunday night when our Dawgs take on the Grizzlies of the University of Montana. We’re doing our job so far this season so let’s keep it up this weekend before we send the Huskies off on their first road trip.
The Game:
-Montana Grizzlies at Washington Huskies
-Sunday, November 29, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. PST
-Bank of America Arena at Hec Edmundson Pavilion
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The time is 10:27 PM PST, Friday, November 27, 2009.
Note this, just in case I happen to be right.
Go Dawgs!
It’s finally here. The first ever Seattle Sportsnet Super Megapost. Like a Black Friday sale on DVDs of movies you can get for free on demand.
Fueled by a 16 oz. Red Bull and based off of suggestions for topics that you, our loyal readers, have sent our way, we have created this enormous monstrosity of an article weighing in on every single subject posed to us.
To be a part of the next Super Megapost, simply add us as your friend on Facebook and watch our status updates for the next Super Megapost announcement. Thanks to those of you who participated in our initial foray into the world of Super Megapostdom!
In chronological order of submission, here we go…
Topic No. 1: UW Mexican Cultural Day, 2010
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Katelynn Johnson is a student at the University of Oregon. A week ago, you didn’t know her name. Back then, she was just another pretty face in the Ducks’ flock of attractive (in a Fembot sort of way, assuming you’re not an Oregon fan) cheerleaders.
Today, though, Johnson is famous.
You may have already heard her story, but in case you haven’t, here it is.
Last Saturday, the Oregon football team was in Tucson to take on the Arizona Wildcats. In a closely-contested battle with bowl implications for both teams, Oregon won on a touchdown in overtime before the proverbial ish hit the fan.
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Meet the newest Husky basketball recruit, Enes Kanter.
A 6’10″ center from Turkey, Kanter is 17 years old and a member of the high school class of 2010. Rated as a five-star recruit and one of the top players in his class, Kanter will make his debut on Montlake next fall for the start of the 2010-2011 season.
Unlike many European big men, Kanter is not a three-point shooter (rejoice!). In fact, he’s a big man who plays like a big man, and at 245 pounds should provide a formidable presence on the interior block.
Though many project Kanter as a one-and-done player, the native of Istanbul turned down multi-million dollar contracts from multiple European ballclubs — most notably Greek powerhouse Olympiakos (where former Stanford Cardinal and Atlanta Hawks shooting guard Josh Childress now plays) — to pursue an education in the United States. He currently attends Stoneridge Prep School in Tarzana, Calif.
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University of Washington tight end Kavario Middleton says the Huskies will score 50 points on Saturday against Washington State in the Apple Cup. I need 50 points by halftime. I’m trying to get to Tacoma to see the Bothell-Skyline game (which, let’s face it, is a better matchup than Washington-Washington State) and need an excuse to leave at intermission.
So let’s try and put up 50 points by halftime, Huskies. I mean, you shouldn’t set your sights on a number this low. The scoring is technically infinite, though at some point the clock plays a role. And 50 points is, at the very least, a mere seven scores. Seven. That’s nothing.
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The Seattle Sportsnet Super Megapost is a collection of topics suggested by you, our readers, and addressed by us, the Seattle Sportsnet staff. Anything is fair game, so long as it doesn’t cross our fairly lenient decency boundaries, and all the suggested topics will be addressed in the coming days in our Super Megapost.
This is your opportunity to be a part of the site and send in your suggestions for our articles.
To participate, you can comment on this post with your suggestions, or contact us through Facebook.
Thanks for your help!
Dawg Pack Dirt: San Jose State
Volume 6, Issue 5, November 20, 2009
Special to Seattle Sportsnet
First off, amazing job this past weekend. Especially on Sunday against Portland State. Phil Nelson came out hot and we literally helped shut him down by getting in his head which is exactly what we’re here to do.
The Dawg Pack was recognized by Percy Allen of The Seattle Times and even got mentioned nationally in the AP’s game story.
Here is a message I received from Phil Nelson himself after the game: “Yeah thanks I appreciate it…good work out there yall did good.”
The dirt for this game is a little slim so we’re going to have to be creative.
On that note, on with the dirt…
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Once upon a time, the Pontiac Silverdome was the home of the NFL’s Detroit Lions and the NBA’s Detroit Pistons. Built in 1975 in the midst of America’s dome frenzy era, the Silverdome was constructed at a cost of $55,000,000 (or roughly $220,000,000 in today’s economy). This past Monday, the 127 acre plot of land along with its dilapidated arena was sold to a Canadian investment firm for $583,000. Yes, that’s thousands of dollars, not millions.
I know what you’re thinking right now. You’re thinking, “How in the hell did I let this opportunity pass me by?” There are literally millions of Americans out there that could have purchased the Silverdome and done whatever they wanted with it. It costs slightly more than the median home price in many cities across the U.S. And frankly, why have a home when you can have a dome?
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Here at Seattle Sportsnet, we like to use our pseudo-celebrity to do good every now and then. Which is why we’re starting a coalition to get longtime comedy sketch show Almost Live! on DVD.
If you’re a native Seattleite, you likely know all about Almost Live!. For 15 years (1984-1999) the Emmy award-winning program was a Saturday night staple on local NBC affiliate KING 5 television. Emulating the style of Saturday Night Live, Almost Live! put a Northwest spin on humorous local and national happenings with an ensemble cast of comedians.
Hosted for 13 years by John Keister, the show poked fun at a number of different Seattle-area subjects, including the white trash outposts of Renton and Kent, the upper-class suburbs of the Eastside, and the frequent follies of the Mariners, Seahawks, and Sonics (If you hated Bobby Ayala and Jim McIlvaine, Almost Live! was likely to blame).
In addition to providing late-night laughs for over a decade, Almost Live! jump-started the careers of two prominent actors: Joel McHale (The Soup, Community) and Bill Nye (Bill Nye The Science Guy).
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Gotta love being on the cover of SI, but somebody get IT locked in a padded room for the rest of the year. Transport him to games in a plastic bubble. I fear for what the cover jinx might do to him.
Godspeed, Isaiah. Godspeed.
Justin Forsett celebrates a touchdown run in the first half of Sunday's game. (AP)
In a lost season, all you can hope for is any sign of progress for the future. That’s where running backs Justin Forsett and Louis Rankin come in.
The former Pac-10 foes — Rankin attended Washington, Forsett was a Cal Bear — saw extended action in Sunday’s loss to Arizona after starter Julius Jones exited with an injury.
Assuming the majority of the playing time, second-year pro Forsett ran for a career-high 123 yards on 17 carries, notching an impressive 7.2 yards per attempt and recording a touchdown in the process. Compare that to Jones, who has eclipsed the 100-yard mark just once this season, that coming in Week One against St. Louis. In that contest, Jones logged 117 yards and averaged 6.2 yards per attempt, which should put into perspective just how big Forsett’s day truly was for this struggling offense.
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Matt Hasselbeck is one of those guys who is often exempt from criticism. He’s a veteran who has had a relatively long and prolific career, and is generally regarded as a leader both on and off the field. When it comes to the struggles of the Seahawks, we generally give Hasselbeck a free pass.
But after Sunday’s loss at Arizona — a game in which Hasselbeck threw for 315 yards in the process — we need to place at least some of the blame for this team’s indiscretions at the feet of number eight. Frankly, we can ill afford to spare him any longer.
In the past, we’ve had a tendency to put the onus for losing on a number of different targets. A porous offensive line, an inconsistent running game, receivers who can’t hang onto passes. The fact is, we can only make scapegoats out of certain people so many times before the words ring hollow. And our scapegoats have been the same for two seasons.
What about the rest of the team? What about a guy like Hasselbeck?
When healthy enough to play, Hasselbeck has been playing at an unacceptable level for more than a year. That could be for any number of reasons, including the ones we listed above. On top of that, he’s been hurt. Frequently. And he’s played hurt. Frequently. You have to respect Hasselbeck’s willingness to put the team before himself, before his body, and before his future. But unfortunately that gutsiness can only be used as an excuse for a certain amount of time before it becomes a crutch to stand on.
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Dawg Pack Dirt: Portland State
Volume 6, Issue 4, November 15, 2009
Special to Seattle Sportsnet
Game 3 of the regular season and the last game of the Athletes in Action Classic is a matchup between Portland State University and our Washington Huskies. As always, come early, stay late, be loud, and wear purple. On with the dirt…
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On a day we should be celebrating — wins by the Husky football team, Husky men’s basketball team, and the Seahawks were the highlights of this victorious sports weekend — tragedy has struck our region in horrific fashion.
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