TERRY MOSHER
RYAN LOCHTE
It’s back to the Boneyard today to unload thoughts that ware hammering away at my brain, such as it is. Man, it’s been hot around here. We got fans going everywhere, and wouldn’t you know it one of the fans died just as the temperature broke through the 90-degree mark. I had to just about go broke buying another one.
Oh well, that is life.
The United States’ Olympic team was sailing along pretty well when things got hot for it. I can’t believe that a guy like Ryan Lochte wasn’t smart enough to know that any action he or his swimming buddies did away from the pool would not create bigger waves than he or them have ever seen.
Things were going swimmingly (yes, I actually wrote that) before Lochte and his friends decided to go wacko at a gas station after apparently partying too much. I did some stupid things at that age (no, I’m not going to write them), but if I had been on a world stage I’m pretty sure I would have been pretty smart about what I did so as not to create not only an embarrassed situation for my country, but to ruin any effort I had succeeded at.
Then to lie about what happened only compounded the problem and created an even bigger situation. I don’t know what the U.S. Olympic Committee should do with the 32-year-old Lochte, who has 12 Olympic Games’ medals, but his action brought attention again to the old Ugly American image that we have had back onto the world stage.
And I thought that these Rio Games were going well before this happened.
Oh well, that is life.
I know I’m going against the tide here when I say I’m not impressed with the Seahawks after two pre-season games. Yes, I know that pre-season games don’t really mean a lot (unless, of course, you are trying to make the 53-man roster), but there seems to be a sloppiness about the Hawks. And I still see that tight end weakness we saw too much of last season. That’s where the opposition’s tight end runs a seam route, is wide open, and catches a pass for a big gain, over and over again.
I think, also, you are going to see a lot more outside pressure put on Russell Wilson this season. There is enough game-film evidence now to suggest that the way to contain the elusive Wilson is to close off his outside escape routes and force him inside.
Of course you have to have the defensive ability to do that, but I noticed that Minnesota flooded one side of their defensive line with extra rushers and that seemed to work well against Wilson.
Oh well, it is still early in the football season.
The Mariners continue to confound baseball experts by staying in the wild card race in the American League. When you have as much new staff as the Mariners have this isn’t supposed to happen. They have a new baseball front office, including in scouting, a new manager and coaches, and new players, and there they are in late August making a run at the post-season.
And they are doing it with a small base core of players – Robinson Cano, Kyle Seager, Nelson Cruz and King Felix, when he’s healthy – surrounded by a bunch of no-names and a young closer who doesn’t know he’s not suppose to blow away more established players with a 100 mph fastball.
I would imagine old-time baseballers will have to reexamine their methods if the Mariners do the improbable and win the World Series. It would turn the baseball world upside down.
Oh well, that is life.
High school football is underway locally and I have no clue, maybe for the first time in early 50 years of sportswriting, who is who and which team will emerge as the power this season.
I’ll take a shot and say that North Kitsap will win the Olympic League 2A title and that South Kitsap will not be as bad as they were last year (that is a safe bet since I hadn’t seen SK that bad since the early 1970s before the remarkable Ed Fisher arrived to build a state power) and regain some of the luster that was torn away last season.
What will be interesting to watch for me is how North Mason will do with the third reincarnation of Phil Pugh as head coach, and how Bremerton will respond to its new coach, Paul Theriault.
Bremerton, at one time, held sway over local football. It’s not that way anymore, but the biggest city in Kitsap County should have, don’t you think, an important say in who rules local football.
But then again maybe not.
Oh well, that is life.
Just wondering, but what is it about Central Kitsap golf that the school on the hill in Silverdale always seems to have somebody who is a state contender if not a state champion?
Brittany Kwon, a rising sophomore, is the latest CK golfer making an impact. Kwon won the 2016 state golf championship, following in the footsteps of Erynne Lee, who won the 2011 state title for CK
Troy Kelly won over 40 junior golf titles and is on the PGA Tour.
There are others, but you get the picture. It must be in the water in Silverdale that produces good golfers. If so, I wish I had some of it when I use to flub the ball around recreational. I was terrible. No question, I was the worst golfer in history.
The funny part about being a bad golfer is that I loved being out on the golf course. I absolutely loved it. But golf didn’t love me.
Oh well, that’s life.
I’m outta here. I need a break. Today is like one of those beautiful blue-sky and hot days in my younger life where I would drive my dad’s DeSota 140 miles an hour down the Kirkerville Road just west of Ferndale near Birch Bay en route to the beach where I would wade in the warm water that lapped on my bare feet.
Oh, those were the days. Beach, girls, beer, and a no-worry attitude that briefly brought sunshine to my face and my heart during my dark years’ period. I can’t believe I use to get my dad’s car up to 140. Now, I’m testing my outer limits if I get the car up to 65.
Oh well, that is life.
Be well pal.
Be careful out there.
Have a great day.
You are loved.