The Answer Man knows everything
Published 9:46 pm Sunday, July 20, 2008
Just thought I’d attempt to answer some burning questions of 2008-09 while watching Greg Norman and wondering whether his secret to taking 20 years off his chronological age has anything to do with his marriage to Chris Evert.
Q. Will Tyrone Willingham stay as Washington’s football coach after the season?
A. No one in the Pac-10 will be under greater scrutiny than Willingham. But then, what’s new? Because of a number of reasons, one being his personality, Willingham had the world’s shortest honeymoon period.
The prevailing feeling is that the Huskies have to at least break even in the regular season and qualify for a bowl game for Willingham to see a fifth year at Washington.
The question is where the Huskies can squeeze out six victories in this schedule. They pride themselves with playing against the best, as they did last year with the nation’s toughest schedule, but tough schedules for a struggling program do little for a coach’s longevity.
I like the offense. Jake Locker figures to improve his passing accuracy and a good offensive line, even without center Juan Garcia, will be one of the better ones in the conference. The receivers are talented but young, which is the offense’s main concern.
Defensively, Washington can go nowhere but up. New defensive coordinator Ed Donatell comes in with impressive credentials, but a resurrection of last season’s horrible defensive unit takes a miracle worker. Donatell’s success will have much to do with whether Willingham returns.
It’s gonna be close.
Q. How will the Seahawks react to Mike Holmgren’s lame-duck status as head coach?
A. These guys are professionals and shouldn’t show any letdown because Holmgren will exit after the season. More interesting will be the change in the running backs. Shaun Alexander is out; Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett are in. Neither could be considered franchise backs. Clearly, both are short-term answers. Receiver Bobby Engram wants his contract renegotiated. Receiver Deion Branch tore up a knee at the end of last season and his availability is debatable.
The Seahawks have a lot more questions than those that involve Holmgren.
Q. Will Washington men’s basketball get back into the NCAA Tournament after a two-season absence?
A. Jon Brockman returns for his senior year and should be 100 percent following ankle surgery. Quincy Pondexter showed some fire at the end of the season after play that could be best described at “tentative.” Most exciting is the influx of new talent that could push the team into better things. Guard Isaiah Thomas finally comes on board after two years at South Kent (Conn.) School to become academically eligible and will contribute immediately. Guards Elson Turner and Scott Suggs come in with a lot of anticipation.
Word is that forward Matthew Bryan-Amaning is showing great improvement. The team should get back to its roots: running, pressing and scoring off transition. The Huskies will be more entertaining. I have a hunch they’ll be more successful.
Q. What about the UW women?
A. Coach Tia Jackson, entering her second season, is getting a lot of flack for a semi-mass exodus of the roster. Certainly, Jackson provides a different environment than did her predecessor, June Daugherty. No one should stick around who doesn’t want to. Coaching changes can open the floodgates. Still, the Huskies have talent. Coming in is freshman Kristi Kingma of Jackson High School, along with highly-touted forward Liz Lay from Oklahoma City and Mollie Williams of Cerritos, Calif. It will take some time, but Jackson eventually will upgrade the talent across the board. Good things are ahead.
Q. Are the Mariners a lost cause?
A. They have a lot of work to do — a lot of housecleaning. We all know that the roster will dramatically change. The feeling is that the suits will have to toss in some serious coin to make the open jobs at general manager and field manager appealing. The team needs sparkle. It needs a big name at field manager, someone who will excite the masses as Lou Piniella did.
Someone like Bobby Valentine.
Q. What about the Silvertips?
A. Let’s assume star forward Kyle Beach doesn’t immediately latch on to the Chicago Blackhawks. Much will be asked of him in Everett, especially from a leadership standpoint. That means he has to act more like a grown-up. Is he ready for it?
Sports columnist John Sleeper: sleeper@heraldnet.com. To reach Sleeper’s blog, “Dangling Participles,” go to cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/danglingparticiples.
