Nobody asked me, but … Positive or negative, the Everett Hawks’ home debut last Sunday emitted reaction from a lot of different corners. While most applauded the skill and effort on the part of the athletes, more than a few had problems with the packaging of the product itself.
Certainly, the National Indoor Football League wants to create its own niche and separate itself from traditional football or even other arena leagues. We saw Sunday the core of what it wants to do, in fireworks, light shows, cheerleaders, motorcycles, Hooters girls, ear-searing metal music and noise, noise, noise.
WWE fans recognized it immediately.
Is that good or bad? The market will decide. And ultimately, the market will decide whether the Hawks stick around.
The task for the Hawks is to fit their program with the wishes of the market.
Hawks management would do well to study the Everett AquaSox and the Everett Silvertips – the AquaSox for their longevity, the Silvertips for their instant and wild popularity.
Both have made their way into the hearts of Snohomish County sports fans (and beyond) by catering to families and by creating a family atmosphere.
Calls I’ve gotten complain that the Hawks pushed the envelope in that regard. Some objected to nubile, young females in tight apparel sashaying around and tossing Frisbees to 10-year-olds. Some thought the bikes were out of place. Most wanted the P.A. announcer to take a sedative.
For me, the show could have been tighter. The transitions from event to event were slow. The “media timeouts” were used, for example, to watch spectators race around inside inflated bubbles. Meanwhile, players are standing around, getting cold.
Second, there was no excuse to delay the start of the game while workers monkeyed around with the fireworks. Start the game, already.
Bottom line: The event started late and went on too long.
I think they’ll correct what they need to correct. I think you’ll see that today. I think they’ll tighten up what they need to tighten up and alter the atmosphere if they believe they need to.
I may be wrong, but …
Nate Robinson has scheduled a press conference for Monday, most assuredly to announce whether he will stay at the University of Washington for his senior year or submit his name into the NBA Draft.
He’ll go. It’s been known for some time.
I just wonder if it’s the right thing to do.
Except in rare cases, I’ll never believe anything good comes out of leaving school early. Certainly, Robinson has nothing to prove in terms of his fire, leadership and courage.
Would he benefit with another year at Washington? Unquestionably. His perimeter shot is inconsistent and he could play under greater control. At 5-foot-73/4, he can be posted up on defense, something that will always be an issue.
Draft projections have Robinson going early in the second round. He can improve that with solid showings in workouts and pre-draft camps.
Robinson is a young father, which presents an overwhelming factor in his decision. Ready or not, he has to prepare for the next phase of his life.
Robinson’s son made his decision for him. Given unlimited options, I’m not so sure Robinson’s conclusion wouldn’t be different.
No one cares what I think, but …
Ryan Christianson and Damian Moss, two of the eight in the Mariners’ minor-league organization who tested positive for steroids, told The Seattle Times that they did not knowingly use steroids at all. Instead, they said, they blamed their positive tests on nutritional supplements they didn’t know were banned.
The text of the minor-league testing plan says that many over-the-counter nutritional supplements may have metabolic precursors of testosterone or anabolic androgenic steroids. It also says that the supplements can be contaminated with an anabolic steroid not listed as an ingredient.
These aren’t Flintstone vitamins these kids are taking, but maybe they should be. A little intelligence and caution aren’t too much to ask.
As athletes, these kids can make an obscene amount of money with their bodies. The same substances they can take to accelerate their trip to the bigs can derail them in a big way. Unfortunately, the penalties baseball currently imposes don’t bring that point home.
Ban first-time offenders for a year and we’ll see how seriously players research supplements before putting them in their bodies.
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