TODAY’S LINEUP
A daily look at the top five stories in this morning’s edition of The Herald
1. Baby, she was born to run
Glacier Peak’s Amy-Eloise Neale is one of the best up-and-coming long-distance runners in the state, and maybe the nation. Herald prep writer Mike Cane writes that not only is Neale physically gifted but also a mentally strong runner. Not only does The Closer find it hard to think while he’s running, but he can’t even think about running. Story
2. Mora changes tune on Mare
A day after ripping his kicker for missing two makable field goals, Seahawks head coach Jim Mora changed course Monday, saying he still backed his place-kicker. The Closer believes that Mora is only keeping Mare around because he thinks he can insert him somewhere along the offensive line when the next lineman goes down with an injury. Story
3. Gettin’ her kicks in Copenhagen
Everett’s Danielle Pelham, one of the top women in taekwondo in the nation, is headed to Copenhagen, Denmark for the 2009 World Taekwondo Championships in mid-October. Maybe Mora can call Pelham, whose first sport of choice was football, to be his next kicker. Story
4. Workin’ on (stopping) the run
After watching Stanford’s Toby Gerhart slice through them like a ginsu knife, the Huskies announced Monday that they’re going to work on tackling and stopping the run game at practice this season. Gee, shocker. The Closer hadn’t seen a team run on the Huskies like that since … well the week before. Story
5. Spokane gets its day at the Beach
The Closer was a big fan of Kyle Beach when he was with the Silvertips. A big strong forward who was not afraid of anybody is just he type of hockey player he remembered watching back in the day. But now that Beach is in Spokane? Can’t stand the guy. Story
THE WARMUP PITCH
The Angels celebrate their annual rite of fall
They might as well change the name of the AL West to the Angels West. The Los Angeles of Anaheim of California Angels locked up their fifth AL West title in six years on Monday night, and The Closer has to admit he got a little teary eyed during the celebration when the Angels dumped all that beer on the Nick Adenhart jersey. To waste all that cold beer would make any man cry, right? No, but seriously, even a die-hard M’s fan had to be happy for the Angels, who lost Adenhart to a car accident early in the season.
Seat heating up under the Cajun Cannon
Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme threw two more interceptions — that’s 7 in the first three games for you guys counting at home — including a back-breaker that Cowboys CB Terence Newman returned for a touchdown as Dallas won 21-7 on MNF. Now Carolina fans are calling for Delhomme to be benched in favor of A.J. Feeley. But The Closer remembers Feeley’s four-interception performance against the Seahawks a couple of years ago back in Philly. There’s a difference between bad and horrible, Panthers fans.
Kung-fu Cable and the punch heard round Napa
Like Tom Cable doesn’t have enough problems. The Snohomish native and Raiders head coach could apparently be in trouble after the assistant coach, Randy Hanson, he allegedly punched out gave his side of the story to the Napa,Calif., police on Friday. The Closer’s not too worried for Cable, though, because even if he does go to jail he’ll be surrounded by Raiders fans.
Housh might need to hush
T.J. Houshmandzadeh was still running at the mouth after Sunday’s game against the Bears, complaining to the Chicago Tribune that he was open all day and that Seneca Wallace didn’t get him the ball. So it seems Seattle finally has its own Terrell Owens. Who knew that Chad Ochocinco was the quiet wide receiver in Cincinnati for all those years.
Twittering out the coach
Texas Tech head coach Mike Leach banned his players from having Twitter accounts after one of his players called him out for being late to a meeting. The Closer tried the same tactic with his boss, so he could be banned from Twitter. Didn’t work.
That’s a bit steep
Oakland A’s right fielder Matt Carson recently hit his first home run and the guy who caught the ball wasn’t giving it up for nothing. The guy made like former Illinois gov. Rod Blagojevich and demanded $10,000 for the ball. The Closer’s not too impressed with these new ball-hawking fans and their “collectables.” Just take your signed bat and give the kid the ball.
Arena football is back … but not in Everett
After the Arena Football League folded last year and af2 finished up recently with its future in doubt, a new arena league will take its place. The league announced it will have two teams in Washington — in Spokane and Kennewick — but not Everett. The Closer is a little disappointed. He likes arena football, which is a little like football and indoor soccer mixed in a blender. Good times.
The old man and the Blazers
Oregonian columnist John Canzano writes that the Portland Trail Blazers will go as far as Greg Oden carries them. That worries The Closer a little bit. That’s a lot for a pair of creaky knees to carry.
CURVE BALLS
Say-Ow!
Former NFL linebacker Junior Seau never really got run over by a running back during his career. But when it was another story when he climbed into the ring against a bull for his new reality show “Sports Jobs with Junior Seau,” which will debut on Versus on Dec. 2. Video below (stick with it until the end).
Mike Blowers knows your future
M’s broadcaster Mike Blowers may not want to quit his night job and become the next Nostradamus, but what he did on Sunday was very impressive. Blowers predicted Matt Tuiasosopo’s first major league home run, down to the count and at-bat. To listen, click here.
Big Ben in the ring
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will host WWE’s Monday Night Raw event next week. The Closer is sure he’ll do jusf fine. He’s got experience after helping “script” Pittsburgh’s “win” over the Seahawks in Super Bowl XL.
Ole, Omar!
Former M’s shortstop Omar Vizquel, who spent last offseason chasing an anaconda in the jungle, plans to spend this offseason as a matador. Not sure if his waving the red cape in front of Arthur Rhodes a few years ago counts as practice, but it should.
THE RUNDOWN
With three defending division champs now sitting at 0-3, The Closer ranks the 0-3 teams with the best chances to sneak into the playoffs. Keep in mind, only four teams have ever started the season 0-3 and made the playoffs the same year, so none of these teams are likely to make it back to a wild-card spot.
1. Tennessee Titans: Still have a strong run game and run defense.
2. Carolina Panthers: Jake Delhomme may stink, but if the Panthers can play better defense and rely more on its run game it could reel off some wins.
3. Miami Dolphins: Yeah they lost Chad Pennington reportedly for the season, but that may not be a bad thing. Solid defense and good running backs give them a leg up.
4. Kansas City Chiefs: This isn’t a vote of confidence in the Chiefs, but a vote of no-confidence in the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers.
5. St. Louis Rams: Sure they’re horrible, but so are the Cardinals, Seahawks, and the 49ers are still starting Shaun Hill at QB.
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