Kids, Blowfish and a Tyson-Holyfield reunion

TODAY’S LINEUP

A daily look at the top sports stories in this morning’s edition of The Herald

1. The Kids are all right

Once dubbed “The Kid Line,” the Silvertips’ Tochkin-Froese-Maxwell unit helped lead Everett over Prince Albert in Western Hockey Legaue action Wednesday night. Nice to see a bunch of old guys show they’ve still got it, huh?

2. Hold on, now; for once, we’re actually enjoying football season

The University of Washington men’s basketball team starts practice this week, but the students — for once — aren’t in that big of a hurry. It turns out that, at some places, the football season isn’t already over by mid-October. The hardcourt Huskies are trying to figure out how to replace the King of Snohomish. Come to think of it, the Snohomish Panthers are still trying to figure that one out.

3. At times, this defense looks historically bad

Speaking of UW, the football team’s defense has been so bad this season that you’d think it was playing in an NBA All-Star game. But the Huskies have made a bit of positive history on D, believe it or not. As far as the offense goes, The Closer’s starting to think that quarterback Jake Locker might be history after this season. And his new league won’t be playing in L.A.

4. From Hootie to Hasselbeck

Kyle Williams, whose biggest career highlight came when he went on tour with Hootie and the Blowfish in his last gig is making his second career start as the Seahawks’ left tackle. With each increasing injury, the Seahawks are getting closer to finding the next Walter Matthau than they are the next Walter Jones.

5. The key to UW basketball season is … Ryan Appleby?

Stanwood’s legendary basketball player is still making an impact on the UW hoops program. With Brockman gone, the Huskies need a little SnoCo infusion to take them back to The Dance. If you’re that hard-up for talent from the north, Coach Lo, how ‘bout giving The Closer a chance as a 5-foot-7 power forward?

THE WARMUP PITCH

Shouldn’t they just let SoCal host ‘em all this time of year?

After a short layoff, the MLB playoffs are back as Championship Series play begins tonight — if the weather holds up. Lots of good storyline possibilities, from the Torre-vs.-the-Yanks World Series to the all-L.A. World Series. Three thousand miles away, we’re just chomping at the bit for that first big Sherrill-vs.-Ibanez matchup of the NLCS.

A Rush to judgment

From the Everybody Wins Department comes this item. It turns out Rush Limbaugh won’t be owning an NFL team after all. His bid to be part owner of the L.A. — oops, not yet — St. Louis Rams drew so much bad pub that he’s no longer in the running. Rush got his free publicity, the league got its image back. As The Closer likes to say: it’s all good in Hollywood (there I go again … not YET!).

Way to stick it to the BCS power structure, boys

In what was being billed as its last big challenge of the season, No. 5 Boise State hardly looked the part of a national championship contender. The BCS school (that is, Boise Can’t Swimwiththebigfishes) barely held off Tulsa on Wednesday night. You know what they say about the pressure of playing under Wednesday night lights, though.

Apparently, he isn’t scared of Will Herring and Josh Wilson

Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew, who knows a thing or 322 about dominating a game in Seattle, said Wednesday that the Jaguars didn’t use him enough in Sunday’s 41-0 loss to the Seattle Seahawks Not that MJD doesn’t have a point, but … 41-0? The only thing the Jaguars didn’t use enough of is pre-game warmups.

What’s next? A hilarious book of 16th Century poems?

Get this: a soccer game with a dramatic ending. The U.S. men’s soccer team scored in extra time after coming back from a 2-0 deficit to force a draw with Costa Rica in a World Cup qualifier. The Closer hasn’t seen this much fuss over a tie since the Bill Clinton scandal. But even The Closer has a soft spot in his heart for feel-good stories like a bunch of guys rallying around a hurting teammate.

CURVE BALLS

Break up the Tuskers already

Brooks Bollinger and Tatum Bell led the Florida Tuskers to their second consecutive win in the round-robin tournament known as the UFL season on Wednesday. And you thought the Denver Broncos were the biggest surprise of the early football season.

The Kobe Stopper? OK, how about just another guy who pushes Gasol around like a rag doll?

The King of Snohomish gets to take a shot at the NBA champs tonight. OK, it’s only a preseason game. But when else would we get to see the league’s polar opposites — squeaky-clean Jon Brockman and all-messed-up Ron Artest — tangle underneath the hoop? Here’s betting that Brockman’s go-until-the-whistle style doesn’t sit well with the Crazy Laker.

Wonder what Keri Strug was hiding under the athletic tape

A University of Florida gymnast was arrested this week for storing some of her boyfriend’s contraband. The Closer’s going to go out on a limb here and guessing that she’s not dating Tim Tebow.

Hate to see what Holyfield contributed to the pre-show buffet line

Call it an ear-y moment: Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield back together for an episode of Oprah this week. Just don’t ask The Closer how he knew what was on Oprah this week. I was just … I mean … the remote got stuck … uh … Can’t talk. Must get back to tool shed.

THE RUNDOWN

The Closer hates to admit it, but seeing Rush Limbaugh lose his bid to buy the Lambs was a bittersweet moment. Think of all the future fodder for The Bullpen. Not that we should complain. Professional sports have had plenty of cuckoo owners over the years, but we’ll just stick with the top five:

1. Al Davis: This guy has become like Elvis … except for the thinning hair, the anorexic waistline, the lack of a discernable skill and his general failure to hone his craft. I guess what we’re trying to say is that Steady Al may or many not be alive, and it really doesn’t matter either way.

2. Marge Schott: Whether she was dropping racial slurs or letting her infamous St. Bernard leave its calling card in and around Riverfront Stadium, this Big Schott had a knack for making headlines. Since she passed away, the Reds have been about as interesting as … well, a St. Bernard’s calling cards.

3. Robert Irsay: Anyone catch that ESPN movie about the Baltimore Colts Band? Irsay came off looking like a Baltimore dolt. We knew the guy was a bit of a loon, but his “who told you we’re going to Phoenix – that’s a lie!” tirade two days after returning from Phoenix put this guy in an even shadier light.

4. Daniel Snyder: Fantasy football owners have to have a soft spot in their hearts for this guy, who runs his team like some guy making roster moves over potato skins at TGI Friday’s. Snyder’s most important legacy might be that he’s reminded us all that throwing money at a problem won’t necessarily solve the problem … right, Big Daddy Wilkinson?

5. Sam Adams: Sometimes The Closer feels like the only guy in Snohomish County that this guy doesn’t owe money. The former NFL player didn’t just clog up running lanes, he also clogged up the Everett indoor football franchise that eventually had to fold.

Contact The Closer at inthebullpen@heraldnet.com