Wak and FLOTUS Scapegoated on Same Day

This almost feels like the SATs. As in ‘blank is to blank, as blank is to blank.’ Work with me here, but Don Wakamatsu’s managing performance is to the Seattle Mariners’ struggles this year as Michelle Obama’s trip to Spain is to America’s economic and foreign policy struggles this year.

Wakamatsu was one of the hottest managers in Major League Baseball last season. Defying the odds, a rebuilding effort in Seattle turned into a team that won games consistently and made very few physical and mental errors. Unfortunately, it didn’t last and this year has been an abject failure of epic proportions. Worst team – ever. And Wakamatsu is a reasonable scapegoat. He’s someone to hammer on. He’s a great object of scorn on talk radio because it’s simple.

On the front that really matters, banks won’t lend, the war in Afghanistan is a mess, and, as the Wall Street Journal reported Monday, about 4.4 million Americans have been looking for jobs for at least a year. That doesn’t count the poor souls who have decided to give up (also not a small number). Thankfully, Michelle Obama took an extravagant trip to Spain. She’s a perfect scapegoat. She’s someone to hammer on. She’s a great object of scorn on talk radio because it’s simple.

Not to say Wakamatsu and The First Lady are blameless. Wakamatsu is ultimately responsible for a pathetic hitting, infuriatingly error-prone, lackluster team that appears more pathetic everyday. Somehow, on Sunday, the Mariners almost lost to the Royals (it’s a miracle they didn’t) because Casey Kotchman got picked off first base, a bizarre suicide-squeeze ended an inning (with the Mariners’ most productive hitter at the plate), and David Aardsma gave up another ninth inning run in between managing to get three outs. On the Mrs. Obama front, her excursion will cost taxpayers about a $1 million and it was a terribly stupid trip to take.

Ultimately though, is it Don Wakamatsu’s fault that Chone Figgins is hitting like garbage (until recently) and Jose Lopez sucks? No, not really. Similarly, is it The First Lady’s fault that Hamid Karzai is turning into a nightmare in Afghanistan and the private sector is reluctant to hire new employees? No, not really. It is easier for Americans and Mariners fans to think that, though.

A sports fan growing up

Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams of the NFL’s Carolina Panthers visited the Champions Center in Tacoma Wednesday evening, along with a few other NFL players, including former Rogers High and Washington State standout, Brandon Gipson. The players signed autographs for the more than one-thousand (mostly) young people gathered and played a few simple games on the stage at the beginning against some of the local youth – a “Pros vs. Joes” thing.

I had a VIP pass, which meant my buddy and I could hang out with all the players before and after the event. I wanted to go; I was interested in talking to these guys. Something strange happened once we arrived, however. We ended up leaving as soon as the thing ended.

What happened was the realization that I’m no longer 15 years old. I LOVED meeting professional athletes when I was a kid. Hell, I loved meeting high school athletes when I was a kid. But things have changed a tad. Once everybody started screaming for these guys in their mid-twenties I felt this strangeness. Someone inside me was saying “Hey, you don’t belong here anymore.” It was tough. Super tough.

What was I going to say to DeAngelo Williams. “Hey, DeAngelo, cool dreads. How does Jimmy Clausen look?” and my guess is he would’ve replied with, “He looks good, man.” I probably would’ve asked Jonathan Stewart something like, “Have you ever met Tom Brady? What about Giselle? Is his kid as cute in person as he is in US Weekly?”

Whatever I asked about, I couldn’t have cared less. It’s an interesting realization considering my lifelong commitment to professional athletes and professional sports.

I’m relaying this story because I don’t care where Lebron James ends up playing next season, and the one after that, and the one after that. I just want to watch him play basketball. This “Lebron All The Time” stuff would’ve delighted me in middle school and now it doesn’t. I must be growing up. Or maybe I’m just jealous. I don’t know, either way I have other junk to deal with. Plus, how unnerving is it that free agent athletes now have dinner together to collude on where to sign? Did Jordan or Barkley or Magic ever collude with anyone? Say what you will about Kobe Bryant, but he isn’t having an off season dinner with anyone to make a sign-and-trade plan. Although, that’s probably true only because everyone hates Kobe, but still.

It’ll all be a moot point soon, anyway, when the players are locked out next season.

World Cup in America simply a distraction

It seems impossible at this juncture to ignore the popularity of World Cup soccer in the United States. Americans of all ages are clamoring for Landon Donovan, Jozy Altidore, and Tim Howard. People all over America are chanting “U-S-A! U-S-A!” like its going out of style. National media organizations are capitalizing on the interest in the tournament by breathlessly providing coverage and analysis. Seattle – the capital of U.S. soccer – is filled with joyous and raucous soccer fanatics pleased with America’s two draws and a single win thus far in the tournament. Is this the birth of soccer in America or is it a well-timed distraction?

In May, the unemployment rate in the U.S. was 9.70 percent. Layoffs and frustrating job searches are an ongoing reality. Americans are, understandably, concerned about their economy and their job prospects. Now, an oil spill is further threatening the American economy and American job prospects and having devastating impacts on wildlife and natural habitat. Service men and women continue to serve abroad in two theaters of war, with one perilously close to a devastating tipping point. Americans need a distraction and the World Cup is providing it.

For sports fans, the World Cup is being showcased in a national sports vacuum. The NBA season is over, the NFL has yet to heat up, and Major League Baseball is trudging through the front-half of a 162-game season. In other words, the World Cup is providing a new and international landscape for sport during a lackluster spring sports season; what else is there to watch?

In March, the United States faced Canada in the 2010 Olympic Hockey gold medal game in Vancouver. Hockey fever was high – so high in fact, many people thought aloud about further NHL expansion in the U.S. 27 million Americans watched the U.S. lose to Canada in a dramatic overtime game featuring – probably – the NHL’s biggest star scoring the game-winner. Hockey is here to stay! America loves hockey! Please, NBC, broadcast more NHL!

Needless to say, hockey fever was quickly squelched.

Soccer in the United States will follow Hockey’s well-trodden path once the 2010 World Cup is finished.

Burleson’s Exit Could Open the Door to Excellence

I can stay silent no more.

When Nate Burleson was signed away from the Minnesota Vikings by the Seattle Seahawks and former General Manager Tim Ruskell, it was an obvious “stick-in-the-eye” type move after the disastrous “poison pill” fiasco with pro-bowl lineman Steve Hutchison. The Hawks gave Burleson a 7-year, $49 million back loaded contract to come to Seattle. At that time, he only had one 1,000-yard season on his resume (and that was playing opposite all-world receiver, Randy Moss). Four years later, Burleson’s 1,000-yard resume is the same. He never reached his full potential here – or so the argument goes. Some may lament his exit from Seattle but for me, it’s indicative of what new head coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider what to bring back to Seattle: excellence.

It really doesn’t matter how good he was in the locker room – he didn’t produce consistently on the field. The “threat of the big play” is only a real threat when you make a big play more than twice a year. And please spare me the local boy stuff because nobody cares; this is the NFL, not Pop Warner.

After the Hawks were shredded by Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers in September last year, I wrote this. And, unfortunately, nothing changed the rest of the season. When a big play happened, Burleson, most likely, wasn’t even on the field. I say good riddance he’s gone and, clearly, Carroll and Schneider had no intention of keeping him around – I’m sure it’s a HUGE relief to get out from under that contract; let someone else pay for mediocrity (does anyone else find it ironic that the Lions signed him?). He should play second or third fiddle to a legitimate Number One receiver. Somehow, the Hawks – under Ruskell – got so screwed up that they believed Burleson could be the Number One receiver they so desperately needed (and still need).

Deion Branch came here and signed a giant contract; he isn’t a Number One-type guy. TJ Houshmandzadeh isn’t a Number One guy, either. Deon Butler – no matter how much of a “feel good story” he is – will never be a Number One. Name any receiver the Hawks have put on the field over the past five years; not one Number One guy in the bunch. We don’t need another non-Number One guy making Number One money: goodbye Burleson.

Allowing Burleson to walk unimpeded out the door to Detroit is a good sign for the Seahawks. Hopefully, it’s a sign of things to come: Coach Carroll and Schneider will not cling to mediocre. Now, let’s sign Brandon Marshall or draft Dez Bryant and get our passing game out of the doldrums.

Seahawks lose ‘must win’ game to Cardinals

The Seattle Seahahawks made it much harder on the Arizona Cardinals then they did in week six when they lost by 24 points. Nonetheless, Seattle came up short and suffered their sixth loss of the season, 31 -20.

Early in the 4th quarter with the Seattle Seahawks driving, they were forced to settle for a field goal after three attempts from the one yard line. The Arizona Cardinals responded with an 80 yard drive capped by a Beanie Wells touchdown run to take their first lead of the game.

On their third down play from the one on that pivotal drive, the Seahawks elected to throw a fade to wide receiver Nate Burleson. Burleson, who did not catch a pass in the game, could not come down with the ball opening the door for Kurt Warner and an explosive Cardinals offense. The Cardinals took advantage of the opportunity.

After Wells touchdown run, the Seahawks were stymied near midfield and punted. The Cardinals responded with an 85 yard drive, ending with quarterback Kurt Warner hitting Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown leading to the final outcome.

The loss means the Seahawks are now three games behind the NFC West division leaders. For all intents and purposes, the Seahawks hopes for post season play evaporated with the loss.

The game started well for the Seahawks, forcing three-and-outs and holding Warner in check while taking a 14-0 lead. At halftime the Seahawks held a 17-10 advantage. However, the Seahawks managed only three second half points and watched the Cardinals finish the game with 14 unanswered points.

For the game, Wells had 85 yards rushing to go along with two touchdowns. For the Seahawks, Justin Forsett, taking over for an injured Julius Jones, rushed 16 times for 113 yards.

After the Fitzgerald touchdown, the Seahawks tried desperately to get back in the game down the stretch. Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck hit wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh down the middle getting the Seahawks into the red zone. Unfortunately for Seattle, Hasselbeck’s shuffle pass intended for Forsett was intercepted by Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson and the game ended with the Cardinals taking a knee.

With the loss, the Seahawks fell to 3-6 on the season, while the Cardinals improved to 6-3 and took a commanding lead in the NFC West.

Game notes: Warner’s touchdown pass to Fitzgerald was the 200th touchdown pass of his career…Warner finished the game with 29 completions for 340 yards and two touchdowns…Seahawks tight end John Carlson caught his first touchdown since week one against the St. Louis Rams…Seahawks wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh caught nine balls for 165 yards…Julius Jones left the game in the first half with a chest injury.