tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55170981186518472812011-11-20T20:39:07.809-08:00Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.comBlogger1241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-65445831135652626012011-11-10T11:30:00.000-08:002011-11-10T17:44:04.701-08:00

What a night that was. Fascinating and terrifying at the same time. I couldn't pull myself away from the TV as they showed video of the riots. If this is what happens when a football coach gets fired, what's next? Takes  Bryan Navarro lays out the evolving story in real time, glued to TV and his Twitter feed. Former GUTV colleague Nate Coombs, on Facebook: "This PSU thing is like a horrible

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-19898122796349403162011-11-09T20:22:00.000-08:002011-11-09T20:22:25.898-08:00

Do not, for one second, feel sorry for Joe Paterno. Yes, he has had a long and storied coaching career. He has won national championships. He has helmed a powerhouse for decades. He is one of the most successful, decorated, and venerated college football coaches of all time. None of that means anything anymore. Not after what we've learned. Football is a game. It means nothing. The abuse of

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-74333613738570377372011-11-08T11:47:00.000-08:002011-11-08T11:49:11.126-08:00

 And just like that, the walls of an institution come tumbling down. I don't know if the allegations against Jerry Sandusky are true. I'm not privy to what Joe Paterno knew, or what he told and who he told it to. I'm unclear about how far up the alleged cover-up went. All I know is that it makes me feel sick, shocked and jaded. The Penn State Nitany Lions are one of the most revered programs

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-33856957691015561512011-10-18T11:29:00.000-07:002011-10-18T11:29:43.749-07:00

Adam Morrison was once the greatest college basketball player I had ever seen live. He was also a disappointment, a bust, a heartbreaker and a joke. All in just six years' time. To really understand, you have to go back to the fall of 2005. The Gonzaga Bulldogs were beginning a new season with high expectations. The team's hopes were pinned to Morrison, the moptopped, sweet-shooting swingman.

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-84060655936371241882011-09-30T11:20:00.000-07:002011-09-30T11:21:27.569-07:00

The genius of Terry Francona  Muhammad Ali had the rope-a-dope. Terry Francona just makes the rest of Major League Baseball look like dopes.At first, it wasn't an easy sell to Red Sox management. When team officials and coaches met in the now-legendary closed door meeting on September 4th, the topic was how to gain the most momentum heading into the playoffs. Theo Epstein suggested the starting

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-31032135199590294382011-09-29T10:52:00.000-07:002011-09-29T10:52:16.982-07:00

For the past two years as I have been living in Medford, it's become harder to follow my beloved Blazers. Yes, I realize that the tool I am using to write this post is also part of the largest information-gathering resource known to man, the sheer magnitude of which is capable of shrinking the world in which we live. But for a sports fan, somehow, it isn't enough. We can find highlights, game

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-14035157730341416022011-07-05T23:40:00.000-07:002011-07-05T23:40:01.473-07:00

I love Hoosiers. I love TV news. Combine the two, and that's something after my heart. One of my favorite new blogs is TV News Grapevine. It's written by a veteran in the news business who offers a new piece of advice/wisdom each day. As someone now entering his second year in the bid'ness (thank you, Dan Garrity), it has been wonderful to get some perspective about what we go through in this

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-87290455113371186932011-07-02T00:17:00.000-07:002011-07-02T12:18:08.170-07:00

The NBA is officially locked out.Look around on NBA.com, and you won't find evidence that the players even exist. Every image has been scrubbed from the Web site. In the place of the usual promotional materials, there are articles adorned with the words "standoff," "issues," and "uncertainty."Until the owners and players learn to act nice, we're not getting any basketball anytime soon.Good. Lock

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-34602761739209105802011-01-29T17:01:00.000-08:002011-07-05T21:46:33.020-07:00

Gonzaga has always done a great job with public relations. But this time they have outdone themselves. On Thursday, the Bulldogs lost their third straight conference game, a 73-71 loss at home to St. Mary's. The Zags are slowly slipping down the WCC ladder, and a loss at home is normally a surefire disappointment. But you wouldn't know it based on the reaction. "Mark Few knows how to coach!" "

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-63010164314764770482010-11-18T08:26:00.000-08:002010-11-19T16:06:40.709-08:00

If nothing else, Greg Oden's career has been good at putting Blazer fans through the emotional wringer.--------------------When the Trail Blazers won the 2007 NBA Draft Lottery, and essentially the rights to draft the coveted big man, it was absolute, pure joy in Portland.We cheered. We danced in our living rooms. We held rallies in downtown Portland to welcome our newest hero and to celebrate

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-66278988365080728692010-07-08T11:19:00.001-07:002010-07-08T11:20:06.789-07:00

-MODERATOR: It's been two years of speculation. Two years of waiting. Two years of making the necessary transactions and possibly mortgaging the future of your franchise, but it's all led up to this moment.Tonight, the wait is over.We have waited patiently, eagerly grabbing at every morsel thrown our way. Now, we will finally be blessed with the privilege to hear the answer we've all been waiting

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-38413647254466380982010-06-24T22:33:00.000-07:002010-06-24T22:34:15.711-07:00

In the grand scheme of things, Kevin Pritchard was simply an NBA GM. There are 29 others in the NBA, and in the end, it's only a management position. If the guy puts a talented roster on the floor, then everything's gravy and the fans are focused on the on-court product. If the team is constantly awful, then the guy gets fired.Kevin Pritchard helped rebuild the Blazers into a solid team on the

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-40188097993127057772010-06-20T11:11:00.000-07:002010-06-20T11:12:15.327-07:00

Matt Bouldin was the unlikely superstar during the latter half of his career at Gonzaga.During his time as a Zag, there were teammates who scored more, who were faster, who were more emotional, who were better ballhandlers, passers and shooters. Bouldin was not spectacular in any one area. But he was solid in every area.And as it turned out, that made him the perfect type of player for Mark Few's

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-22692755913384758132010-06-08T22:11:00.000-07:002010-06-08T22:12:03.530-07:00

Billionaire Paul Allen bought the Portland Trail Blazers in 1988, and it clicked right from the start.The Blazers were a team with a strong nucleus of talent who had been on the verge of breaking out for several years. Clyde Drexler, Terry Porter and company were an exciting bunch coached by newcomer Rick Adelman, but they were a team that had been in the middle of the pack in the Western

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-59177086639406263872010-03-19T13:44:00.000-07:002010-03-19T14:52:00.747-07:00

When I watched my first NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament as a student at Gonzaga, I was in a freshman dorm, with hundreds of other freshman watching and rooting for the same outcome.My friends Brian, Jake, Spencer, David and I gathered in Jake's room, catching the action on a 12-inch TV that was perched on a bed. We sat on the floor and on chairs, huddled around the TV while Papa John's pizza and

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-90384722202743675702010-03-18T16:27:00.000-07:002010-03-18T16:28:49.978-07:00

Based on my run from June to December 2009, here are the most commonly used words from each column. Some are more obvious ("team," "game," "Blazers," and "Gonzaga"), and others surprised even me (apparantly I like to use the words "one" and "something," and does anyone else find it odd that the word "fun" is used so infrequently?)

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-78376549509953163952009-12-06T21:12:00.000-08:002009-12-06T21:12:25.195-08:00

In 2007, when I first saw the news that Greg Oden would miss his entire rookie season with a knee injury, I fell to the floor like I'd been shot.I screamed.I pounded my fists against the ground.I cursed in front of my journalism professor.In short, I was angry. Angry at the world, at the basketball gods, at everything.I was angry at the thought of the Blazers' number 1 pick being a bust. Angry

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-12076347154822367512009-09-24T13:25:00.000-07:002009-10-07T19:34:19.746-07:00

March 2006: "Steven, we really liked your column. Would you be interested in writing one for us every week? We’re thinking of calling it Sandberg On Sports..."How could I have ever imagined the amazing future I had in store?It seems like such a long time ago that I was sitting in my freshman dorm at Gonzaga reading those words. I had recently watched the 2006 Gonzaga Bulldogs drop a heartbreaker

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-74588448060579674082009-09-21T11:49:00.000-07:002009-09-21T18:43:58.642-07:00

By now everyone has seen the infamous video of ESPN sideline reporter Suzy Kolber vainly trying to catch a postgame interview with a disinterested Tom Brady after the Patriots defeated the Bills on Monday Night Football. What you may not know is what contributed behind the scenes to make that awkward situation happen.In my years at GUTV, I had the opportunity to work as a sideline reporter on a

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-27163421381764408112009-09-17T17:00:00.000-07:002009-09-17T17:48:34.067-07:00

That's right, Juwan Howard, star of the Michigan Fab Five teams of the early 90s, is officially a Blazer. No word yet on whether Jimmy King or Jalen Rose will be signed to the final roster spot.Howard will be filling the Channing Frye role of "big man who can't rebound," albeit with less personality.Today's signing got me thinking of the Blazer teams of the early 00s, who had a knack for signing

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-25958730031964679322009-09-16T14:49:00.000-07:002009-09-16T15:28:13.622-07:00

-Sorry for the week's layoff. Multiple things have come up in my professional life (more on those later) that have forced me to take the past week off. During that time, I witnessed a fight over a bicycle at a bar downtown (somebody stole a bike, then rode it around the same block three times and allowed the owner to catch up to him), I attempted to grow a Rudy Fernandez beard (unsuccessfully),

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-90080818965951499242009-09-09T14:58:00.000-07:002009-09-09T15:13:20.984-07:00

In honor of today's re-release of the entire Beatles catalogue on remastered CD, I thought I'd take a moment to pay tribute to the world's most famous band.I grew up listening to The Beatles' music, and they have inspired my creativity on many occasions. During the past few years at Gonzaga working at GUTV, I managed to put a little Beatles influence into some of the sports coverage.First up is

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-86827390283438125752009-09-08T11:12:00.001-07:002009-09-08T16:03:15.838-07:00

-According to the Portland Trail Blazers, Jeff Pendergraph is going to need hip surgery and will miss most of the 2009-10 season. Please feel free to use obligatory "I was sure the first Blazer with hip surgery would've been Greg Oden" joke here.Now, if they had just drafted David Pendergraft instead, they might have avoided all of this.-If you would've asked me for the most random

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-87754235113296189122009-09-07T14:57:00.000-07:002009-09-07T14:57:11.850-07:00

She's toppled one big name after another at the U.S. Open, and she's only 17 years old. She's battled back from losing early sets and has shown the intelligence, strength and fortitude to make improbably comebacks, continuing the most unlikely story of this whole tournament. In doing so, she's become the darling of the tennis world, and has the entire country rooting for her.In short, Melanie

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-10510145156053820232009-09-06T20:00:00.000-07:002009-09-06T22:49:55.973-07:00

Imagine having a conversation with your friends about sports. Maybe you guys are hanging out at a bar, having a good time, and enjoying the debate back and forth. Nothing gets too heated, because you all know how each other thinks anyway, so you enjoy the company and take part in the banter.Then, another random bar patron butts into the conversation, completely unannounced. You don't know him,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-45311352925789200892009-09-04T12:35:00.000-07:002009-09-04T12:36:03.757-07:00

Remember all of that excitement yesterday about the Oregon Ducks opening the college football season on national TV?It seems like a long time ago, after last night's game.The Ducks had the entire country watching them as they kicked off the college football season, and the game went in the worst possible way. I'm not just talking about a pathetic, uninspired loss to Boise State - although that

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-30304174532272429312009-09-03T13:06:00.000-07:002009-09-03T14:12:35.758-07:00

Apparently something big is happening today, but I can't quite put my finger on it. Let's head to Facebook and see what my friends are saying."For the first time in seven years I'm thinking of rooting for the Ducks.""Big day today ... LET'S GO DUCKS!!!""Ducks by two scores at least.""Ducks will run wild on the blue turf.""I love the Ducks!""It's about time; I've been having withdrawls. Go Ducks!"

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-7634462964938931662009-08-31T21:12:00.000-07:002009-08-31T21:25:34.368-07:00

ESPN is reporting that Ricky Rubio will be playing in Spain for at least two more years, costing the Timberwolves their point guard of the future and David Kahn thousands of dollars on international flights to Spain.It's not like none of us saw this coming. Rubio's face on Draft Night said it all. "Where is Minnesota? They did not teach me about this state in school. At least I get to play with

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-42385509741402980542009-08-31T14:06:00.000-07:002009-08-31T14:07:54.535-07:00

We can rebuild him, we have the technology"Yao Ming had broken down; his bones cracking under the weight of his 7-foot-6, 300 pound body and from the lofty expectations placed on him by his country and the city of Houston. His body finally couldn't take it anymore, and as the injuries piled up, there was talk that he might never step foot on an NBA court again.That's when Rockets' GM Daryl Morey

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-74962662074278417982009-08-30T18:33:00.000-07:002009-08-30T19:30:38.737-07:00

-My dad has always maintained that the NBA is fixed. He thinks that home teams are rewarded and big-market teams always end up winning, in order to draw in more fans and money. While his theory may not be entirely true, it's appearing that certain aspects of NBA games are fradulent.Deadspin's Tommy Craggs wrote a fantastic article about the life of an NBA scorekeeper, in which this person

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-90541598546174640062009-08-29T15:11:00.000-07:002009-08-29T15:22:28.807-07:00

You know those "buy 2 get 2 free" deals that they have at Hollywood Video? It's almost never worth it to actually take part in the deal. Usually, there's only two movies that you really want to purchase anyway, and yet you still convince yourself to buy two other mediocre ones, simply to take part in the deal. So if you're dead set on owning "Slumdog Millionaire" and "The Wrestler," you're almost

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-44728911736523792572009-08-29T11:30:00.000-07:002009-08-29T11:36:09.176-07:00

Madden is a great video game. But never could you do this in Madden.From Tecmo Super Bowl, The Oakland Raiders receive the opening kickoff and run out of bounds at their own 1-yard line. Then Bo Jackson takes over.That just happened. Essentially a 205-yard run to end the quarter.

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-31255987800507060732009-08-27T17:28:00.000-07:002009-08-27T17:28:07.856-07:00

I've never had a favorite football team.Part of the problem with growing up in a one-sport town like Portland is that it forces you to look elsewhere for a favorite team in a lot of sports. For me, things fell in place easily for most sports: The Trail Blazers have always been my number 1 team, my parents raised me as a Cubs fan, and I became a Zag fan when I enrolled at Gonzaga in 2005.But

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-34964727756110796972009-08-25T22:20:00.000-07:002009-08-26T00:00:07.391-07:00

The other day I was going through some old junk in my room when I stumbled upon a long-forgotten collector's item: the Premiere Issue of Rip City Magazine from November 1992.Inside the issue, there was a long feature on Clyde Drexler's experience at the Olympics, a Q & A with the newly-acquired Rod Strickland ("I'm looking forward to going back home to New York City with a championship ring on my

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-37719679285494144272009-08-25T15:12:00.000-07:002009-08-25T15:14:49.223-07:00

If there's one thing that sports routinely gives us, it's heroes.We see Willis Reed limping onto the court in the 1970 NBA finals to inspire the Knicks to victory. We see Lance Armstrong beating cancer and conquering the Tour De France. We see Roberto Clemente dying tragically in a plane crash while on his way to deliver aid to earthquake victims.We see all these things, and in our minds, they

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-46409371588888462212009-08-24T14:13:00.000-07:002009-08-24T15:21:31.054-07:00

I first met Kevin O'Brien three years ago at Gonzaga. I was in my second week on the job as Sports Editor of the Gonzaga Bulletin, and I was meeting with prospective writers for the page. I had never seen any writing examples from the reporters I was talking to, so I figured that this would just be an informational meeting so they could get their feet wet and learn how to contribute in the

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-62786225127937753492009-08-24T09:55:00.001-07:002009-08-24T11:24:27.676-07:00

-I've been wondering, since the announcement came down that Memphis would have to vacate their 39-win season in 2008 because of Derrick Rose's phony SAT scores, has any media outlet bothered to talk to Rose? I don't remember seeing a single quote from Rose this entire week. It seems to me that it would be worthwhile to talk to the main figure in this case, if only to ask him why he cheated, how

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-67645275486268607932009-08-21T23:54:00.001-07:002009-08-22T16:21:30.960-07:00

My friend Brian is a pretty knowledgeable guy, and considers himself a casual sports fan. He's not a die-hard by any means, but he can still sit down with you and have a conversation about sports ranging from football and basketball to soccer and golf.One sports that he absolutely doesn't care for, though, is baseball. He doesn't watch it, doesn't read about it, and can't really talk about it.

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-48910612969245240562009-08-19T22:18:00.000-07:002009-08-19T23:05:49.922-07:00

31 college basketball teams don't have to feel so bad anymore about losing to the Memphis Tigers in 2007-08.According to a report from the Memphis Commercial Appeal, The NCAA Committee on Infractions will announce Thursday that Memphis will have to forfeit all of its 38 wins from that season, including the Final Four appearance, based on information that then-freshman guard Derrick Rose had

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-54141241286624032652009-08-19T17:17:00.000-07:002009-08-19T18:43:45.616-07:00

My friends and I were like a lot of other kids growing up. During the summer, we played baseball.Every week, we'd all get together at the little field at the park down the street from my house and play ball. Our crew usually wasn't big enough to field an official nine-on-nine game, but that didn't matter to us. We'd pick sides, install a permanent pitcher or DH, play double-or-nothing if we had

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-77905298960475694082009-08-18T12:37:00.000-07:002009-08-18T14:10:32.091-07:00

Well it appears once again, we've been had.For the 17th time in five years, Brett Favre has decided that his talk of retirement was premature, and has officially signed with the Minnesota Vikings. Yes, Favre, the gunslinger, the big kid, the Iron Man, the Wrangler spokesman, is back in the NFL....Again.Only this time, the mood surrounding his return isn't about admiration or respect for the aging

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-10788305450071313382009-08-17T13:22:00.000-07:002009-08-17T13:57:35.744-07:00

Rules and OverviewFirst RoundSemifinalsChampionship game matchupNow it all comes down to this. The Angels vs the Indians. The winner is crowned as the greatest fictional baseball team of all time.Naturally, this was the hardest one to choose. Both of these teams were lousy at one point, but ended up winning the American League pennant because something inspired them to believe. The Angels had the

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-867099522946200502009-08-16T13:13:00.001-07:002009-08-16T13:59:34.814-07:00

-Tomorrow I will be posting the winner in baseball of the World Championships of Fictional Sports teams, so if you want to have your voice heard on the subject, be sure to send me an email or leave a comment saying who you think should win and why. The final two teams are the Angels from "Angels in the Outfield" vs the Indians from "Major League."In case you missed any of it, catch up quickly:

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-90773386246556380002009-08-13T20:00:00.000-07:002009-08-13T20:00:01.983-07:00

The Philadelphia Eagles' signing of embattled quarterback Michael Vick is going to raise certain questions. Can the Eagles weather the PR storm that will come from signing Vick? Does this mean that teams are valuing talent over character? What role is Vick even going to play on a team with Donovan McNabb already at QB?If Philadelphia wants this move to work, then they'll need to spend the rest of

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-90286888810013620462009-08-13T13:31:00.000-07:002009-08-13T13:34:30.250-07:00

Relationships are all about common ground. Men and women who chose to be in committed relationships do so because the share plenty of things in common with their significant other, whether it be ideals, beliefs, background, goals, or even just the same hobbies and interests.But the one thing that never bridges the gap between men and women in relationships is sports.It’s just the way it is, and

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-73667219115370013942009-08-10T19:04:00.001-07:002009-08-10T22:48:01.970-07:00

Rules and OverviewFirst RoundSemifinalsAnd now it's down to two.It was a hard-fought battle, but in the end, you readers decided which two teams would meet in the baseball Championship Game of the World Championships of Fictional Sports Teams. But before we get to the matchup, we need to take a look at the results.#1 Ghosts from Ray’s Cornfield (Field of Dreams)Vs#3 California Angels (Angels in

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-40690725591567445142009-08-08T12:18:00.000-07:002009-08-08T13:35:55.529-07:00

Josh Hamilton's story has always been accompanied by words like "comeback," "redemption," and "triumph." After all, Hamilton was a man whose baseball career and personal life were derailed because of drug and alcohol abuse. But with plenty of help and determination Hamilton got clean, dedicated himself to his family, and turned his life around, culminating in a memorable performance in the 2008

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-77544237522087954552009-08-06T20:31:00.000-07:002009-08-06T21:14:44.468-07:00

I don't think it's supposed to look like that.But seriously, Phil, it's great to have you back.Courtesy of ESPN.com

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-59469894508603883132009-08-06T13:54:00.000-07:002009-08-06T20:18:06.473-07:00

Rules and OverviewFirst RoundYou voted, you gave me reasons, and now we finally have our semifinalists! These outcomes were determined by you, the readers:#1 Ghosts from Ray’s Cornfield (Field of Dreams)Vs#8 Rockford Peaches (A League of Their Own)Winner: GhostsThis one isn’t even close. And while I may not have been happy with some of the blatant bashing of women’s sports in the comments, it was

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-56611436377909559542009-08-02T20:45:00.001-07:002009-08-03T11:24:00.480-07:00

OK, here are the first round brackets for the baseball tourney of the World Championships of Fictional Sports Teams.Here's what you have to do: Comment or e-mail me (stevensandberg@hotmail.com) your reasons for picking the winner in each matchup. Make sure that your reasons are more than just "I like the movie better." Give me a legitimate, baseball or movie-oriented reason why a particular team

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-60343293178514376582009-07-31T10:38:00.000-07:002009-07-31T11:30:35.748-07:00

Vick, Lions spell Bad Newz for opponents"They've seemed to be world apart, separated by geography and circumstance. But in reality, Michael Vick and the Detroit Lions had more in common than you might have thought.The city of Detroit suffered through some of its hardest times in the past year. The auto industry stood on the brink, and the economy plunged the city into a level of darkness some

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-49353543937511642522009-07-30T16:36:00.001-07:002009-07-30T17:05:47.727-07:00

I am sick of writing columns about steroids.I've been doing it at least once a year since my junior year of high school. There always seems to be a "new" breaking story about how so-and-so used steroids, or how someone was accused by another player, or how someone got suspended for an undisclosed substance. And every time, it brings on an onslaught of the same, tired columns from writers around

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-19958121204114386752009-07-28T17:59:00.000-07:002009-07-29T12:44:56.956-07:00

One of my favorite Web sites is What If Sports, where you can pick any team from any year in any of the major sports and pit them against each other in a simulated matchup.You can send out the Murderer's Row 1927 Yankees against the 2001 Detroit Tigers and see just how one-sided the score will be. You can match Shaq's 2000 Lakers championship team against the 1996, 72-win Chicago Bulls. Any team,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-78342190275097543752009-07-28T15:14:00.000-07:002009-07-28T15:43:37.024-07:00

With the Blazers' recent signing of Andre Miller, I caught up with The Ex-Call Taker's Kevin O'Brien and suggested that the Blazers cybernetically combine Miller and incumbent point guard Steve Blake into one competent point guard."Andre Blake? Sounds like an English soccer star," he said. "Steve Miller? Sounds like a white comedian."(That's why I love the guy.)Sure, it was a joke, but both

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-4744191447259373642009-07-25T12:00:00.000-07:002009-07-25T12:08:40.372-07:00

Andre Miller is a Portland Trail Blazer."Good signing, significant move, hitting on 16, blah blah blah," I'm just praying that this doesn't turn out like when I wrote the column on Hedo Turkoglu signing with the Blazers. I hope that the mere posting of this doesn't mean Miller will come out and announce that he's actually signing a 5-year deal with the Vermont Frost Heaves of the ABA.

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-91510143170231156532009-07-22T14:02:00.000-07:002009-07-24T09:33:29.859-07:00

The 2005-2006 Portland Trail Blazers were bad.Really bad.They finished with a league-worst record of 21-61. The Rose Garden was like a morgue, with the team dead last in attendance. The roster was littered with forgettable players like Sergei Monia, Brian Skinner, and Juan Dixon. They were lit up by Minnesota's Richie Frahm for 18 points in the first game of the season. Charles Smith was actually

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-88773130814332867972009-07-22T12:03:00.000-07:002009-07-28T18:13:24.700-07:00

(Quick note before we get started: I was doing a Google Image search for Alfonso Soriano to head this column. I typed in the word "Alfonso" and Soriano's name came up second in the list of suggestions. The top one: Alfonso Ribeiro. Yes, Carlton from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is the most popular Alfonso on Google. Moving on...)Having been a Cubs fan for my entire life, I've gotten used to

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-84459927903259407672009-07-20T22:38:00.000-07:002009-07-20T23:03:12.079-07:00

What an amazing week in Spokane working for the National Veterans Wheelchair games. If you ever wanted to know just how important the games are, view the above video of an interview with "Rollin" Joe Velasquez after he won the gold medal in table tennis. This made the whole week.The entire event was incredible. There were great games, dominating performances, colorful characters and inspiring

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-77281053458219799492009-07-10T11:08:00.000-07:002009-07-10T23:09:54.154-07:00

Blazer's Edge reported earlier today that Patty Mills broke his foot in practice, and will miss the entire summer league. It's yet another setback for Mills, the dynamic point guard out of St. Mary's who I thought was the steal of the NBA Draft.Physically, Mills never did look like much - 6-0, 180 lbs. - but the guy could score like you wouldn't believe, and in his two years in the WCC he helped

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-3338299757306923082009-07-09T13:56:00.000-07:002009-07-10T11:46:26.100-07:00

Next week, I will be returning to Spokane, where I will be doing play-by-play at the National Veterans Wheelchair games for xAble.com.I've called my fair share of sporting events before, but never anything like this, and I'm approaching this opportunity with nervousness and excitement. Never in my life have I ever called any wheelchair sports, let alone watch any for an extended period of time.

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-19647909373856776572009-07-08T16:16:00.000-07:002009-07-08T17:06:56.205-07:00

With NBA free agent signings now official, it's becoming clear which teams have gotten better, worse, or are standing still. But as this years free agency has shown us, simply signing free agents doesn't equate to a team getting better.For example, the Lakers got better be replacing Trevor Ariza with Ron Artest in a simple upgrade. Meanwhile, the Clippers got better by trading away Zach Randolph,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-85424089847916729332009-07-07T14:05:00.000-07:002009-07-07T15:17:21.397-07:00

This past 4th of July weekend, I went out of town to my family's vacation house near Stevenson, WA. As a result, I had no phone reception, no TV, no Internet, and practically no contact with the outside world. Usually, it's always fun to come back into town and see what messages/news I missed, which tend to be only unimportant voicemails or a obscure free agent signing.What I didn't expect to get

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-13903804552396594952009-07-03T18:58:00.000-07:002009-07-03T19:39:58.339-07:00

Earlier today, I read on ESPN that Hedo Turkoglu had agreed to a free agent contract with the Portland Trail Blazers. The ESPN article reportedly got the information from "sources."After reading this news, which had supposedly been confirmed, I wrote a column about what Turkoglu brings to the Blazers, and what the gamble will mean for the Blazers future.The time spent on that column, apparently,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-55970030974411000172009-07-03T14:07:00.001-07:002009-07-03T16:47:43.543-07:00

ESPN is reporting that the Blazers and Hedo Turkoglu have agreed on a deal that will bring the 30-year-old forward to Portland. Turkoglu was looking for a five year deal worth roughly $50 million, and all accounts are saying that the deal with the Blazers will probably be for that amount.The Blazers had been looking for a veteran. They got one. They were looking for experience. They got it. They

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-84485612889241302632009-07-01T12:16:00.000-07:002009-07-01T17:51:13.788-07:00

Excuse me for getting a little nostalgic today, but it's with big excitement that I learned that the guy who gave me my start as a sportswriter just got back in the game.Let me take you back a few years, to Portland's Franklin High School in 2004. I was but a junior, and a lowly young writer for the Franklin Post, making my living off articles about bell schedule changes. The man in charge was

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-28650808042937555162009-06-30T12:40:00.000-07:002009-07-01T12:16:10.432-07:00

Channing Frye, Blazer savior"In an offseason that has featured big-name free agent rumors, trade proposals for superstars, and the overwhelming desire to desperately make the Blazers better, Kevin Pritchard once again showed that he has the guts to make all the right moves. Pritchard made a bold statement to Blazer fans: that he was committed to bringing in the best talent and making the Blazers

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-3272047380975271922009-06-29T11:48:00.000-07:002009-07-07T00:37:36.739-07:00

Go watch your local news, wait for the sports segment, and pay close attention.It's OK, do it. I'll be fine until you come back. Just make sure you intently watch the sports segment. Any local news will be fine, I don't care if they sports guy's name is Joe or Bill or Skip or Big Dogg, it makes no difference (more on that later).So go watch. I'll be waiting right here....Back so soon? That was

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-32372348755831322102009-06-29T11:45:00.000-07:002009-06-29T11:47:40.775-07:00

Finally, someone with an outside perspective can address the Portland stadium fiasco:A stadium lesson from 3,000 miles away - The Oregonian

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-37859656322410174632009-06-26T17:11:00.000-07:002009-06-26T21:05:19.247-07:00

I really wanted to write a running diary on the 2009 NBA Draft. I really did. Thursday night I sat down with my notebook, flipped on ESPN, and began recording my thoughts on the festivities.And at the beginning, there were some great moments: David Stern looking a little tipsy but unafraid to play around with the crazy New York fans, the awkward kiss/hug James Harden received from a sleazy

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-45380854157760049172009-06-24T00:12:00.001-07:002009-06-25T11:00:51.585-07:00

I lack wireless Internet or a long enough Ethernet cable, so I'm not even going to attempt trying to blog while watching the NBA Draft. So from 4:30 Pacific time on, I'm going to be glued to the TV, and you'll just have to wait until later for my thoughtsA bit of bad news first, Kevin O'Brien of The Ex-Call Taker got called out on emergency business, so unfortunately we won't be getting together

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-76597077393739524052009-06-23T15:43:00.000-07:002009-06-24T00:04:44.045-07:00

With Draft Day 2009 rapidly approaching, I thought I'd take a look back in time at the Blazers' draft picks. I've decided not to talk much about jobbers like Nedzad Sinanovic, Ha Seung-Jin, or Sergei Monia, despite how hilarious they were, and focused simply on the first-round or high-profile picks.Nowadays, it seems that the Blazers use the draft to make trades to retool the roster, rather than

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-61015612091397417312009-06-23T14:29:00.000-07:002009-06-23T14:56:54.399-07:00

Ryne Sandberg that is. The Hall of Fame second baseman and former Cub told ESPN Radio that he doesn't think that Sammy Sosa belongs in the Hall of Fame.This coming in the wake of the news that Sosa was revealed to have tested positive for Performance Enhancing Drugs in 2003.As a quick side note, someone once said that one of the best ways to be credible is to identify your inherent bias,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-596446810458762252009-06-23T11:35:00.000-07:002009-06-23T11:43:09.054-07:00

ESPN just reported that the Spurs have traded for Richard Jefferson.But my favorite part of the article comes at the end, when the Bucks reveal a silver lining in losing thier best player:The move also opens up some playing time for the Bucks' lottery pick last year, Joe Alexander.Whew, that was a close call. Good thing they have someone who averaged 4.7 PPG to fill that gap.Congratulations,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-28653643398152159412009-06-23T10:02:00.000-07:002009-06-23T10:41:32.170-07:00

In the 1999 NBA Draft, Steve Francis was selected second overall by the sad-sack Vancouver Grizzlies. Not wanting to play for such a horrible franchise, Francis cried, pouted, and said it wasn't it God's will to play in Vancouver. The Grizzlies finally got fed up with his antics and essentially gave him away to Houston for little in return.10 years later, and nothing's changed. Draft prospects

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-6681346787443671162009-06-21T00:29:00.000-07:002009-06-22T11:34:25.469-07:00

Note- With the June 25 NBA draft poised to be the weakest in years, it seems like every player has a shot of being picked. With the help of some special guests, we're going to take an in-depth look at some players whose names NBA GM's might not have heard about.He's such a talent that I took the word "Longshot" out of the series title for this post. Daye will be drafted.Without a doubt, Austin

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-10783572804371557292009-06-21T00:11:00.000-07:002009-06-21T01:05:00.411-07:00

This one is for my Dad, who perfected the art of standing on your foot so you couldn't rebound the ball. He still does that trick, and the refs never notice.Here's a little something I wrote a couple years ago that I figured I'd repost in honor of Father's Day. Enjoy it, then go play catch with your dad.My Dad, My Coach

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-45313847830844242062009-06-19T23:40:00.000-07:002009-06-19T23:42:23.942-07:00

Note- With the June 25 NBA draft poised to be the weakest in years, it seems like every player has a shot of being picked. With the help of some special guests, we're going to take an in-depth look at some players whose names NBA GM's might not have heard about.Micah Downs is the kind of player that my Dad loves.Back in March when Gonzaga was in town for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, I

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-47575463805242868572009-06-19T11:39:00.000-07:002009-06-19T15:23:10.819-07:00

"The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been baseball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again.But baseball has marked the time. This field, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and it could be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come. " -

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-52137812294466195892009-06-18T11:34:00.000-07:002009-06-18T12:23:33.959-07:00

Note- With the June 25 NBA draft poised to be the weakest in years, it seems like every player has a shot of being picked. With the help of some special guests, we're going to take an in-depth look at some players whose names NBA GM's might not have heard about.We're going to jump right into things today as we discuss Gonzaga guard Jeremy Pargo. Once again, I've enlisted the aid of Kevin O'Brien

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-83859064853182733412009-06-16T21:31:00.000-07:002009-06-20T00:48:49.947-07:00

Six years ago, if it had come out that Sammy Sosa was using steroids, I would have been devastated. Sammy was always my favorite player (once Ryno retired) on my favorite team, and in the summer of 1998, I was cheering him on as he chased Roger Maris' home run record. So if any allegations or proof of steroid use were to come to light, it would have hurt a lot.Fast forward to today. Sosa is

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-57642584347409805752009-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:002009-06-15T14:38:02.301-07:00

Note- With the June 25 NBA draft poised to be the weakest in years, it seems like every player has a shot of being picked. With the help of some special guests, we're going to take an in-depth look at some players whose names NBA GM's might not have heard about.Believe it or not, at one point Josh Heytvelt was a can't-miss NBA prospect.That was two years ago, when Heytvelt was in the midst of a

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-12124106628323699692009-06-14T21:09:00.000-07:002009-06-14T21:21:44.441-07:00

Adam Morrison. Sure, you may have been the biggest bust of the 2006 NBA draft. And OK, you may not have seen any playing time in two months. But look at it this way: you got paid millions of dollars to sit courtside and give awkward high-fives to your teammates as they won an NBA championship without you.Which, somehow, makes you the most successful former Gonzaga Bulldog, ever.Somewhere in

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-79929959913349578442009-06-10T20:33:00.000-07:002009-06-11T18:18:55.736-07:00

I've lived down the street from Lents Park for most of my life, and I've garnered my share of great memories there.Lents had the only nearby baseball field with lights, giving kids a chance to experience playing in a night game (provided you were able sneak in under the fence after the little leaguers left).Lents provided many an opportunity for football on its 100-yard gridiron, complete with

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-30970887978674988242009-06-10T12:07:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:14:39.360-07:00

Official trailer for the upcoming Crossbones Productions release!When a disgraced former coach takes a new job as coach at a small town school, he finds out that he, like his new players, just needed a second chance to finish first.From the studio that brought you Jesuit House, Monopoly, The Notebook, and Writer's Block.StarringSteven Sandberg as Norman DaleSara Sanchez as Myra FleenerNate Coombs

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-62767112503483853092009-06-09T18:01:00.000-07:002009-06-09T22:49:58.912-07:00

The Orlando Magic, down 2-0 to the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2009 NBA Finals, faced a must-win game 3. A loss on their home floor would most likely doom the Magic to a finals loss.In order to get the crowd pumped up and motivate the team, the Magic brought in a guest speaker during pregame introductions.That person ... Nick Anderson.Yes, the same Nick Anderson whose missed free throws in the 1995

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-24673770510715707442009-06-09T12:42:00.001-07:002009-06-13T18:05:37.285-07:00

ESPN, like many other sports media institutions, has long been accused of having an East Coast bias.That's certainly understandable. Naturally, as a network located in Bristol, CT, they are going to have better access and insight into the New Yorks, the Bostons, the Philadelphias simply based on geography alone. I don't care about how far technology has come, if you are closer to the action, you

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-1586707246519540492009-06-08T17:12:00.000-07:002009-06-10T12:19:07.749-07:00

Note - This column will appear in the 2009 edition of Gonzaga Spires.At 5-foot-11, freshman guard Demetri “Meech” Goodson wasn’t exactly the biggest player to ever grace the basketball court for the Bulldogs. There were certainly larger players with larger-than-life personalities. But for a generation of Zag fans, it was the image of Goodson saving the day that will forever stay with them when

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-29672211799411999882009-03-03T23:00:00.000-08:002009-03-03T23:05:35.727-08:00

Microphone in hand, Josh Heytvelt looked out upon the beaming crowd at the McCarthey Center. It was senior night at the Kennel, and he now was being given the opportunity to say a few words about how he felt after his final home game as a Bulldog.The crowd let out a cheer as Heytvelt walked to the front of the group on the floor, prompting a nervous smile from the 6-10 center. Finally, he started

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-56810763846870002002008-10-08T10:16:00.001-07:002008-10-08T10:18:39.270-07:00

I spent Tuesday, Oct. 7 trying to figure out something meaningful to do for my birthday. Turning 22 isn’t exactly a huge milestone, but I wanted to find something significant that made this birthday stand out, something to make it more than just another day.With no presents, lots of homework, and no time for a party, it seemed like this birthday would pass by with nothing to show for it.Then the

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-55910513347564981902008-05-20T11:48:00.000-07:002008-05-20T12:11:10.442-07:00

In honor of today's NBA Draft Lottery, I'm reprinting the column I wrote after the Portland Trail Blazers won the lottery last year, after overcoming an improbable 5.3% chance of getting the number 1 pick. Today, the odds are a bit more daunting, as the Blazers, with their 41-41 overall record, have a .6% chance of landing the number 1 pick.But go back to that day a year ago, and remember that

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-62436892739121714232008-04-30T12:06:00.000-07:002008-04-30T12:20:08.355-07:00

- If you've ever doubted the wonderful nature of sports or the beauty of sportsmanship, you need to read this. It doesn't matter that it's small college softball. To me, this is what makes sports so special - the way it affects people on an entirely different level. Just read it, it's got my vote for sports story of the year so far, and it'll be a hard one to top.- For Zag fans looking forward to

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-86119203773243193562008-04-24T21:27:00.001-07:002008-04-24T21:27:40.696-07:00

What does the future hold for the Bulldogs?The question is asked every year, after seasons good or bad, successful or tumultuous, memorable or forgettable. After a college basketball season, the question ultimately arises: What's next?For too many years the Bulldogs have been forced to ask that question. Well, now it's time to stop asking and start finding some answers.Mark Few, specifically,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-33326041166988502512008-04-19T12:53:00.000-07:002008-04-19T12:54:58.019-07:00

No amount of begging, pleading or reasoning can ever sway the decisions of a man who has made up his mind. That's been exactly the case with Jeremy Pargo during these past few days.Through his actions, decisions and attitudes surrounding his decision to enter the NBA Draft, Pargo suddenly grew up before our eyes, from a talkative, headstrong kid to a full-grown man.Gonzaga should be proud of him,

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-39419970007127909042008-04-15T14:23:00.000-07:002008-04-15T14:25:22.160-07:00

As first reported at GonzagaBulletin.com, Gonzaga junior point guard Jeremy Pargo has declared for the NBA Draft. Pargo will not hire an agent, however, in case he decided to return for his senior season.For the full story as first reported by Bulletin Sports Editor Tony Schick, click here.

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-68687717815470756952008-04-10T21:05:00.000-07:002008-04-10T21:09:40.323-07:00

Welcoming viewers to his Sunday NBA broadcast, ABC announcer Mike Breen proclaimed "this is one of the best seasons in NBA history."Who wouldn't agree with that statement? The NBA and each of its 15 teams are having an amazing year, thanks to the groundbreaking decision to finally ditch the flawed concept that was the Eastern Conference.Oh, it had a good run. Those Celtic teams in the 60s sure

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-355853589683539052008-03-27T21:46:00.000-07:002008-03-27T21:47:45.362-07:00

It seemed like a simple assignment. I would go out, find a sport that I've never played before, and attempt to survive through an organized game.After deciding that I didn't want to take a beating from lacrosse or experience the early morning hours of rowing, I finally settled on Ultimate Frisbee. What little experience I had with the sport came from my days in middle-school P.E., but the game

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-41138148563471025242008-03-19T22:28:00.000-07:002008-03-19T22:29:16.682-07:00

As the final buzzer sounded on the WCC Tournament Championship nearly two weeks ago, the fortunes of two teams were dramatically altered.Now, both teams will be fighting to change or secure their reputations as they step onto the biggest stage possible - the NCAA Tournament.One team finds itself in a familiar place but unfamiliar territory as the tournament opens, with their high hopes marred

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-23358420858545824242008-03-06T21:15:00.000-08:002008-03-06T21:16:36.516-08:00

As the real show begins, the Gonzaga Bulldogs are banking on hope.They're hoping that their sudden resurgence is the real thing, a sign of how good this team can be.They're hoping that Saint Mary's isn't as good as advertised, and that the Zags' loss to the Gaels was simply a fluke.They're hoping that Bill Grier's San Diego Toreros can't keep up their inspired play as of late, including their

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-39745280767012687602008-02-29T14:28:00.000-08:002008-02-29T14:40:58.827-08:00

Portlanders and fans of the Trail Blazers:I want you to close your eyes for a moment.Imagine your team, the Trail Blazers. Think of everything you’ve ever experienced with them, the highs, the lows, everything. Think about the Blazers’ history with the city, think about the Blazers’ history with yourself. Think about how you have stuck by the team, through thick and thin, simply because they are

Sandberghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04780174142552654259noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5517098118651847281.post-14791530776879863222008-02-28T19:44:00.000-08:002008-02-28T19:46:04.777-08:00

I had a dream the other night, a nightmare actually. I was in Chicago, about to see a Cubs game for the first time. After years of following them from afar, I was finally about to see them in person, and where better to experience your first baseball game than in the bleachers of historic Wrigley Field?But upon approaching the entrance at 1060 West Addison, I was stopped dead in my tracks. Gone

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