The Stark Truth

Tacoma News Tribune reporter Larry Larue talked to Aaron Sele, now a roving minor league pitching instructor for the Dodgers, at baseball’s winter meetings. Here’s the report on the former North Kitsap star who was inducted into the Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame this summer:

Catching up with Sele: Aaron Sele is now a roving minor league pitching coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and happy to be in the game after a career that took him through a handful of teams – including Seattle.

“I was never a bad quote, I never misled anyone with an answer that wasn’t true,” Sele said, “but I was boring. In a clubhouse you need a few guys who’ll fill your notebook up – and a bunch of guys who won’t. I was one of those guys who didn’t.”

In retrospect, Sele said, he was a better pitcher than he believed at the time.

“Looking back now,” the former North Kitsap High and Washington State star said, “every pitch I ever threw was a strike.”

Here’s a story I wrote on Sele, the quiet competitor who is one of Kitsap’s all-time greats, in October prior to his induction into the local sports hall. I don’t think he was boring. He was just one of those guys who didn’t seek the limelight.

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Scott Capestany and the Olympic Peninsula Sports Network previewed the Olympic College men’s basketball team. Scott’s show airs every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. on Channels 3 and 12. Here’s a link to the most recent show. It’s 9-plus minutes of interviews.

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The M’s are making headlines in the offseason. Check out the following links:

SI.com: Seattle swiped Chone Figgins from the Angels. Is John Lackey next?

ESPN.com: M’s don’t deny interest in outfielder Jason Bay.

SI.com: Report says Felix Hernandez wants to become baseball’s next $100 million man. Plus, Adrian Beltre will reportedly decline the M’s offer of arbitration.

Seattle Times: Signing Chone Figgins only the start for the M’s.

Tacoma News Tribune: Ms’ on verge of signing everybody.

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By now, most of you have heard that the Mariners are reportedly close to signing free-agent third baseman Chone Figgins to a long-term deal.

If that happens, it means two things:

1) Adrian Beltre is gone. He wants a long-term deal and the M’s aren’t willing to give him one, which is why Seattle offered arbitration.

2) Manager Don Wakamatsu will have an interesting decision to make when it comes to making out his lineup card. Who do you hit at the top of the order — Figgins or Ichiro?

Ichiro has been Seattle’s leadoff hitter for the past nine seasons. He hit .352 with a .386 on-base percentage. Ichiro hit 11 home runs, stole 26 bases and drove in 46 runs.

I would imagine they would hit 1-2, although if you go by the old adage that your best hitter should bat No. 3, then Ichiro would be the man.

Figgins isn’t as good as Beltre on defense — I’m not sure there’s a better defensive third baseman in baseball — but he’s close. Figgins is cat-like and has much stronger arm than one would expect from a player his size.

The Los Angeles Times, by the way, is reporting that the Angels haven’t been told that Figgins won’t re-sign with them. The Angels offered a three-year, $24 million deal, while the M’s have reportedly offered a four-year, $36 million deal.

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Silverdale’s Randy Corley — or Ran–deeeee Corrley, as his local pals like to announce when he walks into the room — was bypassed once again when the PRCA handed out is Announcer of the Year Award on Wednesday night in Las Vegas. It went ot Boyd Polhamus.

Corley’s won the award 10 times and just being nominated is enough, he once told me. Corley evidently finished second in the balloting and being No. 2 in this case isn’t all bad — he won $4,000. That’s nice money, especially if you’re in Las Vegas for two weeks.

Polhamus, Corley and Bob Tallman — the Big Three when it comes to announcing rodeo — will share the microphones  at the Dec. 3-12 National Finals Rodeo at Thomas & Mack Center.  It’s the 11th time Corley’s worked the Super Bowl of his sport. If you haven’t been to Vegas for the NFR, you’re missing one of the best shows around. Corley hosts the after-rodeo awards show at the South Point Casino. Corley shins in that atmosphere.

And congratulations to Haley Schneeberger, who was named the Rodeo Secretary of the Year for the second straight year. Anybody who’s dealt with Schneeberger, who works the Kitsap Stampede, can understand why those her industry consider her the best at what she does.

Looking for the TV schedule for the finals? Click here. You’ll also find the contestants and can keep track of results at PRCA.com. Many of the same cowboys that competed at the Kitsap Stampede and Xtreme Bulls event are in Las Vegas, chasing rodeo glory and gold buckles.

Following former world champion bareback rider Clint Corey — a Central Kitsap grad — in the 1990s turned me into a rodeo fan. I can’t think of better athletes to deal with. Sometimes the stories just write themselves, the people and the animals are that colorful.

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If not for Washington (5-0) and Washington State (6-0), the Pac-10 would be in a really sorry state right now when it comes to basketball.

And WSU is going to find out how good it is when it takes on Gonzaga Wednesday night (FSN, 6 p.m.). The Cougs’ early-season schedule has been pretty weak. Sophomore guard Klay Thompson’s been getting a lot of props, and he should. He’s averaging 28.2 ppg. But the bigger story is coach Ken Bone, the former Olympic College/Seattle Pacific/UW assistant/Portland State coach. Nobody expected much from the Cougs, but with the Pac-10 down, Bone’s Cougars are going to fare a lot better than anybody imagined.

As for the Huskies, I’m not sure if they’re worthy of thier No. 10 ranking, but, boy, they’re fun to watch. For the money, Husky basketball might be the best ticket in Seattle. We’ll have a better idea of how good this team is after they play at Texas Tech on Thursday (ESPN2, 4 p.m.). That’s a good test.

Here’s some links on Pac-10 hoops.

This story on Yahoo! Sports talks about the Pac-10 Blues.

The Pac-10: It Could be Worse, or Maybe Not. That’s the headline in this San Jose Mercury News report.

Has the WCC replaced the Pac-10 as the west’s power conference? Read this Seattle P-I blog.

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Here’s some links on the final stage of PGA Tour qualifying school today. Central Kitsap grad Troy Kelly is back in the field.

Here’s my story (I’ve corrected a mistake I made; there’s 170 players entered, not 132) on Kelly. That just makes it even tougher. Remember, only 25 (and ties)will earn their PGA Tour cards.

Here’s Todd Milles’ story from the News Tribune in Tacoma.

Here’s a report from the Desert Sun in Palm Desert, Calif.

This is from the PGAtour.com site. You can follow Kelly here throughout the tournament. The Golf Channel will televise the final three rounds.

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JAKE LOCKER’S 97 yards rushing against Washington State in the Apple Cup was his biggest rushing day since gaining 103 yards in the 2007 Apple Cup. He said it’s the healthiest he’s felt in a while, and he played like it, although one has to consider the opponent. It’ll be interesting to see how Locker and the Huskies bounce back against Cal in their season finale. And it’ll be even more intriguing in Locker’s case because it could be his final college game. Locker’s ranked the No. 1 quarterback prospect in the country and No. 7 overall in ESPN’s NFLDraft tracker. What do you think? Could he use another year at the UW to fine-tune his skills? Or is the money simply too good to pass up? If it was your son, how would you advise him?

STEVEN GRAY’S got his  season off to an outstanding start and it’s not going unnoticed. Jay Bilas of ESPN.com had some nice things to say about Gonzaga’s junior guard from Bainbridge, who was officially the co-MVP of the Maui Classic. Gray was Bilas’ choice as MVP. Read Bilas’ comments here. Grays’ averaging 16.4 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.0 assists for the the Zags (4-1), who take on Washington State (6-0) Wednesday in Spokane. The Maui champs vs. the Great Alaska Shootout champs (6 p.m., FSN). That’s a nice early-season matchup.  Our eastern Washington/Idaho freelance scribe Howie Stalwick said Klay Thompson might break all of the Cougars’ scoring records and he’s on pace to do it. Thompson’s averaging 28.3 ppg.

SOMEBODY ASKED  me recently about Brock Stodden. He wanted to know if the Bremerton Butcher was still fighting. Stodden’s only fought once in the last two years, but he’s not retired. If the right fight comes along, the 35-year-old Stodden will get back in the ring. He’s record has dropped to 18-16-1, but it’s not like he’s been fighting doornobs. Check out the records of the fighters Stodden has been fighting. Here’s a look at his career, fight-by-fight.

KITSAP HOOPS — LIVE: You can watch tonight’s Central Kitsap-Bainbridge boys basketball game online at the kitsapsun.com. It’s the first of several high school games that The Sun will be live streaming this season. You can watch replays of our high school football games of the week at  kitsapsun.com/2009/high-school-football. Basketball games will also be replayed.

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From the Central Washington Web page:

ELLENSBURG (Nov. 28) — Senior Mike Waller (Pomona, Calif./Todd Beamer HS) scored a 15-yard receiving touchdown with six seconds remaining, but the ensuing extra-point attempt was blocked as top-ranked Central Washington University suffered a heartbreaking 21-20 loss to second-ranked Northwest Missouri State in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Football Championship on Saturday afternoon at Tomlinson Stadium.

Here’s a recap of the Eastern Washington game:

There were no late-game heroics for the Eagles this week, but they had a mid-game scoring slump instead.

Stephen F. Austin rolled up 563 yards of offense to help open up a 25-point lead and held on to defeat Eastern Washington University 44-33 Saturday (Nov. 28) in a first round game in the NCAA Championship Subdivision Playoffs at Homer Bryce Stadium in Nacogdoches, Texas.

Eastern rallied back from a 25-point deficit after the Lumberjacks took a 37-12 lead with 5:54 left in the third quarter. But the Eagles couldn’t overcome a stretch in the second and third quarters in which they went just over 27 minutes without a touchdown and were out-scored 27-2.

Eastern senior quarterback Matt Nichols had school records for completions and attempts as he finished 43-of-76 for 461 yards and three touchdowns as Eastern scored 21 of the final 28 points. In the loss, he broke the Big Sky Conference career passing yards record and finished third in FCS history in total offense (13,308) and sixth in passing yards (12,616).

The 13th-ranked Eagles finished with 595 yards of total offense as the two teams combined for 1,158. The Eagles finished the season 8-4, after clinching a playoff berth by scoring with 3:30 left on Nov. 21 to defeat Northern Arizona 49-45. The Eagles closed the regular season with a four-game winning streak, winning those by a combined 172-107 margin.

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FOURTH QUARTER

Attendance: 68,697.

UW runs and runs: Locker has a 6-yard TD run nullified by holding. The junior QB  has 79 yards on 7 rushes. Polk is up to (by my count) 97 yards on 20 carries. Dawgs can’t finish off the drive and settle for another Folk FG (27 yards): UW 23, WSU 0. 11:03 left.

The Huskies are laying some big licks on the Cougs.

Polk nearly breaks one. He’s now over the 1,000 yard mark for the season.

And this one’s over. Check out our Apple Cup coverage online and in Sunday’s paper. Freelancer Howie Stalwick and Scott Johnson will be filing reports and I’ll have a column.

One last note: Locker just danced into the end zone from 23 yards out. It’s 30-0 with 6:45 left.

THIRD QUARTER

End of the quarter: UW 20, WSU 0. Locker ends quarter with an 18-yard gain on a scramble. Washington’s not got 330 yards of total offense; WSU has 144.

Xavier Hicks picks Locker afrer the Huskies had moved the ball near midfield with a 21-yard pass from Locker to Aguillar. That’s 11 interceptions for Locker, seven in his last five games. He threw just four picks in his first six games.

UW 20, WSU 0: Chris Polk scores from a yard out. Locker’s 10-yard run set it up. Polk now has 53 yards on 15 carries. He needs 58 to hit 1,000. 12 plays, 75 yards, 6:59 time of possession. 6:11 left in the quarter.

Loebestall’s back for the Cougars, but for how long?

THE WAGNER FILE

What a great story it would be if Dan (The Man) Wagner can lead the Cougars to a comeback win. He still hasn’t thrown a college pass. Since nobody knows anything about him,  here’s some info courtesy WSU’s Web site:

WAGNER’S WSU CAREER
RS-FRESHMAN (2008): Saw action in two games on season, one as a punter and one under center…made collegiate debut in season-opener against Oklahoma State, punting eight times for 312 yards (39.0 average)…had a long of 51 and one inside 20…also recorded a tackle in that contest…played the fourth quarter at quarterback at Oregon State following injury to Marshall Lobbestael…did not attempt a pass.
FRESHMAN (2007): Redshirt season.

WAGNER’S HIGH SCHOOL CAREER
A graduate of Jesuit High, where he earned three varsity letters in football and four varsity letters in baseball…led the Crusaders to the football state championship in both junior and senior seasons…also led the squad to three consecutive Metro League championships…earned all-league honors at quarterback as a senior…football team captain as a senior…coached in baseball by Don Lovell and in football by Ken Potter.

PERSONAL
Daniel Rodney Wagner…born in January, 1989 in Portland, Ore….parents Brent and Cindy Wagner…father played football professionally for the Buffalo Bills…one younger brother Pat and one younger sister Amy… undecided on major.

HALFTIME: UW 13, WSU 0

Someone asked how I was doing and I said, “Better than the WSU quarterbacks.”

They’re down to their 4th-stringer, and as far as I know, might be holding open tryouts at halftime.

As for Washington, I’m puzzled. What happened to the Huskies? Take away the 50-yard TD pass from Locker to Kearse and they’re only outgaining WSU 133-116 yards. Washington has 9 first downs, WSU 8. Washington has 43 rushing yards, WSU 43.

SECOND QUARTER

Halftime: UW 13, WSU 0.

Now Lopina’s down. Washingotn’s Cameron Elisara landed on him after he released a pass that was nearly picked off by the UW’s Foster. WSU’s Dan Wagner, a sophomore from Portland, is now warming up. Wagner hasn’t taken a snap all seaosn. He’s the fourth-stringer. Lopina is helped off the field and doesn’t look like he’ll be back. Loebestall’s status is unkown (although he’s calling plays from the sideline) and freshman Jeff Tuel, who has taken most of the snaps this season for WSU, isn’t available because of a knee injury. Maybe Walden will suit up for the second half?

Locker to Kearse. Locker to Aguilar for 20. But Dawgs bog down and Folk kicks 46 yard FG: 13-0, 2:39 left in the half.

WSU’s Marshall Loebestall just scrambled for 11 yards, but he was knocked a little loopy after trying to run over the UW’s Jason Wells. He staggered off the field. Maybe Jim Walden will QB the rest of the game? Nah, Lopina’s back. It’s 4th and 4 at the 33. He was sacked for a 7-yard loss by Darion Jones.

UW 10, WSU 0: Locker just hit Kease with a 50-yard TD pass. That was a 3-play, 85-yard drive. Locker run, Locker pass to Kearse, Locker pass to Kearse. 12:41 left. That didn’t take long.

There’s been a delay as they haul a member of the chain-gang crew off in an ambulance. He was down in front of the UW bench, near the 50 yard line. Not sure what happened.

UW: first and 10 at the 25 when play resumes.

FIRST QUARTER

End of quarter: UW 3, WSU 0. WSU has a first down at the 40. It was about the kind of quarter you’d expect from 3-7 and 1-9 teams.

Marshall Loebestall, sophomore from Oak Harbor, in at QB for WSU. First and 10 at the 25. Cougs take a timeout. Only 10 men on the field.

UW settles for a 24 FG (good by Folk) after the turnover: 3-0, 1;38.

Turnover: Mason Foster interception and 26-yard return gives Huskies the ball at the WSU 13. 2:54 left. WSU QB Kevion Lopina shaken up on the play.

WSU takes over on its own 25: 3:50 left in the quarter.

UW holds, starts second possession at its own 5. 7:11 left in quarter. Huskies punt it back to WSU.

WSU trickery After moving for a couple of first downs, WSU tries a throwback to the QB, who heaves it to a wide-open Gino Simone. Simone stopped his route for some reason and the ball sailed over his out-stretched arms at the goalline. Shoulda been a TD.

First big penalty: UW called for interfering on a punt, not giving Gino Simone room to catch it. Simone fumbled it nd WSU would have started inside its own 10, but the penalty moves the ball out to the 42. Big break for Cougs.

First big hit: WSU linebacker Mike Ledgerwood rocks Jermain Kearse, stops him for a 6-yard gain.

Washington’’s on the field, waiting for the kickoff and WSU’s still huddling. The Cougars were late arriving, at least it seemed that way. The Huskies even beat them out of the tunnel, and I don’t remember that ever happening. He we go …. UW starts its first drive a the 26.

TWO MINUTES BEFORE HALFTIME

This might be the emptiest I’ve ever seen the press box at Husky Stadium. There’s more open seats than I can ever remember.

Lots of empty seats in the stands, too.

It’s 50 degress and overcast with winds 15 mph from the south. It feels much colder than that.

PRE-GAME

It’s one of those days where it takes a few minutes to thaw out once you hit the press box. Baby, it’s c-c-c-old outside. My eyes teared up on my way from the parking gargage, and it wasn’t because of the magnitude of the game I’m about to cover.

Anyway, it’s about 50 minutes to kickoff.

Any predictions out there?

If you read this blog, you know I went with Washington, BIG: 59-15.

I think most people are predicting a big UW win. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times’ pick was 45-16.

I was listening to the Husky Honks on KJR radio on the drive around and Dick Baird, who writes a blog for us, thinks the Cougs might have held some players out of last week’s loss against Oregon State to make sure they were healthy for today’s game.

There seems to be a lack of noticeable pre-game excitement, but I guess that happens when a 3-7 team (UW) takes on a 1-10 (WSU) team and follows a year in which WSU won two games and the UW was oh-fer.

A couple things worth noting:

* UW redshirt freshman running back Chris Polk needs 111 yards to become the first freshman in Husky history to rush for 1,000 yards.

* WSU has never won three straight against Washington or suffered through a winless Pac-10 season.

We’ll sneak in an Eastern Washington update: Stephen F. Austin leads the Eagles 23-12 at halftime of their playoff game.

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