Here’s the latest news on Laura Daugereau and why she had to drop out of the Iditarod. She was down to one lead dog, Aspen, with 500 miles to go. Here’s our story and here’s the link to nightrunnerkennel.com, where Laura’s sister, Corrie Tienhaara, has been tracking the journey.

Here’s an Associated Press update on the race. Lance Mackey continues to lead and another dog has died.

While you’re waiting to see our live video streaming and blogging of today’s North Kitsap basketball game at the Tacoma Dome (tip-off at noon), here’s three good reads:

It didn’t take long to figure out that Tim Lincecum was special during his days as a dominating pitcher at the University of Washington. Jeez, the 170-pounder with the pretzel windup, would throw gas as a starter on Friday and he was back out on the hill, closing games on Sunday. When the Husky coaches stopped that practice, Lincecum complained. The guy’s a freak. Why the Mariners didn’t draft him we’ll never know, but it might explain why Seattle now has a new GM and scouting department.

Tim Keown profiled the San Francisco pitcher in the latest issue of ESPN The Magazine.

Steve Ashburner of SI.com writes about ‘Shaqspeare’ – a look at the most quotable NBA superstar in NBA history and how some of his latest comments have been perceived. I really liked this column a lot. If sports is entertainment, and it is, then Shaquille O’Neal’s the Jackie Gleason of the hardwood.

Here’s a story in Soccer America that will catch you up on a little history of the old Sounders and inform you about how this new MLS club of the same name was put together. Oldtimers like myself remember the love affair fans had with the old North American Soccer League club. Multiple that excitement a hundred times. Believe me, it’s going to be hip to be a soccer fan. Trust me. This time next year, you’ll be singing the praises of Sigi Schmidt. Who’s that?

Read the story.

I know I’ve said this before, and I’ll keep saying it until I die — because it’s how I really feel.

If I could go back in time, I’d want to go stay right here — in Bremerton — but I’d push the clock back to the 1940s and early ’50s. What hustling, bustling place this old Navy town was. The athletes that came out of that era were among the greatest the state has produced.

Ted Tappe, Louie Soriano, Don Heinrich, Les Eathorne, Roger Wiley, TIny Madlin, George Bayer, Darwin Gilchrist, Ken Wills … I could go on and on and on. I’m just going off the top of my head, and it’s 12:40 a.m. and my brain’s a little mushier than usual after putting out the daily miracle.

And don’t forget Sid Ryen. He’s one of those great athletes from that era. While publishing a story online — yeah, that’s what we do now — I noticed there was an obit on Sid Ryen. He passed away on March 1. I talked to Sid a couple times on the phone, but never met him. At least, I don’t recall if I did. He sounded a bit like a grizzly bear on the phone. He wasn’t afraid to offer his opinion and if you asked a question, he had an answer for you and it wasn’t necessarily politically correct. He called it like he saw it. If he was an athlete in today’s world, he might go by the name Sid (Vicious) Ryen. (I mean that in a good way, if you know what I mean).

Those who saw Ryen play basketball have told me that Sid Ryen’s one of the best — and toughest — players to come out of the area. Man, if only they had video recorders in those days. I’d love to have watched him — and all of those others — in their prime when Bremerton and Olympic College was in its heyday.

Here’s Sid’s obit. It appears in our print editions today.

Sidney Ryen
of Bremerton

May 1, 1928
to March 1, 2009
Veteran
Anybody who met Sid Ryen knew that he was “one-of-a-kind.” He loved lively debates about any subject at any time. Humor was something that Sid could bring into any situation.
One of his greatest loves in life was sports. In 2007 Sid’s OC basketball team went into the BAR Kitsap Sports Hall of Fame. After playing at OC, Sid went on to play at the University of Denver and was so successful that he was drafted by the New York Knicks. His dream was not the NBA, but to play on the U.S. Olympic team. Sid’s Air Force team made it to the quarterfinals of the Olympic trials.
Late in life his greatest joy was spending time with his grandchildren Sami & Jesse — attending school programs, basketball & baseball games, or just playing blackjack and creating tasty meals.
Sid was born to Fred & Bryn Ryen and lived his life in Kitsap. He is survived by his oldest brother Glenn (Donna) and his children Glenna, Dwight & Dwayne and their families; brother Freddy, wife Virginia, and their children Cydni, Vicky, DeeDee and their families; son Rick with his children Sami and Jesse; daughter Zena with her family including Jasmine and Joseph; ex-wife Gloria; & ex-daughter-in-law Heidi.

David Falk of the Seattle Examiner reported that the Kitsap Pumas have offered player contracts to soccer players from the United Kingdom and that they’ve already got a local player under contract, although no official announcements have been made.

In an earlier post today, I mentioned that Robin Waite, owner of the Pumas, was interested in building a soccer stadium at the old East High/Bremerton Junior High site.

Robin, via e-mail, contacted me and wanted to clarify that he’s interested in LEASING the property, NOT BUYING it.

For some background information, check out my earlier post.

Waite said the concept is to create a consortium to renovate existing buildings. He said the commercial property would be leased to developers and the school district would have the potential to make some money.  “The soccer stadium would be the driving force behind the complex,” he wrote. “There would still be room for an arena especially if there was shared parking.”

It is an interesting concept. Something needs to be done. It’s probably wishful thinking to think that the city, schools and college could do it, but in a best-case scenario, I still think that’s the way to go. But there’s nothing wrong with a private/public partnership.

Robin, thanks for the quick response. You’re one of the area’s true visionaries. We need more people like Robin Waite in our community.

Final: Highline 95, OC 78. Look for a game story and notebook online and in our print editions.

3:12 timeout: Highline 90, OC 64. Outside of Mt. San Jacinto (Calif.), which torched OC 107-73 in a California tournament in December, the Rangers only allowed two teams to get into the 80s all season. That gives you an idea of how efficient Highline has been today.

Looking ahead: OC will play the Lower Columbia-Chemeketa loser Saturday at 4 p.m. If they win that one, they’ll play for 4th and 7th on Sunday. Highline can get ready for Saturday’s 8 p.m semifinal against the LCC-Chemeketa winner.

5:47: Highline’s emptied its bench. Gibler played about 6 minutes this half and never came back. Score is 86-55. No Cinderella comeback today. For a few fleeeting moments it looked like they had a chance for one of those folk-lore type wins after crawling back into it after falling behind 15-0 and later 24-4.

9:04: This one’s starting to feel like garbage time. OC’s not taking a lot of high percentage shots and the deficit grows. Highline 79, OC 52.

10:55: Timeout: Highline 71, OC 50. (Biggest lead was 71-48).

14:31: Timeout. Highline 60, OC 44. Highline’s led by as many as 18 this half.

17:18: Nelson hits 3rd 3 of the second half and Thunderbirds have forged ahead 49-32. OC uses a timeout. Can they make another run? Seems a little unlikely, but you never know.

Second half starts: Highline hits a couple 3s and its 43-30. Make it 3 3s. It’s now 46-32.

Halftime stats: Gibler has 16 points (7-10 FGs) and 7 rebounds for Highline. Edwards has 12 points on 4-5 shooting from 3-point range. Curry leads Rangers with 9 points. OC is 1-11 from 3-point range and shot 29.4 percent. Highline shot 42.4 percent. T-Birds outrebounded OC 29-16.

Halftime: Highline 39, OC 30. Pretty good comeback for OC after getting buried early. I’ll have some halftime stats is a few minutes.

One-tenth of a second left: Curry fouled by Gibler on a putback. He misses first FT, makes second.

:38: LP Neloms misses front end of 1-and-1 for OC.  Highline going to take last shot of the half. Gibler tips in a shot but it’s called goaltending. Bad call.

1:06: Once again, they’re having scorekeeping problems. Highline leads 39-29.

2:28: Highline’s Vaughn Gaines hit two FTs and it’s 34-28.

2:50: It’s a 5-point game. OC’s Pillard follows a Rios miss on break to make it 32-27. That caps a 14-2 OC run.

3:21: Highline 32, OC 25. Thompson makes two FTs.

4:14: Artis hits 3 to pull Rangers within nine (32-23).

5:38: Curry scores in the lane. Highline 30, OC 18. Timeout Highline. Rangers started to play, but can they overcome that 15-0 deficit and Highline’s inside advantage?

7:04: WOW! WOW! Tysaiah Curry just slammed Dr. J-style. He took off from just inside the foul line and tomahawked it home to get OC within 30-16. That was a Sportscenter highlight slam.

8:31: Highline 30, OC 13. Gibler has 12.

13:17: Timeout OC. It’s not getting better for the Rangers. Highline’s been almost perfect from the field. Kelly Edwards has hit three 3s and Shedrick Nelson just drained another to make it 24-4.

15:22: Tysaiah Curry gets a shot to drop, OC trails 15-2.

15:52: It’s 13-0. OC brings in reserves LP Neloms, Dietrich Rios and Brandon Thompson.

OK, the game tipped off at 2:15 and it’s not been a good start for OC. Highline leads 7-0. Coby Gibler has four of Highline’s fourpints Make it six and it’s 9.0 with 17:55.

Nomake it 11-0. Gibler scores again with a baseline jumper.

The noon game between Whatcom and Blue Bend (Pendleton, Ore.) is in overtime, so the OC-Highline quarterfinal, scheduled to start at 2 p.m., will be delayed a bit. Ryan Sweet, former South Kitsap standout who played a year at Olympic, just scored to put Whatcom up 79-73.

Sweet had 22 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to Clackamas Thursday night, and it looks like he’s having anohter big game. Whatcom hung on for an 82-80 victory.

OC-Highline should start in about 20 minutes.

Some news and notes from Kennewick before today’s 2 p.m. NWAACC quarterfinal game at 2 p.m. between Olympic College and Highline:

* Up at 8 a.m., breakfast at 9 and a shoot-around at 11 at Kennewick High. That was the morning schedule for the Rangers.

* Here’s my game story from yesterday’s opener (an 80-75 OC win over Mount Hood) and my column on coach Billy Landram.

* Landram was able to spend some time with his uncle, Drew Landram, yesterday. Drew lives in the Tri-Cities area and was one of the basketball-playing Landram brothers from North Mason. There was the late Bill (Billy’s dad), Bruce, Drew, Glenn, George and Rudy. Drew’s son, Jeremy, coaches River Ridge. Drew was a highly-successful coach at Olympia and later at Burbank and Chewelah, small schools in eastern Washington.

* Today’s opponent, Highline, is coached by Che Dawson, an attorney who teaches law at the Des Moines-based school. The Thunderbirds bolted to an 11-1 lead against Columbia Basin and it looked like they would be in cruise control all day, but the host Hawks, relying on the 3-ball, kept making runs. They got to within 55-53 at one point in the second half before succumbing, 73-65. Coby Gibler, the 6-9 sophomore from Bainbridge, had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Among the schools showing interest in Gibler are Idaho and Northern Arizona.

* One more thought on Gibler: I still think he can make some money as a pro baseball pitcher. Gibler, some of you might recall, was Bainbridge’s top pitcher when the Islanders advanced to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pa. Gibler gave up the sport after his freshman year, opting to concentrate on basketball. If he went to a few tryout camps and showed he could throw strikes, I bet there would be a team out there that would sign him to a contract. Too bad he wasn’t a lefty. He shoots the basketball left-handed but he’s a right-handed pitcher.

* On today’s Highline-OC matchup: Look for the Rangers to play a lot of zone defense today. Rebounding will also be key. Highline’s the top rebounding team in the NWAACC. In addition to Gibler, Highline’s Shedrick Nelson, a sophomore guard from Wilson, and Kelly Edwards, a sophomore guard from O’Dea, are dangerous offensive players. The Rangers beat Highline 78-71 on Dec. 6.

* A lot of people still call him Coach J. OC athletic director Barry Janusch, who coached the Rangers to a sixth-place finish in 1995 and a fifth-place finish in 2000, is here along with his two sons. Janusch had a successful nine-year run at the college before stepping aside to concentrate on his duties as AD and Student Activities Coordinator.

* Janusch and OC assistant Gregg Guidi agree that the overall talent level in the NWAACC is probably down from what it used to be. They attribute that to the increased scholarship money now available at the NCAA D-2 schools in the Northwest.

* One thing I didn’t get in yesterday’s column on Landram was his career record. Here it is, year-by-year: 20-7 (this year), 6-19 (2007-08), 11-16 (06-07), 16-12 (05-06), 12-16 (04-05), 7-17 (03-04).

* The last OC team to win 21 games was Janusch’s 1997-98 club that finished 21-7. The Rangers didn’t make the NWAACC tournament that year, but the format was different then. Only the No. 1 seed earned a guaranteed spot and the Nos. 2-3-4s had to battle it out in a playoff for a second spot.

* OC’s best overall record came in 1948-49 when it was 32-2. That’s the famed team that placed fourth at the National Junior College Championships in Hutchinson, Kan.

* Olympic College with the Bremerton Athletic Roundtable providing the support, hosted the NWAACC tournament in 1973 at East Bremerton High School. Unfortunately, the host Rangers didn’t qualify. It was a big disappointment as big things were expected out of the Larry Jackson-led team. L.J., arguably the most talented player to ever wear an OC jersey, went on to play at the UW and professionally overseas. Several years ago, there was an unconfirmed rumor that Jackson, a 6-foot-10 forward who loved to shoot from the corners, was murdered in Brazil.

* All of the No. 1 seeds except Spokane advanced to the quarterfinals. Lower Columbia, the No. 4 seed out of the West, beat Spokane 69-43 and looked pretty impressive doing it. Since the NWAACC tournament moved to Kennewick in 2002, No. 1 seeds are 27-5 in first-round games against No. 4 seeds. Spokane, which tied with Yakima first win in the East, is the first No. 1 seed to lose a first-round game since 2005.

* The OC-Highline winner plays the LCC-Chemeketa winner in Saturday’s semifinals at 8 p.m. The bracket’s setting up pretty good for the Rangers. On paper, most people would tell you that the two quarterfinal games in the upper bracket (Yakima-Bellevue and Clackamas-Tacoma) feature the four marque teams in the tournament. The championship game is Sunday at 7 p.m.

* Go to NWAACC.org for more information and updates on the tournament. I’ve checked the rosters and, unless I missed someone, there are no local athletes playing on any of the 16-team women’s teams at the tournament.

First, I like Robin Waite and applaud him for his efforts to bring professional soccer to the area. I wish him and the Pumas well.

And his idea to build a stadium on the old East High/Bremerton Junior High site is creative and worth pursuing.  If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read this story that appeared in our print editions today (Friday).

But what happened to the original idea? There were some initial meetings about the city and college and schools working together with community groups to turn that property in a multiuse facility. I sat in on one of them last year.

The idea was to keep the gym and a few classrooms. With a little remodeling, the city could move its parks and rec department to the site. The possibilities for youth/adult baseball, softball and soccer fields is endless. You could have a trails for walkers. It would be a wonderful green space in the middle of Bremerton. Easy access. Everybody wins.

Yeah, I know, I know. Where’s the money come from?

I know it’s valuable property. The schools could still sell the property that faces Wheaton Way for commercial use.

I hope this idea is fully explored before the district sells off all of that property … even if it’s for a soccer stadium.

I’m currently in Kennewick, covering the OC Rangers at the NWAACC basketball championships. It always pains me to see the kind of facilities other communities have, the kind of facilities Bremerton/Silverdale could have had with some forward thinking by our leaders.

The tournament’s held at the Toyota Center, a facility located within walking distance of the biggest mall in the Tri-Cities area. Inside, it reminds me a little of the old Seattle Arena and has a seating capacity of 7,000.  Wenatchee, Everett and now Kent have similar facilities.

When Bremerton started it redevelopment plans, I suggested putting a 4,000-5,000-seat arena/convention center/multipurpose venue downtown. If you had that building, I think restaurants, shops, hotels/motels and retail would have followed.

Now the economy’s in the tank, the condos have been built, taking up preciouis waterfront views, the tunnel is coming, ready to usher people out of Bremerton as fast as they arrive, and it’s probably too late to consider building anything like that — although the old J.C. Penney’s building wouldn’t be a bad site. Or you tear down one of those downtown blocks that is practically empty and you throw up an arena. People are still spending their dollars on entertainment. You could have high school/college tournaments, concerts, conventions.

OK, I’ve taken by developer’s hat off. I throgh venting. I’m going to go eat some breakfast and get ready to cover some basketball.

FINAL: OC 80, Mt. Hood 75. Rangers will play the Highline-Columbia River winner at 2 p.m. on Friday.

:19: Hood scores, takes timeout. 79-73.

:25: Perkins on the line, shooting 2. OC up 77-71. Artis made 21 FTs on previous trip. Perkins makes both It’s 79-71.

:44: Hood’s Mike Wohlers, who’s been clutch all game, nails a fadeaway 3 to make it 75-71. Artis going back to the foul line with :42 left.

1:02: Artis makes 2 FTs and OC leads 75-68.

1:20: OC’s Duntae Jones at the foul line. He misses front end of 1 and 1.

1:43: Timeout OC. Curry steal leads to a Jones basket and a 73-67 lead. Perkins blocks a shot at the other end and OC has the ball and a 6-point lead. Teams trade turnovers. OC still has ball and a 6-pt. lead.

2:36: Timeout Mt. Hood. Can OC hang on to the 4-point lead?

2:57: OC up 69-67 with the ball. Artis takes it to the hole for a bucket. 71-67.

3:50: OC up 68-66. Perkins jumper gives OC the lead. MH’s Earl Jones makes a free throws to make it 68-67.

6:32: Another timeout. OC up 62-20 but Mt. Hood has a player at the foul line.

Did I say it was cold in this place? Well, it’s unbelievabl cold. Everybody’s bundled up in their winter jackets and knit hats. Must be the ice under the floor.

7:49: Timeout. OC leads 60-56.

10:03: Hood back on top 56-53. Landram runs his starters back in the game and Jones just hits a 3 to tie it at 56.

12:54: Dietrich Rios’ first shot is a 3 and it’s good and it ties the game at 51. JB Pillard scores on a putbak on next possession to give Rangers a 53-51 leads. Lineup of Pillard, Rios, Brandon Thompson, Justin Artis and Duntae Jones working right now.

13:28: Duntae Jones has hit back to back 3s to keep the Rangers close. MH leads 51-47.

16:03: Good to know somebody’s reading this stuff. Thanks for the comment Lonny.

18:00: Justin Artis just hits OC’s first 3. I think they’ll shoot better at this end of the court. It’s got a curtain for a background. At the other end, it’s like your’e shooting into the ocean. We’ll see.

18:44: Landrams takes a quick timeout after MH goes up 41-34.

Halftime stats: OC shot jut 26.2 percent in the first half. LP Neloms led the Ranges with 10 points. Jamil Moore (1-7), Duntae Jones (1-10) and T. Curry (0-5) were a combined 2-22 from the field. Mt. Hood had shooting woes of its own, making jsut 4 of 16 free throws.

Halftime: Mt. Hood 37, OC 34. Not a pretty half for the Rangers. They pounded the offensive boards, but couldn’t convert. It’s a game they can win. I’m going to see if I can find some halftime stats.

2:23: Officials’ timeout to get the score right. Scoreboard had MH up 38-34. It should be 37-34. They’re sorting it out right now.

3:11: Timeout. OC 35-34.

4:21: Patrick Lewis scores inside and OC regains the lead, 33-32.

5:13: Moore scores in transition to give OC the lead for a second after a 6-0 run, but MH back on top 31-28.

7:06: Mt. Hood 26, OC 23. MH used a 6-0 run to go up 24-17 after OC had pulled within 18-17.

10:59: Mt. Hood 16, OC 13. Neloms has scored last eight points for OC, which is going with a small lineup: Curry at 6-3 is the Rangers’ tallest player on the court right now.

12:39. OC coach Billy Landram takes a timeout. Mt. Hood leads 13-7. Last three or four minutes pretty ugly for the Rangers. Highline’s women are playing Walla Walla on the other side of the curtain. The setup is similar to what they have at the Tacoma Dome, but more intimate. OC comes out of the timeout in a zone defense.

14:29: Mt. Hood 9, OC 7. LP Neloms in the game for Rangers he scores on a floater down the lane.

16:36 left in the half: Mt. Hood 7, OC 5. Rangers are pounding the offensive boards, but not converting the putbacks. Cardinals like to push it and OC hasn’t got back on defense a couple times.

8:02 a.m.: Still waiting for the game to start. Spotted Brant Gibler and his wife, Debbie, in the stands. Used to play old man’s basketball (over 30, or was it over 40?) with Brant, a former star at East High and the University of Puget Sound. He was drafted by the Trail Blazers. Good player, good guy. The Giblers are here to watch their, son, Coby, a 6-9 center for Highline. If OC wins, they could play Highline next.

Good morning.

There’s about 25 fans on this side of the curtain at the Toyota Center, which is a pretty nice arena. It’s the home of the Tri-City Americans.

Player introductions are about to start. We’ll be watching some basketball in a few minutes.