"Another Blog on the Fire"
Michael Dashiell
Contact Mike at miked@sequimgazette.com
Michael Dashiell (that's me) is editor of the Sequim Gazette. He has a Bachelor's Degree from Western Washington University, has worked at the Sequim Gazette for about 10 years and enjoys writing — occasionally. He and his wife Patsene live in Sequim; their two daughters are in college. He will write about anything, but particularly enjoys sports, arts, breaking news and news-of-the-weird. He also enjoys writing about himself in the third person.
What’s a gappler?
Published on Wed, Dec 7, 2011Read More Dashiell
What’s a gappler?
Yeah, not sure what that is. That headline on today’s main article in the Gazette sports section previewing the SHS wrestling crew? It should have read “Veteran grapplers lead Wolves.”
My bad.
That’s what I get for ignoring my sports blog too long.
So, as a bit of penance (or just good old guilt turning into a positive thing) I’m blogging today instead of my usual Friday blog.
Instead of one topic, I’m going to hit a bunch of items.
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Sequim’s boys hoops team remained perfect with a big win (59-30) against Port Townsend last night, with Jayson Brocklesby hitting for 20 points to lead all scorers. The junior may be the most athletic kid on the court and, from a sportswriter’s perspective, worth the price of admission. Actually, I don’t pay to get in. But you catch my drift.
Corbin Webb added 14 points and six assists while the supporting cast performed well. Freshman Alex Barry got his first points of his young varsity career, going for eight points.
The Wolves made their move in the first half, going up 16-8 after one quarter and extending the lead to 40-14 by halftime.
They look like they are faring well without starter Gabe Carter, but are going to be downright scary when they get the big junior back. Carter suffered a broken finger on his shooting hand in Sequim’s first game against Bainbridge.
Sequim’s boys (3-0) are at Peninsula tonight (Dec. 7).
The girls didn’t fare as well, getting out-scored 13-3 in the third quarter to fall 46-42 in Port Townsend last night. Taylor Balkan and Melanie Guan led Sequim with eight points each while Demiree Briones, Haleigh Harrison and Columbia Haupt added seven points apiece.
It’s a rough start (0-3) for Sequim’s girls, who may be missing guards Lea Hopson (graduation) and Rylleigh Zbaraschuk (not playing) more than they suspect.
The Wolves’ girls are at Chimacum tonight (Dec. 7).
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Speaking of hoops, apparently up to 14 Peninsula College basketball players (10 women, four men) joined some players from the men’s and women’s soccer teams at a party on Oct. 22 that Port Angeles police busted up.
According to The Buccaneer, the college’s newspaper. A total of 22 P.C. students were at the party, with 11 receiving Minor in Possession charges. Two female athletes who housed the party were charged with Furnishing Liquor to Minors.
College staff canceled one game and added punishment of running for a couple of hours and painting of the gymnasium, The Buccaneer reported.
“It’s a learning experience,” P.C. athletic director Rick Ross told the Buccaneer. “They were very remorseful about what happened. I feel like we handled it appropriately and lessons were learned.”
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And another roundball note: the NBA preseason starts Friday while the regular season kicks off on Christmas. Anyone care? I mean, really?
This is coming from a guy with a circa-1989 Seattle Supersonics (not Sonics) coffee mug. Well, it looks a little more like a beer stein. But anyway, what I’m saying/writing is that I used to love following the NBA. Rabidly. I cared what World B. Free’s real name was (Lloyd). I wanted to know who the Supersonics’ 13th man would be (fans of Bart Kofoed, unite!).
Now? I see reports the Lakers want to ship in both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, and I just turn the page …
Maybe I’m just hurt. Maybe I still can’t get over the Zombie Sonics leaving for Oklahoma City. Grumble.
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Penn State and Syracuse? Not touching either story. Must be the lone sportswriter in the nation not interested in writing about ‘em.
-------
LSU or Alabama … or Oklahoma State? This year, above and beyond any other year, is an indication the BCS could use a playoff, and yet I kind of dig the controversy. Don’t get me wrong: the idea of a perfectly legit team (Boise State in 2006) getting shut out of a national title does make me a little ill. But that’s the fun of college football and the whole bowl season madness, with endless debates and arguments.
Sure, I’d love to find out whether Washington or Miami was the better team back in 1991, when they shared the college crown. But I also like the debate.
And frankly, there is no legitimate, error-proof playoff system.
I’m with one sportswriter with cnnsi.com, who noted that best match-up may be USC-LSU in an all-acronym bowl.
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I know local folks around here were following Neah Bay’s road to a football championship, and kudos to the Red Devils for their first crown in school history.
I listened to one state championship game on the radio, and it was a dandy. Lynden gave up a safety (intentionally), recovered the ensuing onside kick and drove in for the game-winning touchdown to beat Archbishop Murphy 17-16, all in the final three minutes. Nice.
Makes me almost want to root for the Lions … until I recall certain state playoff games in 2006 and 2009 …
-------
Finally, a bit of patting myself on the back for a regular season Fantasy Football title. My friend Jason got me hooked on Fantasy for the big three sports, and I think I have a good shot at sweeping through the NFL FF playoff after a 10-3 season, racking up (barely) the highest point total out of the 12 teams.
To be fair, I did luck out in the beginning in the draft, getting QB Drew Brees, RBs Maurice Jones-Drew and Beanie Wells, WRs Vincent Jackson Percy Harvin and others from the get-go.
But I made a few shrewd moves during the season, notably picking up Cam Newton when he for some inexplicable reason was left undrafted and untouched for the first week.
I also picked up RB Roy Helu, WR Plaxico Burress, LBs David Hawthorne and Von Miller and the Denver defense, among others, along the way.
With the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs, my “Seadorks” take on “Island Bull” in the first of three playoff rounds. Though Mr. Bull comes in with the eight and last seed, he does possess a potent lineup that includes Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Donald Driver, Roddy White, Marshawn Lynch and a few other dangerous beings. We’ll see how things shake out beginning Thursday.
------
Well, that’s all I got. More to come Friday.
Yeah, not sure what that is. That headline on today’s main article in the Gazette sports section previewing the SHS wrestling crew? It should have read “Veteran grapplers lead Wolves.”
My bad.
That’s what I get for ignoring my sports blog too long.
So, as a bit of penance (or just good old guilt turning into a positive thing) I’m blogging today instead of my usual Friday blog.
Instead of one topic, I’m going to hit a bunch of items.
-------
Sequim’s boys hoops team remained perfect with a big win (59-30) against Port Townsend last night, with Jayson Brocklesby hitting for 20 points to lead all scorers. The junior may be the most athletic kid on the court and, from a sportswriter’s perspective, worth the price of admission. Actually, I don’t pay to get in. But you catch my drift.
Corbin Webb added 14 points and six assists while the supporting cast performed well. Freshman Alex Barry got his first points of his young varsity career, going for eight points.
The Wolves made their move in the first half, going up 16-8 after one quarter and extending the lead to 40-14 by halftime.
They look like they are faring well without starter Gabe Carter, but are going to be downright scary when they get the big junior back. Carter suffered a broken finger on his shooting hand in Sequim’s first game against Bainbridge.
Sequim’s boys (3-0) are at Peninsula tonight (Dec. 7).
The girls didn’t fare as well, getting out-scored 13-3 in the third quarter to fall 46-42 in Port Townsend last night. Taylor Balkan and Melanie Guan led Sequim with eight points each while Demiree Briones, Haleigh Harrison and Columbia Haupt added seven points apiece.
It’s a rough start (0-3) for Sequim’s girls, who may be missing guards Lea Hopson (graduation) and Rylleigh Zbaraschuk (not playing) more than they suspect.
The Wolves’ girls are at Chimacum tonight (Dec. 7).
-------
Speaking of hoops, apparently up to 14 Peninsula College basketball players (10 women, four men) joined some players from the men’s and women’s soccer teams at a party on Oct. 22 that Port Angeles police busted up.
According to The Buccaneer, the college’s newspaper. A total of 22 P.C. students were at the party, with 11 receiving Minor in Possession charges. Two female athletes who housed the party were charged with Furnishing Liquor to Minors.
College staff canceled one game and added punishment of running for a couple of hours and painting of the gymnasium, The Buccaneer reported.
“It’s a learning experience,” P.C. athletic director Rick Ross told the Buccaneer. “They were very remorseful about what happened. I feel like we handled it appropriately and lessons were learned.”
-------
And another roundball note: the NBA preseason starts Friday while the regular season kicks off on Christmas. Anyone care? I mean, really?
This is coming from a guy with a circa-1989 Seattle Supersonics (not Sonics) coffee mug. Well, it looks a little more like a beer stein. But anyway, what I’m saying/writing is that I used to love following the NBA. Rabidly. I cared what World B. Free’s real name was (Lloyd). I wanted to know who the Supersonics’ 13th man would be (fans of Bart Kofoed, unite!).
Now? I see reports the Lakers want to ship in both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard, and I just turn the page …
Maybe I’m just hurt. Maybe I still can’t get over the Zombie Sonics leaving for Oklahoma City. Grumble.
-------
Penn State and Syracuse? Not touching either story. Must be the lone sportswriter in the nation not interested in writing about ‘em.
-------
LSU or Alabama … or Oklahoma State? This year, above and beyond any other year, is an indication the BCS could use a playoff, and yet I kind of dig the controversy. Don’t get me wrong: the idea of a perfectly legit team (Boise State in 2006) getting shut out of a national title does make me a little ill. But that’s the fun of college football and the whole bowl season madness, with endless debates and arguments.
Sure, I’d love to find out whether Washington or Miami was the better team back in 1991, when they shared the college crown. But I also like the debate.
And frankly, there is no legitimate, error-proof playoff system.
I’m with one sportswriter with cnnsi.com, who noted that best match-up may be USC-LSU in an all-acronym bowl.
-------
I know local folks around here were following Neah Bay’s road to a football championship, and kudos to the Red Devils for their first crown in school history.
I listened to one state championship game on the radio, and it was a dandy. Lynden gave up a safety (intentionally), recovered the ensuing onside kick and drove in for the game-winning touchdown to beat Archbishop Murphy 17-16, all in the final three minutes. Nice.
Makes me almost want to root for the Lions … until I recall certain state playoff games in 2006 and 2009 …
-------
Finally, a bit of patting myself on the back for a regular season Fantasy Football title. My friend Jason got me hooked on Fantasy for the big three sports, and I think I have a good shot at sweeping through the NFL FF playoff after a 10-3 season, racking up (barely) the highest point total out of the 12 teams.
To be fair, I did luck out in the beginning in the draft, getting QB Drew Brees, RBs Maurice Jones-Drew and Beanie Wells, WRs Vincent Jackson Percy Harvin and others from the get-go.
But I made a few shrewd moves during the season, notably picking up Cam Newton when he for some inexplicable reason was left undrafted and untouched for the first week.
I also picked up RB Roy Helu, WR Plaxico Burress, LBs David Hawthorne and Von Miller and the Denver defense, among others, along the way.
With the No. 1 seed going into the playoffs, my “Seadorks” take on “Island Bull” in the first of three playoff rounds. Though Mr. Bull comes in with the eight and last seed, he does possess a potent lineup that includes Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Donald Driver, Roddy White, Marshawn Lynch and a few other dangerous beings. We’ll see how things shake out beginning Thursday.
------
Well, that’s all I got. More to come Friday.
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