OUT and ABOUT with STEVE CAMERON: On Cougs, the M's and ugly unis
You know what?
We haven’t gone strolling “Out and About” for a while, and it’s just a must so we can chew on some notes and quotes.
If we didn’t peek around corners in the neighborhood, we’d miss items like this gem — courtesy of Sam Taylor at the Lewiston Tribune.
You have to love Sam’s lead sentence.
Coug fans can now support WSU student-athletes by drinking beer.
“The Cougar Collective, a name, image and likeness organization made up of WSU alumni with an interest in supporting student-athletes, have partnered with Pike Brewing in Seattle to debut ‘Ol’ Crimson Lager.’ “
This is SO Wazzu.
More from Sam:
“A portion of the proceeds of each purchase of Ol’ Crimson Lager goes back to the Cougar Collective, which uses that money to support WSU student-athletes through various NIL opportunities.”
Just think, Cougs.
When you’re getting buzzed these days, you might be bringing a quarterback to town.
ITEM: Maybe it’s poor planning to land on this bit of hysteria right after mentioning alcoholic beverages.
The Mariners are Gatorade junkies, right?
Whatever they’ve been inhaling this week, I humbly suggest they stop, because they’ve been running the bases like party-goers.
On Tuesday, first inning against the Yankees, the M’s wound up with the bases loaded, Victor Robles on third and Justin Turner at the plate.
Luis Gil was wild and went to 3-0 on Turner when Robles saw Gil turn his back with the ball in his hand.
Robles, who had 25 steals since joining the Mariners without being caught, broke for the plate.
Close, but out by a fingertip.
However you slice it (the attempt to steal, not the fingertip), Vic was overzealous with runners everywhere and the vet Turner waiting on a 3-0 pitch.
The Yanks won 11-2, so that play wasn’t costly at the end. One night later, though, Julio Rodriguez got picked off third in the bottom of the 10th with Seattle down 3-2 and no outs.
Julio, however, wasn’t trying to steal.
Just survive.
Randy Arozarena struck out swinging and lost control of the bat, which sailed almost directly at Julio.
Predictably, he jumped out of the way (so did the third-base ump), but he wound up too far from third.
Julio didn’t rush back, admitting that he thought time out would be called.
Nope.
He was an easy out on a pick-off throw, and the Yankees — somewhat ironically — clinched their historic 59th postseason spot with the 3-2 win.
ITEM: Team uniforms have become a thriving business.
Baseball clubs, in particular, have succeeded selling throwback threads, Negro League uniforms and, starting last season, MLB found a new income source with its City Connect uniforms.
The Mariners have done really well, in particular, sporting one of the most dramatic designs among all 30 teams.
Minor league organizations have been doing great uniform business for years, and they were the first to come up with the idea of rotating new “looks” every few years.
FYI, the Mariners’ Triple-A affiliate in Everett has an especially cool jersey which shows off a frog.
Now, the NBA is finally trying to join the biz with Nike City Connect unforms of its own.
Unlike Major League Baseball, though, the NBA is showing off every team’s design at the same time.
There are a few sharp offerings, but in general, most of these uniforms look like something drawn in crayon during a second-grade class project.
Did “professionals” really work on these things?
They should apologize to the players who’ll be forced to wear them and stick to basketball.
ITEM: It was bound to happen.
I mean, competition among colleges for star athletes costs money, right?
A lot of it.
Sure, there are plenty of rich boosters who will join collectives and empty their kids’ piggy banks to help land that defensive tackle.
But every little bit helps, and in cutthroat conferences like the SEC, schools are going to need every last nickel.
Yes, schools.
It’s just a matter of time (and not much), until universities are allowed to pay players with their own cash.
So, where do you think schools will turn for help?
Hah.
Here’s a clip from The Athletic, which has news about Tennessee football.
“The program will add a 10 percent ‘talent fee’ to its season ticket prices, in light of power-conference athletes likely becoming eligible to receive compensation from not just NIL, but also directly from their schools.
“The Vols are the first to add a fee this overt, but won't be the last.”
Ya think?
Email: scameron@cdapress.com
Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.
Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”
Denver's new city connect uniform.