OUT AND ABOUT with STEVE CAMERON: Zags' new guard, Pac-12/Mountain West tussle, and injures

Let’s get moving.

It’s been a wee bit too long since we’ve had an “Out and About” column, and stuck too long on our mental sofas instead of prowling around for news and fun.

How about long distance today?

First stop is Limassol, Cyprus, where 19-year-old Mario Saint-Supery will be part of Spain’s senior national team for the group stage of EuroBasket play.

Ordinarily, the fact that Gonzaga’s prized incoming freshman was getting another crack against bruising professionals would be considered great news.

However, Saint-Supery is likely to be gone more than a month — right at the time when Mark Few and his staff would love to have him working in Spokane.

Spain’s training camp begins on July 28 and the tournament is held over three weeks, from Aug. 27 to Sept. 14 in Finland, Poland, Cyprus and Latvia.

There is rumbling that Saint-Supery will share some Gonzaga point duties with Colgate transfer Braeden Smith, since Few loves having two point guards on the court at the same time.

Maybe.

One possible scenario, however, seems to have been ruled out.

“He’s going to play,” Few said when asked if Saint-Supery might redshirt.

Or.

“Empecemos!”

ITEM: Speaking of dates, circle Sept. 9.

Unless there are postponements or other legal shenanigans, the “new” Pac-12 and the Mountain West Conference will take their legal squabble to a hearing in front of a judge on that date.

The short version of the battle between our two largest regional conferences is that the Pac-12 sued the MW for what it deemed were antitrust violations (the Mountain West’s imposition of $55 million in poaching penalties levied against the five schools that bolted to the remodeled Pac-12).

Both conferences feel they’re correct — hence the fact that mediation has now failed and they claim they want a judge to sort it out.

One major difference, though, is that the Pac-12 sits in a fine spot with eight football schools (plus Gonzaga for hoops only) and media deals in hand, with CBS leading the way.

The Mountain West, meanwhile, is fighting for survival.

Portland-based columnist John Canzano has been all over this battle from the start, and it sounds as though he holds roughly the same feeling he had at the start.

Here are some key sections from Canzano’s discussion of the issue this week.

“Here’s what experienced litigators and sources are telling me:

• A settlement is still the most likely outcome. These cases don’t typically go to trial. The Pac-12’s attorneys (Keker, Van Nest & Peters) appear confident they have a viable case. 

They’d know, too. The law firm is well-versed in antitrust cases and represents the MLB Players’ Association and a line of other large entities.

• Alan Thayer, an experienced business attorney, told me: “Trial is unlikely. Antitrust cases usually turn on questions of law determined by the judge (and possibly appeals) rather than questions of fact tried to a jury.”

• The Mountain West will lose significant leverage if its motion to dismiss the lawsuit is denied during the Sept. 9 hearing. 

The Pac-12 knows that. Neither side currently appears interested in asking the court for more time.

• The Mountain West still doesn’t have a media rights deal to help glue it together beyond 2025. That’s a factor. 

If the MW can get the court to dismiss the Pac-12’s case at the Sept. 9 hearing, it would be a major victory and a big step toward survival.”

ITEM: I get a rash every time I hear a football coach or executive refer to an injury as “nothing major.”

It’s worse when they describe ensuing surgery as simply “getting some stuff cleaned up.”

Seahawks GM John Schneider hit both those lines on Thursday, while in the process of explaining that pass rusher Uchenna Nwosu has been placed on the PUP list (Physically Unable to Perform) as the Hawks prepare for training camp.

Veterans are expected to report next Wednesday.

Nwosu had 9 1/2 sacks in 2022, scored a contract extension worth $45 million over three years, but has been nicked up to the point that he’s only played 12 games over the past two seasons.

Under the NFL’s baffling rules for pay, eligibility and cap hits, players can be removed from the PUP designation anytime during camp, but once the regular season starts, they have to remain on the list for four games.

Nwosu’s issue is not, as Schneider implied, a shocker.

After suffering a knee injury during a preseason game last year, Nwosu missed four games.

He came back but hurt his thigh and sat out until the final five games, then finally had surgery on the knee after the season.

You know, just to clean up a few things.

Yikes.

Email: jscameron14@gmail.com

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press three times each week, normally Tuesday, Wednesday and 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.”