Zags/Mariners

So I be looking to see what's going on...

The Mariners just thwumped some who-body 16 to zip in the pre-season. So? So...I think of the Zags. They whumped over everybody and were the number ONE rated basketball team. So? That doesn't mean squat if you can't finish. Same with the Mariners...having a stellar pre-season isn't squat! It's FINISHING that matters! Zags and Mariners....Mariners and Zags...look at the end game...if you're a pawn down, you lose. Welcome to the mediocre Northwest where being competitive is all that seems to matter...and national attention will continue to focus on the...East.

NCAA Final Four on Radio

Okay…I realize no one may really care what I think about sports announcers. I live in this little town of Fall City which is right on the edge of nowhere.

Anyway, I’m listening to the radio broadcasts of some of the NCAA March Madness and I want to make a cuppla comments about what I’ve heard so far on this second day of the First Round of play.

First…it IS the second day of the First Round…NOT the second round as so many radio guys seem to insist upon. The second round begins tomorrow (Saturday)…not today (Friday). I find it particularly offensive, hearing so many announcers calling it the second round.

Next…I realize I’ve been critical of Dave Sims as a Mariner voice. However, he’s great for basketball!

John Thompson is as good as it gets! He knows his shit and doesn’t pretend to be something other than he is…a basketball genius!

I do enjoy listening to (and watching) Charles Barkley. He’s real…and he’s honest!

Kevin Calabro is the best broadcaster I’ve ever heard…anywhere!

On the negative side…I wretch when I hear some of the characters on this NCAA thing sometimes. I can’t stand hearing all these old characters with such a gross, New York accent. They often say “dis or dat” instead of “this or that”. They seem to be unable to pronounce the letter, “R”. If they can’t speak proper English they should stay home. They get paid for this!!?? It’s bad enough listening to all the southern accents but I’ve almost learned to accept that. (Not entirely, though.) Like Dave Niehaus pronouncing the word "national" with a long I instead of a short A. Sometimes, I think these guys are speaking an entirely different language.

I may add to this as the tournament progresses…keep in mind that I don’t have ready access to television broadcasts…only a scratchy-sounding radio. That’s why I listen so carefully (and critically) to audio broadcasts. 

Another thing...I think the rules need to be changed for college basketball. I was listening to the last minute of a game (in the first round, day two). That last minute used at least fifteen real minutes. Each time there was a foul and a stoppage of time. Each time there was another time-out called. Each time, when there was a free throw, both teams substituted offensive or defensive players as needed. That's REALLY stupid! The league has to put an end to this final-minute madness! It makes most of the game seem almost meaningless.

...and...I just heard the very end (on the radio) of the Illinois game against Colorado...the guy comes out and says that Illinois is advancing to the third round. It's NOT the freeking third round! It's the SECOND round! What's wrong with these people? Are they really that stupid?

...and...this is Saturday...round two...listening to Michigan vs VCU on the radio...the announcer comes out with, "the difference-maker", referring to some player in the game. I think that term, "difference maker", is one of the stupidest terms I've ever heard. Difference-maker? It just sounds stupid and childish. I've heard "difference-maker" in so many sports! I hate it! Can't these people come up with anything more appropriate? Difference-maker?! They sound like idiots!

Sunday, I'm listening to Iowa State and Ohio State. The "color" guy on the radio is one of those New Yorkers (or Boston or something)...anyway, he's one of those guys (Pete something) who says dis and dat and says "god" instead of "guard". It's Really annoying! Fawteen...fawty-faw...Doesn't it make sense that someone being paid to speak on American radio should learn how to pronounce our own language properly? Doesn't it? Am I right or am I right?

Another thing...the guy they have on the radio...the "Westwood One" guy...I hate it. He sounds just so phony that I can't stand it. There are some things I hear on the radio that cause me to turn it off immediately...that guy...the breathy-sounding, gravelly, fake-deep-voiced guy...I shut off or change the station as soon as I hear him.

Getting back to the "first round, second round" issue...so...Gonzaga loses the second game...it's Saturday...they're calling it "round three" of March Madness. Does that mean that Gonzaga made it through the second round? No. Saturday and Sunday are both "round two". What say the announcers get this right, eh? It's bad enough already that the players generally sound stupid and illiterate, and it's astounding to think they're actually in college rather than grade school...but the announcers should be, at least, a cut above. I'm embarrassed for the United States.

I just HAVE to mention this...in the area of so many mispronunciations...they're running some kind of ad on the radio...and the woman is talking about getting regular oil changes for a car...but she says, "awl" instead of oil! Welcome to America! We're a country of morons!

Okay...since I'm doing nothing much but complaining...I'm listening to North Carolina and Kansas on the radio. Kansas scores and the announcer says they're within one. They are NOT within one. They are still down by one. If they were within one, we'd be counting basketball games in fractions rather than whole numbers. I must add...the same stupid description is rampant throughout American sports broadcasts. If a baseball team is down by a run..."They're within one!" Bullshit! They're down by a run...not within a run. The same with football. What say we use proper English, eh?

Swallows in Fall City

I'll try to figure our how to post this on Tweeter but...my dog always watches birds. Today, March 17th, the dog was fixated on a couple of hawks swooping, flitting, chasing in an (apparent) mating ritual, so high up. I watched and realized there were other birds...two swallows! The swallows are back! It's really spring! There were only two of them, WAY up there...but they were there! The swallows have returned. Oh happy days! I feel like I've been reborn.

Fall City...How odd?!

Yesterday afternoon, with occasional dark clouds and light rain passing through Fall City, and as I was tending the fire in the wood stove...there was a sudden howling of wind outside. It was a screaming, whistling wind that lasted only a few seconds. Then, there was the crashing sound of a table being blown off the deck. With the extremely brief onslaught of wind gone, I looked out the window to see two chairs blown over and the wooden table lying in the grass. Mind you, there are two, identical tables on the deck but only one was blown away. There was no other indication that anything else had happened at all! Judging by the landing area of the blown-over table, the wind came from the southwest. (Generally, strong winds come from the east or southeast around here.) Also, since it was so narrowly focused, it seems to have been almost horizontal-tunnel-shaped. How odd, indeed! I've never experienced such a thing. Oh! I forgot!...my rototiller was also found on its side just about ten feet from where the table landed. That was it...one incredibly strong blast of wind...then quiet. I checked the weather people and nothing unusual was reported.

Mariners, grounded out to center

So...I have my computer set at MLB, CBS. I be looking at the Mariners/Angels game. Smoak is on first base and CBS reports that Montero grounded out to center! How is that possible?

Jack Ramsey

My word. I seldom listen to pro basketball broadcasts but the radio is on right now. There was just a brief interview with Jack Ramsey. Holy crap! Even though he's always been extremely boring, now he sounds addled. They pay him for this!!!??? There are far too many announcers who should stay home! Jack Ramsey is one of those.

Don't the big-ass media moguls care at all what the listeners think of these olde morons? Get rid of all the soprano-sounding dipsticks and all the olde coots! Generally, I just turn off the broadcast when I hear them...also, those with speech impediments...there are lots of them! I just can't take it...and I don't. Don't the advertisers putting up the money have any say in these matters? If people like me tune out due to such poor delivery, don't they care that we just...tune out?

to Aaron Goldsmith

If I keep hearing you say, "top 1, bottom 3, etc" as opposed to, "top of the first and bottom of the third", I will turn off the radio. I am not a Californian and I do not like that shortening thrown out at me. Also, Dave Simms is one of the most boring people I have ever heard and I will never listen to him. As a matter of fact, Simms sounds like he's about to take over the play-by-play for this game...I'll turn everything off at that point. Also, Mr. Goldsmith, now that you have been on-air for a little while...what say you add a little emotion to you broadcasts? Thus far you sound unattached and...a bit boring. I must say, I appreciated hearing you say that so-and-so was so many years old...as opposed to Rizzs and Niehaus saying so many years of age. I always found that to be really stupid. I'm not 65 years of age. I'm 65 years old. Or...I'm 65.

Seattle Sports Radio

So…I turn on the local sports-radio show. It’s KIRO...or ESPN...or whatever they call it these days. The two guys at the station are interviewing someone about the Seahawks', Richard Sherman. The guy they’re interviewing is Tony Ventrella! Tony Ventrella is just another sports reporter! He’s nobody! (I ran across him in a grocery store once and found him to be a self-centered, arrogant ass-wipe. I have no interest in his opinion about anything!) Why in the world would anyone consider him to be an authority about anything? He’s not an athlete and did not play for the Seahawks or any other professional sports team. Broadcasters interviewing broadcasters…what a freeking joke! I've been pleased to have not heard or seen Tony Ventrella for many years and I have no interest in hearing his opinion...about anything...ever.

Note to Aaron Goldsmith

Okay Aaron...Don't say, "top three". Say, "top of the third". Don't say, "the five". Say, "I-five". Get it?
Seattle is not part of California! I didn't like  Dave Simms (partly due to his incredibly boring delivery and partly due to his "top three" type of reporting). Aaron...don't be another boring Dave Simms. You're close to what we need in the northwest but not quite there yet. Also...I appreciate hearing what else is going on during a game...how's the weather, what are the people in the stands doing, what is going on in the dugout, etc.? Is the infield in good shape? Is the umpire calling the game accurately? Tell me what's really happening because I'm not there. What's the weather like? Is somebody limping?

I don't want to hear any Vin Scully kind of thing...Many years ago, there was a streaker, running across the field at Chavez Ravine...Scully refused to even mention it! I want to hear everything going on in a game!

Mr. Goldsmith...I appreciate your Spring Training broadcasts so far but I'd be happy if you can take the next step. While Scully seems to have thought he was "painting a picture"...as did Niehaus...it's important to really do it. The next step is to REALLY paint a picture (unlike Scully and Niehaus). Look around during the game and tell us everything!

Anyway...no more, "top three" okay?

Also...I'm anxious to see how it goes when there are "color guys" included in the broadcasts. I don't ever want to hear Ron Fairly or Mike Blowers but I definitely like hearing Dave Henderson, Griffey and Dan Wilson (among a few others). Don't ever let Griffey (Sr) on the air...ever! If you can get Alvin Davis...great! There are others but they never seem to make it on-air.

I listen to almost every Mariners' game on the radio (with limited TV coverage here) and don't mind spending my own (limited) funds to help the team. I just want to receive information during each broadcasted game in a professional manner.

So...Mr. Goldsmith...button up a few issues and you'll rise to the top. (Shit floats). Just kidding...the cream rises to the top, too.

New Mariners Announcer Guy

Okay...I've listened to a few pre-season games and, in general, I'm pleased with the new guy.

However, I must say, when I hear, "top six" instead of, "the the top of the sixth", I cringe and writhe in pain. Those "top six" and "bottom seven-type" terms make me feel like I'm in Southern California. (That's not a good place to be for a person in the Northwest. Really! Why shorten the term like that? It's not like there's such a limit on microphone time!) It's similar to calling I-5, "the five" and I-90, "the ninety". It's just plain wrong for this area!

Mr. New Announcer, please lose those terms now and remember you're in Washington...and we don't like anything to do with California!

I know I've commented on this before but even though it took me a long time to swaddle Rick Rizzs and even Dave Niehaus...they both grew on me. I just never EVER want to hear, "kerplunk" from Mr. Rizzs again.

I don't mind spending my money to support my local teams but it would be great if they supported us too.

As an aside, I was so ( ! ) distraught when Evening Magazine got rid of the local people that made me feel at home and hired that ass-wipe. I don't like him. I've seen him at events. He's an arrogant ass-wipe from Denver ( ? ) and I"d be happy to see him...gone. We have a unique place and culture here in the northwest and we should cherish it without diluting it all with ass-wipes from afar.

I'll get back to this. However, I have to go out and milk the yaks.

Fall City Bistro...OH!

Okay...while I really can't afford to eat out anywhere, any more...I forgot to mention...I'm told my grand daughter works there now! So for all those who can still afford to go out...I suggest going to the Fall City Bistro. My brief experience there was wonderful and I hope to enjoy it again. Also, sit in my grand daughter's section and tip her well! One would have to mention my last name (Walsh) to find her, eh?

Anyhow-way, the Fall City Bistro is many cuts above any other dining experience on the East Side. I only regret that my income dried up a few years too early, thereby preventing my own continuing continuous patronages! When they first arrived out here (in Fall City) and I realized what a gift it is to have such a wonderful place so near, I expected to be a "regular". Alas! These are tough times for some people (like me).