Steve Playing Jr Hockey

My brother, Steve from his hockey days in the mid 70s. My parents would drive him and his teammates all over the state to compete.

Great Review Of MLB Parks

One thing that distinguishes Major League Baseball from other pro sports is the personality and history of the ballparks.  In this video, You Tube sports commentator Brodie Brazil gives his ranking of every park in the two leagues.

 

Touring Frank Lloyd Wright 2

More from the Tallesin West museum, honoring Frank Lloyd Wright.  

The lush green grass really stood out in the desert.

Pop Music Writer And Performer Neil Sedaka

 

Neil Sedaka, a prolific songwriter and singer in the early 1960s, who is now better known for songs in his comeback in the mid-1970s has died. His 87th birthday was only weeks away.

Sedaka, a native of Brooklyn was famous for songs like "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do", Calendar Girl" and "Happy Birthday Sweet 16".

His later work would include "Bad Blood" which he sang with Elton John and "Laughter In The Rain". 

He also wrote the Captain And Tenille classic "Lov e Will Keep Us Together.

Spring Ball 6--The Wrap up

 A composite video of our visit to Mariner Spring Training.

My Parents Wedding 2

My parents with their bridesmaids and groomsmen.

My Parents Wedding

Steve posted this on Facebook. My parents with their parents and grandmothers in 1956 at my parent's wedding.

I would  meet both great grandmothers.  

On the left, my mom's grandma lived in New York. On the right, my dad's grandma lived in Walla Walla.  Both were mothers of my grandfather's.

Spring Training 5--Warm ups

 From Friday's game (February, 20th, 2026)

Mariner Spring Ball 4--The Padres

The Padres share the Peoria Sports Complex with the Mariners. They were also the M's first opponent this season. 

Mariner Spring Ball 3

Coming off an amazing 2025 season, we watched Cal Raleigh bat.

Mariner Spring Ball 2

Mariner starting lineup was posted.

Play Ball

We are in Peoria for Spring Training as the Mariners play the first exhibition game today 

Touring Frank Lloyd Wright

The Kiva Fountain at Taliesin West. This was the winter home for renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Honoring Griffey

Numbers stand at the Peoria Springs baseball complex to honor past Mariners.  The number 24 honors Ken Griffey, Jr

Baseball Starts

Down in Arizona to check Mariner Spring Training.

Jesse Jackson

Civil Rights leader and two time candidate for the Democratic nomination for president, Jesse Jackson has died.  

He was 84.

NBA Expansion Including Potential Sonic Return Said To Be Addressed

 Are the Sonics returning? An increasingly skeptical fanbase is hearing NBA commissioner Adam Silver say the topic will be discussed and possibly voted on by the league's Board of Governors this summer.  

Seattle, along with Las Vegas, have long been considered candidates for expansion.  Of course, the Sonics left for Oklahoma City, in 2008.  Since the Sonics departure, the NFL Seahawks have won two Super Bowls, the Seattle area has grown, and Key Arena was remodeled into the state of  the art, Climate Pledge Arena. 

Super Bowl 10--Delicious Souvenir

Making this an even 10.  This tasty treat had LX, the Roman numerals for 60, which was this year's Super Bowl number.

Super Bowl Celebration 9--The Coach And His Wife

 A friend got this picture of Coach Mike Macdonald leaving Lumen Field at the start of the parade.

Happy Valentine's Day

 

Super Bowl Celebration 8--Parade Starts

Players,coaches, and retired players, along with their families, left the stadium in Army vehicles to start the parade.

Super Bowl Celebration 7--The Coach

 Coach Mike Macdonald addresses the happy crowd

Super Bowl Celebration 6--Cooper Kupp

 Native of Yakima, wide receiver Cooper Kupp, who was cast-off by the LA Rams, Joined the team and showed he still had it. 

Super Bowl Celebration 5--John Schneider Addresses The 12s

Seahawks president of football operations, John Schneider, now the architect of two Super Bowl winning teams, spoke to the crowd.

 

Super Bowl Celebration 4--The Team Appears

 

Super Bowl Celebration 3--We Are The Champions

Confetti, fireworks with blue and green smoke, cheering and singing marked the celebration!

 

Super Bowl Celebration 2-- The Ceremony

Steve Raibel hosted the celebration, which featured players and coaches, as well as general manager John Schneider 

Super Bowl Celebration

At Lumen Field for trophy celebration.

Macdonald With Lombardi Trophy

 This is what it's all about.  Our coach posing with the Vince Lombardi Trophy, winner of Super Bowl XL. 

Maple Valley's Brandi Carlile Super Bowl Performance

Brandi Carlile, whom this blog has followed throughout her career, sang a beautiful and moving version of America the Beautiful at the Super Bowl, just before the national anthem. In addition to the Seahawks, another great representative of this area at the event.  

We Did It

Seahawks beat the Patriots. We are the Champions!

It's Super Sunday

 Go Seahawks!

Go Seahawks--Super Bowl This Sunday!

It's Blue Friday (February 6th, 2026) and time to ramp up your spirit!

 

Detroit Tigers World Series Hero Mickey Lolich Dies

 

In 1968, I followed the World Series for the second time on TV, it was only the year before that I became a sports fanatic.  It was a pitcher-oriented season and Detroit Tiger ace Denny McLaine helped lead his team to a World Series appearance with 31 wins, the last MLB pitcher to win over 30 in one season.  However, the star pitcher in the Series was Mickey Lolich, who won three times in including the deciding 7th game, playing against the defending world champion St Louis Cardinals, a team loaded at every position. 

Sadly, Lolich died yesterday (Wednesday, February 4th, 2026), he was 85.  Lolich, a left hander, was a native of Portland, Oregon. 

Survivor 50 Challenge 4--Interviewed

Someone from Survivor interviewed people waiting in line at Owen Beach.  This was mine. Deb filmed me during the interview. 

 

Survivor 50 Challenge 3

Three-time Survivor contestant Kelley Wentworth, a Seattle native was there. She posed with fans.  

Survivor 50 Challenge 2

At Owen Beach at Point Defiance, Survivor fans stood in line for over an hour to get a picture taken with this backdrop and to enter the contest.

Survivor 50 Challenge Comes To Washington

 The TV reality show Survivor is celebrating its 50th season with a 50-state promotion.  An "idol" was put in each of the 50 states, with a chance for viewer to find it using published clues.  

It was actually a photo op.  We attended the Washington one yesterday at Owen Beach in Tacoma. 

Happy Birthday, Oliver!

 Our Doggie turns three today!

Three Dog Night Singer Dies

Chuck Negron, one of three lead singers of Three Dog Night, a hit machine in the early 70s, has died.  He was 83.  

I got to see Chuck sing, twice as a solo act, on the Happy Together tour concerts in 2014 and 2017.  Both at Snoqualmie Casino. 

Fabric Outlet 2

An cooler ad in the paper for the Fabric Outlet.

What was even cooler were the radio ads during the evening on KTEL.

One was over Sly and the Family Stone.

Fabric Outlet Ad

The Fabric Outlet.  A Walla Walla business on 4th And Main, run by my Dad on the 70s. 

This was in addition to our family business, B. Barer And Sons.

Reports Of Seahawks Going On The Market Rain On Fan Super Bowl Joy

 In the week following the conference championship games and before the Super Bowl, there is generally little news as far NFL teams, however, a report has the city buzzing and it's not about the game itself. 

Sources such as ESPN and the Wall Street Journal are reporting that the team will go up for sale after the game.  The Seattle Times reports that the organization is denying the reports, however, that is common during any entity's possible sale.   

Paul Allen bought the team in 1997, eventually taking the team to three Super Bowls, including a victory.  

Allen's sister assumed control of the team after his death in 2018.  It has been common knowledge that Allen's sports teams (including the Portland Trail Blazers) will eventually be sold, as requested by the estate. 

Seattle will play in its fourth Super Bowl on February 8th (2026). 

Wear Your Blue Today!

 9 days until the Super Bowl.  Keep your spirit up!

UB Archives Mike and Deb Engagement

I asked little brother, Steve if he could find this in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin archives and, sure enough, he did.  

This is from 1994, when we got engaged.  I had left Walla Walla five years earlier, but still felt and still feel, a connection to the town 

Welcome to the Darkside (ROCK VERSION) | Seahawks Playoff Anthem | Lumen...

Sent to me by a friend, a celebration of the Super Bowl bound Seattle Seahawks.

2026 Baseball Season To Be Last For Rick Rizzs

Rick Rizzs, Mariner announcer for decades and a familiar voice in the Seattle area will retire after the 2026 baseball season.

Rizzs started with the Mariner in 1983, he left, however, to replace Detroit Tiger legend Ernie Harwell.  The switch left him in the firing line with fans upset with Harwell's firing and Rizzs.  The Tigers wound up bringing Harwell back. 

In 1995, Rizzs returned to the Mariners.  He was once again teamed with beloved Mariner announcer Dave Niehaus, as the teams started enjoying success on the field. 

In 2010, Dave Niehaus, passed away, the city was devastated. This time, Rizzs, again, stepped into the shoes of a legend, and found that this time, they fit him just fine. The fans found that they still had a familiar and comforting voice to announce the action. 

I have met Rick and he is very easy to talk to.  A real humble man.

Lee Goldberg Nominated For Writing Award

 There I go again, touting family members.  A big congratulations to Lee Goldberg, who just announced he has been nominated for the Sue Grafton Award  by the Mystery Writers Of America. 

The award is part of the prestigious Edgar Awards for the best in mystery writing. 

This is meaningful to Lee because he became a longtime friend to Grafton.  The two are pictured above. 

This nomination is for Fallen Star, the latest work in the Eve Ronin mysteries. 

Seahawks Going To Super Bowl 2

TV's Michael Strahan presents Seahawk owner Jody Allen with the George S Halas Trophy as winners of the NFC 

Our next quest will be for the Vince Lombardi Trophy as world champs 

Seahawks Going To The Super Bowl

Go Seahawks!!!

 Seahawks have a third meeting with the Rams with the winner going to the Super Bowl!

What Super Bowl Sunday Was Like in The 1970s

Should I have waited until Super Bowl weekend?  Maybe!  I could always run it again.  

This is either a learning experience or a trip down memory lane.  I think I watched almost every Super Bowl in the 70s.  This is mostly accurate.  

At the time, the build up was popular, but the games were often disappointing, either because the teams were mismatched, or because both teams would often play not to lose. 

John Brodie--49er Legend

 John Brodie, one of the last of what I would consider, the old school NFL quarterbacks has died.   He was 90.

Brodie was quarterback of the team when I started following football in the late 60s, because they were no Seahawks at the time, the team was shown often.  

Brodie had a 17-year career, all with the 49ers.  After being drafted out of Stanford, where he was also an outstanding golfer. 

In 2009, Brodie was inducted into the inaugural class of the 49ers Hall of Fame. 

It's Blue Friday

 Seahawks take on the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday (January 25th, 2026), winner goes to the Super Bowl. 

Go Seahawks!!!

1967--Losing Grandfather Barer

Steve found by Grandfather Barer's notice from November 1967 in the UB archives. I was 10 and it was the first grandparent that I lost. 

Happily, I would not lose another grandparent for 18 years. 

Levine Back On Jeopardy!

Aaron Levine, the Seattle Fox 13 sports anchor, was returned to Jeopardy! for the Tournament Of Champions. Aaron is on the right 

The Rams Are Coming!

 The matchups are set!  For the third time this season, the Seattle Seahawks will take on the Los Angeles Rams, with the winner going to the Super Bowl this Sunday (January 25th, 2026). 

The picture above shows Seattle quarterback Sam Darnold and LA Ram QB Matthew Stafford.  

Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos host the Patriots for the AFC Championship. 

Martin Luther King Day

 

Sam Darnold on getting FIRST playoff win 💪 Credits Defense in Seahawks' ...

Sam Darnold shares his thoughts with Erin Andrews on the Seahawk 41-6 victory over the 49ers last night (Saturday, January 17th, 2026).  

Go Seahawks!!

 Seahawks take on the 49ers to advance in the playoffs today (Saturday, January 17th, 2026).  Loser is finished for the season.

Wear Your Blue

 It's Blue Friday!  The Seahawks takes, only two victories away from the Super Bowl, take on the San Francisco 49ers tomorrow (Saturday, January 17th, 2026).

Sam Darnold Becomes Seattle's MVP

A great video on the direction Sam Darnold took to become the Seahawks franchise quarterback.

Pittsburgh Steelers Coach Calls It Quits

 Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers for 19 seasons, is stepping down from his position.  

Coaching since 2007, Tomlin was the longest tenured coach in the four major North American sports leagues.

Under his guidance, the Steelers made 13 playoff appearances, appearing in 2 Super Bowls and winning one.  Under Tomlin's guidance, the Steelers did not have a single losing season. 

Tomlin was one of only three head coaches the Steelers have had since 1969.

Tony Gwynn Played Minor League Ball In Walla Walla.

 My brother, Steve posted this from the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin archives.  San Diego Padres great, Tony Gwynn, played Minor League ball with the Walla Walla Padres, the team's single A franchise.  

Gwynn would go on to be probably the most popular Padre of all time, and perhaps the best.  He would pass away at a young age from cancer.