Macdonald Hired

Seahawks announced they have picked former Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald to be the team's new head coach 

Macdonald is from Boston, he went to school at the University Of Georgia.  He became a graduate assistant coach for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Macdonald has worked for both John and Jim Harbaugh.  He served on Raven coach John Harbaugh's staff from 2014-2020. In 2021, he became defensive coordinator at Michigan under John's brother, Jim Harbaugh. He then returned to the Ravens to become their defensive coordinator. 

Replacing Pete Carroll, the NFL's oldest coach, Macdonald at 36, becomes the league's youngest coach.

REPORTS: Ben Johnson remaining in Detroit | CBS Sports

This is big news in Seattle where Detroit Lions Offensive Coordinator, Ben Johnson, was seen as probably the leading contender to take the vacancy of head coach for the Seahawks. 

Today, it was announced that Johnson was staying at Detroit. 

Nancy Evans Former Washington First Lady

 Nancy Evans, whose husband, Daniel J. Evans, served as Washington Governor for three terms, has died.    She was 90.  Evans was, at the time, the youngest first lady in the state's history.  Dan Evans was first elected in 1964 and served until 1977.  

She was an area philanthropist.

Evans was a graduate of Whitman College in my hometown of Walla Walla.  

Super Bowl 2024--Familiar Teams

 Detroit Lions Cinderella story came to an end when the San Francisco 49ers overcame a 17 point deficit to beat them 34-31.  

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17-10, like the 49ers, the Chiefs know the lay of the land, this is the team's 4th Super Bowl in the last 5 years.  

Super Bowl LVIII  (Super Bowl 2024) will be played February 11th.  Las Vegas will host the big game for the first time.

Claudine Longet | The Murder of Spider Sabich | Crime Documentaries

This was very similar to the OJ Simpson murder case which would happen about 18 years later.    

I was fascinated by this case, at the time, because Claudine was kind of an international "sweetheart".

Live Music In Maple Valley

Last night (Friday, January 26th 2024), we went to Stocton's on the Maple Valley-Black Diamond Highway to watch live music with Woodscreek.  The band features our old UPS driver, Larry and Singer, Diane, who we have watched perform many times as a duo.  

Ex Mariner To Be Inducted Into Baseball Hall Of Fame

 Congratulations to ex Mariner 3rd baseman Adrian Beltre on his election to the Baseball Hall Of Fame. Beltre played for the Mariners from 2005-2009.  

He will join 6 other former Mariners in Cooperstown. 

Kraken 2

More of the pre-game warmups at last night's (Wednesday, January 24th, 2023) Kraken game.

Barers Of Maple Valley Goes To Seattle Kraken Game

I watched my first Kraken game in two years.  My second ever.  The Kraken beat the Chicago Blackhawks 6-2.

This picture was taken during warmups.

Divisional Round NFL Playoffs

 I watched at least a little of each of the four playoff games this weekend.  Since my team, The Seattle Seahawks, didn't make it this year, I picked a couple of teams based on wanting to see a team win the Super Bowl that had not before.  

I immediately got behind the Detroit Lions, one of the league's older teams, that still has never played in the Super Bowl.  They have long been one of the worst franchises in the league, but this year, really stepped up and made it in.  

The other team, which I never really rooted for, was the Buffalo Bills.  They went to a string of Super Bowls at a team when the NFC dominated.  They have still never one.

The Lions won a tough match against the Tampa Bay Buc 31-23, so they will advance to the conference finals against the very tough San Francisco 49ers.  

The Bills sadly lost to the Kansas City Chiefs 27-24.

Other winners were predictably the Baltimore Ravens over the Houston Texans and the San Franciso 49ers over the Green Bay Packers.

Sports Illustrated Reportedly On Death Bed

 Word out is that Sports Illustrated will soon be gone.  This is sad on so many levels.  We understand that today it's a different world, but there is so many great feelings and memories in its history.  Who could forget "Faces in the Crowd" or the fable Sports Illustrated cover jinx.  Much like Time and Newsweek (along with Look and Life) mirrored the happenings in the world, Sports Illustrated, later shortened for the most part to SI, mirrored the sports world.

In my childhood, my grandparents (on my mom's side) gave me a subscription to Sports Illustrated, but it always came to their house, not ours.  That way, every Friday after school, I would ride to their house, visit with them in their house on Hilbrooke Street in Walla Walla and read the latest issues.  

Seaside 6

One more history post on The Prom in Seaside. From our trip a few weeks ago.

Israeli Advocate Tishby Speaks In Seattle

Israeli actor producer and advocate Noa Tishby appeared at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle as part of the Keller Family Lecture Series.

Tishby has written the book "Israel A Simple Guide To The Most Misunderstood Country On Earth".  She has had a strong presence on Instagram and other social media since the October 7th attack on Israeli and the subsequent battles thereafter.

Tishby appeared with temple Rabbi Daniel Weiner.

She is charismatic, and well spoken with barely a trace of Israeli accent.  

Subjects covered were of course, Israel's right to existence, Anti Semitism on campus and other timely topics.

Tishby was Israel's first Special Envoy for Combatting Anti Semitism and Delegitimization. 

She took time afterwards to autograph books and pose for pictures.

Pulling Mussels From A Shell--The Underhills At The Croc 4

 One more great song from last Friday (January 12th. 2024).

Easy Lover--The Underhills At The Croc 3

The Underhills from their Friday, January 12th, 2024 performance.

Washington Hires Fisch

 

Late last week Washington Husky fans bemoaned losing head football coach Kalen DeBoar to Alabama.  Over the weekend, the school brought in the Arizona Wildcats head coach Jedd Fisch in almost the same manner.

Fisch took over a struggling Wildcat team, which went 1-11 in its first season to 10-3 this past season (2023).  One thing both Deboer and Fisch will have in common is leaving turning programs around, then going from hero to zero, by taking big offers from other schools. 

Happy Martin Luther King Jr Day

Celebrating a great man!

The Underhills At The Croc 2 --Sharp Dressed Man

From last night's (Friday, January 12th, 2024) performance, the band knocks it out of the park with some ZZ Top. 

Come On Eileen The Underhils.

We went to The Crocodile in Downtown Seattle last night (Friday, January 12th, 2024) to see my cousin Joe play in his band, The Underhills. 

We had watched the band perform in that spot, June of 2023.

DeBoer Will Leave U-Dub For Alabama

 Sources say Kalen DeBoer, who brought the Washington Huskies to the brink of a national championship in just his second season, is leaving to replace Nick Saban at Alabama.  Saban announced his retirement from the legendary football program on Wednesday, January 10th. 

DeBoer's record in two seasons at Washington was an incredible 25-3.  His overall college coaching record is a breathtaking 104-12.

White Stuff On Ground

The years first snowfall happened overnight in Maple Valley

Full speech | Pete Carroll speaks after parting ways with Seahawks

I had not seen this side of former Seahawk coach Pete Carroll.  Pete's final press conference as  Seahawk coach.

Did Jews Run the Mafia? | Unpacked

The tale of Murder, Inc and other Jewish mobsters, a very interesting tale.  Perhaps a Jewish version of the Godfather may be released.

Carroll No Longer Coaching Seahawks

It has been announced that after 14 seasons, Pete Carroll's tenure as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks, will come to an end.

Carroll will go down in history as the first, and so far, only coach of the team to win the Super Bowl.  He took the team to a subsequent Super Bowl the next season, which the team lost after an interception.

The Seahawks, under Carroll, won 5 division titles and went to the post season 10 times.  However, in recent years, he has been criticized for too many penalties and poor game management. Also, poor defense, as Carroll is known as a defensive guy.  Common opinion was that the program had hit a wall.

Prior to taking the Seahawk job, he led the USC Trojans to a national college football championship, bringing that team back to its glory days.   He also had mostly unheralded stints with the New England Patriots and New York Jets.

I met Pete Carroll years ago, when I went to a dance recital for a friend's daughter.  He was in the audience to see a granddaughter perform.  Seeing that he was there, I went up to meet him, I was very impressed with his personability, Pete talked to me, rather than at me. 

Seaside 5--Revisiting The Bench

Of course we visited our bench, one block south of the turnaround 

We bought and donated that 8 and a half years ago to honor Deb's grandmother who loved the town.

Taylor Now On City Council In Auburn

 Radio-TV blog QZVX has video of long time Seattle media personality Tracy Taylor being sworn in as an Auburn City Council Woman.  Click here.

Seaside 4 Oliver in Seaside 1/3/2023

Now 11 months, Oliver at the ocean for the first time.

Seaside 3

The surf from the 8th floor of the Wyndham Resort.

Seaside 2

Oliver And I walking the Seaside Prom.

Winter Trip To Seaside

The pay telescopes on the Prom seem to be gone. Instead, the have historical posts along the mile and a half long giant sidewalk.

Golden Retriever Play

Oliver and neighbor bestie Quinn love playing in the neighborhood.

Celebrating The New Year

A group of children and parents marched on the pipeline trail, some in costumes, to celebrate the New Year.

Huskies Nip The Longhorns

Washington Huskies kept their dreams alive by beating Texas in a nail biter 37-31 in the Sugar Bowl on New Years Day .

Lost One Year Ago

Remembering Uncle Arny, whom we lost on January 2nd of 2023.

Happy New Year!

 Wishing you a happy and healthy 2024!