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Cannibals, rats, wacko GOP politicians: Idaho’s 10 most embarrassing news stories of 2024

Sun., Jan. 12, 2025

Idahoans are a unique breed. And some of us are more “special” than others. Each new year, I force myself to take one last masochistic gaze back at the past 12 months. To savor one last Idaho wince. By relishing all the headlines that made us groan — about the wonderful state we all adore. So many. Narrowing the contenders is daunting. Often, it boils down to semantics. Was it actually ...

Portland State overpowers Idaho men 75-63 for wire-to-wire win

Sat., Jan. 11, 2025

From staff reports

Eastern Washington gets first road win of season, 65-54 at Sacramento State

Sat., Jan. 11, 2025

Eastern Washington held Sacramento State to 15 points in the first half and cruised to a 65-54 victory Saturday in a men’s basketball game at The Nest in Sacramento, California.

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A Grip on Sports: When close friends compete, whether it be personal or in a broader context, fireworks usually ensue

Sat., Jan. 11, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The college football last night was entertaining. The nation watched. The college basketball tonight will be entertaining as well. Though the national audience will be, more than likely, limited to folks with Inland Northwest ties of some sort. Or those without an Amazon Prime subscription.

On the Air

Fri., Jan. 10, 2025

Saturday’s TV Highlights

A Grip on Sports: Sure, spring seems far away but that’s OK, as long as the NFL and college football can combine to give us weekends like the one ahead

Fri., Jan. 10, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The best part about weekends this time of year? Each one means we are closer and closer to those four most-glorious words in the English language: “Pitchers and catchers report.” And when they are stuffed with shouldn’t-miss football games, as this one is, all the better.

This day in history: Candidate for Spokane police commissioner called for relaxed enforcement of ‘foolish’ Prohibition laws; Gonzaga started Big Sky season against UI

Fri., Jan. 10, 2025

From 1975: The Gonzaga University basketball team was in the Big Sky Conference, and was set to open its conference season against the University of Idaho.

On the air

Thu., Jan. 9, 2025

Friday’s TV Highlights

A Grip on Sports: Winter can’t really put its icy grip around us until college football is finished, right?

Thu., Jan. 9, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • A winter’s day. In a deep and dark January. The walls built against the freshly fallen shroud of snow will break down a little tonight. Thanks to the joyful melody of a college football playoff game feature two programs that have sunk like rocks in big games the past decade or so.

On the Air

Wed., Jan. 8, 2025

Thursday’s TV Highlights

With road matchup against Gonzaga looming, WSU staying focused on home game against Pacific

Wed., Jan. 8, 2025

PULLMAN – During Washington State’s men’s basketball practice Tuesday, with two games coming up this weekend, the Cougars adopted a new rule: No saying the word “Gonzaga.”

WSU adds HS QB Owen Eshelman, plus three more transfers, two from South Dakota State

Wed., Jan. 8, 2025

PULLMAN – Washington State may have lost its class of 2025 quarterback with last month’s coaching change, but the Cougars are bringing in another high school QB.

A Grip on Sports: As fires rage, taking homes and memories, it’s hard to focus on football and other areas of sports

Wed., Jan. 8, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Quite a few people these days live in the house in which they grew up. That’s not the case for me, but if it were, I would be writing somewhere else today. The old family neighborhood, a place filled with homes that date back 100 years, is under an evacuation order as wildfires burn through the Southern California mountains. It’s something I never thought I would see.

A Grip on Sports: What do you know? People are already talking about a college basketball game between local teams that doesn’t happen until Saturday

Tue., Jan. 7, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Human-to-human communication is still important, right? Even if that communication isn’t, as it’s been for thousands of years, always face-to-face? The answer is yes to those of us who have to come up with a column subject about 350 times a year.

A Grip on Sports: Seahawks end their season on a (somewhat) high note while WSU continues to rebuild its football roster

Mon., Jan. 6, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Yes, the Seahawks finished the season on a high note. A note that almost turned sour in the final seconds of their 30-25 win at the Rams on Sunday. But Bill Parcells had it right. They are what their record says they are.

A Grip on Sports: Enjoy this last day of the NFL’s regular season as we enter eight months without the RedZone

Sun., Jan. 5, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • This is it. The last chance. The final time. Doomsday.

Idaho misses tying shot at the buzzer in 73-71 loss to Montana

Sat., Jan. 4, 2025

MOSCOW, Idaho – The last time Idaho swept Montana and Montana State at home was February, 2018. The Vandals beat the Bobcats, 88-78, and sneaked past the Grizzlies, 79-77, in overtime, when Nate Sherwood made one of the memorable plays in Idaho’s basketball history and put back a baseline buzzer-beating tip in.

Improved defense carries Eastern Washington past Montana State 68-63

Sat., Jan. 4, 2025

It was 10 minutes after the final buzzer, and most of the Eastern Washington men’s basketball team had made its way back out to Reese Court – except for Nic McClain.

A Grip on Sports: Money is the gas that fuels all the sports teams everyone roots for, even those that once were amateur in status

Sat., Jan. 4, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a source said three words to Bob Woodward that still ring true today. Follow the money. And with that, a presidential administration fell.

On the air

Fri., Jan. 3, 2025

Saturday’s TV Highlights

A Grip on Sports: We get a breather from college football’s upsets this weekend, a gap filled by hoops and a few key NFL games

Fri., Jan. 3, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s been a long time, and about 60 degrees of temperature, since a weekend has popped up and the main focus isn’t on college football. But that’s the case today. Welcome to the real start of winter.

‘Tough first game for us’: Montana holds off Eastern Washington 92-81 in Big Sky opener

Thu., Jan. 2, 2025

For a relatively inexperienced Eastern Washington team, a senior-heavy Montana squad was hardly an ideal opponent for its Big Sky men’s basketball opener on Thursday.

A Grip on Sports: Oregon’s Rose Bowl face-plant earned the football headlines but that wasn’t all that happened on 2025’s first day

Thu., Jan. 2, 2025

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, right. Thinking about byes. Odd seedings. Targeting. Missed kicks. Revenge. Sadness. The college football playoffs’ quarterfinal games had all that. And more. What a way to start 2025.

On the air

Wed., Jan. 1, 2025

Thursday’s TV Highlights

10 big stories from the Spokane area in 2024

Tue., Dec. 31, 2024

Another year has come and gone, and 2024 was one for the history books. A consequential presidential election filled with twists and turns, the escalation of deadly conflict in Gaza, devastating hurricanes, the rapid expansion of commercial uses for artificial intelligence, the fall of the Syrian autocracy and the death of Jimmy Carter.

A Grip on Sports: Snow on a late December Monday morning is more common than being snowed under by local sports news

Mon., Dec. 30, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Back-to-back years. Remember the last time the Seahawks missed the playoffs consecutive seasons? Me neither. It was 2009, when Jim Mora was the coach. Ya, I sort of forgot he was ever in charge too.

A Grip on Sports: There was a trifecta of sorts for local sports fans on Saturday, a day that may loom large in the near (and distant) future

Sun., Dec. 29, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • An intriguing hire. An interesting game. A couple losses without even playing. It was that type of Saturday around these parts.

A Grip on Sports: The Cougars didn’t win, on the scoreboard at least, but the Holiday Bowl was one of their finest efforts

Sat., Dec. 28, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • It would have been fun to watch a fully stocked Washington State football team play last night in the Holiday Bowl. One with its head coach, quarterback and most of its defense in place. It didn’t happen. But rest assured, even if that group had been available, had played its best, had won, it wouldn’t have brought the football program more glory than the players who did take the field at Snapdragon Stadium and fell 52-35 to the Orange.

Complaint alleges disparities for female athletes at NIC, but newer numbers show equity

Fri., Dec. 27, 2024

A formal complaint filed by a Sandpoint man alleges North Idaho College is not providing equal opportunities for female college students to play sports under Title IX.

A Grip on Sports: If WSU can put together a win in tonight’s Holiday Bowl, the offseason may just feel different

Fri., Dec. 27, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Bowl games were once a reward. Hard work, success, a week in the warmth somewhere. These days they seem more like unpaid overtime. And no one loves working unpaid overtime. Not even football fans.

A Grip on Sports: There are more problems at Washington State than just dealing with Holiday Bowl opponent Syracuse

Thu., Dec. 26, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, right. Wondering how the decimated Cougars will do in their bowl game. And whether new leadership in the school’s Office of the President will be a game-changer for Washington State.

A Grip on Sports: Our father’s small business taught a lot of lessons – including how to deliver on Christmas Eve

Tue., Dec. 24, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • My father worked in the newspaper industry, making sure whatever was written and printed the night before landed in customers’ driveways early in the morning. It was a good living, though the hours were awful.

A Grip on Sports: Close does not count in the NFL, which means there will be more than a few verbal grenades tossed around again when the Seahawks’ season ends

Mon., Dec. 23, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • The simple truth is the Seahawks are simply not good enough. And yes, it took 15 games to pound that lesson home – though the 12s seemed to have figured it out weeks ago.

A Grip on Sports: Saturday’s CFP games were disappointing, though that did not stop us from spending way too many hours watching

Sun., Dec. 22, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Back in the day, the term “veg” was a thing. It meant you spent your time just sitting around, like a crisp carrot or a crunchy piece of celery, all day. I must admit the term was in play Saturday, at least in my house, thanks to a crowded TV sports schedule. Too bad the three College Football Playoff games turned out to be overcooked and limp. And not healthy at all.

Kolton Mitchell paces Idaho’s season-best shooting effort in 95-72 win over Pacific

Sat., Dec. 21, 2024

From staff reports

A Grip on Sports: Atmosphere aside, college football’s 12-team playoff kicked off with something of a dud, though that should change today

Sat., Dec. 21, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • College football took over Friday night. And put us to sleep. College football always controls Saturday. Though the NFL is horning in a little today. America’s most popular game dominates Sunday. And will again tomorrow. Wash, rinse, repeat.

On the air

Fri., Dec. 20, 2024

Saturday’s TV Highlights

A Grip on Sports: With all the preliminaries – read, the regular season – finally done, we can settle in this weekend and watch as the College Football Playoffs begin

Fri., Dec. 20, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Thank goodness it’s Friday. This Friday anyway. It’s actually possible to forget the doom and gloom of college football – here’s looking at you Pullman – and turn our sites on something completely different. The 12-team College Football Playoff.

Financially, former Idaho coach Jason Eck’s move to New Mexico made perfect sense

Thu., Dec. 19, 2024

Speaking at his introductory news conference at New Mexico, former Idaho football coach Jason Eck shared a story plenty of up-and-coming coaches – and their spouses – could relate to.

A Grip on Sports: Dickert’s departure from Pullman illustrates once again college athletics’ playing fields are not level and it is getting worse

Thu., Dec. 19, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • If you ever have a chance to walk on Wake Forest’s relatively small campus, head over to the athletic complex. And you will understand why Washington State had little chance to compete with the North Carolina school when its athletic director decided on his next football coach.

Idaho basketball: Kolton Mitchell’s 26 not enough in loss to UC Davis; UI women squander big league in defeat

Wed., Dec. 18, 2024

From staff reports

A Grip on Sports: Dickert’s defection is change’s latest blow to hit Washington State and it is also the worst one

Wed., Dec. 18, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Change is hard. For everyone, even that guy at the end of the block who tells you all the time he embraces it. Then puts the same lights up every year for the holidays. But change is also eternal. And it hit hard in Pullman on this Wednesday morning.

On the Air

Tue., Dec. 17, 2024

Wednesday’s TV Highlights

A Grip on Sports: Before you rail about a player leaving your favorite college football program, send a few cross words towards the real culprits

Tue., Dec. 17, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • I’m not a conspiracy buff. No grassy knoll. No alien drones. No faked moon landing. Not for me. Except, well, the NCAA’s recent actions concerning name, image and likeness and the transfer portal make it hard not to believe, at the least, backroom machinations have been in play.

A Grip on Sports: The recipe for Seattle’s latest defeat against one of the NFL’s better teams included way-too-many ingredients

Mon., Dec. 16, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Want to assign blame for the Seahawks’ disappointing 30-13 loss to the visiting Green Bay Packers on Sunday? There are enough culprits out there, including, believe it or not, the cook in our house.

UC San Diego blasts Idaho in second half of ‘unacceptable’ loss

Sun., Dec. 15, 2024

MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho closes its 2024 home schedule on a monumentally frustrating note.

A Grip on Sports: After a day off, there are varied subjects to look back upon and to anticipate

Sun., Dec. 15, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • Where were we? Oh, ya. Wondering about the Zags. Washington State’s injuries. The Heisman Trophy. A rivalry game in the DMV. In other words, all over the place.

On the air

Sat., Dec. 14, 2024

Sunday’s TV Highlights

Prep roundup: Mt. Spokane’s Jayson Bonnett wins at Tri-State wrestling; North Central boys basketball earns road victory over Southridge

Sat., Dec. 14, 2024

Roundup of Saturday’s high school action from the Greater Spokane League and Eastern Washington.

A Grip on Sports: Can it be true? Can NFL Sundays actually be better when the Hawks are on at night?

Fri., Dec. 13, 2024

A GRIP ON SPORTS • This is not said often enough. NFL Sundays are better when the home team, in our case the Seattle Seahawks, don’t play during the day. That frees us up for seven hours or so of NFL RedZone. Now, if it were just possible – it isn’t – to only move from the Laz-e-Boy when Scott Hanson’s voice disappears off the screen.