Vince Grippi
@vincegrippi55.bsky.social
A former WSU beat writer for The Spokesman-Review, I now cover all Spokane-area sports online with A Grip on Sports. Occasionally have a TV Take.
I'm sure there is a multiverse where the Interweb was never invented and people still line up outside big box stores way too early on Black Friday. That would also mean we wouldn't have as many choices for this weekend's sports viewing. Our Friday column with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: When Black Friday arrived not that long ago, we used to line up to buy gifts and then head home for an unsurpassed weekend of watching college football
A GRIP ON SPORTS • When I crawled out of bed this morning halfway through the 5 a.m. hour, it hit me. There was a period of years when getting up at that time was de rigueur on the day after Thanksgiv...
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November 28, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I'm sure there is a multiverse where the Interweb was never invented and people still line up outside big box stores way too early on Black Friday. That would also mean we wouldn't have as many choices for this weekend's sports viewing. Our Friday column with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
We are in such a thankful mood this morning we are even adding our appreciation we can share our column every day on this platform. Talk about a bigger upset than what happened last night in Las Vegas. Our T-Day column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Is it a cliche to be thankful on this holiday? Of course it is, though it is too important to skip just because it is expected
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The subject matter for this column is always clear the final Thursday of November. Thankfulness. Who am I to break tradition? Bend it, sure. Break it? No way.
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November 27, 2025 at 4:51 PM
We are in such a thankful mood this morning we are even adding our appreciation we can share our column every day on this platform. Talk about a bigger upset than what happened last night in Las Vegas. Our T-Day column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Gonzaga's trip to Las Vegas this week is, like many visits to the city, all about wagering. The Zags are just betting on themselves. They have come up winners. In the financial sense. And in the basketball world. Our column, with lots of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Money has always held sway in college sports, sure, but what the Players Era hoop tourney illustrates now is the athletes are getting a large, and deserved, share
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The shots were falling, inside and out. The bench provided a lift. And now, after two wins in Las Vegas, a chance for – put you right pinky against your lip and use your Dr. Evil vo...
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November 26, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Gonzaga's trip to Las Vegas this week is, like many visits to the city, all about wagering. The Zags are just betting on themselves. They have come up winners. In the financial sense. And in the basketball world. Our column, with lots of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
No one wants to hesitate Thursday when grandma looks directly at you and asks "Well, just what are you thankful for?" We can help. With a couple sports-related themes that will make even mean Uncle Billy nod his head in approval. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: As Thursday's meal prep rolls on, there is one more thing you should prep as well – your sports thankfullness list
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It’s time to begin putting together your list. No, not the Christmas one. That better have been finished – some assembled is always required – weeks ago. Your Thanksgiving list. The...
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November 25, 2025 at 4:21 PM
No one wants to hesitate Thursday when grandma looks directly at you and asks "Well, just what are you thankful for?" We can help. With a couple sports-related themes that will make even mean Uncle Billy nod his head in approval. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
I've never been a big math guy. Kind of scared by it. Dates back to childhood trauma suffered in Sister Andrea's fourth-grade class I think. Anyhow, sports is all about numbers these days. And we've come to accept that. Our Monday column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: It took us years to realize numbers are nothing to fear, even as we still have trouble figuring out our car's gas mileage
A GRIP ON SPORTS • As my boys were growing up, I used to watch Sesame Street with them whenever I could. My least favorite character? The Count. He scared me.
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November 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
I've never been a big math guy. Kind of scared by it. Dates back to childhood trauma suffered in Sister Andrea's fourth-grade class I think. Anyhow, sports is all about numbers these days. And we've come to accept that. Our Monday column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
You know the only time I ever think of horseshoes these days? When I pull out the old "Close only counts in ..." cliche. But this Cougar football season counts for something the won/loss mark doesn't cover. And even there, one more win makes up for a lot of misses. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Despite another close road loss to a ranked team, WSU football still has a chance to reach a lot of goals this season
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Ya, I got pulled back in by the Cougars yesterday. Watched just about every minute of their 24-20 loss at 21st-ranked James Madison. And realized this might be one of the school’s g...
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November 23, 2025 at 5:19 PM
You know the only time I ever think of horseshoes these days? When I pull out the old "Close only counts in ..." cliche. But this Cougar football season counts for something the won/loss mark doesn't cover. And even there, one more win makes up for a lot of misses. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
It may not be the best college football Saturday, but we still have a few games we would love to watch. Why should it be tough to do that? Our advice to the powers that control college sports broadcasts: Keep it simple. Easy. User-friendly. Thanks. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Just a simple man asking for a simple way to spend a Saturday watching a simple game
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Let’s keep it simple, shall we? After all, Cougar fans have a morning date with their football team. And everyone else probably has a full to-do list to finish off before noon.
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November 22, 2025 at 5:00 PM
It may not be the best college football Saturday, but we still have a few games we would love to watch. Why should it be tough to do that? Our advice to the powers that control college sports broadcasts: Keep it simple. Easy. User-friendly. Thanks. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The Cougars will play a traditional football rival at a traditional time Saturday, broadcast by a traditional source. Uh, no. But the wilderness wandering is almost over. Maybe next year new traditions will be hatched. Our Friday column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: As traditions fall this time of year like so many Maple leafs, everyone who wants to just sit back and watch college football can hope it gets better next year
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Remember the days of #Pac12AfterDark? Where fun once flowed freely in the late hours of Saturday nights during football season, realignment put a crimp in the hose. Replaced, it see...
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November 21, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The Cougars will play a traditional football rival at a traditional time Saturday, broadcast by a traditional source. Uh, no. But the wilderness wandering is almost over. Maybe next year new traditions will be hatched. Our Friday column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Want to get the stinky aspects of college athletics out of your TV room? We have just the plug-in for you. The games. Always. They never seem to fail us. Our Thursday column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: We are asking a lot of the best air freshner in the world to overcome the odor underlying college athletics these days but it comes through
A GRIP ON SPORTS • There is a lot of junk involved with college athletics these days. That’s undeniable – and easy to illustrate in just a couple of mouse clicks. But the smell of the refuse has been ...
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November 20, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Want to get the stinky aspects of college athletics out of your TV room? We have just the plug-in for you. The games. Always. They never seem to fail us. Our Thursday column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
There was only one thing this morning that was freezing – and it wasn't our fridge's freezer. That's broken. So was my thought on yesterday's CFP ranking Group of Five pick. Oh, well. Kentucky's men are awful. And 50/50 on such things is good for me. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Not every sports take is a winner, something ESPN showcases every day, but a few times a year everyone posts a W
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Every day brings us good news and bad. Highs and lows. Hot takes and cold assertions. Why should today be any different?
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November 19, 2025 at 5:11 PM
There was only one thing this morning that was freezing – and it wasn't our fridge's freezer. That's broken. So was my thought on yesterday's CFP ranking Group of Five pick. Oh, well. Kentucky's men are awful. And 50/50 on such things is good for me. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
There is a lot going on in the world of sports, locally and nationally. Might as well touch on as many as we can in today's column. And link whatever else we find. We start with the Cougs' football opponent this week and end, sort of, with a conference apologizing. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: James Madison presents the WSU Cougars with multiple challenges – and vice-versa – as the Dukes hope to impress the CFP committee
A GRIP ON SPORTS • A quick spin around the dial on this Tuesday morning? Sure. Why not?
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November 18, 2025 at 4:59 PM
There is a lot going on in the world of sports, locally and nationally. Might as well touch on as many as we can in today's column. And link whatever else we find. We start with the Cougs' football opponent this week and end, sort of, with a conference apologizing. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Yes, a win would have been better. A lot better. But the Seahawks showed again Sunday they have a Super Bowl-capable defense. Now they have to hope their quarterback doesn't melt away. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Handing a win to the Rams wasn't the best thing to do on a Sunday afternoon but it also wasn't a fatal blow to the Seahawks' goals
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Well, at least the defense was good. After a slow start. The Seahawks’ offense, which handed the Rams 14 points in a 21-19 loss? Treasonous might be the right word.
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November 17, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Yes, a win would have been better. A lot better. But the Seahawks showed again Sunday they have a Super Bowl-capable defense. Now they have to hope their quarterback doesn't melt away. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
We are earlier with this today. Still we share the news WSU's win Saturday night puts it one win away from a goal that seemed elusive when their schedule was announced. Two games left, one victory needed to go bowling. It won't be easy but it never is. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: The Cougars move one step closer to a bowl bid, though that last one won't be easy to scale
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Watching a Saturday of college football these days seems designed to highlight the great divide in the sport. On one hand, every game featuring a school with a number before their n...
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November 16, 2025 at 4:38 PM
We are earlier with this today. Still we share the news WSU's win Saturday night puts it one win away from a goal that seemed elusive when their schedule was announced. Two games left, one victory needed to go bowling. It won't be easy but it never is. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The weekend we've been working for is here. Well, it was here last night. And there was enough on the TV to keep us entertained. Not happy in a lot of ways, mind you, but entertained. Our column also looks ahead to today's fun. And it has a lot of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: It was sort of a TV sports watch party last night though everything may not have turned out as you wished
A GRIP ON SPORTS • If it is true that everybody is working for the weekend, and why would Loverboy lie, then work is over. It is the weekend. And all that entails.
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November 15, 2025 at 5:05 PM
The weekend we've been working for is here. Well, it was here last night. And there was enough on the TV to keep us entertained. Not happy in a lot of ways, mind you, but entertained. Our column also looks ahead to today's fun. And it has a lot of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
There wasn't a surprise winner of the A.L. MVP award. Aaron Judge won. That's that. The argument is as dead as Julius Caesar. You know what isn't dead? This week's sports on TV schedule. The best of it? Sunday's showdown in L.A. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: The A.L. MVP news was not surprising, being the numbers weren't in Cal Raleigh's favor even before the voting, but at least it's in the past now
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Cal Raleigh didn’t win the American League Most Valuable Player award Thursday. Not that anyone with a sense of history expected it to happen. At least baseball had the courtesy to ...
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November 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
There wasn't a surprise winner of the A.L. MVP award. Aaron Judge won. That's that. The argument is as dead as Julius Caesar. You know what isn't dead? This week's sports on TV schedule. The best of it? Sunday's showdown in L.A. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Washington State is changing. From the top down. And the person who is making those changes decided there was a need to make a change at the top of the athletic department. Will it make a difference, long-term? Sure. But probably not the way intended. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: WSU's new president decides to change the athletic department's direction by firing the school's most-loyal employee Anne McCoy
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It took me years to realize Pete Townshend lied to everyone. The new boss is not the same as the old boss. Not always. And sometimes the new boss is actually a lot worse.
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November 13, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Washington State is changing. From the top down. And the person who is making those changes decided there was a need to make a change at the top of the athletic department. Will it make a difference, long-term? Sure. But probably not the way intended. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
There was a second-half stretch last night in which Gonzaga outscored Creighton 21-0. You know, the team Big East coaches feel will finish third this season. What does the early season performance mean for GU? We look at that in our column. And add links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Gonzaga shined bright Tuesday night but were practically luminescent on defense in the second half
A GRIP ON SPORTS • The Northern Lights were in full glory last night. Even visible in Spokane. Just not in the way one might think.
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November 12, 2025 at 5:13 PM
There was a second-half stretch last night in which Gonzaga outscored Creighton 21-0. You know, the team Big East coaches feel will finish third this season. What does the early season performance mean for GU? We look at that in our column. And add links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
There are some holidays that can pass by without any sort of pause. Today's shouldn't be one of them. So we don't. And we also don't skip on our daily sports thoughts either. Or links to stories. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Yes, we stick to the title today, though we roam a bit farther afield due to the holiday that falls on this Tuesday
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Holidays come in all shapes and size. In different days. Celebrated different ways. There is one today that often flies under the radar. Honoring folks who actually did fly under th...
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November 11, 2025 at 5:23 PM
There are some holidays that can pass by without any sort of pause. Today's shouldn't be one of them. So we don't. And we also don't skip on our daily sports thoughts either. Or links to stories. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Accusing someone of "Monday morning quarterbacking" is a display of contempt, isn't it? Second guessing. Unwanted criticism. Or, in our case today, praise of Sam Darnold and his play. Sure, we mention the turnovers. Not good. The column's links are though. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: It's Monday and we look at the Seahawks' quarterback, but it isn't the typical Monday morning second-guessing
A GRIP ON SPORTS • It is Monday, after all. Time for Monday morning quarterbacking. Or it wouldn’t bear that disparaged designation. Today, however, is different. Who wouldn’t want to be Sam Darnold r...
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November 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Accusing someone of "Monday morning quarterbacking" is a display of contempt, isn't it? Second guessing. Unwanted criticism. Or, in our case today, praise of Sam Darnold and his play. Sure, we mention the turnovers. Not good. The column's links are though. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
November weather outdoors can be dicey, especially in the Midwest. As can football results. But the weather in the Arena last night was quite warm. For Oklahoma. We cover that and look ahead to the Hawks in our Sunday column. With links, of course. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: A few things that happened Saturday had us all in with spending time in front of the TV, though the Seahawks' recent injuries could make today tougher
A GRIP ON SPORTS • A Saturday in November featuring college football games that seemed as if they should have been broadcast in black and white? All in with that. A Gonzaga men’s team that looks capab...
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November 9, 2025 at 4:59 PM
November weather outdoors can be dicey, especially in the Midwest. As can football results. But the weather in the Arena last night was quite warm. For Oklahoma. We cover that and look ahead to the Hawks in our Sunday column. With links, of course. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
We have some extra time today thanks to WSU's football taking the day off. How will we fill it? We have some ideas but, honestly, we're afraid autumn-fueled chores will end up eating away at just about every minute. Darn it. Our bye-week column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: There is a few extra hours on our schedule today, which we will use to rake leaves – or watch football – as fall always demands
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Most college football Saturdays in this household are built around one thing. The Washington State football game. Mainly because one member of the clan – me – is often paid to watch...
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November 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
We have some extra time today thanks to WSU's football taking the day off. How will we fill it? We have some ideas but, honestly, we're afraid autumn-fueled chores will end up eating away at just about every minute. Darn it. Our bye-week column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The best way to start a weekend? Rested. But sometimes that is impossible due to work or school. Or a rainstorm. How's that? Last night's downpour here in Spokane terrified the dog. And kept us up until the wee hours. Our column is still ready though. And has links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Raindrops falling like pebbles on the roof last night meant today's schedule was disrupted long before the sun came up
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Apocalyptic rain pounded the homestead late – and I mean just before midnight – last night. It rained so hard for so long I worried for our home’s infrastructure. But not as much, i...
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November 7, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The best way to start a weekend? Rested. But sometimes that is impossible due to work or school. Or a rainstorm. How's that? Last night's downpour here in Spokane terrified the dog. And kept us up until the wee hours. Our column is still ready though. And has links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A coffee-fueled column? Yes sir. Funny thing, though. Never started drinking the beverage until I retired from the day-to-day grind. And began making bad puns. We have a few of those today plus a lot of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Does reading this column make your heart race? Probably not, but I found a way writing it could do that
A GRIP ON SPORTS • One thing about the cold, rainy nights that have hit Spokane as of late. It’s easier to get to sleep early and harder to wake up on time. In a possibly related note, the coffee disa...
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November 6, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A coffee-fueled column? Yes sir. Funny thing, though. Never started drinking the beverage until I retired from the day-to-day grind. And began making bad puns. We have a few of those today plus a lot of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
We decided to play a word game today. Not Wordle or one of the cheap knockoffs. A game that begins with a phrase that is dripping with nostalgia. And miss-remembering. "It used to be ..." Our Wednesday column, with links. If I remembered the day right. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: We can't say sports used to be better but we are sure all of them used to be different – and a lot cheaper
A GRIP ON SPORTS • There are a lot of sentences once can start with “It used to be …” A prime example? My dad and the price of candy bars when he was a kid. For the record, he said they were a nickel....
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November 5, 2025 at 5:03 PM
We decided to play a word game today. Not Wordle or one of the cheap knockoffs. A game that begins with a phrase that is dripping with nostalgia. And miss-remembering. "It used to be ..." Our Wednesday column, with links. If I remembered the day right. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
I wish I had more time last night to watch college basketball, even if the top matchups were minimal. The most important thing, though? College basketball is back. And we can write about it. Our Tuesday column, with lots of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: With only minimal competition, college basketball opened its season with some grand performances on grand stages
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Thank you College Football Playoff selection committee. And, to a smaller degree, the folks in New York who put together the NFL schedule. You basically left Monday night to college...
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November 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I wish I had more time last night to watch college basketball, even if the top matchups were minimal. The most important thing, though? College basketball is back. And we can write about it. Our Tuesday column, with lots of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...