Mariners Make the Splash They Needed, Sign Cano Dec. 6, 2013
10 years, 240 million dollars is a lot of money.
Make no mistake about it, the contract the Seattle Mariners just handed Robinson Cano is likely to be an albatross by the time it ends. Ten years puts the free agent slugger at 41-years old by the time the contract expires.
Now make no mistake about this: The Mariners had to make this move.
What was once a proud baseball town has wilted away and shifted its allegiance to football and soccer. Attendance at Safeco Field has plummeted from 3.4 million in 2002 to 1.7 million last season. Failed attempts at free agent signings, inept management/ownership and flat-out bad baseball have destroyed a fan base that in recent years has become a punching bag for jokes.
Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and countless other free agents have all spurned the Mariners in recent years despite big-time offers. Justin Upton was so disillusioned about playing for the Mariners that he invoked his no-trade clause to Seattle during the 2012 offseason.
The Mariners had to make a move – and now they have.
If the Mariners were inevitably going to throw a truckload of money at a free agent in order to make a statement, at least they did it with a superstar. In the past four seasons, Cano has averaged 6.35 wins above replacement (WAR), making him one of the best players in the game. If sabermetrics aren’t your thing, consider this: during that same span, he’s averaged a .312 batting average, 98 runs scored, 107 RBIs and 28 home runs per season. Tell me you wouldn’t take production close to that over the next several years? Not to mention, Cano has been as reliable as they come, having not played fewer than 159 games in any season since 2006.
By all accounts, this is just the beginning for the Mariners. Every plugged-in baseball reporter out there believes Cano was just the groundwork for all the other moves the Mariners will make this winter. But Cano was the big fish; the Mariners had to get him in to make them a more attractive option to others.
General Manager Jack Zduriencik knew coming into the offseason that he was on the hot seat. He had to make this team significantly better or he would likely be out of a job come this time next year. He almost certainly won’t stop with just one big splash. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but it remains to be seen if that desperation will lead to franchise-crippling moves.
Expect the Mariners to augment their roster between now and Spring Training. Plenty of viable free agent options exist and the Mariners have the trade chips to make other big moves. Nick Franklin is the most likely player to be traded now that his spot is occupied by the best second baseman in baseball. Top prospect Taijuan Walker is the team’s most tradable asset, though any deal involving the potential star pitcher will surely be difficult to stomach. David Price remains an option should Seattle decide to unload some of those top prospects, as do Matt Kemp, Billy Butler and others.
Cano’s signing with the Mariners was as much, or more, about restoring credibility. By signing the winter’s top free agent, the Mariners have finally restored that credibility to their own city, not to mention the rest of baseball.
The Mariners knew they had to do something drastic.
They did. And it appears to be just the beginning.
Buckle up, Mariners fans.
Make no mistake about it, the contract the Seattle Mariners just handed Robinson Cano is likely to be an albatross by the time it ends. Ten years puts the free agent slugger at 41-years old by the time the contract expires.
Now make no mistake about this: The Mariners had to make this move.
What was once a proud baseball town has wilted away and shifted its allegiance to football and soccer. Attendance at Safeco Field has plummeted from 3.4 million in 2002 to 1.7 million last season. Failed attempts at free agent signings, inept management/ownership and flat-out bad baseball have destroyed a fan base that in recent years has become a punching bag for jokes.
Prince Fielder, Albert Pujols, Josh Hamilton and countless other free agents have all spurned the Mariners in recent years despite big-time offers. Justin Upton was so disillusioned about playing for the Mariners that he invoked his no-trade clause to Seattle during the 2012 offseason.
The Mariners had to make a move – and now they have.
If the Mariners were inevitably going to throw a truckload of money at a free agent in order to make a statement, at least they did it with a superstar. In the past four seasons, Cano has averaged 6.35 wins above replacement (WAR), making him one of the best players in the game. If sabermetrics aren’t your thing, consider this: during that same span, he’s averaged a .312 batting average, 98 runs scored, 107 RBIs and 28 home runs per season. Tell me you wouldn’t take production close to that over the next several years? Not to mention, Cano has been as reliable as they come, having not played fewer than 159 games in any season since 2006.
By all accounts, this is just the beginning for the Mariners. Every plugged-in baseball reporter out there believes Cano was just the groundwork for all the other moves the Mariners will make this winter. But Cano was the big fish; the Mariners had to get him in to make them a more attractive option to others.
General Manager Jack Zduriencik knew coming into the offseason that he was on the hot seat. He had to make this team significantly better or he would likely be out of a job come this time next year. He almost certainly won’t stop with just one big splash. Desperate times call for desperate measures, but it remains to be seen if that desperation will lead to franchise-crippling moves.
Expect the Mariners to augment their roster between now and Spring Training. Plenty of viable free agent options exist and the Mariners have the trade chips to make other big moves. Nick Franklin is the most likely player to be traded now that his spot is occupied by the best second baseman in baseball. Top prospect Taijuan Walker is the team’s most tradable asset, though any deal involving the potential star pitcher will surely be difficult to stomach. David Price remains an option should Seattle decide to unload some of those top prospects, as do Matt Kemp, Billy Butler and others.
Cano’s signing with the Mariners was as much, or more, about restoring credibility. By signing the winter’s top free agent, the Mariners have finally restored that credibility to their own city, not to mention the rest of baseball.
The Mariners knew they had to do something drastic.
They did. And it appears to be just the beginning.
Buckle up, Mariners fans.
Patience is a virtue Nov. 19, 2012
I know the last thing Cougar fans want to hear when talking about one of their struggling teams is the need for patience. But when it comes to this year's version of the hoops team, that's exactly what I'm requesting out of you.
Was the loss to Pepperdine on Friday a bad loss? Yeah, it was. I don't think anyone will argue that it wasn't.
But let's take a minute and consider the composition of this team to gain some perspective.
There are only ten scholarship players eligible to play this season. Of those ten:
- One (Will DiIorio) is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship.
- One (Royce Woolridge) is a redshirt sophomore who hasn't played hardly any game action since his senior year in high school.
-Three (Brett Boese, Junior Longrus and James Hunter) are either freshmen or in their first season of D-I ball.
Then there are four (Dominic Ballard, Keaton Hayenga, Bryce Leavittand George Hill) current walk-ons who, coming into the season, have zero total minutes of college basketball experience.
That doesn't even take into account that of the five remaining eligible scholarship players:
- One (DaVonte Lacy) is a true sophomore.
- One (Dexter Kernich-Drew) is a redshirt sophomore -- and he didn't play much last year.
- One (D.J. Shelton) is a redshirt junior in just his second year with the program.
- One (Mike Ladd) is a redshirt senior, but in just his second year of being eligible for the Cougs and whose development last season was significantly hindered by a nagging thumb injury.
And heck, just to finish it off, the last scholarship player is Brock Motum, who despite being an all-around baller, is really just starting his second season of playing a significant role.
So there you go, the entire roster of eligible players for this season. None of the 14 have played substantial game minutes in more than one season to date.
Now remember, we're just three games into a season that began with the team's starting point guard and one of its most talented players being kicked off a month before the season started. In other words, the player the coaching staff was counting on throughout the offseason to run the offense and bring experience to the team is no longer an option.
Additionally, many of you may not be aware of how long it actually takes to install your team's full offense every season. I have been around veteran teams (see: the Sweet 16 team of 2007-08) with nearly every member of the team returning who still don't have their entire playbook built in until midseason. So imagine how hard it is for Ken Bone to do so with a team consisting of so many inexperienced players. (Related: if you believe a freshman should be playing more minutes than they are, there's a good chance it's because they aren't fully grasping the offense or defense yet. Trust me, the coaches understand when a player is ready to contribute a lot better than you do. I've seen it in person the past five years.)
Let's be realistic about this team: given all that I've laid out above, there's no doubt this season will be full of ups and downs. If you expect anything different, you're being unfair.
The one thing you can and should expect to see in every game from this team is the effort and energy with which they play. Knowing the guys on the team, I am positive we'll see that effort night in and night out. And because of that, I'm confident this team will overachieve in some games that in the past they may not have.
But this is a team that still has its limitations -- namely a lack of depth and inexperience. And that reared its ugly head against the Waves, when Motum was very clearly under the weather. But that shouldn't lead you to the conclusion that "this team sucks." It's one game, guys. You know how many teams have bad games? Almost all of them.
This is a team I fully expect to continue to grow as the season progresses. It's a group that has hardly played together and is still learning each other's tendencies and developing chemistry. They may not be (or who knows, maybe they'll surprise and they will be) an NCAA Tournament-caliber team this season, but give them some time to improve before you bash them (although really, why are you bashing them anyways? This is a program that hasn't had a losing season since 2005-06). And remember, there is a whole lot of talent sitting on the bench that will be available next season.
I know there are plenty of you out there who aren't on the Coach Bone bandwagon and will probably jump down my throat claiming the roster construction is his fault. For one, I don't agree with you. I've seen him coach these players on a daily basis the past three years, and I truly believe he is an excellent coach. As for the roster management, well, when you stop to consider that of the seven would-be seniors last year from Coach Bennett's 2008 recruiting class, only one (Marcus Capers) made it through his four years, I think it's easy to see how this team is so young and inexperienced. With the coaching change, attrition has taken its toll on this program, but that's a problem that should be nearing the end.
You don't have to agree with me --and I know many of you won't -- but how about giving this team some time before we completely write them off? We can be realistic without being pessimistic. And I firmly believe the future is bright for this program. Hopefully that future begins to shine through as the season develops.
Given everything we've gone through as Cougar fans, patience seems like a cruel request. But with this team, patience is a virtue. It's also a necessity.
Was the loss to Pepperdine on Friday a bad loss? Yeah, it was. I don't think anyone will argue that it wasn't.
But let's take a minute and consider the composition of this team to gain some perspective.
There are only ten scholarship players eligible to play this season. Of those ten:
- One (Will DiIorio) is a former walk-on who earned a scholarship.
- One (Royce Woolridge) is a redshirt sophomore who hasn't played hardly any game action since his senior year in high school.
-Three (Brett Boese, Junior Longrus and James Hunter) are either freshmen or in their first season of D-I ball.
Then there are four (Dominic Ballard, Keaton Hayenga, Bryce Leavittand George Hill) current walk-ons who, coming into the season, have zero total minutes of college basketball experience.
That doesn't even take into account that of the five remaining eligible scholarship players:
- One (DaVonte Lacy) is a true sophomore.
- One (Dexter Kernich-Drew) is a redshirt sophomore -- and he didn't play much last year.
- One (D.J. Shelton) is a redshirt junior in just his second year with the program.
- One (Mike Ladd) is a redshirt senior, but in just his second year of being eligible for the Cougs and whose development last season was significantly hindered by a nagging thumb injury.
And heck, just to finish it off, the last scholarship player is Brock Motum, who despite being an all-around baller, is really just starting his second season of playing a significant role.
So there you go, the entire roster of eligible players for this season. None of the 14 have played substantial game minutes in more than one season to date.
Now remember, we're just three games into a season that began with the team's starting point guard and one of its most talented players being kicked off a month before the season started. In other words, the player the coaching staff was counting on throughout the offseason to run the offense and bring experience to the team is no longer an option.
Additionally, many of you may not be aware of how long it actually takes to install your team's full offense every season. I have been around veteran teams (see: the Sweet 16 team of 2007-08) with nearly every member of the team returning who still don't have their entire playbook built in until midseason. So imagine how hard it is for Ken Bone to do so with a team consisting of so many inexperienced players. (Related: if you believe a freshman should be playing more minutes than they are, there's a good chance it's because they aren't fully grasping the offense or defense yet. Trust me, the coaches understand when a player is ready to contribute a lot better than you do. I've seen it in person the past five years.)
Let's be realistic about this team: given all that I've laid out above, there's no doubt this season will be full of ups and downs. If you expect anything different, you're being unfair.
The one thing you can and should expect to see in every game from this team is the effort and energy with which they play. Knowing the guys on the team, I am positive we'll see that effort night in and night out. And because of that, I'm confident this team will overachieve in some games that in the past they may not have.
But this is a team that still has its limitations -- namely a lack of depth and inexperience. And that reared its ugly head against the Waves, when Motum was very clearly under the weather. But that shouldn't lead you to the conclusion that "this team sucks." It's one game, guys. You know how many teams have bad games? Almost all of them.
This is a team I fully expect to continue to grow as the season progresses. It's a group that has hardly played together and is still learning each other's tendencies and developing chemistry. They may not be (or who knows, maybe they'll surprise and they will be) an NCAA Tournament-caliber team this season, but give them some time to improve before you bash them (although really, why are you bashing them anyways? This is a program that hasn't had a losing season since 2005-06). And remember, there is a whole lot of talent sitting on the bench that will be available next season.
I know there are plenty of you out there who aren't on the Coach Bone bandwagon and will probably jump down my throat claiming the roster construction is his fault. For one, I don't agree with you. I've seen him coach these players on a daily basis the past three years, and I truly believe he is an excellent coach. As for the roster management, well, when you stop to consider that of the seven would-be seniors last year from Coach Bennett's 2008 recruiting class, only one (Marcus Capers) made it through his four years, I think it's easy to see how this team is so young and inexperienced. With the coaching change, attrition has taken its toll on this program, but that's a problem that should be nearing the end.
You don't have to agree with me --and I know many of you won't -- but how about giving this team some time before we completely write them off? We can be realistic without being pessimistic. And I firmly believe the future is bright for this program. Hopefully that future begins to shine through as the season develops.
Given everything we've gone through as Cougar fans, patience seems like a cruel request. But with this team, patience is a virtue. It's also a necessity.
How CougCenter Changed My Life July 9, 2012
Note: The following article is one I wrote for the website cougcenter.com. To see other articles I've written for the site, check out the links tab above.
You wouldn’t think a blog could make any sort of significant difference in one reader’s life. After all, how could a group of authors living in their moms’ basements possibly play an instrumental role in anything? Even as the internet-scouring, blog-loving fanatic I am, the idea of one altering the course of my life was just flat-out silly.
But that’s exactly what happened. Cougcenter changed the course of my life. That isn’t hyperbole, it’s fact.
Flash back nearly five months. Senior day was fast approaching as I prepared to partake in my last regular season game as a member of the WSU men’s basketball support staff — I was the equipment manager for those who are unaware. That was when Brian—who has always been way too good to me despite us never having officially met in person—wrote a much-too-kind Senior Day tribute to me. A rather quiet and unassuming kid, the attention was a bit embarrassing for me, though I appreciated all the support from everyone who commented on the article.
And then something happened that elucidated the impact a small act of kindness can make in one’s life. A girl who worked at the Pac-12 (and whom I had never met) messaged me on Twitter. She noted she read the story on Cougcenter and thought it was inspiring. Just a few weeks later, I was fortunate enough to meet this girl in person at the Pac-12 Tournament down in Los Angeles.
Well, one thing led to another and it turned into a friendship. The girl was a shoe-in to be hired by the Pac-12 Network upon its inception, and once she knew who to talk to she spent seemingly every waking moment passing my resume around the Walnut Creek offices in hopes of helping me attain a job. As a broadcasting major and aspiring sports broadcaster, it truly is about who you know in this dog-eat-dog industry, and I was honored and thrilled to have her working on my behalf.
Somewhere around early June she was informed by some of the big wigs down at the Pac-12 Network that there would only be four production assistant positions open out of the 450+ applicants. Still, that did not stop her persistence in championing for me. Knowing I would be willing to work in a variety of roles to get my foot in the door, she kept pushing my resume to people in a wide array of departments.
Finally, last week all her—and I’d like to think at least a little of my own— hard work paid off for me. I received a call from the head of the Digital Network asking if I would be interested in a site coverage editor role with the Digital side. Video editing, photo cropping, headline writing- they were all aspects of the job. While it was only 20 hours per week, the interviewer informed me they were interested in me for a joint role in which I would split time between the television/broadcast production side and the aforementioned job with the Digital Network, bringing the hours to a full-time job.
As of just minutes ago, I officially accepted the position with the Pac-12 Network. My first real post-collegiate job takes me to San Francisco—and as someone who has lived in Washington my whole life, that’s a pretty big deal. And more importantly, there will be at least one Coug representing the nation’s best college down with the conference’s new network.
But the point of my testimony is not to draw attention to myself. Instead it’s to show just how major of an impact something as simple as a blog can have on somebody. Moreover, it’s my chance to say “thank you” to the best blog community in collegiate athletics. To Brian and Jeff, both of whom I’ve befriended thanks to the power of Twitter, I appreciate all the two of you have done for me over the past couple of years. And to the rest of you: thanks for helping draw attention to me and my goals. How an easily embarrassed and (at least formerly) introverted student equipment manager can become the subject of a Cougars All-Access feature and Cougcenter and Spokesman-Review articles, I still have no idea. But for everything you all have done for me, thanks. Cougcenter gave me a perfect assist to help get my career rolling.
You wouldn’t think a blog could make any sort of significant difference in one reader’s life. After all, how could a group of authors living in their moms’ basements possibly play an instrumental role in anything? Even as the internet-scouring, blog-loving fanatic I am, the idea of one altering the course of my life was just flat-out silly.
But that’s exactly what happened. Cougcenter changed the course of my life. That isn’t hyperbole, it’s fact.
Flash back nearly five months. Senior day was fast approaching as I prepared to partake in my last regular season game as a member of the WSU men’s basketball support staff — I was the equipment manager for those who are unaware. That was when Brian—who has always been way too good to me despite us never having officially met in person—wrote a much-too-kind Senior Day tribute to me. A rather quiet and unassuming kid, the attention was a bit embarrassing for me, though I appreciated all the support from everyone who commented on the article.
And then something happened that elucidated the impact a small act of kindness can make in one’s life. A girl who worked at the Pac-12 (and whom I had never met) messaged me on Twitter. She noted she read the story on Cougcenter and thought it was inspiring. Just a few weeks later, I was fortunate enough to meet this girl in person at the Pac-12 Tournament down in Los Angeles.
Well, one thing led to another and it turned into a friendship. The girl was a shoe-in to be hired by the Pac-12 Network upon its inception, and once she knew who to talk to she spent seemingly every waking moment passing my resume around the Walnut Creek offices in hopes of helping me attain a job. As a broadcasting major and aspiring sports broadcaster, it truly is about who you know in this dog-eat-dog industry, and I was honored and thrilled to have her working on my behalf.
Somewhere around early June she was informed by some of the big wigs down at the Pac-12 Network that there would only be four production assistant positions open out of the 450+ applicants. Still, that did not stop her persistence in championing for me. Knowing I would be willing to work in a variety of roles to get my foot in the door, she kept pushing my resume to people in a wide array of departments.
Finally, last week all her—and I’d like to think at least a little of my own— hard work paid off for me. I received a call from the head of the Digital Network asking if I would be interested in a site coverage editor role with the Digital side. Video editing, photo cropping, headline writing- they were all aspects of the job. While it was only 20 hours per week, the interviewer informed me they were interested in me for a joint role in which I would split time between the television/broadcast production side and the aforementioned job with the Digital Network, bringing the hours to a full-time job.
As of just minutes ago, I officially accepted the position with the Pac-12 Network. My first real post-collegiate job takes me to San Francisco—and as someone who has lived in Washington my whole life, that’s a pretty big deal. And more importantly, there will be at least one Coug representing the nation’s best college down with the conference’s new network.
But the point of my testimony is not to draw attention to myself. Instead it’s to show just how major of an impact something as simple as a blog can have on somebody. Moreover, it’s my chance to say “thank you” to the best blog community in collegiate athletics. To Brian and Jeff, both of whom I’ve befriended thanks to the power of Twitter, I appreciate all the two of you have done for me over the past couple of years. And to the rest of you: thanks for helping draw attention to me and my goals. How an easily embarrassed and (at least formerly) introverted student equipment manager can become the subject of a Cougars All-Access feature and Cougcenter and Spokesman-Review articles, I still have no idea. But for everything you all have done for me, thanks. Cougcenter gave me a perfect assist to help get my career rolling.
Honors College Thesis
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For Johnson Jordan, it's all about perspective Oct. 13, 2011
A collegiate national champion, an Olympic qualifier, a world champion and the daughter of a gold medalist: with those credentials peppering a résumé it would be easy to sacrifice perspective and humility. But despite all of her achievements, professional beach volleyball and former UCLA volleyball player Jenny Johnson Jordan understands all of her athletic accomplishments fit into just one aspect of her life.
The daughter of two-time Olympic decathlon medalist Rafer Johnson, Johnson Jordan, 38, learned humility at a young age. She credits her father’s lead-by-example demeanor for instilling a sense of humbleness in her achievements.
“I learned from him at an early age to be humble and appreciative for whatever blessings you have in your life,” Johnson Jordan said.
Given all of his international success, remaining levelheaded is easier said than done. Johnson, also a standout at UCLA, won a silver medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and a gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But Johnson Jordan said her father never displayed his medals or trophies. Instead, he decorated the walls of their house with his children’s awards. All this, Johnson Jordan said, contributed to teaching the life-lesson that actions speak louder than words.
“One thing I really appreciate about him is his humility with what he accomplished,” Johnson Jordan said. “And I think of any lesson that is really the biggest thing he taught me, without ever really having to say anything, which I feel is more powerful.”
Johnson Jordan carries these values with her throughout both her professional and personal lives. While she still plays beach volleyball professionally, Johnson Jordan asserts her children- she has a daughter, Jaylen (9), and a son, Kory (6)- help her maintain focus on the relative importance of sports.
“I know that having kids helped even my perspective about sports and its place in my life,” Johnson Jordan said. “You know, I could have a terrible tournament, a terrible match, but as soon as I go home and rush off the court and see my kids, it puts things in perspective pretty quickly.”
Perspective is not the only alteration in her life a result of having children. Johnson Jordan has also had to readjust how she allocated her time.
“My time training on my sport had to be more concentrated and more focused (after having children),” she said. “I think what I would normally get done in three or four hours I was then getting done in two hours. I’m just making better use of my time.
But while motherhood allows Johnson Jordan to keep perspective on volleyball, volleyball reciprocates the favor on motherhood.
“I think in every area of our lives, at least in my life, you have some kind of goal. You’re setting goals, you want to attain certain things in certain areas of your life. I have certain goals and desires and aspirations for my kids and my family life.
“I also know that getting to whatever ultimate goal requires smaller more attainable goals to get to that final goal and I think that in having a family and raising kids and being married, it’s very similar in that way,” Johnson Jordan said. “You have your daily goals and desires and then you have overall what you’re trying to achieve, and I think that’s something volleyball has definitely helped me with in those areas.”
Along with family, Johnson Jordan remains grounded largely thanks to her strong faith. In May 2010, she was inducted into the Athletes in Action Hall of Faith. The award honors those in the athletic community who “best exemplify outstanding character, integrity, and faith -- whether on the field of competition, in the home, or in the community.” And with fellow inductees such as John Wooden, it is an honor she certainly does not take lightly.
“Being inducted in to the Hall of Faith, for me, obviously had something to do with my athletic career, but I think it had more to do with my faith and how I bring my faith and sport together,” she said. “Being a fellow Bruin, for me, John Wooden has always been somebody I look up to and admire. He was definitely somebody that whenever I can be included in his company in any way, it’s an honor.”
Even with that elite company, the induction humbles Johnson Jordan rather than inflate her ego.
[Athletes in Action] helped me to not be so high strung, but I think that having that perspective with my faith helped me to get a better balance on the perspective of athletics in my life,” she said. “I really started to see it even more so as a gift to be able to do what I’ve been able to do with volleyball.”
With as focused and grounded as she is, Johnson Jordan’s athletic achievements often go understated. But that is not to say she does not take pride in what she has accomplished.
As a student-athlete at UCLA, Johnson Jordan played on the 1991 national championship team. She said the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the country helped her reach her full potential.
It was also at UCLA where Johnson Jordan picked up the game of beach volleyball. Despite growing up near the beach in Sherman Oaks, Calif., she said she never had any desire to learn the game. But once she got to UCLA, she said the other players encouraged her to start and helped her realize she could parlay it into a playing career after graduation.
That playing career has now spanned 15 years and several continents alongside partner Annett Davis. The pair has won several tournaments and even qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they placed fifth. Despite not medaling, the Sydney Games fulfilled a dream come true for Johnson Jordan.
“From a very young age, I always wanted to go to the Olympics, I just never really had an idea of how I would get there,” she said. “But I think overall it was definitely one of the highlights of my career.”
In a career full of impressive feats, Johnson Jordan said it is not easy to separate one specific highlight as being the best.
“I think at different times of my life, different moments were significant for different reasons,” she said.
But to Johnson Jordan, it is all about keeping perspective. Because in the grand scheme of things, she said, all of those athletic highlights comprise just a small place atop her life mantle.
The daughter of two-time Olympic decathlon medalist Rafer Johnson, Johnson Jordan, 38, learned humility at a young age. She credits her father’s lead-by-example demeanor for instilling a sense of humbleness in her achievements.
“I learned from him at an early age to be humble and appreciative for whatever blessings you have in your life,” Johnson Jordan said.
Given all of his international success, remaining levelheaded is easier said than done. Johnson, also a standout at UCLA, won a silver medal in the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and a gold medal in the 1960 Rome Olympics. But Johnson Jordan said her father never displayed his medals or trophies. Instead, he decorated the walls of their house with his children’s awards. All this, Johnson Jordan said, contributed to teaching the life-lesson that actions speak louder than words.
“One thing I really appreciate about him is his humility with what he accomplished,” Johnson Jordan said. “And I think of any lesson that is really the biggest thing he taught me, without ever really having to say anything, which I feel is more powerful.”
Johnson Jordan carries these values with her throughout both her professional and personal lives. While she still plays beach volleyball professionally, Johnson Jordan asserts her children- she has a daughter, Jaylen (9), and a son, Kory (6)- help her maintain focus on the relative importance of sports.
“I know that having kids helped even my perspective about sports and its place in my life,” Johnson Jordan said. “You know, I could have a terrible tournament, a terrible match, but as soon as I go home and rush off the court and see my kids, it puts things in perspective pretty quickly.”
Perspective is not the only alteration in her life a result of having children. Johnson Jordan has also had to readjust how she allocated her time.
“My time training on my sport had to be more concentrated and more focused (after having children),” she said. “I think what I would normally get done in three or four hours I was then getting done in two hours. I’m just making better use of my time.
But while motherhood allows Johnson Jordan to keep perspective on volleyball, volleyball reciprocates the favor on motherhood.
“I think in every area of our lives, at least in my life, you have some kind of goal. You’re setting goals, you want to attain certain things in certain areas of your life. I have certain goals and desires and aspirations for my kids and my family life.
“I also know that getting to whatever ultimate goal requires smaller more attainable goals to get to that final goal and I think that in having a family and raising kids and being married, it’s very similar in that way,” Johnson Jordan said. “You have your daily goals and desires and then you have overall what you’re trying to achieve, and I think that’s something volleyball has definitely helped me with in those areas.”
Along with family, Johnson Jordan remains grounded largely thanks to her strong faith. In May 2010, she was inducted into the Athletes in Action Hall of Faith. The award honors those in the athletic community who “best exemplify outstanding character, integrity, and faith -- whether on the field of competition, in the home, or in the community.” And with fellow inductees such as John Wooden, it is an honor she certainly does not take lightly.
“Being inducted in to the Hall of Faith, for me, obviously had something to do with my athletic career, but I think it had more to do with my faith and how I bring my faith and sport together,” she said. “Being a fellow Bruin, for me, John Wooden has always been somebody I look up to and admire. He was definitely somebody that whenever I can be included in his company in any way, it’s an honor.”
Even with that elite company, the induction humbles Johnson Jordan rather than inflate her ego.
[Athletes in Action] helped me to not be so high strung, but I think that having that perspective with my faith helped me to get a better balance on the perspective of athletics in my life,” she said. “I really started to see it even more so as a gift to be able to do what I’ve been able to do with volleyball.”
With as focused and grounded as she is, Johnson Jordan’s athletic achievements often go understated. But that is not to say she does not take pride in what she has accomplished.
As a student-athlete at UCLA, Johnson Jordan played on the 1991 national championship team. She said the opportunity to play with and against the best players in the country helped her reach her full potential.
It was also at UCLA where Johnson Jordan picked up the game of beach volleyball. Despite growing up near the beach in Sherman Oaks, Calif., she said she never had any desire to learn the game. But once she got to UCLA, she said the other players encouraged her to start and helped her realize she could parlay it into a playing career after graduation.
That playing career has now spanned 15 years and several continents alongside partner Annett Davis. The pair has won several tournaments and even qualified for the 2000 Sydney Olympics, where they placed fifth. Despite not medaling, the Sydney Games fulfilled a dream come true for Johnson Jordan.
“From a very young age, I always wanted to go to the Olympics, I just never really had an idea of how I would get there,” she said. “But I think overall it was definitely one of the highlights of my career.”
In a career full of impressive feats, Johnson Jordan said it is not easy to separate one specific highlight as being the best.
“I think at different times of my life, different moments were significant for different reasons,” she said.
But to Johnson Jordan, it is all about keeping perspective. Because in the grand scheme of things, she said, all of those athletic highlights comprise just a small place atop her life mantle.
Washington State Looks to Ganzer For Continuity and Leadership Aug. 23, 2011
*This is the first feature I wrote for the Pac-12 website as part of their freelance student writing program.
When Washington State University women’s volleyball opens its season Friday against Santa Clara in the Seattle University Invitational, this year’s team will sport changes aplenty.
A new head coach and coaching staff, freshly redesigned uniforms and a clean slate in the win-loss column all promise to be readily apparent. But perhaps the most noticeable change for the 2011 Cougars is the eleven newcomers the team welcomes into the fold. A mere four of the five returning players on the WSU roster have ever dawned the crimson and gray during live action.
Yet, despite all the turnover, one constant remains: senior outside hitter Meagan Ganzer.
New head coach Jen Greeny expects Ganzer’s experience to be a critical asset for the youthful Cougars.
“Meagan Ganzer has a very important role on the team with her three years of Pac-10 experience,” Greeny said. “That’s very important with so many newcomers.”
The team’s lone senior, Ganzer understands her role is as much about providing leadership for her inexperienced teammates as it is about producing on the court.
“I’ve always been more of the ‘you get what you give’ [type] as far as respecting my teammates [and how] I motivate them and they motivate me,” Ganzer said. “But I’ve always been more of a lead by example kind of player. I like to do more than I say, so I think just showing them how things are done and how to go about practice has been really great.”
Serving in a leadership role is nothing new for the Black Diamond, Wash. native. If service is the essence of leadership, Ganzer began cultivating the craft years ago.
As a student at Tahoma High School in Maple Valley, Wash., Ganzer enrolled in a leadership class because of her passion for involvement. The course helped her foster an understanding of what it takes and what it means to lead.
“It’s just given me good people skills as far as interacting and what gets people going and excited, and how do people operate,” she said.
Those skills were not lost on Ganzer during her transition to college life. Rather, they set the foundation for what has evolved into a vital role for the Cougars.
But, if her class in high school was the foundation for Ganzer’s leadership abilities, her experiences and involvement at WSU serve as the wall framing. Over the course of her time in Pullman, Ganzer has repeatedly immersed herself in the leadership pool in various projects.
Ganzer is one of just four student-athletes on the executive board for WSU’s branch of the Student Athletic Advisor Committee (S.A.A.C), with her serving as the treasurer. Her roles include managing all of the expenses and allocating money for the Cougar Sports Awards, as well as advising with and planning all of the committee’s events. WSU S.A.A.C. President Natasha Ostopovich believes Ganzer’s contributions to the program are invaluable to the group’s overall outreach.
“Meagan has a lot of great ideas,” Ostopovich said. “And she’s got a great work ethic to help put those ideas in motion. She really is an excellent contributor to the group.”
One reason for Ganzer’s desire to get involved with the local community is because of the tight-knit culture amongst the school’s student-athletes. It is that constant interaction, according to Ganzer, that truly separates WSU from other schools around the conference. And it’s that interaction that furthers Ganzer’s drive to lead.
“Pullman is a unique experience. Everybody is friends with everybody. Everybody sees everybody,” Ganzer said. “I love it. It’s like a family environment.”
Those in and around the Palouse region have already witnessed the initial wave of an increased emphasis on giving back. Unsurprisingly, as her history would suggest, Ganzer is front and center in all of it. This summer, Ganzer joined 26 other student-athletes in constructing a house in nearby Uniontown, Wash., as part of a Palouse Habitat for Humanity project. But while service is an everyday part of her life, Ganzer said she not only loved to see the camaraderie formed by doing good for others, but also how rewarding the project was for all those involved. And for her personally, the project helped further her development as a leader.
This season marks Ganzer’s last tour of duty as a student-athlete, but leadership is a quality sure to remain a prominent part of her life. The do-everything senior hopes to go into some form of social work after graduation. But first, she has some unfinished business.
One year after making the NCAA Tournament, the Cougars went winless in the Pac-10 last season. Those results, coupled with the influx of newcomers and a coaching change, steered the coaches to pick WSU to finish last in the Pac-12 this year.
And that is just fine with Ganzer: “I love that they ranked us that. I love it. I think that just shows they don’t know anything about us. It gives us that underdog appeal and nobody is going to expect what’s coming.”
Coming off a season that saw her rank third in the Pac-10 and eighth in the NCAA in both kills per set and points per set, Ganzer looks to improve on those results this season. But, by her own admission, improvement means backing off those career-highs, not adding to them.
“I’m hoping to be lower in that standing,” Ganzer said. “[Last season] was kind of an unbalanced offense. We have some great players this year, so we’re going to spread the offense out definitely a lot more. That’s a good thing for the rest of the team and for balance, and [will lead to] us being more successful.”
Despite the question marks surrounding WSU entering the season, Ganzer maintains her expectations are as high as ever. Much of the reason for that confidence is the elevated talent added to the program and the benefits derived from such talent.
“With so many new girls coming in, there’s such heavy competition for each position, which has been fueling our improvement,” she said. “We’ve gotten a lot of work done and I see good things happening. Hopefully we’ll just take people by surprise.”
Gerrit Cole, Adam Conley duel in Pullman
As part of our RePACkaged Pac-12 blog for class, I put together this video package together. It features UCLA ace Gerrit Cole and WSU ace Adam Conley. The editing is a little rough, as is it was put together in a rush during our last class today. Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fO2Mar3mbZk
Cougs in Paradise
I wrote this article for the WSU Men's Basketball game day program.
For just the fifth time in program history, the Washington State University men’s basketball team will be spending a portion of its winter break in the Aloha State. In the previous four Hawaiian tournaments, the Cougars hold a 6-6 overall record, all coming as part of the Rainbow Classic. But while the tournament may be different, the venue remains the same. In 2010, WSU looks to leave its mark on the second annual Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic and give the Pacific-10 Conference its second tournament title in as many tries.
1973-74: The first trip to the 50th state saw the Cougars go 1-2 in head coach George Raveling’s second season at the helm. Coming off a tough loss to St. Joseph’s in the first game of the tournament, Washington State bounced back to defeat Santa Clara in game two. The 1973 Rainbow Classic came to a close with a loss to ninth ranked Providence. Steve Puidokas came just one rebound short against St. Joseph’s of recording double-doubles in every game. Puidokas finished with 65 points and 31 rebounds in the three Honolulu contests.
1985-86: Washington State’s second tour as part of the Rainbow Classic ohana yielded better results. The Cougars scored 74 points in each of their first two games to knock off Wake Forest University and Seton Hall University. The tournament opener quickly became a battle of the point guards. Despite standing only 5’3, future NBA mainstay “Muggsy” Bogues scored 16 points and dished out five assists for the Demon Deacons. Not to be outdone, WSU point guard Keith Morrison answered with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists and drew a big charge call to pace the Cougars and seal the victory. Morrison again led the Cougars with 22 points and seven assists against Seton Hall in game two. The teams played fairly even basketball throughout the game, but Washington State proved to be just a little better, winning 74-67. Looking for their first Rainbow Classic championship, the Cougars ran out of steam against coaching legend Norm Stewart and his Missouri Tigers. A 25-point effort helped Morrison earn the tournament Most Outstanding Player honor, but a disastrous first half created a volcano-sized crater that proved too much for WSU to overcome. A spirited second-half rally fell short, leaving Washington State to settle for a 2-1, second place finish on the Island.
1991-92: After a six year hiatus from the Hawaiian Islands, Washington State came out with a vengeance in its third Rainbow Classic. Facing a Wisconsin Badger team featuring future NBA star Michael Finley, the Cougars dominated from the start. Washington State jumped out to an early 19 point lead behind 12 first half points from Terrance Lewis and a stingy defense that limited the Badgers to just one made field goal in the game’s first 8:20. The Cougars took a 13 point lead into halftime thanks in large part to shooting 50 percent from the field in the half. But WSU didn’t take its foot off the accelerator in the second half. Once again, the Cougars came out firing, shooting 48.3 percent from the field. Lewis again led the team with 11 second half points to finish with 23 on the day. Ken Critton added a near double-double with nine points and ten rebounds to help the Cougars improve to 11-0 to start the season. Final score: 73-51, Cougars.
Game two of the 1991 Rainbow Classic matched WSU up against the hometown University of Hawai’i. A day after the Cougars’ shots scorched the net like a Hawaiian lava flow against Wisconsin, they cooled off more like lava rock against the Rainbow Warriors. But only temporarily. The first half witnessed Washington State shoot 37.9 percent from the field and just 20 percent from three. Hawai’i, on the hand, shot a blazing 58.3 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three. Yet the Cougars only trailed by one point at halftime, largely as a result of 11 Rainbow Warriors turnovers. The Cougars came out singing a different ukulele-accompanied tune in the second half. But despite a 48.1 shooting percentage in the final 20 minutes, the Cougars still trailed the resilient home team with 18 seconds remaining. Refusing to accept defeat, Neil Derrick- who scored 17 points in the game- put back a Terrence Lewis missed free throw to give the Cougars the lead. Ken Critton added a free throw with two seconds left to ice the game and send Washington State to the tournament’s championship game. Final score: 63-61, Cougars.
Heading into the final game in Paradise, the Cougars knew it was not going to be a sunset stroll on the beach. At 11-1 on the season, the 19th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide featuring four future NBA players- Robert Horry, Latrell Sprewell, James Robinson and Jason Caffey- looked to roll past the underdog Cougars. But a Mauna Kea-like freezing start offensively from Alabama and a hot start from Washington State began to elicit thoughts of Paradise Lost for the Crimson Tide. Neil Derrick’s 13 first half points helped WSU build an eight point lead at the break. The second half was a different story for the Cougars though. Alabama turned the ball over just four times in the half- down from 12 in the first half- and shot a much-improved 47.1 percent from the field to get back into the game. With the game tied at 68 with 50 seconds left to play, the game was suspended because of a nail protruding from the recently installed playing surface. The delay helped squelch any WSU offensive momentum, as Alabama went on to score the final three points to secure the victory and tournament championship. Final score: 71-68, Alabama.
1996-97: In their most recent trip to the Hawaiian Islands, the Cougars held their own against excellent competition, but ultimately left the Islands with just a single win. Fresh off a strong 7-1 start to the season, head coach Kevin Eastman and his team arrived in paradise for a matchup against the Tubby Smith-led Georgia Bulldogs. After trailing most of the first half, WSU closed the opening session on a 4-0 run to tie the game heading into halftime. The Cougars came out firing to start the second half and grasped the lead just before the first media time out. But despite holding the lead for most of the second half, WSU could not finish off the win. The 8-1 Bulldogs fought back and regained the lead for good with 1:39 remaining in the game. Final score: 64-61, Georgia.
A day later, the Cougars were back on the hardwood, this time facing the fourth ranked University of Michigan. Once again, WSU hung with the best, trailing by just four points at the half. The two teams played fairly even basketball in the second half, with Isaac Fontaine aiding the Cougars’ effort with 20 of his game high 30 points. WSU held Michigan without a field goal for the final 6:01 of the game, but the eventual NIT champions converted 15 free throws during that stretch to stave off the Cougars’ final rally. Final score: 85-79, Michigan.
Determined to not leave the Hawaiian Islands empty handed, the Cougars took it to Northwestern University in their final game of the tournament. In what was a tightly fought contest for much of the first half, WSU pulled away at the end of the first half to take a 10 point lead. Any hope the Wildcats had of making a comeback was quickly thwarted in the second session as WSU never led by fewer than 11 points the rest of the way. Led by 13 point efforts from Rod de la Fuente and Carlos Daniel, the Cougars improved to 8-3 on the season. Final Score: 68-52, Cougars.
For just the fifth time in program history, the Washington State University men’s basketball team will be spending a portion of its winter break in the Aloha State. In the previous four Hawaiian tournaments, the Cougars hold a 6-6 overall record, all coming as part of the Rainbow Classic. But while the tournament may be different, the venue remains the same. In 2010, WSU looks to leave its mark on the second annual Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic and give the Pacific-10 Conference its second tournament title in as many tries.
1973-74: The first trip to the 50th state saw the Cougars go 1-2 in head coach George Raveling’s second season at the helm. Coming off a tough loss to St. Joseph’s in the first game of the tournament, Washington State bounced back to defeat Santa Clara in game two. The 1973 Rainbow Classic came to a close with a loss to ninth ranked Providence. Steve Puidokas came just one rebound short against St. Joseph’s of recording double-doubles in every game. Puidokas finished with 65 points and 31 rebounds in the three Honolulu contests.
1985-86: Washington State’s second tour as part of the Rainbow Classic ohana yielded better results. The Cougars scored 74 points in each of their first two games to knock off Wake Forest University and Seton Hall University. The tournament opener quickly became a battle of the point guards. Despite standing only 5’3, future NBA mainstay “Muggsy” Bogues scored 16 points and dished out five assists for the Demon Deacons. Not to be outdone, WSU point guard Keith Morrison answered with 22 points, eight rebounds and four assists and drew a big charge call to pace the Cougars and seal the victory. Morrison again led the Cougars with 22 points and seven assists against Seton Hall in game two. The teams played fairly even basketball throughout the game, but Washington State proved to be just a little better, winning 74-67. Looking for their first Rainbow Classic championship, the Cougars ran out of steam against coaching legend Norm Stewart and his Missouri Tigers. A 25-point effort helped Morrison earn the tournament Most Outstanding Player honor, but a disastrous first half created a volcano-sized crater that proved too much for WSU to overcome. A spirited second-half rally fell short, leaving Washington State to settle for a 2-1, second place finish on the Island.
1991-92: After a six year hiatus from the Hawaiian Islands, Washington State came out with a vengeance in its third Rainbow Classic. Facing a Wisconsin Badger team featuring future NBA star Michael Finley, the Cougars dominated from the start. Washington State jumped out to an early 19 point lead behind 12 first half points from Terrance Lewis and a stingy defense that limited the Badgers to just one made field goal in the game’s first 8:20. The Cougars took a 13 point lead into halftime thanks in large part to shooting 50 percent from the field in the half. But WSU didn’t take its foot off the accelerator in the second half. Once again, the Cougars came out firing, shooting 48.3 percent from the field. Lewis again led the team with 11 second half points to finish with 23 on the day. Ken Critton added a near double-double with nine points and ten rebounds to help the Cougars improve to 11-0 to start the season. Final score: 73-51, Cougars.
Game two of the 1991 Rainbow Classic matched WSU up against the hometown University of Hawai’i. A day after the Cougars’ shots scorched the net like a Hawaiian lava flow against Wisconsin, they cooled off more like lava rock against the Rainbow Warriors. But only temporarily. The first half witnessed Washington State shoot 37.9 percent from the field and just 20 percent from three. Hawai’i, on the hand, shot a blazing 58.3 percent from the field and 66.7 percent from three. Yet the Cougars only trailed by one point at halftime, largely as a result of 11 Rainbow Warriors turnovers. The Cougars came out singing a different ukulele-accompanied tune in the second half. But despite a 48.1 shooting percentage in the final 20 minutes, the Cougars still trailed the resilient home team with 18 seconds remaining. Refusing to accept defeat, Neil Derrick- who scored 17 points in the game- put back a Terrence Lewis missed free throw to give the Cougars the lead. Ken Critton added a free throw with two seconds left to ice the game and send Washington State to the tournament’s championship game. Final score: 63-61, Cougars.
Heading into the final game in Paradise, the Cougars knew it was not going to be a sunset stroll on the beach. At 11-1 on the season, the 19th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide featuring four future NBA players- Robert Horry, Latrell Sprewell, James Robinson and Jason Caffey- looked to roll past the underdog Cougars. But a Mauna Kea-like freezing start offensively from Alabama and a hot start from Washington State began to elicit thoughts of Paradise Lost for the Crimson Tide. Neil Derrick’s 13 first half points helped WSU build an eight point lead at the break. The second half was a different story for the Cougars though. Alabama turned the ball over just four times in the half- down from 12 in the first half- and shot a much-improved 47.1 percent from the field to get back into the game. With the game tied at 68 with 50 seconds left to play, the game was suspended because of a nail protruding from the recently installed playing surface. The delay helped squelch any WSU offensive momentum, as Alabama went on to score the final three points to secure the victory and tournament championship. Final score: 71-68, Alabama.
1996-97: In their most recent trip to the Hawaiian Islands, the Cougars held their own against excellent competition, but ultimately left the Islands with just a single win. Fresh off a strong 7-1 start to the season, head coach Kevin Eastman and his team arrived in paradise for a matchup against the Tubby Smith-led Georgia Bulldogs. After trailing most of the first half, WSU closed the opening session on a 4-0 run to tie the game heading into halftime. The Cougars came out firing to start the second half and grasped the lead just before the first media time out. But despite holding the lead for most of the second half, WSU could not finish off the win. The 8-1 Bulldogs fought back and regained the lead for good with 1:39 remaining in the game. Final score: 64-61, Georgia.
A day later, the Cougars were back on the hardwood, this time facing the fourth ranked University of Michigan. Once again, WSU hung with the best, trailing by just four points at the half. The two teams played fairly even basketball in the second half, with Isaac Fontaine aiding the Cougars’ effort with 20 of his game high 30 points. WSU held Michigan without a field goal for the final 6:01 of the game, but the eventual NIT champions converted 15 free throws during that stretch to stave off the Cougars’ final rally. Final score: 85-79, Michigan.
Determined to not leave the Hawaiian Islands empty handed, the Cougars took it to Northwestern University in their final game of the tournament. In what was a tightly fought contest for much of the first half, WSU pulled away at the end of the first half to take a 10 point lead. Any hope the Wildcats had of making a comeback was quickly thwarted in the second session as WSU never led by fewer than 11 points the rest of the way. Led by 13 point efforts from Rod de la Fuente and Carlos Daniel, the Cougars improved to 8-3 on the season. Final Score: 68-52, Cougars.