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.
It's that time of year again. No, not for an elf on a shelf or blinking lights over the garage. Time to start thinking, and reading, about high school winter sports. Dave Nichols and the S-R crew have you covered today. Us too. With all the links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: The weather makes it a perfect time to head indoors, where high schools supply as much sporting drama as anyone could want
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Kim went out to get our newspaper – yes, we still have the print version of The Spokesman-Review delivered to our house – yesterday. And had to walk down the block to find it. The w...
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December 11, 2025 at 5:05 PM
It's that time of year again. No, not for an elf on a shelf or blinking lights over the garage. Time to start thinking, and reading, about high school winter sports. Dave Nichols and the S-R crew have you covered today. Us too. With all the links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
There is nothing harder than getting ready for Christmas. Especially picking out the right presents for everyone. Need a break? There is always a present or two available on the nightly sports schedule. And in our column, though we call them links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Early December is the perfect time to clean up the house ... and clean out the notebook
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Spring cleaning? Amateur hour. Relatives visiting? Second-rate. Nothing beats the clean the living room gets just before a fir tree is invited to spend a month. Let’s clean out our ...
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December 10, 2025 at 5:28 PM
There is nothing harder than getting ready for Christmas. Especially picking out the right presents for everyone. Need a break? There is always a present or two available on the nightly sports schedule. And in our column, though we call them links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Honestly, I should have saved the lyrical tribute to my favorite animal-based Christmas song for this spot. And not used it in the headline. But, hey, it fits. It is Christmas season. And bowl season. And basketball poll season. And more. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Christmas, Christmas time is here, time for bowls and polls and to cheer ... the Seahawks to an NFC title
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Just realized Christmas is just around the corner. What was my first clue? When I turned the corner into the cul-de-sac last night and was hit with the bright lights of Broadway. In...
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December 9, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Honestly, I should have saved the lyrical tribute to my favorite animal-based Christmas song for this spot. And not used it in the headline. But, hey, it fits. It is Christmas season. And bowl season. And basketball poll season. And more. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
You would think someone with my last name would be all in with griping all the time. Well, nope. There has to be some merit to it or it just devolves into whining. Who decides the merit? Me of course. At least in today's column. With links. As usual. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Griping is enshrined in the Constitution, or at least in the sports fans' version of it, but not all gripes are the same
A GRIP ON SPORTS • There is one truth in sports. Everyone always has a gripe. Doesn’t matter who, what or where the conversation leads. There will always be gripes. It’s a matter of determining if the...
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December 8, 2025 at 5:00 PM
You would think someone with my last name would be all in with griping all the time. Well, nope. There has to be some merit to it or it just devolves into whining. Who decides the merit? Me of course. At least in today's column. With links. As usual. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The decisions have been made. But the CFP bracket is just part of a Sunday full of news. That's because Saturday was a cool sports day as well. Our column with some outdated thoughts and a bunch of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: No matter how early we start on a Sunday, we never seem to get ready in time. It's a life-long tradition
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Sunday morning. Maybe 1966 or 1967. Everyone in the Grippi abode flying around, looking for hair pins or shoes or, in my case, a clean shirt. Mass is only minutes away and no one is...
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December 7, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The decisions have been made. But the CFP bracket is just part of a Sunday full of news. That's because Saturday was a cool sports day as well. Our column with some outdated thoughts and a bunch of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
We have no answers. We do have questions though. Who did WSU tick off? The past half-decade has been rough for Cougar athletics. And the tough news doesn't seem to have an expiration date. The school is in the market for a football coach. Again. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: The reality of college athletics just can't stop taking demoralizing bites out of Washington State
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Reality really does bite, doesn’t it? It certainly bit Washington State – the school, the football program, the alumni base, heck, most everyone in Pullman – right in the backside F...
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December 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
We have no answers. We do have questions though. Who did WSU tick off? The past half-decade has been rough for Cougar athletics. And the tough news doesn't seem to have an expiration date. The school is in the market for a football coach. Again. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
OK, who did it? Who hacked in, read what I had written, thought it was dumb and deleted it while I refilled my coffee? Way too many suspects, sure. But I do know my work disappeared. Had to be redone. Operator error? Maybe. Here is our rebuilt column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: This could be a weekend of chaos in college football if what happened here today is replicated in any way
A GRIP ON SPORTS • My dad used to say, often, no one wants to hear about the labor pains, they just want to see the baby. His homespun humor left its mark. I always ask how labor went. And I’m always ...
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December 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
OK, who did it? Who hacked in, read what I had written, thought it was dumb and deleted it while I refilled my coffee? Way too many suspects, sure. But I do know my work disappeared. Had to be redone. Operator error? Maybe. Here is our rebuilt column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
We dealt with some speed bumps today. But they didn't derail us – yes, it's a mixed metaphor – from sharing thoughts on football recruiting and its correlation with playoff success. Well, sort of. Anyhow, our column is finally done and it has a bunch of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: High school football recruiting is still the key to success, though not as much as it was pre-transfer portal and NIL days
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Want to know how college football programs build winners? Recruiting. Enticing the best players to their campuses. Of course, there are different roads leading to TitleTown U. these...
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December 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM
We dealt with some speed bumps today. But they didn't derail us – yes, it's a mixed metaphor – from sharing thoughts on football recruiting and its correlation with playoff success. Well, sort of. Anyhow, our column is finally done and it has a bunch of links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
Hard work. Endless hours. Innumerable tests. All those come together today for a select few high school football players. Signing day is a celebration. Has been. Should always be. No matter how messed up college football has become. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Today is a celebration day for high school football players headed to the next level, one that has changed quite a bit recently
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Everyone needs a catch-all phrase. Something to latch on to in times of dire need. Like “live long and prosper” or “don’t have a cow, man.” Ours? “Recruiting never stops.” Today, it...
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December 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Hard work. Endless hours. Innumerable tests. All those come together today for a select few high school football players. Signing day is a celebration. Has been. Should always be. No matter how messed up college football has become. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The weather outside was frightful over night. At least the driving was. But not as frightful as the ride for fans who are on the college football coach carousel. Our column this snowy-in-Spokane Tuesday morning covers such things and more. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Everyone is being snowed under by college football coaching news and, considering the local weather, we decided to pile on
A GRIP ON SPORTS • Ya, when I looked outside this morning I uttered the “S” word. After all, there is about 2 inches of the stuff outside the house. Snow in early December? What a shock. Though what w...
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December 2, 2025 at 5:03 PM
The weather outside was frightful over night. At least the driving was. But not as frightful as the ride for fans who are on the college football coach carousel. Our column this snowy-in-Spokane Tuesday morning covers such things and more. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
The Seahawks' defense is the best in the NFL. Right now. But in the ultimate week-by-week league, that could change next Sunday. Might as well celebrate the franchise's first shutout in a decade. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
A Grip on Sports: Seahawks' defense played well enough Sunday to defeat Minnesota all by itself, which is good and not-so-good
A GRIP ON SPORTS • You know what’s lower than zero? Nothing. Not on a scoreboard anyway.
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December 1, 2025 at 5:00 PM
The Seahawks' defense is the best in the NFL. Right now. But in the ultimate week-by-week league, that could change next Sunday. Might as well celebrate the franchise's first shutout in a decade. Our column, with links. www.spokesman.com/stories/2025...
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...
www.spokesman.com
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.
www.spokesman.com
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?
www.spokesman.com
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.
www.spokesman.com
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...