It's about time.

I have been a good sport for the past few months, politely watching other sports with my friends. Don't get me wrong, it's great to see the Hawks again. But the massive letdown of the Mariners this year and my decision to forget that Washington State plays football has lead to a boring few months sports wise for me.

Until now.

I am one of the silent minority of die-hard hockey fans. No, I'm not Canadian. And I don't have an accent straight out of Fargo. I just am knowledgeable enough to understand that hockey is the best sport. And it deserves much more attention.

As I settle into my permanent home of Tacoma, ready to don my Calgary Flames sweater and watch hockey, I ask those special few out there: Where is the best place to watch hockey? Is there a restaurant or watering hole out there with people who know the difference between slashing and spearing?

Or am I alone? Am I the only one who watches Versus for something other than hunting and second-rate college football?

He's done it in practice.

Tacoma's Mark Kirsch, owner of World Strongman Entertainment, is going to try to pull a Boeing 767 at least 100 feet this Saturday at Boeing Field. The event is a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, and it coincides with the 80th anniversary celebration for King County International Airport.

Originally, Kirsch just wanted to pull a measly little 737, but he had to go up a few numbers to the 767 because that was the only plane available to him.

"I couldn't believe it," Kirsch said of his first close-up with the object he expects to tow (on foot, by the way, in case that wasn't clear earlier). "When I first saw it, I said 'no way.'"

But in practice last week, on July 15, he towed the enormous 202,000-pound plane the target distance. Saturday, he'll be working against a slight slope, but he said he thinks he can do it.

"The secret is making everything fire at one moment to apply all the thrust at once," Kirsch said. "Then you just have to keep it moving."

Kirsch, a Wilson grad, class of 1998, said it takes about six years to train and condition one's body for this type of stunt. To simulate pulling an enormous object, he straps on a harness that is roped to a rack bolted to the ground. Then he tries to pull the rack out of the ground. It's an impossible task, but it works the right muscles, he said.

Saturday's celebration starts at 10 a.m., and the plane pull should take place around 11 a.m. In the meantime, here are a few photos from last week's practice session:

This clip of a ballgirl's amazing catch has been spreading around the world this week ...

Unfortunately, it's fake.

Even worse for Tacoma batter Brent Johnson: He's since been demoted to the Double-A West Tenn Diamond Jaxx.

This is quickly making its way across the tubes, so I thought I'd pitch in and help. The Spokane Chiefs hockey team won the Memorial Cup (the Canadian League's championship prize). Apparently it's a really big deal, but I wouldn't know it since I don't follow hockey. The Chiefs are the first U.S. team in a decade to win it.

Amidst the merriment, team captain Chris Bruton was proudly displaying the trophy and then...this happened:

First he shuts out cancer. Then tonight Jon Lester no-hits the Kansas City Royals.

This blog posting by Scott Fontaine back in October sums up why the 2002 Bellarmine Prep grad's story is so great.

Here's a picture of Lester back in his Prep days. Anybody go to school with him? Have any good stories?

Photo by Russ Carmack of The News Tribune.

Maybe next year.

"What's that over there?" "Oh, I think that's the distant chance of victory."
Photo by Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer/MCT

If there's one thing I can't stand in sports, it's a team that considers itself anointed to the throne (see John McGrath's column today for more on that). I love underdog upsets and, also, I love the Palouse as a former Idaho Vandal, so I'm absolutely rooting for the home team today.

Are you all watching the game today anywhere special? Do you even care since the team is from the barren side of the state? I'll be in the office with my neck craned to view the TV directly above my head (I'm praying there's never an earthquake while I'm at work).

FYI, if WSU does something spectacular today and I'm inexplicably fired shortly after, it's because my boss went to grad school at UNC.

You've got to get up pretty early in the morning to get a scoop like this.

The major golf tournament in 2015 is expected to draw 65,000 people a day and fill 10,000 hotel rooms for nearly a week, with an estimated economic impact of $100 million.

Is this the best thing that's ever happened to Tacoma?
My other question: Where's everyone going to sleep?

"It's like hosting the Super Bowl for four days in a row,” Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg told The News Tribune on Thursday.

"Bringing the U.S. Open here would be the biggest event in this area since the 1962 World's Fair," Ladenburg has said before.

So what's your hyperbolic comparison?

Quick: If we all start practicing really hard, maybe some of us can qualify to play in the tournament by the time it rolls around.

You might have seen Paul Brogan's video during the Super Bowl pregame show, but did you know he's coming LIVE from Tacoma, Washington?

Paul Brogan's Super Bowl Rap



His thoughts are so quick he can't stop them, he can only hope to contain them with a sweatband.

And if you demand more Brogan, go visit his MySpace video page.

In case you missed it, Soundlifers Ed, Bill and EJ compiled a handy round-up of local sports bars that are good bets for watching the Super Bowl.

They tackle (mwah ha ha) the subject from a food and entertainment perspective so you don't end up watching fantastic TVs while tolerating mediocre grub.

Go Giants! Yeah, I said it.

I've seen people dancing at Masa sweat. And I've seen people eating hot dogs and drinking beer at The Red Hot sweat.

There's no shame in that.

But now you can sweat on Sixth Ave. while raising money for a good cause:

Today is the deadline to enter the Off The Ave three-on-three basketball tournament, which is Saturday.

Nick Lachey's visiting the Rainiers again on Aug. 25, but I'm not nearly as excited about it this time because 1) It's happened before and 2) There's no chance Jessica Simpson will make a surprise appearance.

But the same day, he'll be participating in the Richard Karn Celebrity Softball Game at Cheney Stadium. If you'll recall, Richard Karn played Al Borland on Home Improvement. But guess who else is playing? Tori Spelling! And suitcase holder #9 from Deal or No Deal (she's also substituted for numbers 4, 5, and 10 according to Wikipedia)! It's a virtual "who?"s who of celebrities you won't want to miss! Here's a mostly complete list of celebrity participants.

The celebrity softball game is slated to start at 11 a.m. at Cheney Stadium and features Karn, Lachey and other actors from television and movies. Tickets for that game are $15 and can be purchased through Windermere Professional Partners by calling 253-565-1189 or going online to www.windermerepropartners.com.