SPORTS Assignment editor: Dan Ruthemeyer 360-416-2143 / [email protected] MV, B-E student-athletes tabbed for WIAA committee By TREVOR PYLE selected to be part of the Leadership ing initiatives. their school. @Sports_SVH Through Education Activities and Per- Members also help with state cham- Perales has competed in several sports sonal Development Committee. Each will pionship events and take part in service at Burlington-Edison, including swim- Of the eight incoming juniors joining serve two-year terms. projects. ming and cross-country. Reyna is a the Washington Interscholastic Activities The committee, in its 13th year, is Applicants such as Reyna and Perales standout wrestler for Mount Vernon. Association’s LEAP Committee, two hail made up of 16 high school students from had to submit an online application and They’re the second and third Skagit from Skagit County. throughout the state. It meets five times letters of recommendation, write an essay County students to be selected for the Mount Vernon’s Israel Reyna and a year and advises the state’s governing on the importance of athletics and activi- committee. The other was Burlington- Burlington-Edison’s Aidan Perales were body for sports and activities on upcom- ties and make a video statement about Edison’s Brayden Konkle.

COMMENTARY Olerud was arguably college baseball’s A MESSAGE DEEPER best two-way player THAN A COUPLE LINES By THEO LAWSON “Olerud would stroke The Spokesman-Review a slow-rising glider that By ROB COOK outran the outfield- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Most devoted baseball ers,” McGee wrote, “and fans in the state of Wash- indeed ricocheted off the PITTSBURGH — It seems as if ington know John Olerud wall in left-center.” everybody has focused on two lines for his five-year stint with “Brayton would keep from Ben Roethlisberger’s video last the Seattle Mariners — a g oi n g .” weekend from the ManUp Pittsburgh stretch that saw the hel- Brayton: “Infield fly event for Christian men. meted first baseman win between the mound and “I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve three MLB Gold Glove first! Baltimore chop been addicted to pornography … ” awards while contribut- toward third! Opposite- The quotes jumped off the screen ing to one of the most fielder down into the and slapped all of us in the face. successful regular-season corner!” I get the “wow” factor. teams in the history of Many of the stories We can be so salacious, right? the game. about Olerud spoke big- “We make mistakes,” Roethlis- A smaller, but equally ger than the numbers berger went on to say. “We sin. I am prideful group of fans he posted, but the stats no different. We’re human.” on the opposite side of certainly help validate It isn’t often you see a Hall of the state may be more his place in Washington Fame-caliber quarterback make such familiar with the prolific State, Pac-12 and col- a stunning public admission. But if college career that came lege baseball history. you are just focusing on those few more than a decade ear- During the 1988 season, comments, you’re missing Roethlis- lier for Olerud, whose 17 Olerud became the only berger’s powerful message that our years in pro baseball were pitcher in NCAA history preceded by three fabled to secure 15 wins as a mistakes in life don’t have to define AP FILE seasons at Washington pitcher and hit 20 home us, that our struggles and failures and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said at an event for shortcomings don’t have to ruin us, State. runs. He went 15-0 with Christian men last week that “I’ve been addicted to alcohol. I’ve been Olerud was indisput- 23 homers en route to that we are strong enough to become addicted to pornography …” better people and live a healthier life. ably the best player to Pac-10 Player of the Year He is proof. come out of Pullman, as and Baseball America “But you have to dedicate yourself for the first four games of the 2010 cool to be Christian and be an athlete. evidenced by his Pac-12 College Athlete of the and understand that you can get out season by Roger Goodell for violat- Go ahead and be the best athlete you Baseball Player of the Year honors. of it because of the grace of God ing the NFL’s player-conduct code. can be and see if you can be a better Century honor, but in Olerud’s career batting and Him saying, ‘Listen, you’re good He was the subject of a critical Sports Christian. And that’s what I’m trying a recent ESPN feature, average of .434 and sin- enough for Me the way you are. You Illustrated cover story under the to do now. I’m trying to be a better author Ryan McGee gle-season average of .464 don’t have to be perfect,’ ” Roethlis- headline: “The Hangover: Bad Behav- Christian than I am athlete and foot- posited another thought are still school records berger said in the ManUp virtual ior, Bad Judgment.” ball player. I push myself every day regarding Olerud’s spell and he went 26-4 on the conference. Since then, Roethlisberger has to do that, and it starts here. It’s not with the Cougars. mound while posting It’s no secret Roethlisberger has turned around his life. He was mar- always easy.” Was he the best two- a 3.17 ERA in his three been successful during his 16-year ried in July 2011 and has three Roethlisberger said his faith got way player in college seasons. NFL career. He holds every major children. He has said his life path him through a brutal few months baseball history? ESPN’s story focuses passing record for a Steelers franchise straightened when he came back to after the 2018 season when he was The ESPN story leads on the superlatives that that had four-time Super Bowl win- his Christian faith, to the way he was excoriated by Antonio Brown and a off with a fascinating put Olerud in the same ner Terry Bradshaw. Roethlisberger raised in Findlay, Ohio. He was the variety of national media members anecdote from WSU’s conversation as other helped to lead the Steelers to Super Steelers’ nominee for the NFL’s presti- for being a bad teammate. practices in the late two-way stars, such as Bowl wins after the 2005 and 2008 gious Walter Payton award in 2013 for “All I thought about was getting 1980’s, when Olerud Kentucky’s A.J. Reed — seasons and to another Super Bowl on-field excellence and off-field com- back on the football field and I was meandered to Pullman formerly coached by after the 2010 season. His winning munity service. I don’t believe he has like, ‘God, You’re going to give me all from Interlake High current WSU skipper touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes been in the news for anything worse this redemption. I’m going to go out School in Bellevue to play Brian Green — Tennes- in Super Bowl XLIII is considered one than getting his hair cut and beard there. I’m going to prove everybody for legendary coach Bobo see’s Todd Helton, Texas’ of the great plays in NFL postseason trimmed at a friend’s shop last month wrong. I’m going to win a Super Bowl Brayton — perhaps the Brooks Kieschnick and history. before Pennsylvania lifted its COVID- and we’re going to give You all the only WSU baseball figure Minnesota’s Dave Win- Roethlisberger has been just as 19 restrictions. glory and this is it. This is my come- with more fame than field, but it also spotlights successful financially. His most recent “It’s amazing the good things that back year.’ And the second game, I Olerud himself. the adversity he overcame two-year contract extension, which happen to you when you grow up a tear my elbow. That was God being While Olerud was at after undergoing a brain will take him through the 2021 sea- little,” Roethlisberger told me during like, ‘Hold on, it’s not your plan of the plate taking practice aneurysm just before his son, is worth $68 million. By the time an interview in his North Hills home coming back. It’s got to be My plan.’ hacks, Brayton would junior season. his deal is done, he will have earned in December 2013. So I had to pump the brakes. Those give his batter specific Olerud survived the more than $272 million, according to “I knew who I was and how I was are the wake-up calls that He gives us instructions of where to potentially fatal brain spotrac.com. raised. I also knew who I wasn’t, if to say, ‘Hold on now, don’t be selfish hit the ball, allowing his condition and began don- But Roethlisberger had troubling that makes any sense. I knew I could and do it on your time. We’re doing it infield and outfield to ning his signature batting moments early in his Steelers career. get to where I am today because I on My time.’ work on various defen- helmet full-time in 1989, Many teammates considered him to knew the type of person I wanted to “Now that I know what it’s about, sive situations, according hitting in the high-.300s be a jerk after he was the team’s No. b e .” it’s easy to say, ‘Hey, God, this is in to the ESPN story. as a junior before sign- 1 draft choice in 2004 because of his Roethlisberger shared more of that Your hands. I’m going to go train The “Ole” drill, named ing a contract with the pompous, flippant attitude. Worse, message at the ManUp event. my butt off to get back out there and for Olerud, looked some- Toronto Blue Jays and he was accused of rape in Reno, Nev., “One of the things I want to tell whatever You have for me, I’m ready.’ ” thing like this: becoming the club’s first in July 2008 and of sexual assault in guys and tell people out there, I can There was a lot there from Roeth- Brayton: “Hot ground- American League batting Milledgeville, Ga., in March 2010. be a really good athlete and a Chris- lisberger. er through the six-hole!” champion, in 1993. He settled a civil suit over the first tian,” he said. “It’s not one or the other, A lot more than a couple of lines “Olerud would meet “Among the general incident. No charges were filed in the I can do both. I want it to be known about addictions to alcohol and por- the ball with a downward public, the greatest two- second, although he was suspended to all of the young men out there, it’s nography. stroke that sent a worm- way player in the history burner just past the of college baseball might outstretched glove of the never be as acknowledged shortstop,” McGee wrote. as he should,” McGee Brayton: “Double over wrote. “But back in Pull- SPORTS BRIEFLY your heads and off the man, No. 18 will never be left-center-field wall!” forgotten.” Family of late Dolphins great Jim Kiick donates his brain Skagit Valley Herald news services repeated blows to the head. ers in the Cup Series twinbill. Yanks vs. Nats on opening day Along with having Kiick’s brain Allie Kiick, daughter of late donated, Allie Kiick started a fun- GOLF NEW YORK (AP) — an official announcement. Miami Dolphins great Jim Kiick, draiser on Facebook this past week n CROMWELL, Conn. — Bren- Gerrit Cole could make The New York Post first said she never had any discussions to raise money for the Concussion don Todd and Dustin Johnson each his Yankees debut in a reported the matchup. with her father about donating his Legacy Foundation to continue its shot career-low 61s at the Travelers tasty opening-day treat MLB will start a brain to science. research on CTE. Championship, leaving Todd with a for fans, facing World 60-game season on July It was a tough conversation for two-stroke lead over the 2016 U.S. Series champion Wash- 23 or 24. The schedule their family to have, she said, before AUTO RACING Open champion. ington at Nationals Park. is still being worked out Kiick — an instrumental member of n LONG POND, Pa. — Kevin Todd finished with a 54-hole score The Yankees and — there could be a game the Dolphins teams that won back- Harvick snapped an 0-for-38 of 192, 18 under par, after shooting Nationals are set to meet or two on the first day of to-back Super Bowl titles under Don drought at Pocono, taking the 66-65 the first two rounds. Johnson, when the virus-delayed play, or a full slate. Shula in 1972 and 1973 — died on checkered flag at one of two tracks who is looking for his 21st win on season begins next Cole started the June 20 at the age of 73. where victory had eluded him. tour, also has improved each day, month, a person famil- previous game played But she knew her dad would Harvick won the first of two opening with a 69-64. iar with the game told at Nationals Park. He want to help others dealing with NASCAR Cup races in front of no Phil Mickelson, who began the The Associated Press. pitched Houston past the the effects of chronic traumatic fans this weekend at Pocono and day with a one-stroke lead, struggled The person spoke on Nationals 7-1 last Octo- encephalopathy, the progressive and will start 20th today with the field and finished tied for seventh in a condition of anonymity ber for a 3-2 edge in the degenerative brain disease caused by set by inverting the lead-lap finish- group six shots back. He shot a 71. because there hasn’t been World Series.