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Morrow's Musings
By Jeff Morrow 509-582-1507	Posted Jan. 12, 2002 Finley's Ward lines up for 49ers now Here's what I found after three days in Las Vegas - and other bits and pieces from over the holidays: * Finley's Chad Ward is no longer a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars' practice squad. Just after Christmas, the San Francisco 49ers signed the River View High grad to a 3-year deal. Players on practice squads can be signed to deals by other teams. It keeps teams from stockpiling players. And just before the Dec. 30 game against Dallas, the 49ers activated him. But he did not play because he doesn't yet know the Niners' playbook. While the former University of Washington standout offensive lineman is living in San Francisco, his wife Ashley is visiting family in Finley. "Supposedly, their long-term goal is to have Chad ready when (guard) Ray Brown is ready to retire," Ashley said. Ashley said she and Chad have until the end of January to get out of their place in Jacksonville. As for Chad, he'll back up Brown on Sunday when the 49ers play at Green Bay in an NFC wild-card game. * OK, looks like the Seattle Mariners are finally getting the respect of the Vegas oddsmakers. Two years ago, when the M's lost Griffey, Seattle was a 35-to-1 shot of winning the World Series. It was about 25-to-1 before last season, when Alex Rodriguez left the team. Now, they're listed at 4-to-1 to win the Series - along with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Yankees are 2-to-1 favorites. * You need patience right now to travel through airports - what with the security and all. And that's fine. But it's going to be pretty packed going through Salt Lake City next month when the Winter Olympics begin. I overheard a number of business travelers who plan to reroute their trips around Salt Lake City. City officials are also warning people that transportation to many events could be very slow. * That National Indoor Football League franchise that the league wants to put into the Tri-Cities Coliseum - it's not likely to happen this year because it's too late with the season scheduled to begin in March. Look for it to probably happen in 2003. The Yakima Shockwave, meanwhile, will be back for its second season. * Hermiston's powerhouse wrestling team is ranked 16th in the nation in the latest Prep 40 poll. * Former Kamiakin first baseman Ron Wright (Tampa Bay) and ex-Richland catcher Dominic Woody (Florida) have been plucked from their organizations and signed by the Mariners to minor-league deals. * The San Diego Bayfair needs a national sponsor, and organizers there are looking to Chip Hanauer to help bail them out. The winningest driver in unlimited hydroplane history has been named the new executive director of Thunderboats Unlimited and the man in charge of the annual Bayfair World Series of Powerboat Racing. Right now, the tentative 2002 schedule has six races again, including the Budweiser Columbia Cup on July 28. According to the Hydro Props website, the Unlimited Lights - not the Formula 1's - will be the undercard this year. * The 2002 schedule for Tri-City Raceway is out, with 28 consecutive weekensds of racing beginning April 6 with a local card of Late Models, Mid-Stocks and Hobby Stocks. The season ends Sept. 21 with the Western States 4-Cylinder Shootout. The Northwest Tour will make two visits again (June 8 and Sept. 1). * John McKay, track announcer for Tri-City Raceway, reports that Kennewick's Damon Lusk has secured a sponsor and will run the full ARCA season this year. The sponsor is Dynatek Information Systems. "He's also planning on running six Busch races," McKay said.
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