Happy Friday.
It was already weekend early this morning, since it is the Juneteenth holiday here in the United States.
Team USA secured a place in the round of 32 with today’s win.
I went down to the The Press Box sports bar at 10.30 am to watch the USA-Australia game with my amigos. There were lots and lots more people out and about by Pioneer Square and around the Stadium compared to the Belgium-Egypt game of Monday.
Andy Yamashita writes for the Seattle Times, about the game: The Americans, propelled by a sold-out crowd that rattled Seattle Stadium’s press box with every shot, launched themselves into Friday’s game with intensity, deploying their high press almost immediately.
The Australians, in comparison, struggled to get out of first gear.
Australian fans pose for a picture on a ferry, with the Seattle skyline as backdrop. I assume that is a stuffed kangaroo and not a real one! [Photo from the Seattle Times]U.S. soccer fans march through Seattle to the match with Australia. [Photo by Ruth Fremson/The New York Times]
It was an uninspiring and ugly match, but South Africa managed a draw against the Czech Republic (Czechia) today.
Tomorrow is the much anticipated USA-Australia match, right here in Seattle.
There was no flag hoisted on the Space Needle by late afternoon.
Hopefully there will be one tomorrow, to celebrate the USA team and cheer them on.
Mexico has qualified for the next round with their 1-0 win against South Korea today. South Africa and the Czech Republic still has a slim chance to make it out of Group A into the next round. [Table from The Athletic in the New York Times]
Max Mathews writes for The Athletic in the New York Times: I was at a bar watchalong in a faux English pub with no other English representation than The Athletic. When the third goal went in, the place — dominated by Colombian fans — went wild. Bar bell ringing, Latino music on, chants of “Viva Colombia!” Los Cafeteros* are vociferously supported here in diverse, Hispanic-influenced LA and will be a tough nut to crack for any side facing them at the tournament.
*Los Cafeteros (Spanish for “the coffee growers” or “the coffee makers”) is the famous nickname for the Colombia national football team. It is also used informally to refer to the Colombian people, reflecting the nation’s rich heritage and its status as one of the world’s top coffee producers.
[Google AI Overview]
Daniel Muñoz from Colombia displayed an exquisite touch to direct this ball into the goal. It came flying in high from midfield and he redirected it with his right foot. [Still from video clip on foxsports.com]
I had a little FOMO (fear of missing out) at home this morning, and took the train down to Pioneer Square and Seattle Stadium* nearby just to feel the excitement, and take a few pictures.
*Lumen Field’s name for the next few weeks, capacity for 69,391 spectators.
The Belgium vs. Egypt game had already started at noon by the time I got to Pioneer Square. Everyone with tickets was packed inside Seattle Stadium, of course. There was a screen and outdoor watch party in Pioneer Square, and insides ones at all the bars nearby.
From a vantage point outside the stadium, one could see the large jumbotron screen inside, as well as some of the cheering fans.
Two amigos and I went down to the Seattle waterfront at noon to check out the watch party for the first World Cup match— Mexico vs. South Africa.
Bafana Bafana* was up against it, playing in the home stadium of the Mexican team, and lost by two goals to nil.
*The South African team’s nickname, meaning ‘the boys, the boys’, from South Africa’s Nguni languages (Zulu and Xhosa).
A summary of the game by Luke Brown from The Athletic in the New York Times. xG stands for Expected Goals. PPDA stands for Passes Per Defensive Action. It is a modern soccer analytics metric used to measure a team’s pressing intensity and aggressiveness.The view from the steps next to Seattle Aquarium. The screens could have been larger, we thought— but maybe the space on Pier 62 did not allow that. To the right of Pier 62 is a barge for more people ,with another screen.Ferries and sailboats on the water in Elliott Bay.Washington State’s ferry system celebrates its 75th anniversary this month. The ferry system began operation on June 1, 1951, after the state government acquired routes, vessels, and terminals from the Puget Sound Navigation Company, a private company that had a virtual monopoly on ferries in the region.A view of the barge by Pier 62 that allowed for another screen and watch party viewing area.The Cunard Line’s luxury cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth, is at Pier 66 today before setting sail for Ketchikan, Alaska. Launched in 2010 and refreshed in 2025, the ship accommodates up to 2,081 passengers and features a formal ambiance with elegant, Art Deco-inspired decor.A closer look.
The San Antonio Spurs earned their first win of the NBA Finals, claiming a 115-111 victory over the New York Knicks in Game 3 at Madison Square Garden.
So far, the road team has won all three games in the series.
New York still leads the series 2-1 with Game 4 scheduled for Wednesday. Victor Wembanyama led the Spurs with 32 points, while Stephon Castle had 23.
Jalen Brunson paced the Knicks with 32 points, and OG Anunoby had 28.
– Daniel Shirley, reporting for The Athletic in the New York Times
The San Antonio Spurs star player Victor Wembanyama (22 yo) stands 7’4″ tall and wears size 20.5 (55) shoes.
He grew up in the western suburbs of Paris, France, and honed his skills in the French basketball system, playing for teams like Nanterre 92 and Metropolitans 92, before being selected first overall in the 2023 NBA Draft.
His nicknames are ‘Wemby’ and ‘The Alien’.
These screen shots are from ABC Network’s broadcast of tonight’s game.
LET’S PLAY SEA ’26 is the campaign developed by Visit Seattle, to market and celebrate the FIFA World Cup 26™ games that will be played in Seattle.
Seattle Center (by the Space Needle) will be one of the anchor locations for Seattle’s fan celebrations. There will be music, art, culture, and opportunities for fans to gather and engage around the tournament.
Closer to Seattle Stadium*, the street blocks in Pioneer Square will be transformed into a free pedestrian-only fan zone for the World Cup matches, with large screens, stages and beer gardens.
Here are a few pictures I took today around the Amazon spheres in downtown.
“For those who either missed the four-hour-and-53-minute piece of art, in which Fonseca rallied from two sets down to upset Novak Djokovic, 4-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-5, 7-5, in the third round at Roland Garros — or for anyone looking for a cheat sheet on why they should be excited about this 19-year-old Brazilian whose matches draws some of the biggest crowds on the ATP Tour — watch the 5-5 game in the fifth set.”
– Ava Wallace writing for The Athletic in The New York Times
She goes on to explain that while João Fonseca has a sledgehammer of a forehand, he broke Djokovic’s serve at 5-5 by with deft drop shots that won him three of the four points in the game. He held his own serve to clinch the set 7-5 and with that, win the match.
Fonseca will play Casper Ruud (27, 🇳🇴) in the fourth round.
The 2026 French Open title is beckoning for a brand-new champion, with the injured Carlos Alcaraz (23, 🇪🇸) missing the tournament, and tournament favorite Jannik Sinner (24, 🇮🇹) crashing out in the second round with cramps.
Happy Friday. Is that a 12 flag on the Space Needle? I wondered today. No, it’s actually a flag with 51 on.
A “51” flag was raised today May 1 (5/1) to celebrate the retirement of Mariners legend Randy Johnson’s jersey number. The “Big Unit” himself hoisted the flag to honor his 51 number. Johnson played for the Seattle Mariners from May 25, 1989, to July 31, 1998.
It is 6.20 pm and I am looking out to the Space Needle from the stairs off E Harrison St where it runs into Melrose Ave E. We had blue skies for most of the day, but clouds moved in late afternoon. The clouds will probably obscure the first of May’s two full moons: one tonight, and one more on May 31!
I was downtown this morning and parked by the monorail. These flag images on the monorail pillars are part of a major public art installation by SeattleFWC26, the local organizing committee, to celebrate Seattle’s role as a host city for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
The project should be completed in early April. I will definitely have to go back and look for the Stars and Stripes— and for South Africa’s flag as well. Iran’s flag is already up, and there is a picture of it below. Of course: it is an open question if the Iranian team will actually come out to the United States and play.
I was among the hundreds of thousands lining 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle today to catch a glimpse of the Seahawks victory parade.
I took the No 12 bus to Westlake Center and walked north along 4th Avenue to Belltown, checking in on the crowds at several of the cross street corners.
Look for Blitz, the Seahawks mascot, in my pictures below.
I believe that is defensive back Julian Love holding the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Sports anchor Paul Silvi is right next to him in the yellow KING5 jacket.
In another picture, a guy in stars-and-stripes pants wears a t-shirt that says WE.DID.NOT.CARE.
Those were the words of head coach Mike Macdonald following the team’s victory in the 2025 NFC Championship game, commenting on a reporter reminding him that many pundits had written the Seahawks off as an ‘afterthought’ in a division dominated by the Rams and the 49ers.
There is going to be a trophy celebration event at Lumen Field tomorrow at 10 am (tickets sold out in an hour or so on Monday).
Then, targeted for around 11 am, a parade will start along 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle.
The Seattle Times reminds readers that in 2014, hundreds of Seahawks fans had already camped out along 4th Avenue by 6.30 am .. and also that the day is sure to set light rail ridership records.
In 2014 some 500,000 people attended the parade and at that time the light rail ran only from Capitol Hill to Seattle-Tacoma airport.
BEEP BEEP THE HAWKS ARE BACK IN SEATTLE.
And so are 750,000 of your closest friends, all coming to Seattle to celebrate our SUPER BOWL CHAMPS.
So if you’re heading to Seattle tomorrow, take whatever ferry, bus, train, or spinning teacup is closest to you.
Please.
– Tweeted on X by Washington State Dept. of Traffic @wsdot
Picture tweeted on X by Washington State Dept. of Traffic @wsdot
Congrats to the Seahawks for their decisive win over the New England Patriots!
Matt Barrows writes for The Athletic on NYTimes.com:
The Seattle Seahawks, who rode a dominant defense to their first Super Bowl title 12 years ago, did it again Sunday, suffocating Drake Maye and the New England Patriots in a decidedly defensive 29-13 win at Levi’s Stadium.
Egged on by a raucous, pro-Seattle crowd, the Seahawks sacked Maye six times and picked him off twice, one of which was returned 45 yards for a touchdown by defensive lineman Uchenna Nwosu. The Patriots did not score until the fourth quarter, and Seattle also forced a fumble.
In praising his players, coach Mike Macdonald had to shout to be heard above the din of the fans who gathered in the southeast corner of the stadium.
“They made it happen,” he said of the dream of reaching the Super Bowl win. “They made it come to life. And we won the game.”
Reporting from The Athletic at nytimes.com. (Drake Maye is the New England Patriots quarterback.)Mon. Feb. 9: Front page of the Seattle Times. There will be a victory parade along 4th Avenue in downtown Seattle on Wednesday.
It is a time-honored tradition for countries and postal agencies over the world to issue postage stamps to commemorate the Olympic Games.
The Unites States Postal Service has not issued stamps for the 2026 Games, though.
Here is host country Italy’s stamps.
Very abstract— compared to say, the issue from Japan for the 1972 Winter Olympics in Sapporo.
From olympics.com:
Sapporo 1972 was significant for both Japanese and Asian winter sport.
As the first Winter Games held in Asia, they inspired people across the continent to watch, and take up, snow and ice disciplines.
The success of the Japanese ski jumpers– known as the Hinomaru Squadron– created national heroes and showed that Asian winter sports athletes could compete with the best from Europe and North America.
The 2026 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games XXV, Milano Cortina, Italy Issued by Poste Italiane, Jan. 21, 2026 Miniature sheet of 2 stamps | Perf. 11 Die Cut | Engraving by I.P.Z.S. S.p.A. – Roma | Self-adhesive | No watermark 4877 FLV | €3.35 Multi-colored shades of green, yellow-green | Milano Cortina 2026 “Futura” emblem 4878 FLW | €3.35 Multi-colored shades of dark blue, purple, violet | Milano Cortina 2026 “Futura” emblem [Sources: stampworld.com, Google AI Overview]The 1972 Winter Olympic Games XI, Sapporo, Japan Issued by Japan Post, Feb. 3, 1972 Miniature sheet of 3 stamps | Perf. 13¼ | Photolithography | No watermark 1103 A730 | 20 yen Ultramarine & multi-colored |Downhill Skiing 1104 A730 | 20 yen Ultramarine & multi-colored |Bobsledding 1105 A730 | 50 yen Ultramarine & multi-colored |Figure skating, pairs and Makomanai Indoor Skating Rink (now known as the Makomanai Sekisui Heim Ice Arena) [Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol. 4A, stampworld.com]
Congrats to Team Alcaraz for winning the Australian Open.
He lost the first set against a sharp Djokovic, but then found his footing and did not look back.
Final score 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5.
Alcaraz has commemorated previous major wins with small tattoos—
a strawberry🍓for Wimbledon,
the Eiffel Tower 🗼for the French Open,
the date of his first U.S. Open title 🇺🇸,
and after his second U.S. Open title in New York, the Statue of Liberty 🗽 and the Brooklyn Bridge.
Word is that he will now add a kangaroo tattoo 🦘 om his leg for Australia.
Post on X from German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Happy Friday.
It’s finals weekend at the 2026 Australian Open.
World No 1 Carlos Alcaraz (22, 🇪🇸) survived his marathon 5½ hour 5-setter semifinal match against Alexander Zverev (28, 🇩🇪) 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-7 (3-7), 6-7 (4-7), 7-5.
He will meet Novak Djokovic (38, 🇷🇸) in the final.
Djokovic was not supposed to beat world No 2 Jannik Sinner (24, 🇮🇹) in the semis, but he did: 3-6, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
In the women’s final Aryna Sabalenka (27) will meet Elena Rybakina (26, 🇰🇿).
P.S. There are AI-animated versions of the matches posted on espn.com in addition to the real ones. Why? Just for fun, I guess. Alcaraz is in green.
The animated players play with an oversized tennis ball. The AI engine is still a work-in-progress when it comes to the finer detail, though— such as showing the hands of the players gripping the racquets.
Sam Darnold threw three touchdown passes, and the Seattle Seahawks outlasted the Los Angeles Rams 31-27 in a thrilling NFC (National Football Conference) Championship Game on Sunday to advance to the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2014 season.
They will face the New England Patriots on Feb. 8 in a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX.
– Nate Atkins and Michael-Shawn Dugar reporting in The Athletic in the New York Times
That’s Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold, speaking into the microphone. Darnold has been with the Seattle Seahawks only since March 2025. He signed a multi-year contract after his strong 2024 season with the Minnesota Vikings. To the right of Darnold, his face hidden somewhat behind his clapping hands, is Seahawks head coach Mike McDonald (age 38), himself hired just the year before in January 2024. In just two seasons, Macdonald took a 9-8, middling team to 14 regular season wins and a Super Bowl berth. [Headline from the Seattle Times. Photo by Nick Wagner/ Seattle Times]
Happy Friday.
It is a major sports weekend for Seattle— the Seahawks face the Los Angeles Rams this Sunday for the NFC Championship and a spot in Super Bowl LX.
I spent a lot of time this week sorting the hundreds of loose stamps I had bought in Tokyo, by year. Here are some ones with nice postmarks and a sports theme.
International Table Tennis Championships, Tokyo Issued by Japan Post, Apr. 2, 1956 Perf. 13¼ x 13½ |Litho. |National Printing Bureau 618 A369 |10 yen |red-brown |Table tennis players Postmarked 31.4.5 which means 1956 April 5. The 31 refers to the 31st year of Emperor Hirohito’s reign (1925 + 31 = 1956). Softball at 33rd National Athletic Meet, Nagano Prefecture Issued by Japan Post, Oct. 14, 1978 Perf. 12¾ x 13 |Litho. |National Printing Bureau 1348 A938 |20 yen |multi-colored |Softball Players and Mt Yari Postmarked 59.7.3 (let’s say) which means 1984 July 3. The 59 refers to the 59th year of Emperor Hirohito’s reign (1925 + 59 = 1984). Badminton at 36th National Athletic Meet, Nagano Prefecture Issued by Japan Post, Oct. 13, 1981 Perf. 12¾ x 13 |Litho. |National Printing Bureau 1485 A1064 | 40 yen |multi-colored |Badminton player and Lake Biwa Postmarked 86.2.6 8-12 which means 1986 Feb. 6 8am-12 noon The 86 now refers to the Gregorian calendar year 1986. Handball at 40th National Athletic Meet, Tottori City Sports Arena Issued by Japan Post, Oct. 19, 1985 1665 A1233 | 40 yen |multi-colored |Handball Player and Mt Daisen Postmarked 89.6.21 12-18 which means 1989 Jun.21 12 noon- 6pm (Chofu is a city in Tokyo prefecture) The 89 now refers to the Gregorian calendar year 1989. [Sources: 2021 Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue Vol. 4A, stampworld.com]
