'Turkey Day' game once the main event

Q: Tell me about the old tradition of playing a Thanksgiving Day football game at Memorial Stadium. How big a deal was it? When did it start and end?

A: The annual "Turkey Day" game was one of the biggest sporting events in Seattle in its heyday, and we're not just talking high-school sports.

There were games from 1947-71 and all but one was held at Memorial Stadium, which opened in 1947, according to local sports historian Russ Dille.

In some years, the game would draw as many as 15,000 fans, and portable bleachers would increase seating capacity at the stadium.

In the inaugural game, Don Heinrich led Bremerton over Ballard, 19-14. Heinrich went on to star at the University of Washington and in the NFL.

The next year, West Seattle and Wenatchee played to a 6-6 tie and the game was on this new thing called television, Dille noted.

The early format was to have the Seattle champion play what a principals' committee considered to be the best team in the state. To reduce controversy in the selection process, the city schools entered into an arrangement from 1956-59 with the North Puget Sound League champion.

Then, in 1960, the city league added suburban members Shoreline and Edmonds, went to separate divisions, became known as the Metro League and used the Turkey Day game to decide the championship. The 1962 game in which Shoreline beat Garfield 20-7 was played at Husky Stadium because of the World's Fair, according to Dille.

In 1970 and 1971 the league went back to bringing in the North Puget Sound League champ, but by then the game had lost its luster. Televised college games were keeping fans at home and Seattle had its first major professional team, the SuperSonics. The 1971 game in which Nathan Hale beat Kent-Meridian 14-7 was the finale.

In 1973, the state playoff system started.

Q: I realize the most important stat in any game is points (runs in baseball and softball). But in your opinion, what are the other most important stats and the least important stats in football, basketball, baseball and fastpitch?

A. Football: Most important — turnover margin, total offensive yards, opponent offensive yards. Most overrated — time of possession (teams that score quickly don't have the ball long).

Baseball/fastpitch softball: Most important — earned-run average, batting average with runners in scoring position, on-base percentage. Most overrated — wins by a pitcher (influenced too much by whether a team happens to hit well on particular days).

Basketball: Most important — shooting percentage, opponent shooting percentage, offensive rebounds. Most overrated — steals (a lot can come from sitting in passing lanes) and blocked shots (granted, the intimidation factor helps, but often shots are swatted out of bounds or to the other team.)

Q: What's your opinion of the movie "Varsity Blues?"

A: I finally rented this flawed high-school football movie set in a small Texas town and I admit it held my attention. There were some memorable minor and major characters, especially the despicable Coach Kilmer (Jon Voigt). The film certainly deserved its "R" rating for language and skin, especially a scene in a strip club. (Somehow, the guys in the movie had a much different high-school experience than mine.)

Some of the football hitting was realistic, but other football scenes were phony.

If you want to see a good high-school sports movie, rent "Vision Quest." The film is set in Spokane and has a great cast that includes Madonna. The main character is a high-school wrestler.

Q: What's the best advice you ever got in your life?

A: Decades ago, I worked for the Charleston Gazette in West Virginia and a wise city editor told me, "Kid, there's good stuff at Episcopalian rummage sales."

I don't make the circuit of Episcopalian rummage sales, but I always attend the big spring Lakeside Rummage Sale that is open to the public. (Lakeside School isn't Episcopalian but it draws from a similar socioeconomic bracket to which I don't belong.) At times, 15 percent of my wardrobe has come from the rummage sale.

I have high standards, though, and won't buy secondhand underwear.

Have a question about high-school sports? Craig Smith will find the answer every Tuesday in The Times. Ask your question in one of the following ways: Voice mail (206-464-8279), snail mail (Craig Smith, Seattle Times Sports, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111), or e-mail csmith@seattletimes.com.