Come On!!!!

What the hell, Xavier? We don’t get it.  Is the law just looking for you? Everyday it seems like there is a new story about a Cougar football player getting in trouble. Sure it was only a misdemeanor ticket, but come on!

Look, should Hicks have been driving with a suspended license, no.  But was it really necessary for the jail to turn him in.  He must have really pissed off somebody in Whitman County.

WSU’s Xavier Hicks ticketed on way home from jail [Seattle Times]

McLaren Fired!!!!

That’s what Geoff Baker is reporting. There is to be a press conference at 11:30 today to formally announce the change.  Bench coach Jim Riggleman will be the interim manager.

Not exactly sure what this solves, we don’t think this is going to spur the team into a 10-game winning streak or anything.  We guess it can’t make the situation any worse than it already is.  The more appropriate move would have been to cut Richie Sexson, although they may be saving that for next week.

Mel Hein Is The Face Of Washington State, The Cheater Is At UW

That’s according to ESPN. The short excerpt, written by former Seattle PI staffer Ted Miller, states that Hein is referred to as the greatest center of all-time.  That’s quite a high-accolade for a fella from Washington State.

Since we were looking at all the schools, we happened upon the University of Washington’s tab, where Don James was named the Face of the Program.  Isn’t this the most appropriate choice.  The man who lead the Dawgs to glory, then turned his back on the program when it was exposed that cheating was prominent during his tenure.  A lot like the Husky fans, there when they are winning, nonexistent when they aren’t. 

The University of Washington, where probation happens.

College Football Face of the Program

Seattle v. Sonics….Who’s Winning?

We are through 3 days of testimonies, objections, and lying about being a “man possessed,” but who’s winning this case?  We don’t have any idea since our only legal dealings is paying a $20 parking ticket.  What we do know is that Clay Bennett bought a broken product, and know he is trying to use the state of said product to duck out of town early.

To us, it seems like a pretty weak argument from the Sonics’ side.  It’s like you overpaid for a 1985 Subaru with 260,000 miles on it, knowing exactly what kind of car you were getting, then decide in 2 months when it craps out that you want your money back because you bought a lemon.  Bennett knew he was getting a team with an awful lease, located in a city and state where the politicians are more concerned with getting re-elected than keeping a community asset of 41-years around. 

You made a bad deal Clay.  You and your “boys” were so eager to bring Pro Basketball to OKC that you overpaid and underestimated the City of Seattle.  Well, we’re sure you know that old saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Here’s to hoping Judge Pechman gives Bennett two more years to squeeze that lemon.   

Sonics’ “good faith efforts” never materialized [Seattle PI]

M’s GM Search

We are not going to sit here and give you a list of potential candidates for the opening at GM for the Mariners.  We don’t know much about Assistant GMs from other teams or the washed-up retreads that have been mentioned.  What we decided to do instead was give you some links to lists that more knowledgeable people have complied:

U.S.S Mariner’s Extended List

Larry Stone’s list over at The Seattle Times

 Prospect Insider created their own list

We believe the M’s must go the new, young GM route.  Enough of these retreads, we’ve seen too much of that with guys like Bavasi.  We aren’t “sabermetric heads” like the guys at U.S.S Mariner, so we don’t think it has to exclusively be one of these numbers guys.  That component needs to be part of the package, however, along with the ability to evaluate talent and build a staff that can evaluate talent.

Right now, whom ever the new GM will be, he (or possibly she?) needs to have the dead weight cut before they arrive on the job.  That means Richie Sexson and Jose Vidro are gone, Clement is playing everyday, and Balentin is back up in the big leagues. There’s no question about that.

Why Can’t WSU Get BCS Schools To Pullman?

We were reading Phil Steele’s 2008 College Football Preview magazine today and noticed that Wisconsin is visiting Fresno State on September 13.  This is the same Wisconsin team that Washington State traveled to Madison to play last September.

The Cougars have always had a tough time finding big name opponents to visit Pullman because of its location and weather conditions during football season.  But USC and UCLA make it up every other year, why can’t a team like Wisconsin make the trek.  We’re tired of the Cougars signing up for these one-way games against other BCS schools.  Sure they get a nice paycheck, but what’s the point in going down to Auburn or over to Wisconsin without guaranteeing they have to come up to the Palouse?  Imagine an early October game against Auburn at Martin Stadium! 

Fresno State plays in Bulldog Stadium, which holds 41,031, and is located in an easier-to-get-to place.  Washington State is in “the middle of nowhere,” with Martin Stadium holding 35,117 but they are part of the Pac-10, the second (or third?) best conference in the country.  Maybe when the latest stadium renovations are complete it will more appealing for other schools.  Jim Sterk has done a great job with getting the stadium renovated, keeping Tony Bennett, and improving the overall strength of WSU athletics.  His next challenge: Get a big-name BCS school to agree to a home-and-home series with Washington State.

Save Our Sonics Rally

Great turn out yesterday for the rally at the courthouse.  We’ve heard all sorts of estimates: 700, 1,000, 2,000, even 3,000 according to this article. We’re glad Gary Payton showed up, although every time he talks about the Sonics leaving Seattle it involves his jersey being retired.  It has always been about Gary for Gary, but losing the Sonics is a little more important than where your jersey is going to be retired at. 

Of course, Clay Clay had to sneak out the backdoor instead of facing the crowd.  Those actions are typical of snake, slittering out rather than face the people he’s stealing pro basketball from.  We hope the NBA was watching, David Stern could see that Seattle still cares.  But knowing Stern, he doesn’t read or watch anything that would give him a negative view of his buddy Bennett.

The article says that Sonics’ fans gave Oklahoma reporters the middle finger when they found out they were there, we hope that was the lead in for any story the dust-eaters run today.

3,000 rally loud and proud to keep Sonics in Seattle [Seattle PI]

Sonics Worth Less Than Wally Szczerbiak

The lawyers for old Clay Clay filed their motion that $10 million should cover the cost of the lease with KeyArena. That is less money than Wally Szczerbiak made playing this season.

Yes, the value of Pro Basketball is only $10 million in the 12th largest market, but in the 43rd largest its worth millions more?  For educated, successful businessmen these owners and their lawyers continue to make themselves look foolish.  If you were judge in this case what would you say to that claim?  It is one of the most ridiculous things we have ever heard.  Only worth 10million bucks, as Detlef Schrempf would say, “COME ON!!!!” 

T-minus 3 days until the show gets rolling in the courtroom.

Sonics’ lawyers cite city’s ‘yawning indifference’ to pro basketball [Seattle PI]

The Brandon Morrow Debate

As the Mariner’s season continues to waste away, the ramifications of this 2008 disaster may cause damage into the near the future.  With the latest injury to J.J. Putz, Brandon Morrow seems the heir apparent to the closer’s role. 

If the M’s decide to go that route, Morrow’s development into a starter will take a backseat for another season.  With the Mariners 18 games under .500 doesn’t it make more sense to send Morrow to Tacoma, let him develop his second and third pitches, and have him ready to start next season?  Who cares who is the closer this year, let Mark Lowe try it out.  The season is done and the sooner management realizes it, the better.

Yesterday was the perfect example of why Morrow needs to be working on his pitches and getting streched out in Tacoma.  He basically pitched the entire 9th inning only throwing fastballs.  That works when you are facing only 3 batters, but what happens the second and third time through the lineup? 

Instead of firing the hitting coach or taking away the player’s food and towels, maybe Bavasi should be concentrating on getting the club ready for next year so the new GM doesn’t have to do as much work.

Mariners’ win in Toronto overshadowed by Putz injury  [Seattle Times]

Clay Bennett Says No To Mitchy the Kid

Lawyers for Clay Bennett filed a motion in court Tuesday to bar KJR’s Mitch Levy and the Stranger’s Sherman Alexie from testifying.  The thing we don’t understand is that the lawyers claim they have nothing relevant to add to the case, so why is it a problem that they testify? 

They claim it will add to the “media circus” of the trial.  Well, when your trying to steal the NBA franchise out of a region that has supported it for 41 years, there’s going to be a circus.  There also should be a parade, a fair, and a carnival.  Anything to keep the OKC knuckleheads from leaving town with our Green & Gold.

We’ve never heard of Sherman Alexie, so we can’t imagine his testimony is going to cause a region-wide media upheavel.  We listen to Mitch every morning, he’s great, and do think he could add something to the city’s case.  He knows the Seattle sports fan, attends some a few games, and, frankly, he probably has some inside information that the Sonics don’t want out. 

Mitchy the Kid vs. Clay Bennett in a courtroom. We’ll pay to see that.

Sonics’ lawyers seek to bar radio voice and writer from testifying [Seattle PI]