>>Indians Outlast M's With Another Walk-Off Win 

It was fun and gut wrenching.  Going into NY the Mariners were feeling pretty good.  Then the loss they should have won followed by two reobound games and then a four game masterpiece by the Mariners' bullpen in Cleveland. That's how not to pitch kids.  Yan Gomes homered twice, including a three-run shot in the bottom of the 10th inning, as the Indians beat the Mariners, 10-8.  Justin Smoak's solo homer in the top of the 10th had given Seattle an 8-7 lead.  Endy Chavez homered in the top of the ninth to give the M's a 7-6 lead, but an error allowed the tying run to score in the bottom half for Cleveland.  The Tribe swept the four-game series with three in walk-off fashion.  Charlie Furbush took the loss.  Kyle Seager also homered for the Mariners in the setback. 

>>M's Open Series With Angels 

The Mariners open a two-game series with the Angels tonight in Anaheim.  Aaron Harang is slated to get the start on the mound for Seattle, which is 20-and-25 on the season.  The 17-and-27 Angels will counter with Jerome Williams.  First-pitch is at 7:05. 

>>Report: Seahawks' Portis Arrested For DUI 

The "Seattle Times" reports Seahawks backup quarterback Josh Portis was arrested for DUI on May 5th.  According to the report, Portis will be arraigned on May 28th.  Portis signed a two-year deal with Seattle in April.  He was on the practice squad for 12 weeks last year. 

>>Indians Blank Mariners 

Michael Brantley hit a three-run homer and knocked in four runs as the Indians topped the Mariners, 6-0.  Felix Hernandez struck out eight but gave up all the runs in five frames for the loss.  He is now 5-and-3 on the season. The M's conclude the four-game series with Cleveland Monday before heading to California to play the Angels. 

>>Seahawks OTAs Start Today 

The Seahawks hold the first of 10 organized team activities today at Virginia Mason Athletic Center.  The 10 workouts will be spread out over three weeks.  Then comes a mandatory team mini-camp June 11-13. 

>>Huskies' Wilcox Has Foot Surgery 

Washington guard C.J. Wilcox underwent left foot surgery on Friday to alleviate a stress fracture.  Wilcox, a senior-to-be, is expected to return to basketball before the 2013-14 season opens.  He led the Huskies in scoring at 16-point-8 points per game and was second on the team in blocked shots with 35. 


>>Storm Top Tulsa In Exhibition Game 

I only bring this story up because I had the privilege of broadcasting a Tina Thompson game while I was the broadcaster for the Washington State Women’s basketball team a looooong time ago.  There were three places I wanted to go and that was USC, Stanford and Arizona St. Because I knew there would actually be crowds at USC and Stanford and as for ASU, well the girls and to see Sun Devil stadium of course.  And USC did not disappoint.  It was crazy environment and Thompson was still the star of the show then as she was last night. She scored 19 points to lead the Storm to a 63-59 win over Tulsa on Friday night at KeyArena.  The Storm won both of their preseason games and the team's next game is this Sunday's regular-season opener in Los Angeles.  The Storm's first home game is June 2nd against the Phoenix Mercury. That’s more than enough WNBA talk.

Photo courtesy of Whitworth University

>>I want to be like Guthrie!

As I get ready to waste more money at a golf course today, all I can think about is how I'd like to shoot under 80 once in my life. Today I will try to be like Whitworth Sr Emily Guthrie and shoot her bad round of 81.  That 81 yesterday in the national tournament included a triple bogey that slipped her out of the top 10 and into a 12th place finish. As I wrote in past blogs, she is playing with a ripped up ACL and still started the final round tied for seventh place. She opened Friday's competition with a triple bogey on the tenth hole, but bounced back with a birdie on the 17^th hole. Swinging around to the front nine holes, Guthrie was on-par until her final two holes when she hit a bogey and double bogey to finish the day with a score of 81 (+9). She finished the four-day championships with a score of 314. Guthrie was one of six individuals who earned an at-large invitation into the field of 111 and made her third career NCAA tournament appearance. She finished 20^th at the 2012 NCAA Championships and was a member of the Whitworth women's golf team that competed in the NCAA tournament her freshman season. It was a pleasure watching her kill teams on a basketball court at Whitworth U and today I will try to be her on a golf course.

>>That's one tired bullpen

I am making an excuse here.  The New York series killed the Ms bullpen.  And yet we still had a chance on dollar hotdog night and fireworks night.  sounds like a spokane Indians game.  But it was in Cleveland.  Second place Seattle Mariners against the second place Indians.  I won't be able to say that about Seattle often this year so let me get it in while I can.   Jason Kipnis lifted a three-run walk-off home run in the 10th inning to give the Indians a 6-3 win over the Mariners.  Drew Stubbs also went deep for Cleveland, which has won two straight.  Vinnie Pestano picked up the win in relief.  the old guy Raul Ibanez hit another homer this week!  A two-run shot while Kendrys Morales had a solo jack for Seattle, which had won two in-a-row.  Lucas Luetge took the loss out of the bullpen. 

>>Irvin gone for important opening games

This one hurt because I have bought into the fact that we are winning it all next year.  And Bruce Irvin isn't going to have a sophomore slump.  Or so I thought. The NFL is suspending the Seattle Seahawks defensive end n for the first four games of the 2013 season.  The penalty without pay comes for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.  Irvin will be eligible to return to the Seahawks' active roster on Monday, September 30th following the team's September 29th game against the Houston Texans.  He can participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games in the interim. 

>Mariners Hold Off Yanks 

Michael Morse with his odd practice swing and all, powered  a solo homer to help the Mariners in a 3-2 win over the Yankees.  Dustin Ackley doubled in a run while Brendan Ryan was 2-for-4 with an RBI in the win.  Oliver Perez earned the win in relief while Tom Wilhelmsen notched his 11th save.  Seattle has won five of its last seven. The M's face the Indians in Cleveland at 4:05. 

>>Guthrie tees off in 7th at Nationals

Whitworth U basketball and golf star Sr. Emily Guthrie turned in her lowest score of the tournament and moved up in the player rankings after the third round of action and will start the final round of the NCAA Division III women's golf championships at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort tied with Texas-Tyler's Marina Rhodes for seventh place.  If you have read past posts then you know she is doing this with a ripped up ACL.  An injury that she suffered in the basketball season and made us think her golf career at whitworth was done too.  Well not so fast.

She currently holds the highest ranking of the six individuals competing at the NCAA DIII championships and will tee off from the 10^th hole at 11 this morning.

>>NBA news to say goodbye

Cheers to G State and that fun lineup that was dismissed last night by the old guys from San Antonio.  But not without another Warrior fight.  Former Coug Clay Thompson, that kid from Davidson and the rest of the fresh Golden State team surpassed what anyone thought they'd accomplish this season and it was refreshing to watch.  I tell the story of how when I sat in North Carolina and watched this Steph Curry guy shock the Gonzaga Bulldogs in the tournament snd that he'd never amount to an NBA player.  I may have been a little upset at the time and won't be held liable for my stupidity.  The kid is crazy good and could end up being one of the greatest shooters of all time.  Some of his shots we would call lucky if looped up by anyone else.  Just brilliant to watch.  And the NBA is HARD to watch.

>>Maloofs Sell Kings To Sacramento Group 

The Sacramento Kings have a new owner.  According to the "Sacramento Bee," the Maloofs have sold the NBA franchise to a local group.  The deal is worth a reported 535-million-dollars.  The contract will be announced today.  The transaction came a day after the NBA voted against the Kings to be relocated and sold to a Seattle investor.  Can we now stop talking about the "Aloof" family and the Sonics.

>>Mariners Maul Yankees 

7-0 in the blink of an eye! Raul Ibanez hit a grand slam and a two-run homer to help the Mariners maul the Yankees, 12-2.  Kyle Seager hit a three-run home run and scored twice for Seattle, which has alternated wins and losses the last five games.  Michael Saunders knocked in and scored a run in the win.  Hisashi Iwakuma improved to 5-and-1 with seven innings of two-run ball.  It's the good 'ol rubber match today. The teams wrap up the series at 4:05.

>>Kings To Stay In Sacramento 

The idiot David Stern wanted nothing to do with that press conference.  He admitted he wanted to get out and get to watching the former Sonics head on vacation after being eliminated by the former team from just north of Seattle, the Vancouver, ummm, Memphis Grizzlies. The Sacramento Kings are staying put.  The NBA's Board of Governors has voted against a proposal for the Kings to be sold to a group looking to relocate the team to Seattle.  The board followed last month's recommendation from the relocation committee to leave the Kings in Sacramento, where the team has played since 1985.  

The Aloof family (nope I didn't spell that wrong) had agreed to sell a 65-percent stake in the team to the Seattle group earlier this year, but the league stepped in and gave Sacramento a chance to counter.  Seattle lost its NBA team when the Sonics relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. 

>>Chris Hansen Releases Statement On NBA Vote 

(Seattle, WA)  --  Seattle investor Chris Hansen has released a concession statement regarding the NBA's vote on keeping the Kings in Sacramento.  Hansen was quoted as saying, "While we are obviously extremely disappointed with today's relocation vote and truly believe we put forth both a significant and better offer and arena plan, we do thank the league and the owners for their time and consideration and look forward to hearing back on our agreement to join the Maloofs as Limited Partners in the Kings."  The statement concludes in part: "Our day will come."

>>>M's lose a win for King Felix

Felix left with a 3-1 lead and then the bullpen failed to do the job.  A lot like last night's home plate umpire Jerry Layne failed to do his.  His style and strike zone was as lazy and weak as a Brendan Ryan at bat. (How is this guy still in the majors when we have all of Tacoma batting better than his .129?) Layne was equally brutal for boths teams so at least he was consistant.  Lyle Overbay's sacrifice-fly capped a three-run seventh inning and lifted the Yankees to a 4-3 win over the Mariners.  Raul Ibanez who always feels at home in NY - hit a two-run homer and Kyle Seager added a run-scoring double for Seattle.  Felix Hernandez gave up one run over six frames with eight strikeouts, while Charlie Furbush took the loss in relief.  The M's had won three of their last four.  The series continues at 4:05. 

>>Kings Vote Set For Today 

I'm a HUGE Sonics fan and even I am sick of this story.  But the fate of the NBA's Sacramento Kings is expected to be decided today.  League owners are slated to vote on a proposal by the Maloof family to sell the Kings to a group that wants to move the team to Seattle.  The NBA's relocation committee recommended last month that the team remain in Sacramento.  About a dozen league owners met Monday after the Seattle group upped its purchase offer late last week, but said their position hasn't changed.  Meanwhile the thief Clay Bennet is watching the Seattle Thunder implode without Russel Westbrook and they are a game away from being elimintated.OKC and Chicago can both punch their tickets to the golf course with game 5 losses tonight.

>>Local Sports

WHIT WHAT! So I'm biased - so what - In Whitworth news, Senior Emily Guthrie is in 23rd place at the  2013 NCAA women’s golf championships after she with a round of 80 at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.  AND SHE IS DOING IT WITHOUT HER ACL!!  Which she destroyed during the basketball season.  She matched her opening round score from the 2012 NCAA tournament. Second round should be underway as I write this morning.

And Maybe the Zags just need to get to the WCC tournament.  At a time when the baseball team needs to be peaking, they have dropped 3 straight.  Two against App State and a 4-3 loss to the #10 O Ducks yesterday.  The Zags are 0-5 against Oregon over the past three seasons and will try to break that streak and improve the NCAA resume today before wrapping up the regular season at Cal.  The 2013 WCC Champs begind tournament play in Stockton on the 23rd.

>>Redmon cut and wrong one

I'm one of the many in Spokane that has had the pleasure of watching and getting to know Katelan Redmon.  The Seattle Storm waived the Gonzaga and Lewis & Clark High product yesterday.  Redmon was a two-time all WCC player and became the fourth Bulldog in school history to be drafted into the WNBA when she was selected 36^th overall to the New York Liberty.  She played in seven games with the New York Liberty as a rookie last season. And Zag fans know what Seattle has missed out on. Besides her high basketball IQ she brings that IT factor to a team.  Every team needs a Redmon on the floor and on the bench. She is a total team player and Seattle must think they have a pretty good team as they also cut third-round pick Jasmine James. She will land on another court. In the meantime I will still wear my one and only WNBA jersey, Redmon's #30 from the Liberty, with pride.

>>Speaking of basketball in Seattle

ESPN.com reports a committee of NBA owners still believes the Kings should not be relocated to Seattle and should remain in Sacramento.  According to the report, a final vote on the issue is expected at the owners' meetings in Dallas tomorrow.  Chris Hansen has been attempting to buy the Kings and relocate them to Seattle. 

>>Mariners Open Series With Yankees 

Don't bother me after 4 today! Happy King Felix Day everyone! The Mariners begin a three-game road series with the Yankees this evening.  Seattle enters the set with three wins in its last four games.  A marquee pitching matchup is on tap, as Felix Hernandez will oppose CC Sabathia.  First-pitch is slated for 4:05. 

>>I'm the post season hockey guy

I'll admit it - I watch way more hockey in the post season.  I can sit and watch literally any sport.  Curling even excites me from time to time.  But I don't find myself getting excited for regular season hockey.  If I catch it on, I'll watch some of it.  But in the post season - I can watch any series.  What Boston did last night to not only the team in Toronto but to the city of Toronto was simply unbelievable. Bruins are too banged up to advance in the next round, but that comeback win goes down as one of the greatest in history.

>>Zags lose 2 of 3 to App St.

It was the final weekend of the 2013 baseball season at the Patterson Baseball Complex at GU.  Yesterday was Mother's Day and Senior's Day.  Six Zags played their final game at home.  And as the game of baseball goes, it was just one of those days.  Appalachian State played in the Pacific time zone for the first time and took 2 out of 3 from the 2013 WCC champs.  Including yesterday's 13 - 3 route.  As I sat there watching the game I could only think they could not wait to get out of the game and get to Oregon and Cal where they wrap up the regular season and then move into the WCC tournament as the #1 seed.  This team already has the resume to move on into the College World Series.  But they know they can't leave it up to the terrible selection committe and need to win their conference tournament to punch the auto ticket.  Thanks seniors and good luck Bulldogs.

>>Mariners Maul Athletics 

Kendrys Morales hit a three-run home run to lift the Mariners to a 6-1 win over the Athletics.  Michael Saunders is our stud right now.  It's easy to flip flop that title since no one bats over .290 but he was was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs for Seattle, which has won three-of-four. Former Zag and NIC Cardinals Jason Bay also went deep with his fourth long ball of the season in the win.  Joe Saunders struck out six over six-and-a-third innings of one-run ball for the victory.  The M's are off today before heading out on a nine-game road trip beginning with a series against the Yankees.  

>>Maloofs are aloof.  Starting to hate them more than Clay Bennett.  No wait - I still hate Clay Bennett more than anything.

The Maloofs will not sell the Sacramento Kings to a local buyer to keep the NBA franchise in California's capital.  According to ESPN, the current owners of the Kings will hold off on the sale if the league votes against the team moving to Seattle next week.  Instead the Maloofs will sell the Seattle group 20-percent or 125-million-dollars of the team as a backup plan as they continue to operate the club.  The group from Seattle has offered 625-million for the oft-relocated franchise. 

>>Seahawks Wrap Up Rookie Minicamp 

Whenever I even see the word "camp" next to "Seahawks" it really makes me miss seeing them in training camp in Cheney.  I still have not been to the camp in Renton where the Seahawks wrapped up their three-day rookie minicamp yesterday.  It was head coach Pete Carroll's first look at the Hawks 11-player draft class and many other UDFAs.  Quarterback Jerrod Johnson wasn't a rookie, but he hopes this weekend was the first step in claiming the back-up QB position behind Russell Wilson.  Johnson will be battling it out with Brady Quinn and Josh Portis.  

>>Public Remember Ex-Washington Basketball Coach and Ex-Lute

As a broadcaster for Whitworth U and lover of the Northwest Conference.  It hit close to home when we lost two greats last month.  Both from the PLU family.  Marv Harshman and Frosty Westering.  The Frosty news really hurt since I had the pleasure of getting to know him personally over the last dozen years.  Over the weekend, more than a thousand Washington basketball fans attended a public memorial service for the late Marv Harshman at Hec Ed Pavilion. Harshman was the Huskies head coach who also coached at Washington State and Pacific Lutheran over a 40-year career.  He died at the age of 95 last month. 

>>WHIT WHAT!

Speaking of Whitworth, good luck to the men & women at the 2013 Whitworth Final Qualifying meet today at the campus.  PS:  If you have not had the chance to see or read up on one of the World's best throwers I suggest you start paying attention. Former Mead Panther and Pirates Senior Carter Comito stands at 24th in the world for collegiate discus throwers.  And if you ever get a chance to have his Dad Chef Comito make you a desert at the Spokane Country Club, go ahead and indulge.

I don't want this great spring to end or the summer to be short, but I can not wait for the NFL.  I'm trying not to buy into all the hype but c'mon.  The Hawks are loaded.  Seahawks defensive tackle Greg Scruggs has surgery on a torn ACL in his right knee yesterday.  Scruggs had five tackles and two sacks in 11 games as a rookie last season.  Scruggs will likely miss the entire upcoming season. 

Go M's>

The Mariners open up a three-game home series with the A's tonight.  Seattle stopped a two-game slide with a 2-1 win over the Pirates Wednesday.  Hisashi Iwakuma gets the start on the mound for the M's.  The A's will counter with Dan Straily.  First-pitch is at 7:10. 

I was up at 4am today just to watch yesterday's first round of the TPC.  I started watching every golfer and every swing and then found myself fast forwarding to only Tiger Woods.  I just can't get enough of watching the greatest golfer ever. (Insert all of your arguments here.)  Don't update me on today's round - I'll be watching it tomorrow.

I will be watching some football tonight at Joe ALbi.  The "Semi-Pro" Spokane Wolf Pack.  I'm a sucker for football.  Plus I have a few friends on the team who are still clinging to the dream.  They play Okanogan at 7:30 in what I think is also a tribute to our Military tonight.  Which really, every day should be.