Seattle Sports: In the Morning

The Mariners got better, signing Carlos Silva for 4 years. Silva pitched at through the 7th inning 12 times last year, more than every Mariner starter except King Felix, who also did it 12 times. THE MAN EATS INNINGS!

Sonics took a beating from the Hornets and, specifically, Chris Paul, who had 21 points and 15 assists. Gary Washburn of the P-I doesn't quite come out and say that Earl Watson and Luke Ridnour suck, but he does write: "Chandler was available for uncontested dunks because Kurt Thomas was forced to defend Paul after beating his defender to the paint. It was a common occurrence, one the Sonics have no answer for this season."

Brandon Roy had 25 points, 9 assists and 8 boards in the Blazers' 9th win in a row, 101-96 over the Raptors.

Wazzu plays The Citadel tonight. The game (despite what this ESPN preview says) is at Key Arena. 7:30pm tipoff. Tickets are $12-175, when I checked this morning you could get courtside or cheap seats no prob.

In Pac-10 b-ball: Oregon State beat Northern Colorado, 65-56; #19 Arizona rallied past UNLV, 52-49; #25 Stanford obliterated Santa Clara, 74-48, in Brook Lopez ' first game of the year (academics).

Rick Neuheisel tells the Tacoma News-Tribune: "I had a great four years at the University of Washington. I loved coaching at Husky Stadium. I loved being part of the program." He tells the P-I's Jim Moore that he hopes the Huskies do well, and that Jake Locker was his son's counselor at Peyton Manning's quarterback camp.

Ken Rosenthal of The Sporting News reports that the Orioles are less interested in trading Eric Bedard because they aren't happy with the offers they've been getting.

Kevin Durant took 26 kids from First Place Elementary on a shopping spree and lunch at Sport. Each kid got a $200 gift certificate to Niketown and, according to Supersonics.com's Kevin Pelton, free fashion advice from Durant's mom Wanda.

Kurt Thomas has been a great influence on the court and in the locker room, writes TNT's Eric D. Williams.

TNT's Dave Boling writes that Rocky Bernard is the unsung hero of the defense. Lofa Tatupu says of Bernard: "To have the repertoire he has as a (defensive tackle) is really impressive. The thing is, if you stop one of his moves, he’s got a counter. A lot of guys, if you stop their best move, that’s it. But he always comes back with something else."

Recruiting experts say the Huskies class of '08 is their best recruiting class since 2001, and could end up being the best ever.