Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Ups to the P-I's Jim Moore...
"Go 2 Guy" reports all kinds of interesting stuff today. 1) Mike Hargrove says he wants to manage again. 2) Adam Jones' mom is awesome.

Bedard is the M's Opening Day Starter...
McLaren explains his thinking to the P-I's John Hickey: "I just think Erik has more experience and basically that's the reason. I talked to Felix and he's comfortable with our decision. We haven't put our whole rotation together, where everyone is going to fall, but Erik is definitely our Opening Day starter."

This makes sense to me--you don't want to set up a competition between these two guys, where they feel like they have to pitch well in Spring Training to earn "ace" status.

Sonics and Blazers badly need a break...
Nate McMillan thinks the All-Star break will help his tired team, telling Joe Freeman of The Oregonian: "We looked mentally fatigued. We can't sustain our concentration and our effort...our guys have pretty much looked drained for the last couple of weeks. And they are trying, but right now we're just not able to put together a 48-minute game, and I think that is more mental than anything." Says Brandon Roy: "Guys just have to man up."

An odd scene in the Sonics' locker room after yesterday's game, writes the Times' Percy Allen: "Several Sonics bolted out of the locker room after the game, eager to begin their All-Star break, while reserve guard Delonte West sat in his uniform with a towel draped over his head for at least 20 minutes. A few players and assistants patted him on his shoulders, but he didn't move and was the last player to leave."

P.J. Carlesimo didn't like the way his team played, telling the P-I's Gary Washburn: "We took a big step back tonight, in terms of being as competitive as we need to be. Our defense is a lot better than it showed tonight. As good as they are, our defense was still very poor, even considering it was still Utah, it was terrible. Their (big men) had their way with us all night."

The Sonics aren't likely to find a trading partner; the Times' Percy Allen explains why: "The rationale goes something like this, the only deals that will occur will involve major stars such as Jason Kidd to Dallas, Ron Artest to Denver or Sam Cassell to Boston. When you're the GM of a contending team, it's difficult to convince your owner, team and fans that you're making a legitimate title run when you acquire someone like Luke Ridnour after the Lakers trade for Pau Gasol and Phoenix deals for Shaquille O'Neal."

2008 Sounders roster--and possible 2009 MLS team roster--taking shape...
The Sounders announced they've resigned six players from last year's USL championship team, in addition to another eight they picked up options on. They're still negotiating with goalie Chris Eylander. Sounders' first game is 4/19 in Charleston, their home opener is 5/10 vs. Portland.

Incredible talent, questionable desire...
An NBA scout has harsh words about the Zags' Josh Heytvelt: "He has completely lost all his aggressiveness and his confidence. He is a shadow of himself." This from the Times' Bud Withers, who writes that the talented Heytvelt is effectively the Zags' third-string center right now.

C.J. Giles didn't leave Corvallis after getting booted off the OSU basketball team, writes Adam Jude of the Eugene Register-Guard. Giles hopes to convince the next coach to let him back on the team. He says he's "focusing on school." But he also says he's going back to Seattle every weekend to play basketball...not sure that's quite the laser-like focus he'll need to make the dean's list. (Via Bob Condotta's Husky BB blog)

Other college hoops news...
Both the Huskies and the Ducks are feeling optimistic after big wins--the Dawgs vs. UCLA, the Ducks at Cal--writes Greg Johns of the P-I. One team's optimism will be gone after tonight.

Bryce Taylor has a resolution for tonight's game against the Huskies: "We're not going to let them out-tough us or outhustle us," Taylor tells the Oregonian's John Hunt.

Justin Holiday, who injured his knee and ankle in practice, won't make the trip to Oregon, writes TNT's Don Ruiz. Instead, he's scheduled for an MRI today--his injury could be pretty bad.

Today's Action...
Washington (13-11) @ Oregon (14-9), 5:30pm, Comcast Sports Net (P-Town) or ESPN Full Court.

Washington State (18-5) @ Oregon St. (6-17), 5:30pm, FSN.