Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Remember when Griffey told FSN he was going to retire as a Mariner? Turns out he may not have quite meant what we thought he did. Griffey tells the Times' Larry Stone: "You don't know what's going to happen. They [the Mariners] could have five outfielders that are 22. What do they need me for? I think people are blowing it out of proportion. I mean, did Emmitt play for the Cowboys when he retired? No. He signed a piece of paper. He knew he wasn't going to play."

Mariners play their first spring game today...here's the lineup via the P-I's John Hickey: CF Ichiro Suzuki, DH Jose Vidro, RF Brad Wilkerson, 3B Adrian Beltre, 1B Bryan LaHair, LF Mike Morse, 2B Jose Lopez, C Jamie Burke and SS Bloomquist.

Here's who will pitch: Jarrod Washburn, Miguel Batista, R.A. Dickey (knuckleballer!), Brandon Morrow, Eric O'Flaherty.

Hawks backup LB Kevin Bentley, permanently stuck behind Tatupu, Peterson and Hill, will test the free agent market because he wants to start.

As yesterday's blowout loss to the Nuggets wound down, Allen Iverson was signing autographs, reports the P-I's Gary Washburn.

Spencer Hawes had a nice game on Tuesday, scoring 16 points. Rotoworld thinks he'll play a bunch the rest of the way since the Kings are out of the playoffs.

Devin Harmeling sprained an ankle in practice and will be a game-time decision tonight vs. Cal, reports the Times' Bud Withers.

A guy shot to death in Tukwila over the weekend was the adopted brother of the Stewart twins. Allen Winston-Stewart also played basketball at Rainier Beach.

Portland State can clinch the regular-season Big Sky crown with a win at Montana St. tonight.