Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Mike Hargrove, who stopped by M's spring training camp to force J.J. Putz to pitch until his arm falls off serve as an instructor, tried to see movies with his wife, but it didn't work out, he tells the Herald's Kirby Arnold: "We’ve agreed not to go to movies together because the kind I like she doesn’t, and the kind she likes I don’t. One of us is going to be bored to tears...I took her to see ‘No Country for Old Men.’ That was the straw that broke the camel’s back. No longer will we go to the same movie together.”

Nike's got a new shoe, the Sparq cross-trainer, which they'll be promoting in ads during the NCAA Tourney. Brandon Roy appears in the ads.

Shaun Alexander was at Seahawks HQ in Kirkland yesterday, reports the Times' Danny O'Neil. He met with Holmgren and Mo Morris. Alexander hasn't been released and apparently can't be until his wrist heals.

Alexander talked to the P-I's Clare Farnsworth, but didn't really say anything: "I'm great. I'm doing good. But then I haven't seen TV or read anything, because I've been in West Palm Beach and at Disney World. It's all good."

Kasey Dunn, an Idaho grad who's a longtime college assistant, is the Hawks new running backs coach.

Coug fans urge you to vote Butch as the EA Sports Mascot of the Year, or something.

The All-State boys basketball games are Saturday at Franklin--here are the rosters.

Bears Necessity created a Pac-10 2008 football helmet schedule. (Via Every Day Should Be Saturday)

Ex-Wazzu reciever Devard Darling signed with Kansas City, and another ex-Wazzuer, Steve Gleason, retired from the NFL--all according to this Times notebook.

Richie Sexson is pleased that his first spring homer went to right-center. He told the P-I's John Hickey: "That's big for me. That's when I'm swinging good. Last year, it seemed that all my homers were balls I pulled. What this one today tells me is that I'm letting the pitch travel to me before I hit it, and that's what I need to do to have success."

Dan Raley catches up with former Sonic Rich King, who still lives in the area.

UW women's coach Tia Jackson says that her incoming recruiting class will add athleticism to the team, which anyone who's watched the Husky women in the past few years will know is desperately needed.

Idaho State's coach on Portland State, which can win an NCAA tourney berth with a win tonight in the Big Sky championship: "They have no missing pieces. They have size inside, they shoot the ball well, they defend well and I think they're going to represent the Big Sky well if they can get past Northern Arizona."

New this year at the Oregon Boys Basketball state tourney: Less Racial Taunting! (they hope). True fact--I was sitting near some Oregon fans at the UW/Ducks game at Hec Ed this year, and one was telling the other how "Malik and Tajuan can't read." In fact, Malik Hairston graduated in just three years. The guy I went to the game with leans over and says, "Wow. Oregon fans are racist against their own players!"

Marcel Jones tells The Oregonian's Paul Buker why the Beavers can beat Arizona tonight: "Because it's a different season, and we start from scratch. Different attitude, different atmosphere, neutral site... I think it's a great opportunity, and I like the fact people don't give us a chance."

John Canzano tracks down the Kings of Losing, the Washington Generals, who sympathize with the Beavers' plight, since they haven't won since 1971.