Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Barack Obama's brother-in-law, Craig Robinson, is the new coach at Oregon State, reports Brooks Hatch of the Corvallis Gazette-Times. Because Robinson has only one winning season as a coach, and has never coached west of the Mississippi, the hire is "bizarre" and "makes almost no sense," in the view of John Canzano. Bob Condotta is surprised to discover that Robinson almost played for the Huskies.

Here's Robinson talking about how he sort-of vetted Obama for his sister Michelle by playing pickup basketball with him.

In other Pac-10 news, Mike Montgomery is Cal's new coach, Cal's Ryan Anderson will enter the draft but not hire an agent, and Arizona's Jarryd Bayless is turning pro.

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Felix Hernandez asked out of yesterday's M's game, tired because his start got bumped up a day, writes Geoff Baker.

The M's offense isn't doing the job, writes John Hickey. Ichiro says: "We have to do more. And it's not just today, but every game."

That wild pitch that tied the game was a stroke of bad luck, writes TNT's Ryan Divish. Jamie Burke explains: "It hit the left-foot hole (in the) left-handed batter’s box and just shot straight up in the air. I wished I could have knocked it down, but it hit the hole and took a wild bounce over my head."

Jose Lopez had only swung and missed once this year going into Saturday's game, writes Graham of Lookout Landing.

Ichiro's closest baseball comp is Wee Willie Keeler, writes Bob Sherwin in the New York Times.

Brad Wilkerson brings back bad memories of Rick Brunson and Glenn Foley, writes Constable Echelon of Hot Dog and Friends.

Ken Griffey Jr. hit his 594th home run. Here's video from ESPN.

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Durant and Green's performances in Sunday's win showed that the Sonics franchise is on the right track, writes Gary Washburn.

Before the game, George Karl shared his top-five Sonics memories with Steve Kelley. Karl wore a Space Needle tie during the game.

Bobby Jones tells Art Thiel he's frustrated by having bounced to five NBA franchises, an all-time record. But he's also having fun with it: "When I saw Brandon today, I said, 'I have an NBA record -- what have you done?' All-Star Game appearance? Big deal. I got a record."

Patrick Ewing finds out if he's been elected to the Basketball Hall of Fame tonight, just before tonight's NCAA championship game. He'd be the third former Sonic (Lenny Wilkens, David Thompson) to get elected--though his Sonic career probably is working against him.

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The Blazers' scorching December seems very far away now, writes Jason Quick.

Martell Webster was hospitalized Thursday with flu-like symptoms, tests showed he has an irregular heartbeat. He'll undergo tests with the team cardiologist today, writes Jason Quick.

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--Oregon's 1939 win in the NCAA tourney, still the only title for a Northwest school, was 69 years ago--Brian Meehan talks to 89-year-old Admiral John Dick about the game; he was the "Tall Firs" leading scorer that night. Then-coach Howard Hobson was a pioneer of the matchup zone and the fast break, writes Meehan.

--A new crop of younger, faster receivers has Jake Locker thinking deep ball, writes Molly Yanity.

--With a win in the Washington/Oregon NW shootout, the Ferris boys finished their careers on a 60-game win streak, writes Mindi Rice. The Washington girls team also won.

--Washington's crew won both men's and women's varsity eight races at the San Diego Crew Classic.

--Dorothy Harshman, wife of coach Marv, who passed away last Monday, was famous for the baked goods and meals she'd cook for players, writes Lornett Turnbull.

--Anyone remember The Fabulous Sports Babe? Well, after taking a few years off after being diagnosed with cancer, she's coming back to radio--in Tampa.

--The Seattle MLS franchise name will be announced today at noon. All these Euro-sounding names are attempts at social climbing, writes John McGrath.