Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Slade Gorton explains that it's no longer "Save Our Sonics", it's "Save Our NBA." He tells Greg Johns: "While I'd still love to see the Sonics stay, I think that is highly unlikely. What we're trying to accomplish now, in my view, is to get another team in their place. That will, however, require the governor and Legislature to come up with a way for Seattle to pay its share of the KeyArena remodel." SonicsCentral thinks that this is just a way to open up talks with the league.

Rocky Bernard punched the mother of his child in the head, according to police reports, write Christine Clarridge and Jose Miguel Romero. Bernard spent the night in jail and will likely be released today.

If Frank Thomas agrees to waive his option for 2009, the M's should sign him, writes Larry Stone.

Some guy in Renton extorted Pac-Man Jones, reports the AP. Honestly, is there a city in America where someone hasn't extorted Pac-Man Jones?

Husky starting center Juan Garcia, expected to be the anchor of the Dawgs' offensive line, has a Lisfranc injury to his foot. Stanback had the same thing and missed ten months, but his injury was severe. Garcia's they aren't yet sure about. He'll see some specialists in the next few days, writes Bob Condotta.

Sheryl Swoopes is much happier now that she came out of the closet, writes Jim Moore. Though she wishes the WNBA was happy about it, too.

The Seahawks won't pick a tight end in the first round, writes Clare Farnsworth. Too many of the Hawks front office folks cut their teeth under former Packers GM Ron Wolf, and Wolf was dead set against using a first-rounder on a tight end.

Before Sergio Rodriguez works on the areas of his game that he knows he needs to improve, he's going to focus on having fun playing basketball again, writes Jason Quick.

Garfield High--whose coaching search committee included Brandon Roy--picked a new coach, and they went with youth over experience. The new coach is 24-year-old Tavio Hobson, son of former O'Dea coach Lou. He's the only one of the candidates who hadn't won a state tournament game, writes Tom Wyrwich.

The 3A boys and girls tournaments could be headed back to Tacoma, writes Craig Smith. That would suck. Then again, I only made it to one game last year, so it's probably my fault.