Northwest Sports: In the Morning

Griffey hit #598 last night.

Richard Ben-Cramer, author of a controversial biography of Joe Dimaggio, is planning to write one on A-Rod. [HT: Derek Johnson] ...

Another comeback win for the Storm, this time over the defending WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury, writes Jayda Evans. Said Swin Cash after the game: "Can we please just be up [at halftime] against San Antonio?" ...

Storm PG Tanisha Wright is the Richie Sexson of the Storm--universally derided by all fans. Jayda Evans attempts to defend Wright on her blog: "Think she doesn't know y'all can't stand her at the point? To play through that when you know your 'home' crowd is cringing when you have the ball takes guts." ...

John McLaren is officially baffled, telling Geoff Baker: "I look at it and I just don't understand. I really don't." Baker called the team "an embarrassment" on his blog. McLaren is considering skipping Miguel Batista and/or Jarrod Washburn next time through the rotation, writes Baker. ...

McLaren lamented his team's inability to play a team game, telling John Hickey: "I stay up late at night thinking about it. Why would we have breakdowns in a couple of areas, and the next day we break down in another area and the others are good?" ...

The players defend McLaren. Ichiro tells Hickey: "I look at the last three games, and there's nothing he can do, not one move he could have made. And to think about that hurts." ..

(Note: Players will always defend a "players' manager" like McLaren.) ...

TNT's John McGrath suggests that McLaren get an ultimatum: Make it to .500 by June 26 (at which point McLaren will have managed 162 games) or you're out. Says McGrath: "From a distance, it’s appearing as if McLaren – a self-described 'players’ coach' during his tenure as Lou Piniella’s chief assistant – lacks the stern streak required of any leader." Yeah, I'd say that. ...

Mike Seely of the Weekly points out that Beltre's hardly been fantastic. .246? Really?...

Fig Jam of Hot Dog & Friends vents after his regular pickup game got interrupted by people who wanted to park on the court....

Michael Steffes of Seahawks Addicts (a fabulous new Seahawks blog) points out this interview with new OG Mike Wahle on KJR--sounds like a good listen for football junkies. ...

Marques Tuiasosopo resigned with the Raiders. Tui, who didn't play a down last year as a backup with the Jets, will compete with former ASU QB Andrew Walter for the Raiders' backup job, writes Bob Condotta. ...

Jeff Clement seems to have found his stroke in Tacoma--he homered for the third consecutive game. ...

Canada announced its roster for the May 31 friendly with Brazil at Qwest Field. The Canucks (can you say that?) will bring six MLS players, writes Jose Miguel Romero. Brazil announced its roster--which includes Kaka and Robinho--last week. ...

The UW hired a very experienced assistant to sit beside novice womens' coach Tia Jackson. New assistant Judy Spoelstra was a D1 head coach for 16 years, including 10 at Oregon State (she was Pac-10 coach of the year in 2000). ...

SupersonicSoul digs up an old Sonics promo on YouTube: "The Gary Payton of Poultry" is below. Ah, the days when the Sonics' pretty much sold themselves...