Northwest Sports: In the Morning

That Times piece on Wazzu's troubles came out, and contained what I believe is new information about Cougar defensive stalwart Andy Mattingly, who was charged with two felonies last year after hitting a guy with a frying pan.

Also in the piece is this instant classic of a quote from Wazzu dropout Courtney Williams, a DB recruit from LA: "WSU is a hard school to go to, man. You ain't got nothin' to do but get drunk and smoke weed, and not go to class because you're too tired from doing what you're doing."

Two anonymous Mariner coaches called out the players to TNT's Larry LaRue: "You’ve got players in that clubhouse who should be team leaders--guys like Richie Sexson, Adrian Beltre, Erik Bedard, even Ichiro--who care only about themselves."

Longtime baseball writer Tracy Ringolsby suggests that the M's should consider trading Ichiro because he "has become bigger than the team." And here the WaPo suggests that the M's "appear ready to cut their losses" with Bedard. I love this--the team is bad, so trade the good players...yeah, that'll fix things. USS Mariner has an almost infinitely more intelligent look at what the Mariners ought to be doing.

The dissension the M's face is nothing compared to that of the '67 Twins, who nearly had a gun battle on a team bus yet still won 91 games, writes John McGrath.

Mark Teixiera hit three homers off M's pitching yesterday, including two off struggling Carlos Silva, who told Larry Stone: "It was like he was playing golf with me."

Kenji Johjima won't play much in the Mets series, writes John Hickey. Jeff Clement, who had a nice game yesterday, including an opposite-field homer, will.

The Storm, needing better post play, cut rookie C Florina Pascalau and traded their 2009 second-round pick for F Camille Little. The Storm beat Indiana on Friday and are 8-6, third in the WNBA's Western Conference. They play at conference leaders Los Angeles (and Candace Parker) tomorrow night in a Possible Playoff Preview.

M's farmhand Rich Dorman made his first start at AAA Tacoma after a lights-out first half at AA West Tennessee, and continued his winning ways, striking out eight in a scoreless 7.2 IP in his first home start. The Rainiers won 1-0. Jared Wells got the save, his 13th.

After former UW QB Johnny DuRocher threw 5.2 innings of no-hit ball at Everett, the M's promoted him to Wisconsin.

Dave Deckard of Blazers Edge (who also contributes to Sports NW) explains that salary cap issues will likely force the Blazers to trade of one of Martell Webster, Channing Frye or Jarrett Jack this year.

Kasey Kahne started on the pole at the Toyota/SaveMart 350 in Sonoma, CA on Sunday, but finished 33rd because he had trouble with his clutch. Kahne's finish dropped him two places to ninth in the NASCAR standings.

The Sounders played a 0-0 draw against Miami Friday night, which has shutout its last six opponents. The Sounders are 4-2-6, fourth in the USL standings, five points behind leaders Vancouver. Seattle plays Hollywood United tomorrow in the US Open Cup at Starfire.

A gunfight broke out after a soccer game in Lakewood on Saturday night, and two men are dead.