Northwest Sports: In the Morning

The Sounders shitcanned lower-division Hollywood United 6-0, whose tiny fan contingent were reduced to shouting "Pearl Jam sucks" as their team was eviscerated. Sebastian Le Toux scored four goals--he was able to dribble at will inside the goal box to get open shots. "I missed some opportunities, but I'm happy with four goals tonight," Le Toux told Matthew Gaschk. Tickets for the Sounders' third-round U.S. Open Cup game, which will be next Tuesday at Starfire at 7pm, go on sale at Ticketmaster today at 10:30 am. $17 now, $20 at the gate (though, if you consider Ticketmaster's fees, you're better off buying at the gate).

Candace Parker had 22 and 11 as the Sparks killed the Storm, 76-62. The Storm gave up 17 offensive rebounds. "Seventeen offensive rebounds is border line of what people get defensively," Tanisha Wright told Jayda Evans. It was the sixth consecutive road loss for the Storm, who dropped to 8-7 on the year. Their next game is Sunday at 6pm, vs. Washington.

SupersonicSoul rates the best and worst Sonics draft picks. Rumor has it that Beasley could fall to the Sonics at #4, writes Percy Allen. There's also the possibility that the Sonics trade up.

Both Chad Ford and NBAdraft.net have the Sonics taking Russell Westbrook. Sorry, but I don't see how you take a guy there who wasn't even the best player on his college team.

Sam Presti held a press conference yesterday, and TNT's Eric Williams has a partial transcript.

Here's Presti on working during the trial, which, coincidentally, writes Percy Allen, will conclude at the same time as the draft starts (4pm tomorrow): "It's not as if we don't know that's going on or pretend that's not going on. We understand that it's there, but as professionals and as leaders we have to be doing our job every day that we're here — to try and improve and get better as a basketball team."

Down in PDX, Paul Allen bought another draft pick, #27 overall. The Blazers, who have 13 men on their roster, now have five picks in the draft. Joe Freeman says the Blazers are considering three options: 1) Trade picks for a veteran; 2) Package their picks to move up; 3) Stand pat.

Chad Ford says the Blazers are very likely to trade their #13 pick, but has them taking French center (noooo!) Alexis Ajinca if they keep it. NBAdraft.net predicts they'll take Robin Lopez.

Here's the Blazers' summer league schedule. All five games will be on Comcast SportsNet.

Some Husky football players are bigger than they were in the spring, writes Bob Condotta. Also from Bob: Will Conroy has accepted an invitation to join the Nets summer league team.

The Cougs scored a big recruit--Xavier Thames, a 6-3 PG out of suburban Sacramento, who's the #19 PG in the country according to Scout.com. Let's hope he works out a little better than the other Xavier.

Speaking of Cougars, Kyle Weaver looks like a lock to get drafted. Chad Ford has him going in the second round to the Sonics, and so does NBAdraft.net.

R.A. Dickey, probably needing a good start to stay in the Mariners' rotation, delivered seven innings of shutout ball.

Dickey got some tips from Tim Wakefield, he told John Hickey: "Wake is a great guy, and he was able to access video on me on his computer. And what he said helped. I was able to implement my pitches in a way that was effective."

Raul Ibanez likes Riggsieball, telling Larry Stone: "I think we've been having better approaches at the plate. There's definitely more energy, the energy that only winning can bring. I've been seeing more intensity on the field. I'm happy with what I've seen."

Whoever loses the Sonics case will also pay most of the legal bills, writes Greg Johns, a tally that could reach millions. For this reason, I suspect that if the city loses, they won't appeal.

The P-I's Dan Raley catches up with former boxing champ Greg Haugen, who's now--get ready to feel old--a grandfather.