Storm one win from WNBA finals [WNBA.com] Tanisha Wright held Diana Taurasi to 2-15 shooting, the Mercury scored 20 points less than their season average, and Lauren Jackson put in 23 points in a 82-74 win. A very physical game–hardly the most beautiful you’ll ever see–but a fun night at KeyArena with 9,686 rowdy fans on hand. Storm lead best-of-three Western Conference Finals 1-0, game 2 Sunday @ Phoenix.
Houshmandzadeh being shopped [NFL.com] Housh, or more accurately his $7M salary, is on the trading block. Deon Butler showed why in the final preseason game last night, a loss to Oakland, catching 7 passes for 101 yards. Housh didn’t play in the game, neither did Hasselbeck, Tatupu, Branch, or really any of the veterans. Seahawks finish pre-season 1-3. Next game Sunday 9/12 vs. San Francisco.
Shin-Soo Choo sinks Mariners [MLB.com] Among Bavasi’s mistakes, will trading Choo for Ben Broussard tally among the worst? Choo drove in 5 of 6 Cleveland runs, and the M’s didn’t have a hit after the third in this battle of bottom-feeders. M’s 52-82. Next game tonight vs. Cleveland.
What they’re saying…
“This was a typical fourth (pre)season game with all of the ragged play for sure.” — Pete Carroll [Seattle Times]
“Last time I saw this from Diana was in 2007 I think it was a game in Detroit. Next game she came out and had 30-something.” — Phoenix coach Corey Gaines on Taurasi’s tough night. [Storm]
“This is a performance award, period. And King Felix leads the league in every meaningful sabermetric pitching stat on Earth except adjusted ERA+.” — Jayson Stark of ESPN, picking Felix Hernandez as his Cy Young winner [ESPN]
“I don’t understand how people think it’s ok to go to California and not have in and out burger !!” — Golden Tate, again with the junk food. [@ShowtimeTate]
In other news…
Here’s what the new Husky Stadium would look like.
More on Lauren Jackson’s MVP award — it’s the third of her career. She actually found out Tuesday but had to keep quiet until today’s official announcement.
Deon Butler had 7 catches for 103 yards, Carroll called him “by far the most improved player on the offense.”
Former Husky Louis Rankin had a 99-yard kickoff return for a TD. On the other hand, former Husky Roy Lewis committed a boneheaded late hit that extended a fourth-quarter Raiders drive.
The Husky game TV coverage is completely FUBAR, thanks to the combined incompetence of CBS and Comcast. Check this–you may need an entirely new cable box just to see the game. Brilliant.
A really fascinating piece by ESPN710’s Mike Salk about whether hitters change their swings for batting in Safeco Field.
Pete Carroll’s old USC team beat Hawaii 49-36 last night.
It’s the first Friday night of high school football season. Look for a game near you.
In Thursday H.S. football action, Capital blanked O’Dea 28-0, Ballard got a rare win against an Eastside school, beating Sammamish 15-7, and my beloved Garfield Bulldogs took an ugly beating, falling to Lake Washington 34-2.
Weekend action…
FRIDAY
Arizona @ Toledo, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
Mariners vs. Cleveland @ Safeco, French vs. Carmona, 7:10 p.m. (FSN)
SATURDAY
UCLA @ Kansas St., 12:30 p.m. (KOMO-4)
New Mexico @ Oregon, 12:30 p.m. (CSN)
Sounders @ New England, 4 p.m. (KONG)
Washington @ BYU, 4 p.m. (CBS College Sports)
Washington St. @ Oklahoma St., 4 p.m. (FSN)
Oregon St. @ TCU, 4:45 p.m. (ESPN)
Mariners vs. Cleveland @ Safeco, Pauley vs. Talbot, 7:10 p.m. (FSN)
SUNDAY
Storm @ Phoenix, Game 2 of W.C. Finals, Noon (KOMO-4)
Mariners vs. Cleveland @ Safeco, King Felix vs. Masterson, 1:10 p.m. (FSN)
Monday
Mariners @ Oakland, Vargas vs. Anderson, 1:05 p.m. (FSN)
Boise St. @ Virginia Tech, 5 p.m. (ESPN)
