HAWKS GO TO WASHINGTON DC

Huge game for the Hawks this weekend. This is the bridge game they have to win. Let’s break it down.

#1 thing to look at --- can the Hawks go East the Hawks are 0 for their last 8 when they travel three times zones. All of those teams have been strong physical teams and that is what they are facing with the Skins. The Skins philosophy is pound, pound, pound and then go deep.

#2 thing to look at – Can the Skins score enough to beat the Hawks. For the first 7 quarters and 11 minutes the Hawks scored a grand total of 9 points and no touchdowns.
The Skins offense line had a miserable day against the Cowboys as Brunell got sacked 5 times. This is a huge two part test for the Hawks do they really have a pass rush and can the keep Santana Moss in front of them.

#3 thing to look at – Can Shawn Alexander handle the physical play of the Skins. Shaun Alexander will be facing the league's No. 2-ranked rush defense in the Redskins (65.5). In 2004, he averaged 71.2 rushing yards in five games against top-10 run defenses. The Skins have only allowed 131 yards rushing in two games – 1st down passing will be vital -- 2.8 yards a carry.
My guess is Shaun will be negated and have nothing going against the Skins.

#4 thing to look at --- 1st down passing. Without Alexander the Hawks will have to be great passing on first down. The Skins pressure more then any team in the NFL. Therefore, the Hawks will not be able to get into their 5 or 7 step drop game and they will have to hit the quick passing game early in downs.

#5 thing to look at --- Will Holmgren max protect the QB. More often then not Holmgren’s philosophy is to send the extra receiver rather then protect the QB. Greg Williams the DC for the Skins will test Homlgren. Dallas max protected and the Skins never got a sack on Bledsoe and the Boys converted on 43% of their third downs.

I take the Hawks. The Skins simply can’t score enough to beat Seattle. A huge road win for the Hawks and they end the futility in East Coast Games.

COUGARS LOOKING FOR THE TAIL OF THE BEAVER

It is discovery time for the Cougars. How good are they? There are certain things you don’t doubt when it comes to the Cougs.

One, their offense will score points. It is a birth right at WSU that they will be able to score. Jerome Harrison is going to be productive week in and week out.

This week the Cougs receivers will be able to exploit a young and inexperience Beavers defense. To be honest, I am not convinced that Oregon State is a well coached football team this season and I anticipate the Cougars will be able to take advantage of flaws in the Beavers system.

However, what we are going to find out is where Rob Akey’s defensive unit is. Oregon State can throw the football. They are third in the country in passing. The Cougars secondary has not been tested this season and we are going to find out if they have the metal to handle Mike Hass and the Beavers.

Also, the Beavers haven’t been able to run the football at all. If they are able to run on Saturday then the Cougars are in trouble both at Reiser and all season. If the Cougs can stop the run then they can really put their ears back and be the sack masters that they usually are.
Cougars prevail and show the top of the Pac-10 that there is another competitor in upper house of one of the nation’s best conferences.

HUSKIES FACE THE BRUINS

This is a terrible match-up for the Huskies – see UCLA is good and the Huskies aren’t. 2 main issues here.

Defensively the Bruins passing game is a dink and dunk which is fine if you can stop the running game and there is no way the Huskies are going to slow down Maurice Drew. The Huskies have played two physical football teams and have gotten crushed on the ground on both of them. The left side of the UCLA line is enormous and they are going to blast the Dawgs.

The other issue is it is a bad match-up for the Huskies offensively. UCLA plays a very conservative defense where they leave two safeties deep but at the same time they roll up on your receivers. Therefore they are going to force Stanback to read the spaces in the defense and that is not his strength. His strength is going over the top and UCLA will not allow it.
Finally, UCLA has great linebackers and they will be able to handle the lack of the Huskies running team.

Simple game good team beats bad team by a lot

MLB.com has the Yankees Divison Champship Shirts on the Site

Theonly problem is the haven't won the divison yet. Got to love this picture.
0927051yankees2.jpg (JPEG Image, 600x575 pixels) - Scaled (95%)

Hawks’ Strong great on field, even better off it | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA

Hawks’ Strong great on field, even better off it | TheNewsTribune.com | Tacoma, WA: "And just about every year, he has to fend off the notion that he can be replaced. Joining the team as a free agent in 1993, Strong has played for three coaches (Tom Flores, Dennis Erickson and Holmgren), and lined up behind nine quarterbacks. He became a Seahawk in the year Rick Mirer was drafted and the team traded for Keith Millard.

Strong came into the league just two years after Mosi Tatupu retired, and is now on a roster with Mosi’s son, Lofa."

Bulls' demand for DNA about wrong, rights

Bulls' demand for DNA about wrong, rights: "Eddy Curry is not a thoroughbred. He's not a sheep. He's not a dog for breeding. But the Bulls seem to think that because they have offered him a $5.14 million contract, they have bought the right to force him to take a DNA test to see if his heart condition might be fatal.

They are wrong. Your DNA is a personal, private thing that cannot be purchased. If Curry doesn't want to submit to the test for the Bulls, then that's it. No test. The DNA is his. The DNA is him.

For $5 million, the Bulls are not buying Eddy Curry. They are buying Eddy Curry's services. Curry is not for sale."

MIKE HOLMGREN PRESS CONFERENCE

I just got back from the Wednesday Mike Holmgren press conference. Here is a re-cap of the news and notes from the presser.
On the injury front Peter Warrick will sit out practice today with a groin injury. DJ Hackett will take his spot in the passing game and Jimmy Williams will return punts. Itula Mili is still not at full strength and may be another week before he is ready. Pork Chop Womack is still a week away, but will be the left tackle when he returns.
Holmgren talked about the Skins’ defense as a very aggressive unit that plays true pressure defense and bring the blitz more then most teams in the NFL. Specifically, they like to bring former Hawk Shawn Springs off the edge in a blitz. Springs v. D-Jack will be a big time match-up on Sunday.
In regards to D-Jack, I asked what he does to get so open. Holmgren talked about his tremendous quickness, that he is faster then people give him credit for and that he really is terrific in the first 5 yards of a route.
Offensively the Skins, offensive line will just maul you. They play a very similar system to what Joe Gibbs ran when he was the head coach the first time. He will pound, pound, pound and they shoot for one deep.
I brought up Holmgren’s passing on first down, he said you really have to have great confidence in your QB to make those calls. He admitted that running on first down is the hardest down to run on so if they can he is more then willing to pass on first down. In addition, he mentioned that they chart their own tendencies and will try to change his patterns.
Crowd noise is always a factor on the road. The obvious problem is audibles. Hasselbeck no differently then any other QB gets flustered when he can’t change out of bad plays and then no longer feels comfortable or in a rhythm.
The Hawks 3rd down defense has been amazing thus far. Holmgren credits it with a young defense that just flys around. He also talked about the depth of the roster and the rotation of players they are able to use. I wonder how much John Marshall calling the defense may be responsible for this change.
This year’s defense is different because of the depth. I wrote about this today in the Seattle PI and Holmgren discussed it at the press conference. In the past the starters got hurt and their was no second line, this year there is no such class distinction, they are all interchangeable parts. All the players feel they are contributing.
I credit a great deal of this to the influence of Tim Ruskell on this football team.
Lastly, I asked why the Hawks use Mack Strong in the 2-minute drill rather then Alexander. Holmgren said they have numerous personnel groups that can be used. However, he added that he usually asks Matt what he wants to use. Interesting, if I was Matt I wouldn’t want to have a back in the game that I couldn’t check to as a blocker or dump off to in the passing game.

Locked on Sports: Hawks appear complete

Locked on Sports: Hawks appear complete: "However, this year looks and feels different. Addition by subtraction was the mantra all offseason and it is holding true. The purge of a heartless, selfish defensive unit has given way to an active, aggressive and free-flying group.

The biggest difference is that the Hawks are a complete team. Top to bottom, every player has a role and fills a need.

It is president Tim Ruskell's signature. Every roster spot is being maximized."

WHAT DOES THIS SAY ABOUT STANBACK

This week will be the biggest test for Isaiah Stanback. Truly I don’t think you can make an opinion on him until we see how he reacts when playing good teams that have a scouting report on him. However, I think there is an interesting trend developing. In the Air Force game Stanback hit a ton of 3 step drop plays and since then the clubs have taken that play away from Isaih. Today I went through the play by plays that I keep for the Huskies game and broke Isaiah Stanback offense into two categories, pocket passing and rollout/screen plays. Let put a few qualifiers on this. It is not perfect. I do the best I can. Also I didn’t count after 3 quarters against Idaho because the game was over and I didn’t count the end of the Cal game because it was garbage.
Here is what I discovered
In pocket passing Stanabck is: 12 of 33 for 281 yards with 1 TD and 1 INT
Out of the pocket or screen he is: 13 of 13 for 109 yards

The 13 of 13 is amazing. The 12 of 33 is awful. Not sure what this means.

SONICS SIGN RADMANOVIC TO ONE YEAR DEAL

SONICS SIGN VLADY TO ONE YEAR CONTRACT

As we have reported on 950, KJR’s Locked on Sports for most of the off-season the Sonics and Vlady Radmanovic were unable to find common ground on a long term contract. Instead, today the Sonics signed Radmanovic to the one year tender contract. This makes Radmanovic a free agent after the season. It also restricts the Sonics ability to trade him.
The ideal situation for the Sonics would have been to come a long term agreement. However, the asking price from the Radmanovic camp was more then they were willing to commit to. The Radmanovic camp thought the contracts of Kwame Brown, Tyson Chandler, Samuel Dalembert and Bobby Simmons set the market where the Sonics didn’t feel those were appropriate comparisons.
Dave Bauman, Radmanovic’s agent, said during the process that if Radmanovic signed the tender it was his first step out the door and was a sign of lack of commitment from the Sonics that Radmanovic would not forget going into free agency. Time will tell if that was negotiation bluster or if the Sonics have just taken the first step to losing a key piece.
Radmanovic is also in the news today for a fight he got in with a Serbian teammate at the World Championship in the locker-room after their shocking loss to France.

HOT READS ON THE NFL

Is Randy Moss really so good that Dante Culpepper has fallen apart without him or is that the Vikings are terribly coached ….. Is their any guy you root for in the NFL more then Trent Dilfer his post game quote after the Browns beat the Packers in Lambeau on the day they retired Reggie White’s # was so touching “I am sure my son and Reggie were together watching the game.” This is guy that you have to root for ….. Are the Bengals for real, the numbers say yes but realize they still haven’t played anyone yet …
The Saints got screwed so badly last night with that game-taking place in New York. …. Tom Brady’s comments after the game were interesting about how this is a totally different group then they have had in the past, it is clear he doesn’t feel whatever that championship feeling is ……. I thought Brian Billick was supposed to be an offensive genius, but his offense in Baltimore is the worst in the NFL …
If KC defense is as good as it seems, Indy and NE better look out in the AFC … What happened to the big year of the Atlanta Falcons, you have to have an offensive line and they don’t … Joey Harrington is following in the footsteps of other great Oregon NFL QB’s like Akili Smith … 1-0 teams on the road this weekend generally lost I believe those teams that were 1-0 and went on the road were 2-8, I include the Saints as a road team

HUSKIES BLOW OUT THE VANDALS

A win is a win is a win. Bottom line the Huskies will take it anyway they can get it. Also, the Idaho Vandals are terrible.
Here are a few thoughts from Husky Stadium while the Dawgs blow out the Vandals.
Could you imagine if the Huskies had won the Air Force game. They would be 2-1 having lost to a great Cal team. You also have to wonder if the Huskies would have quit against Cal had they beat the Falcons. Cal still would have won and won easily as they were a far superior team.
This was vintage Tyrone Willingham football. Find an advantage and milk it to the end. The Huskies came out and pounded the football. They called running plays on 18 of the first 25 plays. The offensive line was making hay on each and every run.
Louis Rankin had a good day and showed some nice footwork that many wondered if he had.
Defensively the Huskies coaches had some very nice blitz packages dialed up for the Vandals. Early in the game they brought two guys up the middle with the first guy tying up the blockers and the second guy would get to the quarterback. The Huskies also implemented a pass rush front 4 on passing downs, it included Caesar Rayford on an end with Greyson Gunheim on the other end. Manase Hopoi and Wilson Afoa were the tackles for most of those allingnments.,
Idaho was slow. Numerous times it looked as though Idaho’s backs would have a running lane and then they never had the speed to get to it.
Finally, I know it is a nice win, but I have to throw a word of caution. I am very worried about Isaiah Stanback’s play. He was awful early completing just 1 of his first 6 throws with an interception and a fumble. Throughout the game, he almost never went to a secondary receiver. Moreover, his best plays were often very poor decisions. The bomb to Craig Chambers was into double coverage, the touchdown to Johnnie Kirton was ill advised and he should have two other balls intercepted. His scrambling ability and escapability are impressive, but his quarterbacking game is not progressing.
A win is a win is a win.

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Football analysis and NFL stats for the Moneyball era - Authors of Pro Football Prospectus 2005

FOOTBALL OUTSIDERS: Football analysis and NFL stats for the Moneyball era - Authors of Pro Football Prospectus 2005: "The Seahawks infamously finished second in the NFL in drops in 2003, a surprise for a talented unit that boasted Darrell Jackson (who signed a lucrative new deal after the season), former top-ten pick Koren Robinson, and Football Outsiders favorite Bobby Engram. The problems were written off to focus and confidence issues and a host of other excuses."

Locked on Sports: Onus on Hasselbeck to rekindle bravado

Locked on Sports: Onus on Hasselbeck to rekindle bravado: "Since then, the fourth- quarter magic that had been a staple of a young Hasselbeck has disappeared. Aside from two very good drives last year against the Cowboys, Hasselbeck and the Hawks have been dormant in the fourth quarter since that Jan. 4, 2004, day at Lambeau Field."

SIMULBLOG FOR SEAHAWKS V. JAGS

HAWKS LOSE THE OPENER --- HASSELBACK WAS TERRIBLE AND THE OFFENSE WAS WELL BELOW PAR IN THE SECOND HALF. THE DEFENSE SHOWED SIGNS OF BEING MUCH IMPROVED THOUGH STILL PUNISHED BY THE BIG BALLS.

SCAN DOWN AND YOU WILL SEE MY RUNNING COMMENTARY IN THE SIMULBLOG. THIS WRITTEN AS THE GAME HAPPENS.

PLACE YOUR COMMENTS IN THE COMMENT ZONE.

THINGS TO WATCH (Green is post-game response)
1) Penetration of Jags defensive Tackles -- they had huge impact on the Hawks ability to run.
2) Sean Locklear making his first start at right tackle -- biggest play of the game he was blown up. He got beat on two or three occasions.
3) Can Bobby Engram get open as the #2 wide reciever? Yes. he was very active in the middle of the field. They moved him to slot in the 3 wide reciever set.
4) Thrid down conversions. Last year the Hawks were awful, the year before brilliant . Hawks once again were very poor on 3rd downs.
5) Mental game of Stevens. Without Mili Stevens will have to play a lot of snaps in the heat. Seemed to be a non-issue.
6) Big plays allowed. That was the killer last season. Jimmy Smith crushed them on big plays.
7) Can the Hawks get any pass rush. It was better then last season. At times it was very poor and moreso the Hawks were terrible on the blitz getting to the QB.

OPENING DRIVE -- JAGS WITH THE FOOTBALL -- DRIVE STARTS AT THE HAWKS 40.
Hawks fumble the opening kickoff. Scobee makes a nice return but fumbles.
This is as brutal a beginning as you can have to a season
This reminds me of the Rams game last year when they came out and threw on the first 11 plays.
The Jags have threw on the first 4 plays until they ran Matt Jones on a trick play
Reggie Williams cost the Jags a timeout by not being on the field
Defense stiffs and hold the Jags to a field goal
JAGS LEAD 3-0 -- 6 PLAYS 34 YARD DRIVE.

OPENING DRIVE FOR HAWKS -- TRAIL 3-0 -- START AT THE 20
We are going to chart Alexander's success rate today as a runner. Success being 40% of first down yardage, 60% of the first down on second down and the first down on thrid.
This is not an Alexander strength and it drives Holmgren nuts
Stroud, the great D-Tackle of the Jags blows up the Hawks first run play.
drive dies after Alexander -2 yard run.
PUNT

JAGS BALL -- 8:54 LEFT 1st QUARTER -- START AT 20 -- LEAD 3-0
Penalty pushes Jags 3rd and 2 to a 3rd and 7. -- Leftwitch to Jones converts first down
Leftwitch is sitting in shotgun and has all day to throw. He has completed 6 of his first 7 throws.
This is a brutal start. The Jags are just slicing the Hawks defense up.
Hawks brought 6 on 3rd and 5 and still didn't get to Leftwitch.
41 YARD FIELD GOAL GOOD -- JAGS LEAD 6-0 3:49 left in 1st Quarter.

HAWKS BALL -- 3:45 LEFT 1ST QUARTER -- START AT 20 -- TRAIL 6-0
Engram moves to the slot in the three wide reciever set.
END OF FISRST QUARTER
Alexander in the first quarter has a success rate of just 1 for 5. (see above for defintion)
Hasselback had all day to throw on a 3rd and 7 and Jurevicius got behind the defense.
TOCHDOWN -- HASSELBACK TO JUREVICIUS FOR 33 YARDS.
HAWKS LEAD 7-6 -- 8 PLAYS 80 YARDS.

JAGS BALL -- 14:47 LEFT 2ND QUARTER -- START AT 26 -- HAWKS LEAD 7-6
Hamlin laid a vintage Hamlin hit on Jimmy Smith. Smith has 3 catches. Lets see what he finishs with.
Lofa Tatupu made a great play stuffing Taylor. Great anticipation.
Hawks are trying to throw a ton of looks. A moment ago they rushed just 2.
Then on the next play they brought 6 and stunted the lineman. It rushed Leftwitch.
PUNT

HAWKS BALL -- 12:58 LEFT 2ND QUATER -- START AT 11 -- HAWKS LEAD 7-6
Walter Jones is unreal.
Hawks are really firing at the Jags cornerbacks.
Interesting move. Engram is still playing the slot and JJ is going to the outside reciever in three reciever sets.
3rd and 9 and Matt throws a awful ball. This is the type of play that losses a game.
INTERCEPTION -- TERRIBLE - TERRIBLE THROW BY HASSELBACK

JAGS BALL -- 9:23 LEFT 2ND QUARTER -- START AT HAWKS 33 -- TRAIL 7-6
Hawks defense did a great job last time holding the Jags to a field goal. Can they do it again.
Incredible run defense from the Hawks-- stuff the Jags on back to back plays 2nd and 3rd and 1 Chuck Darby in the middle of it all.
MISSED FIELD GOAL 43 YARD FIELD.
Amazing the Hawks have committed two turnovers in Jags territory and only have only allowed 3 points.

HAKWS BALL -- 7:13 LEFT 2ND QUARTER -- START AT 34 -- LEAD 7-6
Do we have our first drop? Bannister should have made that play. No surprise he hasn't played any games in the exhibition season and is not a reciever.
No running game at all. Alexander success rate is 1 for 7.

JAGS BALL -- 6:19 LEFT 2ND QUARTER -- START AT THE 26 -- TRAIL 7-6
Wistrom gets a great lick on Leftwitch on an outside rush
Deep ball. How does this happen again. Herndon got beat by Smith. Herndon had no help. 45 yards on the pick up.
Rocky Bernard sack.
4 man rush gets no where close and Leftwitch finds a wide open Jimmy Smith for a 31 yard TD.
Erick Kramer is wrong it is not DD Lewis it was Boulwaire that got turned around and burned.
The Hawks defense was totally awful on that play.
TOUCHDOWN LEFTWITH TO SMITH -- JAGS LEAD 13-7

HAWKS BALL -- 4:17 LEFT 2ND QUARTER -- START AT THE 20 -- TRAIL 13-7
Alexander boom or bust -- 35 yard pick up.
Alexander has success on his last 3 runs.
Wow !!! What a great drive. 80 yards to answer the Jags TD. That is big time.
Alexander was huge on the drive.
HASSELBACK TO JACKSON FOR 9 YARD TD.
7 PLAYS - 80 YARDS -- HAWKS LEAD 14-13.

2ND HALF

JAGS BALL -- OPENING 2ND HALF -- START AT 22 -- TRAIL 14-13
Nifty play out of the Jags-- Jones, the former QB at Arkansas, took an end a round and then ran an option out of it. Hawks played it well. Good fundamentals.
Jags are suddenly getting big run numbers from Taylor. His last three carries are for 6 or mroe yards.
I haven't heard Marcus Tubbs name at all in the this game.
Terrible tackle by Andre Dyson. None of the new guys are able to tackle the way Lucas did.
Terrible defense. 3rd and 6 and the Jags give it to Taylor and the Hawks defensive line gets manhandled.
Are we seeing heat have its impact. This is a long drive and the Hawks aren't making plays.
Jumpball to Jimmy Smith over the top of Marcus Trufant for a Touchdown.
JAGS TAKE THE LEAD ON 12 PLAY 78 YARD DRIVE TO OPEN HALF.

HAWKS BALL - 1ST OF SECOND HALF -- START AT 29 --- TRAILING 20-14
Sean Locklear got blown up for the first time.
Moris on a draw on 3rd and 9 --- why?
PUNT

JAGS BALL -- 6:34 LEFT 3RD QUARTER -- START AT 21 -- LEADING 20-14
Hawks are brining the blitz but they can't get to Leftwitch.
The Hawks offense just killed the defense. The D was on the field for 11 plays and then the Hawks offense only stayed on the floor for 4 plays and a tired D is back on the field.
Most recent run plays: 6,6,6,8,3,0,7,1,8,5 -- that is a really bad sign.
This game is in the balance.
Great plays -- back to back -- Trufant blitz forces fumble and 4 man rush collapses on Leftwitch.
PUNT

HAWKS BALL -- 1:46 LEFT 3RD QUARTER -- START AT 7--- TRAILING 20-14
The Hawks have lost the field goal postion game from the first play
Alexander's success rate is 4 of 12 runs
3 and out. 2 drives in the 3rd Quarter and the Hawks have 13 yards and 1 first down.

JAGS BALL -- :46 LEFT IN 3RD QUARTER --- START AT 42 -- LEADING 20-14
The Hawks defense was on the field for 12 minutes of the 3rd Quarter
Rocky Bernard nice tackle for a loss.
4TH QUARTER
Very clutch again by the defense 3 and out. The defense is keeping the Hawks in the game.
PUNT

HAWKS BALL -- 14:39 LEFT IN 4TH QUARTER -- START AT 2 --- TRAILING 20-14 Warrick makes an awful decision. Takes the punt at the 2 yard line. He just cost the Hawks 20 yards on the most important drive of the game. These are plays that losing teams make.
Hawks have started the last two drives at the 7 and and the 2
Huge play to open drive -- Hassell to Stevens for 20 yards.
This would be huge. Hawks hit midfield. Next play they get sacked Ouch !!!
Hawks follow the sack with a delay of game -- shooting themselves in the foot
Did Jackson make the catch? It looked close and the Hawks don't challange. Timeouts are precious and after last years bad luck and bad choices they must have decided not to lose a timeout.
PUNT -- big to move the ball into Jags territory. The Hawks should get two more shots at it.

JAGS BALL -- 9:04 LEFT IN 4TH QUARTER -- START AT 25 -- LEADING 20-14
Is that 3rd Quarter going to come into play now.
Hawks defense does it again. This group has had a very good day.

HAWKS BALL -- 6:29 LEFT IN 4TH QUARTER -- START AT 15 -- TRAILING 20-14
What a disaster. Interception on Hasselback. A awful throw.
Hasselback flushed when Locklear gets beat throws across his body and across the field and it is hangs in the air and is intercepted. This is a awful play. Hasselback just choked. Flat out choked.
The offense was awful in the second half and it cost this team the game.
All this talk about how great Hasselback is has to be re-examined . He was below average last year and he make two game losing throws today. This was flat out brutal.

JAGS BALL -- AFTER INTERCEPTION
Defense holds but Hasselback's awful play gives up another 3 points
HAWKS TRAIL 23-14 --9 POINTS THE SAME THEY GAVE UP ON TURNOVERS.

HAWKS BALL -- TRAILING 23-14 WITH 4:00 LEFT.
Jags blitz and crush Hasselback who fumbles and the Hawks lose.


More on Hasselback
I am really disapointed in how he played today.
Did he make any throw that most of the Quarterbacks in the NFL couldn't make.

MIKE MORSE SUSPENSION -- MORSE RESPONSE

First and foremost I want to apologize to the fans, my teammates, the Mariners’ organization, baseball and to my family. Back in November 2003 when I was 21 years old, I made an enormous mistake in my life: I took steroids while in the Minor Leagues. My thigh muscle, which I had previously torn, had never healed and I was scared that my career was over. I was desperate and made a terrible mistake which I deeply regret.


In May 2004, I was punished and suspended, which I deserved, for my mistake. I embarrassed myself, my family and my team. I am responsible for the mistake of taking steroids and the positive result was not due to some over-the-counter supplement, protein shake or tainted test.


I promised myself never to make the same mistake again. The Arbitration Panel found that the evidence supports that I have not used steroids since the 2003 off-season.


After serving my suspension in May 2004, I was allowed to resume my Minor League career even though steroids remained in my system from the 2003 off-season. There was nothing I could do to completely remove the steroids from my body. In July 2004, I was again drug tested while in the Minor Leagues and the result was that the steroids in my system were in a declining quantity. However, I was again suspended under the Minor League Drug Policy for a second time even though I had not used steroids since the 2003 off-season.


This season, while in the Major Leagues, I was shocked to learn that I tested positive again for steroids. The results showed an extremely low level. As the Panel’s decision points out, the Level was so low that it was ‘undisputed’ that it had ‘no performance enhancing effect’ on me. This positive test was due to the fact that there were still some remnants of the steroid left in my system from the 2003 off-season.


I am troubled that I will be suspended for the third time despite the fact that the scientific evidence supports that I kept my promise that I would never use steroids again.

Even the Panel states in its written decision that ‘the Panel recognizes that this result may be viewed as unfair to Michael Morse…..’


I find it unfair that I am being punished three different times for making the mistake of taking steroids once in 2003. At least there is some solace in the fact that the scientific evidence supports that I kept my promise that I would never use steroids again.

I am truly sorry that this statement was ever even necessary.

I can only hope that the fans, my teammates, the Mariners’ organization, baseball and my family will accept my apology.

SIMULBLOG FOR WASHINGTON V. AIRFORCE

AGAINST










OPENING DRIVE -- HUSKIES FOOTBALL
3 and out. Rankin twice up the middle. On third and three the Huskies went gun with no backs. Stanback QB draw was stiffled. PUNT

OPENING DRIVE -- AIR FORCE FOOTBALL
Fumble at the Huskies 20 yard line. Goldsten recovered
Air Force converted on two long third down plays to keep the drive.

8:31 left 1st Quarter -- No Score -- HUSKIES FOOTBALL
Huskies are just coming right at Air Force. I formation here we come and try to stop the running game. It is a smash mouth. Rankin busted a 25 yard run. Most of the runs are over the leftside of the offensive line, Joe Toledo and Stanley Daniels.
Drive stalls on a third five when Stanback has his pass knocked down.
EVEN KNUDSON 40 YARD FIELD GOAL -- 3-0 HUSKIES.
8 PLAY 57 YARD DRIVE.

5:30 left in 1st Quarter -- Huskies lead 3-0 -- Air Force Football
3 and out. Huskies rallied to the ball very well on defense.
Matt Fontaine knocked away first and ten pass play.

3:50 left in 1st Quarter -- Huskies lead 3-0 -- Huskies Football.
4th and 2 on the 18 yard line and after a timeout the Huskies go for it.
Quick flair out to Russo comes up inches short. Questionable that you take the 3 points on a 4th and 2 situation.
Amazing pass from Stanback to Corey Williams straight down the middle of the field for 35 yards highlighted the drive. This was the best throw we have seen out of Stanback.
Drive fails on 3rd and 1 when James Simms tenatively gets caught for a one yard loss at the 19 yard line. Questionable why Simms would get this carry when Rankin is running this well.
Stanback also hit Russo on a simple out pattern to start the drive for 12 yards.
Early playing calling has been great. Simple. Straight forward and low on the risk factor.
Stanback is 5 of 6 for 69 yards.

1:00 left in 1st Quarter -- Huskies lead 3-0 -- Air Force Football
Fischer DeBerry Air Force Head Coach went into his bag of tricks and brought out the entire 2nd team offense to start the drive and went to a no-huddle.
San Jose State transfer cornerback Roy Lewis looks very good on the corner.

1st Quarter Stats: Huskies 126 yards - Falcons 73
Rushing yards: even at 56
Passing yarss: Air Force 70-17.

Air Force fakes a punt at 4th and 5 on the Huskies 45 to keep the drive alive.
Ian Furness of 1080 the Fan in Portland said right before the punt this is about when Fischer Deberry does something nutty. Good Call
DeBerry went for it again on 4th and 3 at the 33 and with a generous mark made it again.
DaShawn Goldston and CJ Wallace both are playing very well.
The secondary as a whole has been very strong in run support and pass coverage.
CJ Wallace forced the fumble (the above was written before) and ended the drive at their own 26.
That is the Falcons second turnover inside the Huskies 40 yard line.
The drive was 16 plays and 5:37 and no points

10:13 left in the 2nd Quarter -- Huskies lead 3-0 -- Huskies ball
Play calling continues to be strong. Simple, safe and confidence building
Johnnie Kirton caught his first pass coming out of the set as a tied end.
Robin Meadow holding penalty on a Rankin run cost the Huskies on a 1st and 10.
Drive stalls at the 47. Falcons blitzed and Stanback missed Russo.
PUNT -- Terrible snap on the punt just about had the punt blocked.

6:53 left in the 2nd Quarter -- Huskies lead 3-0 -- Falcons Ball
The Huskies are hitting really hard.
Chris Fetters of Dawgman has the line of the day, "Is this the spring game."
Fatigue is beginning to be a factor. The Huskies are playing the plays correctly and the Falcons are getting 4 to 6 yards a chunk.
Over the last 16 minutes of the game the Falcons have been on offense for 13.
27 of the last 33 plays have been Falcons offense.
CJ Wallace just left with an injury and Roy Lewis got hurt an arm injury.
FIELD GOAL 41 YARD -- TIED AT 3-3
13 plays 57 yards 6:14

2ND HALF

14:40 left in the 3rd Quarter -- Tied at 3 -- Falcons Ball
Great kick return starts drive at the 42
With the help of an illegal motion penalty Huskies stop drive without allowing first down.
Terrible punt.

13:19 left in the 3rd Quarter -- Tied at 3 -- Huskies Ball
WOW -- Very impressive opening drive of the 2nd half.
10 running plays including 7 in a row and 2 passes.
A gorgeous play action roll to Johnnie Kriton from Stanback broke the streak of 7 straight runs.
Rankin is ran very well. Rankin is over 100 yards on 16 carries.
Stanback has great numbers but too often he is costing yards with throws that are not accurate enough.
Sims is the back-up running back for Rankin at this point.
Joe Toledo left ankle sprain doubtful to return.
TOUCHDOWN JAMES SIMS 1 YARD RUN -- HUSKIES LEAD 10-3

7:01 left in the 3rd Quarter -- Huskies lead 10-3 -- Falcons Ball
They have been lining up Gunheim as a linebacker in certain formations.
Bend but don't break
Nice play by Gunheim and Darin Harris to stop a 3rd and 5 on the 9 yard line.
28 yard Field Goal -- Huskies lead 10-6.
13 plays - 70 yards 5:50

1:05 left in the 3rd Quarter. Huskies lead 10-6 -- Huskies ball
Muffed kickoff and the Dawgs start on the 11. First play pass to Ellis for 21 yards. HUGE.
WOW AGAIN -- A TREMDOUS DRIVE.
Stanback has been brillant in the second half -- 7 of 7 for 110 yards and Touchdown.
He has hit 5 different recievers in the half.
He is 16 for 21 for 207 yards -- That is tremendous.
27 YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS TO CODY ELLIS OVER TWO DEFENDERS WITH TERRIFIC TOUCH. THAT SHOULD WIN THE FOOTBALL GAME
HUSKIES 17-6.

NOT SO FAST!!!
84 YARD TOUCHDOWN PASS TO KIRKWOOD.
2 POINT CONVERSION NEGATED BY PENALTY.
HUSKIES LEAD 17-13

9:23 left in the game -- Huskies lead 17-13 -- Huskies ball
Stanback throws his first incompletion on a drop by Corey Williams.
Drop stalls the drive on what would have been a huge first down.
Rankin continues to run well.

6:06 left in the game -- Huskies lead 17-13 -- Falcons Ball
4th and at the Falcons own 40 -- Carney keeps it on a roll 1st down
Falcons stay alive
Carney hits Brown with 3:00 left, he slips after the catch at the 30. Had he not slipped he could have gone to the house.
Carney runs 15 yards to the 15
2:27 left 1st -10 at 15 yd line: Carney keeps for 2 yds
2:00 left 2nd - 8 at 13 yd line: Evan Benjamin makes a great play stuffing Carney
1:30 left 3rd -9 at the 15 yd line: Completion to the 1yd line to Kirkwood.
1:02 left 1st - goal at the 1 yd line:

Heading down to field -- you know the outcome

It’s not just business, it’s personal - Blog Maverick - www.blogmaverick.com _

This is Mark Cuban's blog. I found this an amazing post. Very honest admitiion of his mistakes. Some not so subtle shots at Don Nelson. And a solid explination of how the NBA has evolved.

HOW CLASSIC IS THIS

This is the LA Kings first round draft pick. This jersey should sell

HOW THE SONICS LOST OUT ON DALE DAVIS?

The Sonics were hot after Dale Davis for the past weeks and really thought he would be a nice fit to the team. However, the Pistons blew the Sonics out of the water with a 2 year 7 million dollar contract for Davis.
The Sonics were believed to more in the 2 year 4 to 5 million range. If the Sonics had matched the Davis contract they would have been unable to match Damien Wilkins if they decide that is the best approach.
Moreover, 7 million over 2 years for a seriously aging Davis is another head scratching deal in the NBA this off-season. Hard to complain that the Sonics wouldn’t eliminate any chance of retaining Wilkins by matching the deal that Davis got offered from Detroit.