A response to Reynolds was accused of sexual harassment:  Innocent until proven guilty.  That's what I say.  I hope that ESPN knows what they are doing.  Firing someone for "alleged" sexual harrassment is pretty serious.  You normally do not fire someone until you hear the other side of the story.  Why the quick stance to judge so quickly?  It just seems odd to me.  It did not look like Harold got to tell his side.  I'm hoping the female employee also did not take things too far.  Right now it seems like it is her word against his. 

Having enjoyed most of Harold's 9 seasons in Seattle in a Mariner's uniform, he was what you saw on Baseball Tonight on ESPN, a great professional who did a lot for the community, and a role model for professional Major League baseball.  An all around, great easy going person. 

ESPN maybe thought the quick firing might offset the bad publicity - kind of what was seen with removing Rush Limbaugh for making racist comments that everyone heard. Quite honestly, ESPN shouldn't hire drug addict conservatives anyway.   I'm hoping ESPN knows what they are doing since I can't imagine that Harold will not try to save his reputation in a retaliatory litigation. This is his career that ESPN is trying to destroy. 

It is possible that the good guy did wrong.  Seahawk fans can only shake their heads when all-around good guy Eugene Robinson was caught soliciting a prostitute.  We just thought it was temptation once he left as a free agent to Green Bay.  His career as a football player continued, but you just never hear his name nowadays.  This kind of publicity can ruin your career for life. 

I'm with Harold until there is so much evidence against him.  I believe he did not need to lose his job so fast. 

Up and coming contender to a lame duck. Think the latter right now. Most Northwest fans are in a funk right now.  I feel I've been kicked in the ba**s, after being stabbed in the back following robbery seen in the past Super Bowl.   

It is truly sad to see the writing on the wall regarding Seattle's oldest professional sports franchise and one of only two teams to bring a world championship to the State of Washington heading to a state that cannot appreciate the history and tradition of this franchise.  From the 1979 World Championship banner (I was there when it was raised in the rafters of the coliseum) to the retired jerseys of Lenny Wilkins, Fred Brown, Jack Sikma, Nate MacMillan, and the countless number of Division Title banners, it just won't be the same.

I was looking for the upcoming NBA season and seeing how our local Seattle Supersonics were going to respond to some great draft picks (Mohammed Saer Sene and Denham Brown), last year's French draft pick sensation, Mickael Gelabale, as well as last year's aquirees in Chris Wilcox and Earl Watson.  If this is any indication, since the announcement of the sale, the WNBA Seattle Storm (another world champion) are playing on fumes with absolutely no heart whatsoever.  Sonic Free Agent, Chris Wilcox is waffling. Heck, if I knew the team I was hoping to play for on a long term contract - would be moving to Oklahoma City, I'd have second thoughts also.  Going from a city of clean air, ocean vistas, pristine mountains, organic living, micro breweries, great coffee, cultural diversity, liberal politics and easy living - to a state that is totally the opposite, how could anyone not have second thoughts.  I would be depressed too about moving to Oklahoma.

With past blogs flooded on opinions on the sale of the team, I did not intend to belabor the issue.  However, yesterday  I just saw the press conference represented by Clayton I. Bennett, the representative of new owner; Professional Basketball Club LLC, of Oklahoma City.  He mentioned that if a new deal if the Key Arena could not be reach in one year, the team will likely move to Oklahoma City.  The deal is, he was not fooling anyone!  That was his and his group's intentions all along - no one is that stupid.  New Orleans wants their team back and they are going back home in a year.  With New Orlean's gone in a year how convenient to have a team in the wings!  Clayton's cronies knew the City of Seattle and State Legislature was not going to give another obligation of public money to support another sports rennovation following similar deals done with the Seahawks and Mariners.  Taxpayers have already said enough is enough.

The second thing was that he did not appreciate the way he was depicted in local media back in Seattle.  Oh shut up you big baby.  What a whiner.  Seattle fans would appreciate the new owners more if they just give their intentions to move the team and not give all these false expectations that the team would stay in the Northwest if a deal could be reached, when they knew all along a deal had a snowball's chance in hell of ever getting passed.  The local media in the Pacific Northwest had every right to give the opinions the way they did.

I will cherish watching Sonics Ray Allen, Rashard Lewis, Johan Petro, Chris Wilcox (?), Luke Ridnour, and the rest of the lads this season.  Give a great performance for the hometown fans who stood by you guys since 1966.  The business side of the NBA really sucks.  Most owners want the kickbacks they get from the local tax breaks, luxury boxes, high food sales, and $40 tickets - and they wonder why we non-billionaires don't show up at games.   With high gas prices, families even think twice about going to the movies.  Come on!!! Learn from minor league baseball or the CBA.  Have a few family nights, $10 Tuesdays, concerts following games, take your daughter/son to the game nights, door prizes, corporate giveaways, etc. 

A response to Schultz leaves bad taste with Seattle fans:  Schultz, there's nothing wrong with Key Arena and there's nothing wrong the Sonics.  It takes year's to turn a team into a winner, and one thing that would have helped would be to send GM Wally Walker to unemployment.  Seattle fans are loyal. I've been one since the 1970's when Slick Watts, Fred Brown, Gus Williams, Dennis Johnson, Lonnie Shelton, Jack Sikma and countless others helped pack the house and go to the NBA finals.  Take some lessons from Paul Allen and the Seahawks. Patience and persistence, it does wonders.  All you need is a contender and the seats will be filled.  Seattle was on verge of championship contention until you let Coach Nate MacMillan walk out the door.  You do not need fancy arena remodels with fancy box seats to make a contender.  Puget Sound taxpayers are up to their ears covering costs of Qwest Field and Safeco Field - sports stadiums are a cancer to a state's tax base. 

The public is saying enough is enough - find another way to finance improvements or better yet Schultz, why don't you spend your own money and build Starbuck's Arena?!  Have coffee promotions every game??  Have the Sonics dance team wear little green Starbuck's Hooters outfits.  I'm not even a marketing person, but I have great ideas.  Wally Walker's GM skills are about as mediocre and forgetful as his NBA career (most fans will ask, did he actually have a NBA career??).  Get a real business person in the position who actually knows what he or she's doing.  I'm a business person too.  Profit margins are important, but like Slick was saying last night on Fox Sports, we just need a contender and not a perpetual NBA cupcake. 

I've never been to Oklahoma before, but I may fly there to watch my favorite team.  I hear the BBQ is good and hey it's the homestate of former Seahawk legend, Steve Largent.

A response to Keith Jackson reportedly says he's retiring:  Whoa Nellie!! Say it isn't so. Keith Jackson has been the voice of Pac-10 Football for as long as I've been alive.  For nearly 4+ decades, there has been no one better.  Next to Curt Gowdy, I do not know of any more legendary and distinctive sportscasting voices than Keith Jackson.  Being one of the voices of the UW Husky and WSU Coug Football, I am proud to wish this former WSU Coug the best of luck in retirement.

In honor of the upcoming NFL Draft, Super Bowl runner-up Seahawks are out to restock the cupboards.  All indication, 2006 will be a relatively deep draft and the biggest need is in the defensive backfield.  The Seahawks, love them or hate them have been known to be unable to scout and draft the DB studs.  I am hoping for a change from the past.  Here is my assessment of Seahawk draft picks past and present.

BEST 1st Rounders over the past 3 decades:

Kenny Easley, Jacob Green, John L. Williams, Shaun Alexander, Curt Warner, Jeff Bryant; Walter Jones, Steve Hutchinson, Manu Tuisasasopo

WORST 1st Rounders over the past 3 decades: (where do I begin??)

Kelly Stouffer, Rick Mirer, Dan McGwire (thank you for not drafting any more QBs in the 1st round!!), Brian Bosworth, Terry Taylor, Lamar King, Chris McIntosh, Ray Roberts, Tony Woods, Steve Niehaus

JURYs STILL OUT:

Jerramy Stevens, Chris Spencer, Marcus Tubbs and Marcus Trufant