Seattle Sonics fans everywhere had their hearts broken again last week by the NBA when the Board of Governors voted 22-8 against relocation of the Sacramento Kings to Seattle. It is just the newest chapter in the David Stern vs. Seattle saga that has tugged on the heartstrings of every Sonics sympathizer since 2008.

As a lifelong fan of the oldest professional sports team in Seattle until their move, my heart hurts. 

After all the build up and hope brought on by Chris Hansen’s heroic efforts thus far, it is hard to believe that this city’s basketball fans were robbed yet again…by an all-too familiar enemy.

David Stern’s vendetta against this city has been evident since Clay Bennett made his wild demands after purchasing the team from local coward Howard Schultz while fellow local coward Greg Nickels stood by and did nothing. We all know Bennett had no intention of leaving the Sonics in Seattle, instead yearning to move them to his Okie paradise.

Chris Hansen became an instant hero in Seattle when he proposed his plan to bring the NBA back to Seattle

Nickels gave him an easy way out between his greed and lack of care for the general public’s wishes, letting Bennett essentially pay off the city of Seattle in order to break the remaining lease in Key Arena and take off for his cowtown.

All the while, David Stern sat idly by and helped his good friend Bennett any way he could.

I don’t know about you, but that was a good enough reason for me to hate the NBA commissioner more than I already did. After last week’s developments, he climbed all the way to the top of my sports Shit List.

Skip ahead to the latest saga

Chris Hansen swooped in like a superhero and gave this city hope again when he unexpectedly launched a proposal and campaign to get the city of Seattle another NBA team.

Like us, he grew up here. He loved his Seattle sports and he especially loved the Sonics. And like us, he wanted to see them return. So he hatched his plan and got straight to work.

He snatched up all the land he needed to build an arena.

He secured a Memorandum of Understanding with the Seattle City Council and King County Council, which started a 5 year contract - If the city of Seattle had, in writing, a promise of the return of the NBA to Seattle, Hansen has the ok to put shovels to dirt and begin his proposed arena to faciliate the new NBA team as well as a possible NHL team in the future.

Then he set his sights on a target.

Maloofs

The easiest, most obvious target were the lowly Sacramento Kings, who have struggled for the last 10 years to stay put in the capital of California. The Maloofs owned the team and weren’t interested in staying in town when the city turned down a new arena countless times.

The friendship between Stern and Clay Bennett helped Bennett steal the Sonics and move them to the middle of nowhere

The team had been rumored to move to Anaheim, Las Vegas, Virginia Beach and then to Seattle. They obviously wanted out of the NBA, but wanted to do it at the right price. Hansen and his new partners Steve Ballmer and the Nordstroms offered them that payday they were looking for.

After putting a $30 million deposit down in the agreement with the Maloofs, the Hansen group threw down a massive offer for the Kings, inflating their value to $525 million, already a record sale price for a team.

As the days led up to D-Day, the offer went as high as $625 million with a record $115 million relocation fee AND the promise of opting out of revenue sharing,  a move that should’ve made every owner salivate at the opportunity to put quite a bit of money directly into their pockets.

Instead, the owners allowed the childish dictator with the little man complex to herd them like sheep into making a decision against conventional business wisdom.

The commish helped long winded Sacramento mayor and ex-NBA player Kevin Johnson by giving his group lots of extra time as well as specific criteria to meet in order to earn enough wiggle room to keep the team in town.

KJ put together an ownership group pretty quickly, but anyone with half a brain could see the massive holes in the plan in Sacramento. He started with names like Burkle and Mastrov and 20 “whales” who were going to throw $1 million each into the franchise just for good measure.

The group flip flopped at who would fund and own the team and arena.

They even got an extra month past the deadline issued by the NBA calendar to put this cracker jack plan together.

Kevin Johnson found a new friend in David Stern who abused his power to keep the Kings in Sacramento.

The names Burkle and Mastrov weren’t being mentioned anymore 2 months later as it soon became Vivek Ranadive, who is one of the owners of the Golden State Warriors. A man who was cheerleading for the Kings to stay by day and sporting his gold Warriors playoff shirt courtside in Oakland by night was going to bail Sacramento out.

The vote

Fast forward to the BOG vote where reportedly several owners were swayed by Stern to vote against the relocation to Seattle. He swayed them to vote against a transaction that was sound, guaranteed and ready to be put into action.

He all but demanded the Maloofs sell the team to an ownership group that had completely transformed over a 2 month period and had put together an arena deal so loosely created that it seemed it could fall apart just as easy as the wet napkin it was drawn on.

And he started the whole show off with a literary dagger in the hearts of Seattle NBA fans everywhere. As he waddled up the stairs and plopped down on his chair, seemingly exhausted by his demonstration of absolute power in the meeting room, he uttered the phrase that will never be forgotten,

“This is going to be short for me.  I have a game to get to in Oklahoma City.”

How can one man be so evil to such a loyal fan base that wanted nothing more than to keep THEIR team, THEIR history, and THEIR memories? How can he be so cold and calculated in allowing their original team to leave, only to stonewall them when their chance to bring another team to the city arose.

The answer is simple. We’re talking about David Stern.

Hansen wants to see basketball return to his hometown Seattle much like the rest of us

We’re talking about the same man that asked the city of Seattle to drop their suit against his buddy Clay Bennett or else the city would not be considered for a future franchise – and then denied it when asked about it at the relocation announcement.

We’re talking about the same son of a bitch who infamously asked Jim Rome if he still beats his wife during a live, national interview.

We’re talking about a man who used his power to veto a deal that would’ve given the Lakers the piece to the puzzle they needed to make another run at multiple championships in Chris Paul, only to send him to the Clippers to even the balance of power in Los Angeles.

We’re talking about the same man that sold an NBA franchise to Tom Benson in New Orleans…a franchise that miraculously won the [RIGGED] draft lottery over SEVERAL teams much more deserving.

Good ol David Stern

So here we are now, Sonics fans, back at square one. With such an emotional rollercoaster behind us, what happens next?

Does the NBA offer up relocation or does the Hansen group target another franchise that’s barely keeping it’s head above water?

Do we see a run at the Charlotte or Milwaukee franchises?

Or do we wait until February 2014 to usher in a new NBA commissioner when Adam Silver takes over for the little man and hope he re-affirms his commitment to the Seattle market by awarding us an expansion team?

Only time will tell at this point. One thing is for certain, though… In Hansen I trust.

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Felix Hernandez joined some pretty impressive company in late April this season. After a few failed attempts, King Felix earned his 100th career victory – all with the Seattle Mariners. While it seems that number should be a lot higher, Felix has done the best he could with the supporting cast around him.

And while Felix has many more victories to come, we can relish in the history he has made so far in Seattle. By earning his 100th victory, the King joined 2 Mariner legends in the process.

If you know the Mariners, you know who I’m talking about.

Let’s break down the milestone, shall we?

Felix Hernandez

For current Mariner fans, there is no bigger player than Felix Hernandez. He is the team’s ace and the city’s pride. He is one of the lone superstars to come to this city who WANTS to stay. In doing so, he brings his personal glory to us fans.

King Felix’s personal glory includes 103 wins and a perfect game. It includes a Cy Young award and a Grand Slam in his only at bat in 2008. It includes 1551 career strike outs.

If that wasn’t enough, he’s posted 6 double digit win seasons in his 8 full season in Seattle and has a career record of 103-79. Consider the lineup he’s had to work with vs the lineups the next guy on this list had when he pitched for the Mariners.

If those aren’t numbers to be proud of, I don’t how it could get any better. For Felix AND for Mariner fans.

Randy Johnson was the first Mariners 100 game winner

Jamie Moyer

In 9 full seasons and 2 partial seasons as a Mariner, Jamie Moyer racked up a team record 191 wins. While he benefited greatly from a dominant Mariners lineup in the team’s “glory years,” Moyer managed to make the best of his perfect situation.

The proud owner of an 81 MPH fastball, Moyer started the inaugural game at Safeco Field and began it in style – throwing a first pitch strike against the San Diego Padres. He’s only the 2nd Mariner in history with a 20 win season, notching two of them (20-2001, 21-2003.)

Whether you love him or hate him, Jamie Moyer is a Mariner legend. And Felix still needs 88 more wins as a Mariner to catch him.

Randy Johnson

The Big Unit is a legend in these parts for his time with the Mariners despite his post-Seattle glory. A catalyst of the famed 1995 team, Johnson rode that season’s glory to the AL Cy Young Award with an 18-2 record.

He was the only Mariner to win the award before Felix Hernandez surprisingly won it in 2010.

We remember the 160 pitch game, the All Star game where he threw over John Kruk’s head, the exploding bird, the 308 strikeout season and the most clutch relief performance in Mariners history to knock the Yankees out of the playoffs.

Before he was Randy Johnson to the rest of the MLB, he was the Big Unit to the rest of us in Seattle.

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The Seattle Seahawks begin OTA’s next week with a lot of things to sort out. While the team’s starters are already seemingly set barring a Russell Wilson-like takeover at another position, there are still quite a few roster spots up for grabs.

With so many players coming to camp, there are going to be some good battles.

While I was hoping this didn’t turn into a position battle piece, I am afraid I have almost no choice. With so much depth on the team right now, these spots are going to be heavily competed for. When Pete Carroll is in the mix, it’s always a competition.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

ROLB

The only position that needs to be filled, in my opinion, is ROLB. While I have ZERO issue with Malcolm Smith taking over full time, there are more guys on the roster who could easily take the starting role with stellar camp performances.

Smith would be the most logical, but the Seahawks have wiggle room no matter which way they go.

Do they bring in a rookie like John Lotulelei? Or will guys like Korey Toomer or Mike Morgan step up?

This is the consideration in my mind. If it were me, Smith would be your new starting ROLB.

Malcolm Smith has a chance to take over the role of starting ROLB.

WR 3, 4, 5, 6

Most teams carry 6 wide receivers on the roster, though some opt for 5 at times. While Sidney Rice has the #1 spot locked down, Percy Harvin will almost certainly become the #2. While sound logic would put Golden Tate 3rd on the depth chart, I believe Doug Baldwin could take it over if he stays healthy.

The remaining receivers after the 3rd slot on the depth chart: Baldwin/Tate, Jermaine Kearse, Chris Harper, and Phil Bates. If they didn’t make this list, I don’t think they’ll make the team.

Based on this list, Bates ends up on the practice squad.

DT 2

With both Allan Branch and Jason Jones leaving Seattle in free agency, the team went out and got Tony McDaniel from the Dolphins. Then they drafted Jordan Hill and Jesse Williams this year. They also have Clinton McDonald who has seen considerable time.

With Brandon Mebane a stalwart #1 DT, which of these guys gets to start next to Mebane?

It’s most likely going to be by committee, or platooning, because of the versatility and needs in different situations. I like Jordan Hill in the pass rush while any of the other 3 would suffice in run situations. I personally like Jesse Williams and a run stopping regular, but you can’t beat veteran knowledge.

TE 2

We all know Zach Miller is the #1 TE on the depth chart. His got much stronger last year after he was able to become a receiver instead of a blocker. Now is the question for who gets to back him up.

Is it incumbent Anthony McCoy or will it be rookie Luke Willson?

McCoy is big and can block AND receive while Willson is another vertical threat who can do some serious damage in the middle. I honestly think Willson overtakes McCoy and becomes the team’s #2 TE.

QB 2, 3

Any season isn’t complete without a little Pete Carroll-era QB controversy. We all know Russell Wilson is the starting, so that’s a given. But the question is…who gets to be his backup?

The team brought in Brady Quinn through free agency as well as bringing back Josh Portis the same way.

Then they signed Jerrod Johnson.

Quinn may have a decent arm, but he’s not nearly as mobile as Johnson or Portis. I believe he’s the odd man out.

Johnson takes the #2 slot, Portis grabs the #3 slot.

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The Seattle Mariners seem to have woken up from their first month slumber. They currently sit in 2nd place in the AL West and are 1 game below .500 on the season after winning 5 of their last 6 series and splitting the 7th series with Pittsburgh.

This is about the point we’re used to seeing the Mariners fall behind, only to never catch back up with the pack. April was a bad month for the Mariners as many fans had already lost hope for the season. With the team surging, it seems that fans are finally getting receptive and paying attention again.

This is only possible due to the few who have really stepped up to the occasion. The best part is that this production is coming from players we expected least. Guys like Kyle Seager, Michael Saunders, Raul Ibanez and Hisashi Iwakuma. 

Then you have the guys whose numbers look mediocre, when in reality, those numbers came in the clutch and helped the team win games. Guys like Jason Bay, Kelly Shoppach and Endy Chavez.

With all that being said, I want to highlight a couple good guys and a couple not so good guys. Just to make it fair.

Cy Young Candidates

Hisashi Iwakuma is dealing this year, putting up identical numbers to Felix. (Photo: REUTERS Anthony Bolante)

Yes, I’m already talking Cy Young. I realize it’s only 1/4 through the season, but the odds right now are double that a Seattle Mariners wins this year’s top pitching award. This is not only because Felix Hernandez is always in the mix, but Hisashi Iwakuma has entered the picture as well.

We all know what Felix is capable of. He’s won a Cy Young and pitches each season like he deserves it. Iwakuma, though, may be a bit of a surprise to most. Anybody who stuck around to watch the rest of last season and have stayed until now have seen how consistently good Kuma has been.

Now that he has a full season to go to work, he is already surprising people.

Felix is sporting a 5-2 record with a 1.53 ERA (#1 in AL), 64.2 innings pitched (#1 in AL), 64 strike outs (#4 in AL), .215 opponent batting average (#9 in AL), and 0.93 WHIP (#3 in AL).

Iwakuma is sporting a 5-1 record with a 1.84 ERA (#3 in AL), 58.2 innings pitched (#6 in AL), 55 strike outs (#9 in AL), .183 opponent batting average (#3 in AL), and 0.78 WHIP (#1 in AL).

With both Felix and Kuma at the top of the pitching numbers, things are looking good if the Mariners can continue to get these guys a little bit of run support. Not only is there a chance Felix could bring home #2, but Iwakuma can just as easily get his name carved into the trophy as well.

Now if only Boston’s Clay Buchholz would cool off…

The 6 spot

One of the most glaring spots on the team is the play at SS. With Brendan Ryan hitting a Chone Figgins-like .149 and Robert Andino not far behind at .167, it leaves much to be desired as a professional baseball player.

Then you can make the defensive argument saying the Mariners are a good fielding team. Ryan is leading the team with 3 errors this season while Andino is second with 2. This is inexcusable.

Let’s take a look at some options, shall we?

Nick Franklin, Carlos Triunfel and Stefen Romero are all waiting in the wings in Tacoma right now. While Franklin has been there longest, any of the 3 could easily make the jump and improve the position as it stands.

Franklin is hitting .330 with 37 hits, 26 runs, 4 home runs, 16 RBI and 5 stolen bases. The drawback? He has 5 errors.

Triunfel is hitting .308 with 45 hits, 23 runs, 3 home runs, 17 RBI and 4 stolen bases. The drawback? He has 8 errors.

Romero is hitting .271 with 23 hits, 12 runs, 3 home runs, 14 RBI and 1 stolen base. The drawback? He’s only got 21 games experience in Tacoma while Franklin and Triunfel have had 31 and 37 games this season, respectively.

Now I don’t know about you, but I would take .330, .308 and .271 with a chance of errors over .149 and .167.

And yes, I made a Chone Figgins reference.

I apologize. 

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The Seattle Mariners are in the midst of a hot streak right now, dominated by solid pitching performances and perfectly timed run support. While we all wait and see if the team can crack .500, we have our own teams to worry about…our fantasy team.

If you have been gun shy in the past about Mariners on a fantasy team, I hear you loud and clear.

This time around, things seem to be looking up. While this week’s hitting numbers aren’t spectacular, it still allowed the team to pull of some pretty nice wins in the process. 2 players hit above .250 this week. Yes, just 2.

Let’s take a look, shall we?

Who’s Hot

Felix Hernandez

This is a no-brainer. Even on a bad day, Felix Hernandez puts up numbers better than most pitchers in the majors. This week was no exception, with Felix getting 2 chances to improve those numbers of his. He did that and more.

In his 2 starts, Felix went 16 innings, giving up 11 hits, 1 run, and 1 walk. He struck out 12 and picked up both wins. He is now 5-2 on the year.

Needless to say, Felix is a must have player. And if you’re a homer like I am, it’s worth trying a trade for him.

That way you can bask in the same glory as King Felix when he dominates.

Tom Wilhelmsen has been automatic in his closer role going a perfect 10 for 10 so far

Hisashi Iwakuma

Hisashi Iwakuma has been a surprise to some around the country, but not to us here in Seattle. This week was a good indicator why. You would think filling in for a guy like Jason Vargas would be slightly difficult, but Iwakuma may exceeded expectations and then re-wrote them for whoever tries to follow suit.

In 2 starts, Iwakuma threw 12 innings, giving up 9 hits, 3 runs and 3 walks. He struck out 14 batters and racked up 2 more wins, bringing his 2013 record to 4-1.

If Iwakuma is available in your league, you must first ask yourself if anyone in the league knows baseball at all. Then scoop him up.

You’ll thank me later.

Tom Wilhelmsen

I’ll make this quick, because you can’t say too much about a closer. Tom Wilhelmsen has had 10 save opportunities and converted them all. He is a top 10 closer in baseball. If that doesn’t compel someone to get him, I don’t know what will.

If you need saves, you could use The Bartender serving some up for your team.

Michael Saunders

When healthy, Michael Saunders is an underrated talent. That’s when he stays healthy, though. Saunders was healthy this week and it definitely showed. With Franklin Gutierrez out with injury, Saunders is a lock to start nightly so the platoon outfielders can fill Guti’s shoes. This is where Saunders is thriving.

In his last 8 games, Saunders is 8 for 28. He racked up 6 runs, 3 RBI, 6 walks, 2 home runs, a double and 2 stolen bases. The only drawback was the strike out total, 8.

If Saunders is available, I highly suggest snagging him. He’s a fixture in the lineup and doing well.

You can’t have a better combination.

Michael Saunders has been a force at the plate when he’s stayed healthy. This week was no different

Who’s Cold

If I pinpointed people for the cold list, it would be over half the lineup. Yes, almost every player has contributed in certain situations, but the stats don’t tell stories of heroism or a clutch gene. Instead of making a list, I’m grouping them up and calling them out as a group.

The Infielders

Robert Andino, Brendan Ryan, Kelly Shoppach and Jesus Montero all had rough weeks. These 4 guys combined to go 7 for 57. They wound up driving in 6 runs via 2 doubles and a home run.

They scored 6 times between them while striking out a whopping 15 times.

The stats speak for themselves, folks.

The Outfielders

Endy Chavez and Jason Bay has pretty bad weeks. While Bay smacked 2 home runs, he only had 1 more hit over the 8 game span. These 2 combined to go 5 for 30. Bay provided any offense of the 2, scoring twice and drawing 4 walks.

The 2 combined to strike out 6 times.

Watch List

Kyle Seager

One of the surprising players this season has been Kyle Seager. While we know he was streaky last year, he’s held his own so far this season and could get some consideration as top hitter on the team overall right now. This week, Seager went 7 for 27 with 5 runs, 4 RBI, 2 doubles, a home run, 5 walks and a stolen base.

He struck out 6 times.

While Seager may not be an automatic starter in a fantasy lineup, he warrants a look in deeper leagues. Even as a bench player, you can ride his hot streaks as they pop up.

Michael Morse

Michael Morse had a bad week. He was 4 for 25 with a run, 2 RBI, 2 walks, a double and NINE strikeouts. Morse is worth a spot because of his potential alone. He is going to be a swing for the fences guy…he will hit quite a few home runs, but will also strike out A LOT.

Jason Bay and Brendan Ryan had a rough week, combining for very few hits and production

He’s worth the risk, because when he’s at the top of his game, he racks up singles and doubles like none other.

Kendrys Morales

While 6 for 25 isn’t a bad week, it’s also not a great one either. Kendrys Morales is swinging the bat well, but it’s not translating exactly how he’d like. For now, at least.

His 4 runs and 4 RBI were the highlight of his week to go with a walk, 2 doubles and home run.

He also had 6 strike outs.

Dustin Ackley

I never thought I’d see the day where I could give Dustin Ackley any kind of props. He looked good this week, but I’m not sold just yet.

Consistency has been the team’s biggest problem and Ackley is at the forefront of it along with his buddy Justin Smoak.

Ackley went 5 for 27 this week with 4 runs, 6 RBI, a walk and a homer. He struck out 8 times, though.

He’s worth a look, but not quite sure he’s worth the risk just yet.

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The Seattle Mariners are on a nice little streak right now. Behind strong pitching performances and some decent run support, the Mariners have begun their slow climb up the AL West standings. Over the last week, Seattle took on the Blue Jays, Pirates and A’s.

They have won 10 of their last 15 games. They have won 5 of their last 6 series, splitting a short 2 game series in Pittsburgh. You know…I think I could get used to this.

It’s still too early to tell how things will wind up when all is said and done, but one thing is for sure…this year’s team seems to be more enjoyable to watch than any of the teams fielded the last few seasons. With that being said, let’s call out some guys for doing a good job.

Starters

Felix Hernandez

There isn’t much I can say about Felix Hernandez that hasn’t been said yet. He’s one of the most dominant pitchers in the game. He proved that again this week with 2 lights out performances. I’m sure he was pretty excited, too, as he got to pick up a bat against Pittsburgh. (He struck out twice, no Grand Salami this time)

In 2 outings, King Felix went 16 innings, giving up 11 hits and a run. He surrendered 1 walk while striking out 12 on his way to 2 wins over this 3 series span.

Felix was dominant again this week, getting 2 wins while only surrendering a lone run.

Hisashi Iwakuma

Felix is not the only starting pitcher locking opponents down in the batters box. Hisashi Iwakuma has become a monster of his own, terrorizing teams with high strike out totals and an almost perfect ERA. While many would disagree, Iwakuma may be the best #2 starter in baseball.

Iwakuma got 2 starts as well, going 14 innings, giving up 9 hits, 3 runs and 3 walks. He struck out 14 batters and picked up wins in both starts to add to his season numbers.

Joe Saunders

Joe Saunders hasn’t been hard to predict at all this season. His nickname Safeco Joe is a dead giveaway about how good he is at home. On the road, though? Not so much. Saunders improved to a 9-0 career record at Safeco Field this week, extending his streak until the next homestand.

It was a hit or miss week for Saunders, ending the week with a 1-1 record. He wound up going 11.1 innings, giving up 14 hits, 8 runs and 5 walks. He struck out 6 guys and allowed 2 home runs.

Brandon Maurer

The rookie jitters have been showing in AA turned pro starter Brandon Maurer. He got 1 start over the 8 game span and it was not pretty. While he has a lot of slack to work with given his rookie status, Maurer should start looking to get more consistent or he may wind up meeting the Big 3 in Tacoma.

In his lone outing, Maurer went 5 innings, gave up 6 hits, 3 runs, 2 walks, 2 home runs and struck out 4. Needless to say he took an L.

Aaron Harang

While he has shown some veteran presence on the mound, Aaron Harang has proven he is just filler until phenom Danny Hultzen is ready to make the leap from AAA to the pros. Harang has had his struggles with flashes of brilliance in between. While I am nowhere near singing his praises, he has helped at least somewhat.

Harang’s only outing of the week was not bad, but he received the cliche lack of run support we are used to seeing from Mariners hitters. He went 6 innings, giving up 5 hits and 2 runs, striking out 6.

Bullpen

The bullpen saw limited action this week due to so many starters going deep into games…something we’re not necessarily used to seeing. With that being said, let’s highlight the best, the worst, and the most steady.

Yoervis Medina has come on strong, delivering 3 solid outings this week. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Yoervis Medina

By far the biggest surprise (to me at least) is Yoervis Medina. While he WAS on my radar in the minors, there were more pressing matters to complain over in the Seattle bullpen – like relievers who couldn’t help the team out. In comes Medina like a breath of fresh air and he has the best performance of the week from the bullpen.

Medina pitched 3.1 innings this week in 3 appearances. He only gave up a single hit and struck out 3 in the process. You can’t get much better than that!

Hector Noesi

The single worst performance of the week came from an old friend, Hector Noesi. After struggling in the rotation, he was moved to relief status. It seems he’s having a bit of trouble there, too.

In his lone outing of the week, Noesi went 2 innings, giving up 6 hits, 3 runs and a walk, while striking out 1 man. Now we see why he only had 1 outing. Yikes.

Tom Wilhelmsen

And to close out, it was only fitting to call on The Bartender. Tom Wilhelmsen had himself a nice week, getting to see action in 3 of the 8 games. He threw 3 scoreless innings, allowing a hit, a walk and striking a guy out. He also added 2 saves to his season total, putting him among league leaders in the Closer category.

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The Seattle Seahawks were without a first round pick in an NFL Draft for the 4th time in team history. That of course was a casualty of the Percy Harvin deal. With no first round pick, it makes the next best pick, the second round pick, all that more intriguing.

Do the Seahawks go for positions of need or do they draft the best available overall player? Or do they trade down like we have all grown accustomed to?

Those questions were answered today as the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the 2013 NFL Draft took place.

How did the Seahawks do? Here’s what I loved and hated about today’s choices.

Round 2

Christine Michael – RB – Texas A&M

First of all…wow. And wow for several reasons. First, I didn’t think RB was even a position they wanted to strengthen. There’s a lot to love and a little to hate about the pick of Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M in the last pick of the 2nd round.

Christine Michael, RB, Texas A&M was picked in the 2nd round

What I love

Michael is quick. He hits holes with extreme bursts of speed and utilizes a very fast, sharp cut through the holes. His bursts of speed give him a good gap to work with between him and defenders. His speed and momentum help him break tackles, spin out of tackles, or just bounce off of tacklers.

With all that being said, while Michael is another version of both Marshawn Lynch and Robert Turbin, he can still be considered a change of pace back, because he does have that explosive speed. It’s a good feeling knowing that the running game won’t skip much of a beat knowing the backups are prototypes of the starter.

Also, Pete Carroll and John Schneider thought enough to draft Michael with their first 2013 pick. In Pete and John I trust. In Christine Michael I trust.

What I hate

After initial shock and awe wore off, I did more research on Michael. I saw him plenty while he played at Texas A&M thanks to Johnny Manziel. What I did not know was the apparent off the field incidents about this kid.

He supposedly has attitude issues which caused him to lose playing time last season. Couple that with a history of injuries and it could be an issue. Word is that he slept through meetings with teams at the Combine and left a bad impression on many.

He is definitely a high risk/high reward pick.

Jordan Hill, DT, Penn State was the Seahawks 3rd round selection

There are also questions about his blocking, receiving, and durability. He doesn’t like to block, is ineffective as a receiver and has not carried more that 160 snaps in a season.

Round 3

Jordan Hill – DT – Penn State

The Seahawks went more off their needs with this pick. An inside defensive lineman who can get to the quarterback is exactly what the team needed in order to help Brandon Mebane and the slew of DE’s who will be going at the quarterback.

What I love

This is what the Seahawks needed. Hill’s athleticism allows him to explode off the ball and get into the backfield quickly. He can get to the quarterback in the blink of an eye but he also uses his feet to chase down ball carriers.

You cannot say enough about someone who can get to the quarterback like he can. It’s what Seattle was going for in the offseason and they have nailed it since the season ended.

He’s athletic, can rush the passer and stop runners.

What is there not to love about that?

What I hate

To be honest, there isn’t a whole lot I don’t like about this pick. My number one dislike is Hill’s lack of strength. He uses his quickness to his advantage, but he lacks strength.

When he doesn’t beat his guy off the line, he tends to get pushed back or shoved down due to his lack of strength.

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The Washington Huskies spring game has come and gone, leaving football fans anxious for the 2013 season. The problem is, we still have just over 4 months before the season opener against Boise State. After getting a small glimpse of what fans can look forward to next season, it has left us all with a yearning that football comes back sooner than later.

While we wait, though, there are lots of developments to be made. Will the team get ravaged by injuries again before the season even begins?

Will an incoming freshman come in and impress his way into the starting lineup? Will there be more off field incidents that affect any other starters?

Most importantly, though, is who will this season’s leaders be? The role changes each season, so it can be hard to gauge. Especially on a talent-rich, upper-classmen filled squad.

Here are 5 Huskies who must lead by example this season. 

Keith Price

The obvious choice as always is Keith Price. With this being his senior season, he has a LOT to prove. Especially after his rollercoaster tenure while at Washington. It all starts with winning the job, though. The starting QB spot is not a given this year with so many young, talented quarterbacks waiting in the wings.

Shaq Thompson had a big freshman season, but this year could be even better

Price will have to start his campaign by wrestling the job from Cyler Miles, Jeff Lindquist and Troy Williams. After that, Price will need to get back into 2011 form, when he finished the season by out-dueling 2012 NFL Rookie of the Year Robert Griffin III in the Alamo Bowl. If he can go back to being as productive and electric as he was that season, he will immediately set the tone for the next starter.

Shaq Thompson

As a freshman, Shaq Thompson was arguably the best player on the entire Huskies squad. That’s pretty awe-inspiring considering some of the other players on the team…and how Thompson ended up at LB instead of his original Safety position. With the Huskies linebacking corps devastated by multiple injuries, they needed someone to step in and fill the gaps.

Thompson, among others, made the move to linebacker to accommodate. He did not disappoint, excelling at the position and getting better as the season progressed. Now, Thompson is looking at a possible All American nod from his new position.

If Thompson can make the move from DB to linebacker and make it look easy, it should inspire others to work even harder no matter their position. Even as a sophomore, Thompson can, and will, lead by example.

Sean Parker

It’s easy to peg Sean Parker as a leader on this Husky squad. He has been one of the most popular Dawgs during his time in Montlake and is in his last season as a college player. He has been known as a leader, but he can do it in a different way this year.

Parker has put up solid numbers on a mostly sub-par defense in his years as a Dawg.

As a senior though, he will have plenty of opportunity to show the young guys how it’s done one last time. And if he performs in top form, it will no doubt inspire those fighting for the job next year.

Senior Sean Parker can be a very good example this season

Kasen Williams

Kasen Williams is the leader of the receivers scary enough. His freshman season saw him challenge Jermaine Kearse and Devin Aguilar for the top WR billing on the team. His sophomore season, the role was his after the aforementioned Kearse and Aguilar went on to the NFL.

Now a junior, Williams has quite a bit to prove. Can he be a clear #1 receiver and dominate opposing defenses? And can he lead the next generation of Husky receivers?

The answer is yes. And if he can pull both off, he will push himself, and those fighting for his job, to become better players.

If he can become Keith Price’s go-to guy, it will be all the motivation any receiver needs to become inspired.

Austin Seferian-Jenkins

I know this one is weird, but let me explain. With the DUI that Austin Seferian-Jenkins was charged with this offseason, it has left him suspended from the team indefinitely. Whether it be one quarter or 6 games, ASJ has a chance to turn this all into a positive as crazy as that sounds.

Looking at a past example, Jerramy Stevens, ASJ can erase any comparison to Stevens by becoming a positive example.

If he takes his suspension like a champ, works hard in the meantime and comes back stronger than ever, he gives himself a chance to do multiple positive things.

By overcoming the adversity, he can show that hard work, sacrifice and taking responsibility for your actions can bring you back to glory.

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The Seattle Seahawks get to work their annual draft day magic this week. John Schneider and Pete Carroll have had a line of success already in their time in Seattle and have given Seahawks fans good reason to be extra excited come draft weekend. Despite all the guesswork of the draft, the front office will put together a cold, calculated list of mid and late round talent.

For those of us nerds out there who eat, sleep and breathe football, it’s a special time of year as well.

Not only do we get to see our favorite team go through the draft process, but we get to play our own guessing game known as mock draft season. And with the draft coming Thursday, the season is coming to an abrupt end for us nerds.

With all that being said, let’s get started.

Round 2, 56th overall

Quinton Patton – WR – Louisiana Tech

With the addition of Percy Harvin, you would think the Seahawks are set at wide receiver. I would tend to agree in most cases, but it’s hard to argue with a pick like Quinton Patton. As much as we all love Sidney Rice, it’s no secret that’s he’s not always reliable and lacks the consistency to be a true #1. Enter Patton.

Patton is quick, runs great routes, has good hands and has some incredible athletic ability. He can and will spread the field and give Russell Wilson a deep threat whenever needed. His athleticism allows him to out-fight defenders for contested passes, especially if he gets the opportunity to do so behind the defender.

Patton has been compared to Mike Wallace and Reggie Wayne.

2012 Stats: 104 catches, 1,392 yards, 13 touchdowns

Khaseem Greene would definitely compete with Malcolm Smith for the starting OLB job (Jim O’Connor-US PRESSWIRE)

Highlights: http://youtu.be/htOC2hKV7iM

Round 3, 87th overall

Khaseem Greene – OLB – Rutgers

Not a big, overpowering linebacker, Khaseem Greene brings speed and athleticism to the weakside linebacker position. While I have no issue with Malcolm Smith taking over the starting job, I can easily see Greene coming in and challenging immediately for the starting job.

He uses his speed to close gaps quickly or to get into the backfield and wreak havoc. He can play effectively with tight ends and slot receivers and can stay with them down field.

He is a wrap-up tackler, not a hard hitter, but he makes his speed and agility work for him. Greene is a good zone guy and does a good job against trickier plays like screens and quarterback options. He’s not huge like a linebacker should be, but effectively utilizes his strengths to diminish whatever negative traits he may have.

2012 stats: 136 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks, 6 forced fumbles, 5 passes defended, 2 interceptions

Highlights: http://youtu.be/uhb83_ASFuk

Round 4, 123rd overall

Akeem Spence – DT – Illinois

Known more for his run stopping ability than anything, Akeem Spence brings some speed and agility to the defensive line when needed. Not a great pass rusher, Spence could be used situationally in run stopping situations. If the Seahawks can work one of their bazillion pass rushing DEs in at DT on passing plays, working Spence in sporadically would benefit the team greatly.

While his line mechanics can be tweaked to make him a more effective pass rusher, it shouldn’t be necessary. He can shift on plays all over the line and make stops at the line of scrimmage or chase down ball carriers near the line. If he does get extra playing time, he can handle it, standing in for most of the offensive plays that Illinois ran last year. He doesn’t wear down easily which makes him stronger as the game goes on.

2012 stats: 72 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble

Highlights: http://youtu.be/IGE75uXRPqk

Round 5, 138th overall, 158th overall

Chris Faulk – OT – LSU

Chris Faulk isn’t the most gifted of offensive lineman. What he lacks in technique, he more than makes up for in power. Faulk is a raw talent and is projected to be solely a right tackle. This works in favor of the Seahawks who could use a little relief from Breno Giacomini’s penalties and knack for getting beat by mid-to-top flight defensive linemen.

Chris Faulk could provide some relief from the Breno Giacomini turnstyle

Faulk could use a lot of technique work, and I am confident that he can pick up those skills as a Seahawk. His strength is his greatest asset and it shows. While going up against solid defensive lineman, even if overmatched, Faulk uses his strength to overpower those guys. It isn’t pretty, but it’s effective.

Players won’t be able to run through him like they do now to the current switchable right tackles.

Highlights: http://youtu.be/GS3i80dASgM

Joseph Fauria – TE – UCLA

If the last name looks familiar, it’s because it is. His father, Christian, was a TE for the Seahawks back in the day. Fauria is not a blocking tight end, but rather a solid receiving TE with some big time athleticism. Have you seen the recent string of receivers hurdling giant defenders? That’s how Fauria operates downfield.

He has good hands and catches away from his body which gives him the ability to get full momentum after the catch to gain a few guaranteed extra yards. He is a possession receiver and is a serious threat in the red zone.

His size can hurt at times, as he tends to get tripped up easily every once in a while because of his lengthy frame. Fauria will win battles downfield against linebackers in coverage. His speed surprises opponents and he takes full advantage of it by getting off the line quicker or creating separation from defenders.

2012 stats: 46 catches, 637 yards, 12 touchdowns

Highlights: http://youtu.be/QnhHRXIREcw

Round 6, 194th overall

Sean Renfree – QB – Duke

With the exit of Matt Flynn, the Seahawks may be looking to find someone that fit his mold. That’s where Sean Renfree enters the picture. A prototypical pocket passer, Renfree has good accuracy and arm strength. He is willing to take chances downfield and he can create separation for his receivers based on his throws alone. While Renfree has a history of injury, he seems to make the most effective use of whatever playing time he gets.

He has decent speed and agility so if he needs to, he can take off. It won’t cross his mind until the last second which can in turn hurt him at times. He sometimes focuses on one receiver, leaving himself vulnerable to interceptions at times.

Interesting side note – Renfree’s head coach (David Cutcliffe) is the same guy who helped Peyton and Eli Manning with their passing techniques as they came up through college at Tennesse and Mississippi, respectively.

2012 stats: 3,113 yards, 19 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 67% completion,

Highlights: http://youtu.be/GfE52Ef8wsc

Round 7, 220th, 231st, 241st, 242nd

DeVonte Holloman – S/OLB – South Carolina

DeVonte Holloman is a more rare type of hybrid athlete. Having effectively played both strong safety and linebacker in college, Holloman brings some athleticism to both positions. We all know how Pete loves his versatile players who can handle multiple positions, so it makes Holloman more attractive as a pick and a good chance at making the squad with a respectable showing in camps.

Holloman has good hands and will pick off passes more often than not if they are thrown in his vicinity. His hybrid ability allows him to blitz the passer effectively, but also stay with receivers downfield. He is a great tackler, securing his guy instead of going for risky tackles. He could be a steal if chosen before teams get a UFA look at him.

2012 stats: 55 tackles, 8 tackles for loss, 4 passes defended, 2 forced fumbles, 2 sacks, 3 interceptions

Highlights: http://youtu.be/tKB0JR6oZRc

Omoregie Uzzi – G – Georgia Tech

Omeregie Uzzi is both a good run and pass blocker. As a run blocker, he has no issue getting to the second level to help block downfield. As a pass protector, he possesses good strength to make big blocks or the speed and agility to move down the line to help teammates who may be having a touch time.

He has been known to end up on his back more than some would like to see, but that is an issue that can be worked out with some hand and footwork lessons from professional coaches. He’s an athletic blocker and can stay with both a running back or even Russell Wilson to help get them into more open field. He becomes a lot less effective at the second level, though, and must find a way to counter that in order to create more opportunities for the ball carrier.

DeVonte Holloman is a hybrid safety and linebacker who can effectively help at both positions if needed

Interview: http://youtu.be/wy4-gSWjVG8

Kenny Okoro – CB – Wake Forest

Kenny Okoro (real name Chibuikem) is projected to go undrafted this season and therefore there is not much information/scouting on him. What I DO know is this…he is tall and extremely athletic. While some of his mechanics need work, he relies on his football IQ to propel his value.

I also know that while Pete and John have good luck picking and choosing undrafted free agents, they may not want a guy like this to get to that point…they may want him all to themselves.

Highlights: http://youtu.be/A7fZiKebr6Q (part 1) http://youtu.be/QqzRvWDmPW0 (part 2)

Mario Benavides – C – Louisville

Blocking for an athletic quarterback should be no issue for Mario Benavides. He did it for multiple years at Louisville, especially this year for agile QB Teddy Bridgewater. Benavides is a strong guy with great footwork and can handle the initial rush as well as hold off linebackers trying to get through the line.

He baits players with their own speed before cutting them off abruptly to keep them from making a play.

Because of his agility, he was able to pull block down the line in order for ball carriers to find an open hole and take off. Being compared to John Sullivan, Benavides could be a steal if he stays healthy. That’s the biggest issue he had in college.

Despite his many starts, the man was hurt quite a bit.

Highlights: http://youtu.be/Qd8CtM6Zdb4

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The Seattle Mariners made some changes in the offseason in hopes to shake things up and win some games. Both the lineup and rotation got facelifts this offseason, giving fans hope for this season. It’s also fantasy baseball season where we all get to play the role of Jack Z.

The changes the Mariners made have paid off already. The new hitters are producing while the team is playing plug and play in the starting rotation and bullpen in order to make things work.

This is good news for fantasy players, because it means you can be a homer and own a Seattle Mariner other than King Felix.

Let’s break down who’s been hot, warm and cold in week 1 and 2.

Who’s Hot

Felix Hernandez

Not much needs to be said for Felix Hernandez and his value at all, real life or fantasy. One of the most dominant pitchers in all of baseball, King Felix will almost always put up good numbers whether he loses the game or not. It’s not his fault the offense doesn’t show up every game.

Week 1 & 2 stats: 3.05 ERA, 20.2 innings, 19 hits, 8 runs, 7 earned runs, 2 HR, 5 walks, 16 K’s. 1-2 record

Hisashi Iwakuma

Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales were brought in to hit the ball. They’re doing it, too

Hisashi Iwakuma may be the most impressive Mariners so far this season. He is putting up Felix numbers early on this season and is doing a good job of giving the Mariners some good chances to win. If Kuma is available in your league, I highly recommend picking him up. Who knows if it will get rocky or not. Until that happens, though, ride his coattails to quite a few wins, K’s and a good ERA.

Week 1 & 2 stats: 2.18 ERA, 9 hits, 5 runs, 4 HR, 1 walk, 16 K’s. 2-0 record

Michael Morse

Michael Morse was well worth going out and getting this offseason. He has become probably the team’s best hitter already, even with a few games off with a broken finger. Morse is everything Mariners fans could hope for and then some. He was looking like a home run or strike out guy, but Morse has put together some solid at bats and is getting lots of singles now, too.

Morse shouldn’t be available in your league.  If he is, pick him up immediately.

Week 1 & 2 stats: .293 avg, 12 hits, 7 runs, 6 HR, 9 RBI, 1 BB, 12 K

Tom Wilhelmsen

Tom Wilhelmsen is a must have guy in any fantasy league. He is a perfect 5 for 5 in save opportunities which is all you should be looking for out of a closer. He has already had and will have more rocky appearances, but he evens himself out well and gets the job done.

Grab The Bartender if he’s available. With the Mariners winning games by 1 and 2 runs, he may very well get a chance to seriously up his saves numbers.

Week 1 & 2 stats: 1.80 ERA, 1 hit, 1 run, 4 walks, 2 K’s, 5 saves

Keep An Eye On

Michael Saunders

Michael Saunders is back again after finally sticking the whole year out with the club last season. He got off to a hot start, but wound up injured and on the DL. Like the category I put him in, keep an eye on Saunders when he comes back. He is hitting well and is stealing bases. That’s all you can ask for.

Week 1 & 2 stats: .286 avg, 8 hits, 6 runs, 2b, 3b, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 3 SB

Franklin Gutierrez

Franklin Gutierrez started off the 2013 season hot as well. He’s already fighting injuries, though, and basically in the same situation as Saunders. Guti isn’t hurt bad enough to get a DL stint, but he has missed time already with slight injuries. If he stays healthy and consistent, Guti will be a big pickup.

Week 1 & 2 stats: .270 avg, 10 hits, 6 runs, 2 2B, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 2 BB, 8 K

Dustin Ackley’s expression in this photo describes his 2013 season so far (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Kendrys Morales

Like Morse, Kendrys Morales was brought in this offseason to produce runs. He started off a little slow, but has picked up steam and his hitting well. He won’t hit all home runs, either. He will rip a lot of doubles and singles and hit for some pretty decent average. If you need depth at 1B or Util, take a look at Morales.

Week 1 & 2 stats: .261 avg, 12 hits, 3 runs, 3 2b, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 8 BB, 7 K

Who’s Cold

Justin Smoak

I’m not really surprised Justin Smoak is at the bottom of this list. I was hoping I wouldn’t have to do it this early, though. While he is putting together good at bats, he is failing extremely hard to finish them off positively. Here’s to hoping he turns it around.

Week 1 & 2 stats: .191 avg, 9 hits, 3 runs, 2b, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 9 K

Dustin Ackley

It pains me to put Dustin Ackley on the cold list to start the season. And I mean he is REALLY cold. Yes, he is drawing a few walks and in turn scoring, but he’s not hitting. And that’s exactly what he’s supposed to do. A 2B hits for good average and scores lots of runs typically with some power numbers peppered in at times.

Ackley is lacking all of that right now.

Week 1 & 2 stats: .122 avg, 5 hits, 6 runs, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

I know I could have put quite a few others on this list, for both good AND bad. What do YOU think of my list? Have suggestions of who else should have made the list? Comment below and let me hear it!

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