Ahhh, the playoffs. The second season. While the sun creeps out from hiding and our peers are eager to spend every moment satiating their vitamin D deficiencies, we look forward to April, May, and (hopefully) June for a completely different reason. As a first year college student who has been forced to watch games on his laptop this season (University of Washington cable doesn't carry CBC or NBCSportsNet), I am looking for another place and a bigger screen to catch these matches. I was wondering, fellow Seattleites, if you have anywhere you go to watch the games? I am not 21 yet so I can't get into any bars, but is there an all ages joint that you know of that Canuck fans go to? Any help would be much appreciated.

5. The 2001 World Figure Skating Championships

I was just eight at the time when my family came up for the Figure Skating Championships from Woodinville, WA (a suburb of Seattle). I had already gained some interest in hockey, mostly from playing NHL '99 on the computer and from watching the Mighty Ducks movies. Because of the movies, I was a Ducks "fan" and Paul Kariya was my favorite player even though I never watched him actually play. Coming up to Vancouver and spending time in the arena meant a trip to the team shop during the oh so tedious Ice Dancing portion of the competition. This meant a Daniel Sedin jersey which meant instant Canuck and Sedin fandom.  I've been following the team ever since.

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At 6 PM Pacific time, the  California Redwoods will take on the Los Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League opener. The game will air on Versus. The Redwoods roster features the likes of former Husky Sonny Shackleford, former Seahawk Chris Cooper, and former NFLers Bobby Sippio and Derek Frost among others. The Locomotives are more exciting as they are led at quarterback by J.P. Losman and emply former Hawk and Oregon Duck Samie Parker at WR and former Seahawk special teams demon Josh Scobey at tailback. They also have Tim Rattay, Marcel Shipp, and Teddy Lehman among other former NFL players. Other former players in the league inclode Simeon Rice, Tatum Bell, and Koren Robinson. The Redwoods are coached by Dennis Green and the Locomotives by Jim Fassel.

I think that the staff is extremely high on Jamar Adams but this is just an idea to throw out there that I haven't seen been discussed at all for a replacement for Brian Russell. What about Josh Wilson? He seems to have skills suited to playing safety (although I'm not so sure about his tackling) and it's not like the situation at the position could get much worse. Wilson played safety and corner at Maryland. I could be totally off and there could be a easy reason why Wilson isn't a consideration, but I didn't see one in the games this year. Thoughts?

From the always lovely Geoff Baker:

LaHair on his new "teammate" -

"It's really strange because I used to sit there dreaming of being a teammate of his when I was younger,'' LaHair said. "I mean, a lot of kids probably did that. But for me, it's actually going to happen. My brother called me and reminded me of that.''

 The article also calls LaHair a "left-handed power hitter himself". Oh Bryan, when don't you disappoint?

Welcome back Putz, long time no see!

The Hawks filled the need at a struggling posit......Wait, what? Really? I am oh so hopelessley confused on this one. The team is 2-8. Putzier is old and whatever talent he had has completely been washed out for a couple of years. Adams is young and plays a position that has been regarded by many as the most problematic on the roster. Wow. Why? I'm not a Ruskell basher but this is pretty out there....

That those of you Northwest Pac-10 fans should know oh so very well:

Oregon State RB Yvenson Bernard! 

I saw it over at Seahawk Addicts, we released former UCLA DT Kevin Brown and grabbed Yvenson. Although I thought that Brown sounded like a nice prospect and there are some better options to release on the squad, I am really excited to see Bernard. This is the guy that I wanted the Hawks to draft as a prospect at the position after seeing him tear up some very good defenses. He is a pounding, relentless rusher who plays banged up, reminiscent of another former OSU back: Steven Jackson. He wasn't drafted because of a poor combine and a slow 40, but we all know that a 40 isn't an indication of skill. I'm pretty stoked to see him next pre-season.

Scruffy Add - Here is a highlight video 

Yvenson Bernard 2006 Hi-Light (via isasports)

ESPN has ranked the fans of all 30 NFL franchises. First, the Steelers. As if that's not enough pain, the Hawks are ranked 20th!!!  20th. For the loudest fans in the league. The main selling point for us not being ranked higher is the lack of tailgating, a problem brought on by the city government. I don't have a link, but at ESPN.com if you go to the NFL section it's the headline story.

The youngsters are showing goods signs and Branch's return is looking closer and closer to week 1 every day, but what do you guys think of picking up Joe Horn? If he is still productive at this point in his career he seems to be a better addition than any other veteran WRs on the market. His character could possibly keep the Hawks away and our WR situation doesn't appear as dire as it did a week ago but I would still like to see another veteran on the squad if the young guys do not perform well. This could also allow another year on the practice squad for a player like Logan Payne. Thoughts?