http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sounders/2011027342_sounders10.html

Calabro wasn't exactly "let go," as he was only on a one year contract in the first place. Looks like the team just wanted to go in a "different direction."

I don't know about others, but I actually like this move. As admirable as Kevin Calabro's enthusiasm and voice are, his ignorance of the game could be rather cringe-worthy at times. White has covered Premier League games, bringing some much needed experience to the table.

I am frontpaging this and adding in the press release from the Sounders as well.

Sounders FC Hire White as “Voice of the Sounders FC”
Renton, Wash. – The Seattle Sounders FC today announced Arlo White as the club’s play-by-play announcer. The “Voice of the Sounders FC” will be heard on all television and radio broadcasts.
“I am extremely excited to join the Sounders FC family,” said White. “When I came to Seattle last season for opening night, I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere at Qwest Field. This is a great opportunity for me to be a part of a first-class organization. I have high hopes for this club this season.”

White, 36, joins Seattle after spending the previous nine years with BBC Radio Sport in England where he served as a host on “BBC Radio 5 Live.” White also hosted the station’s flagship Premier League Football show, “Saturday 5 Live Sport,” and the “Monday Night Club” alongside the legendary BBC football commentator John Motson.

From 2002 to 2005, White was a key presenter on the “5 Live Breakfast” program. During that time, he covered the 2003 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, the 2004 Athens Olympic Games and various Champions League football matches.
In November 2006, White joined a very select band of broadcasters to have worked the “Test Match Special” and presented “Sports Report.” He served as the presenter of “Saturday 5 Live Sport” for several weeks, and was a regular voice on the network presenting “5 Live Sport.”
White has called five Super Bowls for BBC and hosted a weekly NFL show.
Last season, White was in the booth for one Sounders FC match, calling play-by-play versus Houston.
He and his wife, Lizi, are the parents of twin daughters, Eva and Amelie.

All Sounders FC league games not aired nationally on ESPN or FSC will be carried live on KING 5 or KONG 6/16. All games can also be heard on the radio home of Sounders FC, News Talk 97.3 KIRO FM. All Sounders FC Spanish language broadcasts will be aired on Ke Buena 1210 AM, except nationally aired broadcasts. Select Sounders FC Spanish language TV matches will be aired on KOMO2 TV, Comcast channel 114, a Univision sister station.

Feel free to share your thoughts on the change

Jose Romero Reports

List of players:

Alonso, Osvaldo
Evans, Brad
Gonzalez, Leo
Hurtado, Jhon Kennedy
Ianni, Patrick
Jaqua, Nate
Keller, Kasey
Ljungberg, Freddie
Marshall, Tyrone
Montero, Fredy
Zakuani, Steve

Interesting that Riley was left off the list.There seems to be some disagreement among Sounders fans on how effective Riley has been as a defender. Perhaps the team thought he indeed had significant weaknesses. If the Union selects him, who replaces him? Scott, Sturgis, Brown, or Wahl? A new addition?

Le Toux of course was also unselected. He has a relatively high salary (over 100K) so I don't see the Union selecting him.

'm glad they protected Ianni, I think he will be a worthy successor once Marshall retires.

The Seattle Times is reporting that Matt Hasselbeck, Josh Wilson, and Justin Griffith are probable for Sunday's game versus Jacksonville, which means a "virtual certainty" that they'll play. Thank you! Please stay healthy Matt, I don't think I could handle Seneca for any further games.

Josh Wilson is also a godsend. No more Travis Fisher!

Should we plug him back in at KR or take a lesson from the fact he was injured doing so and have him concentrate on CB? I'd hesitate toward the latter, seeing how Obomanu and Forsett have been decent returning kicks, and the fact our secondary has been so putrid.

Patrick Kerney is "questionable."

Also, interesting report by Sando:

Aaron Curry has been fined by the NFL in 3 out of 4 games so far.

LINK TO GAME FOR THOSE WITHOUT NFL NETWORK

So far Graham Harrell and John Parker Wilson are terrible. Not a surprise.

Herman Johnson is fuckin' huge.

75 word spam:

The defensive standout for the North team has been Boston College DT B.J. Raji. The consistency he’s maintained this week by dominating two of the top centers in the country (Oregon’s Max Unger and Cal’s Alex Mack) has elevated Raji as a potential top-10 selection. 

During 11-on-11 drills on Wednesday, Raji beat Virginia Tech center Ryan Shuman over the top and disrupted a handoff between Texas Tech QB Graham Harrell and Virginia RB Cedric Peerman. There were a lot of mishandled balls that hit the ground that morning, and Raji’s ability to penetrate caused problems on snaps. 

“I had confidence coming into this week, and I knew that I would be facing the top centers in the nation, and I wanted to show what I could do," Raji said. "I felt like I’ve been getting better each day, and with this being the last day in full pads, I thought I had my best performance.”

Or so reports Seahawks beat reporter Clare Farnsworth.

source

The Washington Redskins have signed former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander to one-year contract, the NFL Network is reporting, and they've also added ex-Seattle punter Ryan Plackemeier.

Alexander was offered a contract after working out with the team today. He was released by the Seahawks in April.

Plackemeier was released last month, when the Seahawks signed punter Jon Ryan.

So much for us resigning Plack. Looks like we're stuck with Jon Ryan.

Finally SA gets a new gig. I doubt he'll get many carries behind Portis.

And to complete the trifecta of Redskin ex-Seahawks, Farnsworth is also reporting safety Mike Green was acquired by the 'skins.

Thoughts on the moves?

Scruffy - I'm just piggy backing on this because we don't need another thread. But the Boys just traded for Roy Williams. 

The Seattle beat writers, including Clare Farnsworth, are reporting that CourtneyTaylor has been cut and Jordan Kent called up to replace him. In my opinion, this won't change much at all. Neither seem to be of much use on special teams (which we want for a 4th-6th receiver), and I doubt Kent will produce any more than Taylor.

But than again, he won't have to, as we finally seem to have a healthy cadre of receivers (Branch will only be out a week at most, and it is being reported that Koren will be ready for the GB game). As John says, Taylor still has potential, so I hope he'll be signed to the PS.

Sando is reporting that the Colts have cut Justin Forsett. Hopefully he can also be signed to our PS, and Matt Lawrence bumped off.

Opinions on the moves?

Article

Good to see Larry Stone admit the cold hard facts. Takes a lot of balls to do that.

Geoff Baker, however...

I like Geoff , and think he's great at his job, but he has yet to man up to the fact that he might have been wrong about quite a few assumptions surrounding the Mariners.

Thoughts?

Random 50 word fact: It is estimated that at any one time, .7% of the world's population is drunk.

http://seattle.mariners.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080315&content_id=2428749&vkey=spt200 8news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

That means both of the Angels' aces will be out for opening day, and in Escobar's case, quite a bit longer (and you never know if Lackey's injury is worse than reported).

Needless to say, good news for the M's. One of many boosts the M's are going to need to have a legit chance at the division title.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d806f522c&template=with-video&confirm=true

To a 6 year $57 million contract.

So, with this high of a contract, it looks like Trufant is going to get some leverage in his negotiations with ruskell and co.

random 300 character fact: Women blink nearly twice as much as men.  

http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/image/essay/1

Now, I'm sure some people have seen this, but for those that haven't, you're in for a treat.

Without exception, this is the funniest thing I've read in a long time. I sprayed Dr. Pepper over my LCD screen just looking this over.

I guess it's the complete and utter randomness that makes it such a work of genius. According to the description, it's a legit essay turned in for a college course, but to be realistic, that's probably unlikely.

These are pretty funny too, if not in the same league:

http://www.jimmyr.com/blog/Funny_Student_Exam_Answers_91_2007.php

I saw that Patrick Kerney, Walter Jones, and Rocky Bernard players missed practice due to injuries this past week...

Will any likely miss the game? The nfl website doesn't list their game status, and if any were out for the game, I'd be seriously worried for the 'hawk's chances.

One-line diaries are prohibited on Field Gulls. Give your diary a bit more thought, then give it another shot. If you have nothing to add to your proposed diary, then it probably belongs as a comment under another appropriate thread.

The minimum is 300 characters.  

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22518524/

Check out this AP article, it includes every seahawks cliche on the face of the planet ("creampuff schedule" etc.), not to mention obvious inaccuracies, such as "they failed to catch a simple kickoff" -- it was a goddamn punt

Oh yeah, and it's on MSNBC -- they really do hate the 'hawks, don't they?