(Los Angeles, CA)  --  Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer could be the next owner of the NBA's Los Angeles Clippers.  Shelly Sterling says she's signed an agreement to sell the team to Ballmer for two-billion dollars.  Sterling said she was acting under her authority as the sole trustee of the Sterling family trust, which owns the team.  Ballmer, who previously was involved in an effort to purchase the Sacramento Kings and move them to Seattle, says he will not relocate the Clippers.

(Renton, WA)  --  The Seattle Seahawks have wide receiver Doug Baldwin locked in for another two years.  ESPN quotes a source as saying the deal is for three years and worth 13-million dollars, with nine-million guaranteed.  Baldwin was a restricted free agent, scheduled to make two-point-two-million during the 2014 season.  He grabbed 50 receptions last year for 778 yards and five touchdowns for the Super Bowl champs.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners will begin a three-game series with Detroit tonight after splitting four games with the Los Angeles Angels.  L.A. won last night, 7-5, despite home runs by Michael Saunders and Kyle Seager.  Brandon Maurer recorded his fourth straight loss, allowing five runs on six hits over four innings.  The Mariners and Tigers are set to begin play tonight at 7:10 at Safeco Field.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners will wrap up their four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels tonight after earning a 3-1 win at Safeco Field.  Felix Hernandez pitched eight-and-two-thirds innings, giving up one run on four hits and striking out nine to pick up his seventh win of the year.  Mike Zunino had a two-run single in the second inning and a solo homer in the eighth to account for all of Seattle's runs.

(Carson, CA)  --  The Portland Timbers' unbeaten streak is now at six games after they defeated Chivas USA, 2-0.  Fanendo Adi scored twice for the Timbers, once in the 65th minute and again six minutes later.  Goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts picked up his first shutout of the year.  The Timbers will host the Vancouver Whitecaps Sunday.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners will host the Los Angeles Angels for the third game of their four-game series tonight after losing Game Two, 6-4.  Mariners starter Roenis Elias gave up five runs on eight hits over six-and-a-third innings.  Justin Smoak got his seventh home run of the year with a solo shot in the fourth inning.  Dustin Ackley had a double and scored two runs for Seattle.
 

(Corvallis, OR)  --  The Oregon State baseball team will host the Corvallis Regional this weekend as the Number One national seed in the NCAA tournament.  The Beavers will play UNLV Friday in a regional that also includes UC Irvine and North Dakota State.  The Oregon Ducks will head to Nashville for a regional hosted by Vanderbilt, and will play Clemson Friday morning.  Xavier is the fourth team in the regional lineup.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners are back at .500 after a 5-1 series-opening win over the Los Angeles Angels.  The Mariners got all their runs in the first two innings, with Robinson Cano going three-for-four and driving in two runs.  Seattle starter Chris Young gave up one run on two hits and struck out five over six-and-a-third innings.  Game Two of the four-game series will be played tonight at Safeco Field.

(Philadelphia, PA)  --  Los Angeles Dodgers starter Josh Beckett threw a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday at Citizens Bank Park.  Beckett walked three batters and struck out six in the outing.  It's Beckett's first career no-hitter and the 21st in Dodgers history.  The last came in 1996 when Hideo Nomo no-hit the Rockies in Colorado.  The Dodgers won the game, 6-0.

(Undated)  --  Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook combined for 51 points as the Thunder cruised to a 106-97 win over the Spurs in Game Three of the Western Conference Finals in Oklahoma City.  The Thunder now trail 2-1 in the best-of-seven set and host Game Four tomorrow.  The Heat host the Pacers tonight in Game Four of the East Finals.  Miami leads the series 2-1.

(Speedway, IN)  --  American Ryan Hunter-Reay is drinking the milk and celebrating his first win at the Indianapolis 500.  The 33-year-old edged out three-time champion Helio Castroneves down the stretch for the victory on Sunday.  Hunter-Reay is the 2012 IndyCar Series champion and the first American to win the Indy 500 since Sam Hornish Jr. in 2006.

(Seattle, WA)  --  Marshawn Lynch's mother says the Seattle Seahawks star running back simply "didn't want to go" to the White House.  The Super Bowl champion Seahawks visited the White House earlier this week to get a tour and to be honored by President Obama, who noted Lynch's absence in his remarks during the event.  Lynch's mother, Delia, told "The Seattle Times" that her son didn't give her a particular reason he wasn't there with his teammates except that he "didn't want to go."  Lynch was fined 50-thousand dollars by the NFL last season for violating league policy by refusing to meet with reporters.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners are off to a good start in their series with Houston, defeating the Astros, 3-1.  Michael Saunders drove in two runs with an infield single in the seventh inning to make the difference.  Roenis Elias [[ ro-ENN-is eh-LEE-as }] and the Mariner bullpen combined to shut out Houston after a lead-off home run in the first.  The two teams will play again tonight at Safeco Field.
 

(Washington, DC)  --  The Seattle Seahawks have another memorable event for their Super Bowl scrapbook after being honored at the White House.  President Obama welcomed the NFL champs yesterday, but lamented the absence of Marshawn Lynch, saying he'd like to get a few pointers from the running back on how he handles the media.  The president praised the Seahawks' team spirit, the 12th Man, and the volume that emanates on NFL Sundays from CenturyLink Field.  Head coach Pete Carroll called yesterday "an extraordinary day" for the team.

(Arlington, TX)  --  The Seattle Mariners will wrap up their two-game series with Texas today after taking the first game, 6-2.  Hishashi Iwakuma pitched a solid eight innings, giving up two runs on six hits and striking out three.  Kyle Seager drove in two runs and went three-for-five.  Robinson Cano kept alive his run-scoring streak at 27 games.

(Renton, WA)  --  The Seattle Seahawks' fourth-round draft pick is officially part of the team's roster after signing his rookie contract.  Defensive end Cassius Marsh, who was chosen 108th overall, recorded 60 tackles and six sacks last season for UCLA.  Seattle has now signed four of its nine draft picks.  The Seahawks also have announced deals with Southern University tight end Rashaun Allen and guard Nate Isles of North Carolina A&T, both undrafted free agents.
 

(Corvallis, OR)  --  Wayne Tinkle is Oregon State's new men's basketball coach.  Tinkle was the head coach at Montana for eight seasons, during which he complied 158 victories.  He led the Grizzlies to three NCAA Tournament appearances, three Big Sky Conference titles, and two conference tournament championships.  Tinkle will replace Craig Robinson, who was fired after six seasons.

(Minneapolis, MN)  --  The Seattle Mariners have today off before heading to Texas.  The Mariners snapped a four-game losing skid yesterday with a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins.  Felix Hernandez pitched eight solid innings and Robinson Cano went four-for-five with an RBI.  Designated hitter Corey Hart will undergo an MRI after straining a hamstring while stealing second base in the fourth inning.

(San Antonio, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers will sit out the remainder of the post-season after losing to the San Antonio Spurs, 104-82.  Portland was unable to overcome a three-games-to-none deficit in the Western Conference semifinals, while the Spurs will make their third straight appearance in the NBA finals.  LaMarcus Aldridge had 21 points and ten rebounds for the Blazers. 

(Renton, WA)  --  The Seattle Seahawks will soon take President Obama up on his invitation for them to visit the White House.  The Super Bowl champions are slated to be in the nation's capital Wednesday.  Each player and coach who was involved with the NFL championship team is invited, including those who have since signed with other teams or been released.  The visit will include a tour of the White House and photo opportunities with the president.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners will try to regroup after losing a three-game series to the Tampa Bay Rays.  The Rays shut out Seattle in yesterday's finale, 2-0.  Starter Brandon Maurer picked up the loss after giving up two runs on two hits.  The Mariners will begin a three-game series at Minnesota tomorrow evening.

(San Antonio, TX)  --  Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green each posted 22 points to help send the Spurs to the Western Conference Finals with a 104-82 win over the Trail Blazers at the AT&T Center to complete the gentleman's sweep in Game Five.  Tony Parker left after 10 minutes with a hamstring injury and did not return.  Patty Mills compiled 18 points off the bench filling in for Parker.  It's the third straight season San Antonio has reached the conference finals.  LaMarcus Aldridge tallied 21 points and 10 rebounds in the season-ending defeat.  All five Portland starters were in double figures, but the bench only scored eight points total.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners will wrap up their series with Tampa Bay this afternoon after falling victim to a late rally.  The Rays prevailed last night, 2-1, after Mariners closer Fernando Rodney gave up two runs in the ninth inning.  That ruined a solid outing for Hisashi Iwakuma, who pitched eight innings of shutout ball.  Robinson Cano had a first-inning RBI to account for Seattle's only run.

(Seattle, WA)  --  The Seattle Mariners remain three-and-a-half games back of first-place Oakland after hammering the Tampa Bay Rays, 12-5.  Felix Hernandez picked up his fourth win of the season, giving up four runs on eight hits and striking out seven.  Mike Zunino, Stefan Romero, and Justin Smoak each homered for the Mariners.  Seattle and Tampa Bay will play again tonight at Safeco Field.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers are trying to be the first team to come from a 3-0 deficit to win a playoff series.  The Blazers are still alive in the Western Conference semifinals after beating San Antonio, 103-92.  Damian Lillard scored a game-high 25 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge added 19 and Nicolas Batum scored 14 points and grabbed 14 rebounds.  The series will resume tomorrow night in San Antonio.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers will try to avoid elimination from the NBA Playoffs tonight when they host the San Antonio Spurs in Game Four of their Western Conference semifinal series.  The Blazers are running a three-games-to-none deficit after losing Saturday, 118-103.  Mo Williams missed Game Three with a groin injury and isn't expected to play tonight.  Tip-off at the Moda Center is scheduled for 7:30.

(Renton, WA)  --  Former Eastern Washington defensive tackle Andru Pulu is one of the undrafted free agents signing with the Seattle Seahawks following the NFL Draft.  Former University of Washington quarterback Keith Price is also among the free agents coming to terms with the Seahawks.  Head coach Pete Carroll says Price fit in well during workouts and has a "real good shot at it."

(San Antonio, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers find themselves running a two-games-to-none deficit after another smackdown by the San Antonio Spurs.  The Spurs won last night, 114-97, and the series will shift to Portland tomorrow night.  Nicolas Batum [[ bah-TOOM ]] led the Blazers with 21 points while LaMarcus Aldridge was held to 16.  Tip-off tomorrow night at the Moda Center is set for 7:30.

(New York, NY)  --  The Seattle Seahawks will have two picks today in the second round of the NFL Draft after trading their first-round slot to Minnesota.  The Seahawks were scheduled to have the Number 32 pick yesterday, but instead swapped it for the Vikings' second-round pick and a fourth-rounder at 108th overall.  The Hawks are scheduled to make the 40th overall pick today.  Seattle will have seven picks overall, but is still without a third-round choice after it went to Minnesota last year as part of the trade for Percy Harvin.

(San Antonio, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers will try to make a better showing tonight when they visit San Antonio for Game Two of their Western Conference semifinal series.  The Spurs blew out the Blazers Tuesday, 116-92, despite 32 points and 14 rebounds by LaMarcus Aldridge.  San Antonio held Portland to only 38 percent from the field.  Tip-off for tonight's game is set for 6:30.

(Renton, WA)  --  Richard Sherman calls himself the "best corner in the game," and now his salary reflects that.  Sherman has signed a four-year, 57-point-four-million-dollar deal with the Seattle Seahawks, with 40-million of it guaranteed.  Sherman made headlines during the NFC Championship game earlier this year, when he broke up a pass in the end zone intended for 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree and tipped the ball to a teammate for an interception, sealing the Seahawks' win.  Sherman went on a nationally-televised rant against Crabtree immediately following the contest, calling himself "the best corner in the game."

(Oakland, CA)  --  The Seattle Mariners will return home tonight to host Kansas City after splitting a double-header with Oakland.  The Mariners won the first game in ten innings, 6-4, but lost the nightcap by a score of 2-0.  Seattle rallied for two runs in the tenth inning to take the opener, but were held to no runs on three hits in the second game.  The Mariners were able to win the four-game series with the first-place A's and remain two games back in the AL West.

(Oakland, CA)  --  The Seattle Mariners are on a season-high four-game winning streak after defeating the Oakland A's, 8-3.  Justin Smoak drove in three runs to help lift the Mariners, who are now only two games back of the first-place A's.  Roenis Elias pitched six-and-a-third innings, striking out six while allowing three runs on five hits.  Seattle and Oakland will play a double-header today, beginning at 12:35.

(San Antonio, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers will try to bounce back after getting routed by San Antonio, 116-92, in Game One of their Western Conference semifinal series.  Tony Parker scored 33 points to lead the Spurs, who never trailed in the contest.  The Blazers' LaMarcus Aldridge continued his impressive playoff run, scoring 32 points and grabbing 14 rebounds.  Portland and San Antonio will play Game Two of the best-of-seven series tomorrow night.

The  remaining  two  semifinal  series  get  underway  Tuesday.  The  two-time
defending  champion Miami Heat, coming off a sweep of Charlotte, will battle a
Brooklyn  Nets team that  advanced with a Game 7 win in Toronto on Sunday. San
Antonio,  the  Western Conference's top  seed, needed  seven games to oust the
Dallas  Mavericks and will now face the Portland Trail Blazers, who eliminated
the Houston Rockets in six games.

(San Antonio, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers and San Antonio Spurs will begin their Western Conference semifinal playoff series tonight.  Both teams are coming off thrilling finishes to their respective first-round series.  The first two games of the semifinal series will be played in San Antonio.  Tip-off tonight is set for 6:30.
 

(Houston, TX)  --  The Seattle Mariners are winners of seven of their last nine games after defeating the Astros in Houston, 8-7.  Backup catcher John Buck went three-for-four with an RBI while Robinson Cano [[ kuh-NO ]] and Willie Bloomquist each had two RBI for Seattle.  Brandon Maurer [[ MAOW-er ]] picked up his first win of the season, despite giving up four runs on six hits.  The Mariners will begin a four-game series at Oakland tonight.

(San Antonio, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers are underdogs heading into their Western Conference semifinal playoff series with the San Antonio Spurs.  The Spurs won their series with the Dallas Mavericks, four games to three, ending it with a 119-96 rout.  Game One of the semifinals is set to begin at 6:30 tomorrow evening in San Antonio.

Houston, TX (SportsNetwork.com) - Robinson Cano and Willie Bloomquist each had
two  RBI as  the Seattle Mariners defeated  the Houston  Astros, 8-7,  in the
rubber  match of  a three-game  set. John  Buck collected  three hits  with an
RBI, while  Dustin Ackley,  Michael Saunders  and Corey Hart each knocked in a
run  for  Seattle, which  has won five  of its last  six. Brandon Maurer (1-0)
picked  up  his first win of  the season, allowing  four runs on six hits with
three  strikeouts over  five innings.  Danny  Farquhar pitched  the final  two
innings  to  earn his first  save of the season.  Alex Presley homered for the
Astros,  who have  lost four of their  last five. Marc Krauss and Chris Carter
each  knocked  in a  pair of runs  in the setback.  Collin McHugh (2-1) lasted
just   four  frames,  taking  his  first  loss  in  a  Houston  uniform  after
surrendering  six  runs  --  five  earned  --  with  four  strikeouts.  McHugh
allowed  just  one  earned run  in  his  first  two  starts, pitching  15  1/3
innings with 19 strikeouts.

(Portland, OR)  --  Damian Lillard hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired to lift the Trail Blazers to a 99-98 win over the Rockets in Game Six of their Western Conference quarterfinals.  Chandler Parsons sank a putback with under a second left to give Houston the short-lived lead.  Lillard ended with 25 points and six rebounds for Portland, which won the series 4-2.  LaMarcus Aldridge added 30 points and 13 rebounds in the win.  James Harden posted 34 points and six assists for Houston, which was looking to send the series to Game Seven back home.  Parsons finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds while Dwight Howard had 26 points and 11 rebounds in defeat.

(Portland, OR)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers will try again to close out their best-of-seven playoff series with Houston when they host the Rockets tonight.  Portland leads, three games to two, and will attempt to keep Houston from forcing a seventh game.  The Blazers have advanced to the second round eight times in 29 previous playoff appearances.  Tip-off at the Moda Center is set for 7:30 tonight.

(Bronx, NY)  --  Robinson Cano drove in a pair of runs against his former team as the Mariners doubled up the Yankees 4-2 to sweep the rain-shortened two-game series in the Bronx.  Michael Saunders went 3-for-4 with an RBI and Brad Miller plated a run and scored for Seattle, which has won five-of-six after an eight-game losing streak.  Roenis Elias struck out 10 while giving up two runs, one earned, over seven innings as he evened his record at 2-and-2.  Fernando Rodney closed it out for his sixth save.

(Houston, TX)  --  The Portland Trail Blazers are next to host their first-round playoff series with Houston after losing last night, 108-98.  The Rockets avoided elimination as Dwight Howard scored 22 points and Jeremy Lin scored 21.  Wesley Matthews led the Blazers with 27 points and Damian Lillard added 26.  Tip-off from the Moda Center for Game Six is set for 7:30 tomorrow night. 

ESPN's John Clayton says the Seattle Seahawks are one of eight teams that could be featured in this year's run of the HBO documentary series "Hard Knocks."  The series, which is produced by HBO and NFL Films, gives fans an inside look at what happens during training camp.  SeattlePI.com reports the Seahawks have turned down invitations to be featured on the program the past two years.
 

(Houston, TX)  --  Dwight Howard notched 22 points and 14 rebounds in the Rockets 108-98 win over the Blazers in Game Five of their Western Conference quarterfinals series at the Toyota Center.  Chandler Parsons chipped in 20 points while James Harden scored 17 points on just 5-of-15 shooting.  Jeremy Lin added 21 key points off the bench for Houston, which trails the series 3-to-2.  Wesley Matthews and Damian Lillard paced the Blazers with 27 and 26 points, respectively, while LaMarcus Aldridge was held to eight points on 3-of-12 shooting.  Portland will have another chance to close out the series Friday when they host Game Six.
 

(El Segundo, CA)  --  Mike D'Antoni is out as Lakers head coach.  D'Antoni resigned last night with a 67-and-87 record since taking over for Mike Brown on November 12th, 2012.  D'Antoni has spent time as the head coach of the Nuggets, Suns, Knicks and Lakers.  He has a career record of 455-and-426.