Ready, Set, Auction! And Daily Links…

by Mike Salk

Gonna be kind of a crazy day today for us with our Ultimate Sports Auction from 11-1. That means we’re raising money for the Pete Gross House and Family Assistance Fund – part of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Click the link above for all the details (including how to donate), but the here are the basics:

–Steve Raible will be in studio at 11:00

–Tod Leiweke, CEO of the Seattle Seahawks & Sounders FC will announce the unique auction package from the Seahawks at 11:30

–Adrian Hanauer, Owner and General Manager of the Seattle Sounders FC will reveal the unique auction package from the Sounders FC at noon.

–Jack Zduriencik, General Manager of the Seattle Mariners will reveal the unique auction package from the Mariners at 12:30

You can bid on all of the auction packages at 1-877-547-6454. The prizes are going to be pretty sweet too…trust me.

In addition, for every $100 donation, you’ll receive your choice of an autographed Mariners baseball; players include Adrian Beltre, Ichiro Suzuki, Russell Branyan, Franklin Gutierrez, Rob Johnson, Don Wakamatsu and more, an autographed Sounders FC mini soccer ball; players include Fredy Montero, Kasey Keller, Freddie Ljungberg and Coach, Sigi Schmid or an autographed Seahawks football from a player of your choice.

Seahawks

Dave Wyman discusses the battle Sunday between Seahawks super-fan “Big Lo” and momentum (Big Mo). Greg Bell has the story on the biggest news from coach Mora’s Monday press conference, Lofa Tatupu may not be out for the season after all.

After a despicable showing at Qwest Field on Sunday, it is no surprise all three “falling” players in Mike Sando’s NFC West Stock Watch are Seahawks.

Huskies

Tim Booth writes this morning that Steve Sarkisian spent most of his Monday press conference explaining the blown coverage against Arizona State with 15 seconds left. Sarkisian lost some of his mystique on Saturday after some questionable play calling at the end of the game. Jerry Brewer feels it just shows the coach is human after all. I would think of it more as part of the process a coach goes through when they become a head coach after years of coordinating.

Coach Sarkisian learned an agonizing lesson in Tempe, but Art Thiel is focusing on Sark’s impressive accountability after the fact. I agree.

Bud Withers highlights the rising salaries for assistant coaches in college football (with Nick Holt being the focus). Here is a list of every major assistant’s salary in the Pac-10.

ESPN Pac-10 blogger Ted Miller lists the Huskies as his biggest surprise in his mid-season report.

Nick Daschel takes a unique look at the Oregon-UW rivalry. As tough as it may seem to fans, the Huskies are searching for positives after the shocking loss against the Sun Devils. One thing Todd Milles believes makes the Huskies worth watching this season is their flare for the dramatic.

Attention full-time UW students: If you wish to take on Isaiah Thomas and the rest of the Husky Mens Basketball team, your opportunity has arrived.

Mariners

Jack Zduriencik broke the news yesterday that Kenji Johjima opted out of the last two years of his contract in order to return to Japan. Shannon Drayer is wondering how the Mariners situation behind the plate will shake out next season. The Mariners GM also revealed yesterday the entire coaching staff will return for the 2010 season, with 3B coach Bruce Hines being the only exception.

U.S.S. Mariner offers up an intriguing off-season plan for the Mariners.