As M’s move up in standings, crowds wane

MORNING NEWS

With a few minutes available before I have to head out today, I wanted to draw your attention to a couple of things.

• The Mariners drew just 16,555 Wednesday, the second-smallest crowd in Safeco history. They won. They have won seven of eight. Yet the small crowd. Do you think it is because of an overall dissatisfaction from the fans about the organization, or because the game was originally scheduled for Wednesday night, and changed because of today’s (4:05; KSTW-22; 920-AM) makeup?

• As always, Thursday is Prep Page day in the S-R. As I can’t get to all the links this morning, check Greg Lee’s Idaho Preps blog for links to stories from that edition and Mike Vlahovich’s Prep Report blog for links to the Washington stories.

• I’m giving you this link to Dave Boling’s NFL draft column not because of the subject (the NFL draft) or because of his idea (move it around) but because of one paragraph about Brady Quinn’s long wait. It has to do with an idea for a sitcom.

• Finally, ESPN’s Andy Katz has put together a top 25 for next basketball season. Some highlights: WSU is ranked fifth, Gonzaga 11th and six Pac-10 teams are in the top 17, not including Washington. The Huskies’ star, Spencer Hawes, is also the focal point of another Katz story on the NBA draft.

• See you later this evening.