A GRIP ON SPORTS • A simple day. A quiet day. Nothing wrong with that. Read on.

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• Sometimes you just have to step back. Stop what you are doing and take a look around. Reevaluate. It takes time. Sometimes all day. Do something out of the ordinary. Enjoy the quiet. Enjoy the moment. Seems like a good day to do that. There's a few stories out there, but nothing to compare with this one on Mark Few (pictured) that ESPN.com published this morning. It's about getting away. Of putting the daily grind behind. Of relaxing and refocusing. Good advice for anyone. It may not be fly fishing that allows you to recharge, as it does for Few. It might be a good book, or an hour in the backyard trimming branches, or even just a walk through the park after lunch. Whatever it is, go ahead and do it today. We're not going to take a bunch of your time this morning. Oh, sure, you need to read the Few story. And this one the L.A. Times has on Eastern Washington's remarkable Tyler Harvey. A few other things here and there. But when you're done and the day is in full swing, take a moment. Do something out of the ordinary. You can thank me tomorrow.

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• WSU: Jacob Thorpe took some time yesterday to look back at the Arizona game. ... Bud Withers has a feature this morning on Josh Hawkinson. ... The Cougar baseball team finished up their season-opening road trip with a split. ... I meant to link this story yesterday and just forgot. A lot of people connected to basketball in this area know Utah assistant Andy Hill.

• Gonzaga: The Bulldogs remained steady in the polls, not moving up or down.

• Chiefs: Nothing from Spokane, but we can pass along a WHL notebook from Everett and an advance of the week for the Tri-City Americans.

• Preps: High school basketball playoffs roll on this week, with some of the 4A GSL schools in action tonight. ... Some of the smaller schools played last night and we have this roundup.

• Seahawks: Though the NFL combine – and all the resulting hoopla – begins today, the big news yesterday was Doug Baldwin apologizing for making a mockery of himself in the Super Bowl. He explained his touchdown "dance" and then said he was sorry. ... What options present themselves in the Russell Wilson contract? ... Marconi Lynch: Will he or won't he?

• Mariners: As spring training inches closer and closer, there are previews popping up like daffodils. Today we can pass along previews of the starting pitching, the relief pitching and the shortstop battle. ... The M's pitching prospect was reportedly hit in the head by a boat's propeller.

• Sounders: Sure, the Sounders won the Supporter's Shield last season. This season they want to win the MLS Cup. And they want to draw even more fans while winning it.

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• We're done here. And we've got way too much to do today. No time to stop and smell the flowers, that's for sure. Mainly because we never take our own advice. Until later ...

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