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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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The Spokesman-Review

NFL

Patriots 19-0 in Nicaragua

The New England Patriots won the Super Bowl and ended the season with a 19-0 record – at least it looks that way in Nicaragua.

The NFL donated 290 Patriots hats and an equal number of team jerseys trumpeting the slogans “Super Bowl Champions, 19-0” to impoverished children from two small communities in southern Nicaragua.

Thursday’s gifts could not change history – the Patriots lost the Feb. 3 game to the New York Giants 17-14 – but they made a lot of youngsters in the communities of San Gregorio and Buena Vista happy, said Miriam Diaz, spokeswoman for the humanitarian organization World Vision, which arranged the donation with the NFL.

“They (Patriots) lost, but the children won,” Diaz said.

NFL

Another Seahawk joins Redskins

The Washington Redskins completed their coaching staff under new coach Jim Zorn, hiring former Seattle Seahawks running back Sherman Smith as offensive coordinator Friday.

Smith comes from the Tennessee Titans, where he was the running backs coach since 1995 as well as an assistant head coach for the last two seasons.

Smith said he was drawn by the chance to reunite with ex-teammate Zorn. The two played together for the Seahawks in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Zorn said earlier this week that he would call the plays if Smith accepted the coordinator position.

“He does not want to call the plays,” Zorn said. “And I want to call the plays.”

Baseball

Mariners, Bedard avoid arbitration

The Seattle Mariners avoided arbitration with newly acquired starting pitcher Erik Bedard by agreeing to a one-year contract.

Exact terms were not immediately known.

The Mariners, who acquired Bedard last week in a 5-4-1 trade with the Baltimore Orioles, had been scheduled to have an arbitration hearing with their new ace next week.

In arbitration, the 28-year-old Bedard was asking for $8 million. Seattle, which inherited Baltimore’s offer, would have been countering at $6 million.