Mike Sando

1. It's hammer time. Eastern Washington University senior Les Timm temporarily gave up his athletic pursuits to concentrate on his attempt at getting into dental school. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review 2. Les Timm

"And now, let's meet your 1997-98 Washington State University Cougars ... "Starting at guard, a 5-10 sophomore out of Troop 242, with twelve merit badges and a four-point GPA, halo-ing from Mayberry, U.S.A., Johnny B. Haived ..." An exaggeration, certainly, but Kevin Eastman has become defined by the character issue in his three seasons as WSU basketball coach.

Hammer throwers speak in terms of getting maximum radius, and it seems logical that great distances will be achieved only when one's arms are extended fully before releasing the tethered 8-pound, 13-ounce ball skyward. "If you add like an inch on your radius, it adds like 10 feet to your distance," Washington State freshman Becky Potter said Saturday, and she would know. A week after adding 10 feet to her best hammer mark, Potter tacked on another 8 feet during Saturday's meet at chilly Mooberry Track, winning the event with a throw of 159 feet, 11 inches.

Mucker

Washington State University football player Ivan Mercer confirmed Saturday that his recent suspension for "inappropriate behavior" stemmed from his involvement in a fight at a fraternity party. Mercer, 20, has not been charged with a crime and the police report of the incident is unavailable until Monday, a Pullman Police Department spokesman said.

(From Replay, April 27, 1997:) Adrienne Wilson of Eastern Washington University won the long jump at the Pelluer Invitational track meet on Friday. She was misidentified in Saturday's report. 1. EWU's Christina Withey performs her pole-vault solo. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. Seville Broussard, right, of Eastern Washington beats Idaho's Jackie Blackett in the 100-meter hurdles at the 25th annual Pelluer Invitational. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

1. Frank Bruder, the University of Idaho's nationally prominent steeplechaser, has already qualified for the NCAA Championships. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review 2. Bruder

There were NBA general managers, coaches and scouts watching his every move, but Isaac Fontaine hadn't gone all the way to sunny Arizona with the intention of freezing up. So after spending last week in Phoenix for the first of two major NBA pre-draft camps, the Washington State senior assured reporters there really wasn't much to be nervous about.

REPLAY: Sports, April 21, 1997: The third paragraph of Sunday's story on the Washington State University football scrimmage should have read: "Who knows, maybe they'll even spell his name correctly, although even Criscione had to laugh after being informed that the back of his No. 64 jersey read 'Crisione.' Determined tailback Michael Black played a limited role in the Crimson's 21-17 victory in the Cougars' spring scrimmage. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

In his first season at Washington State University, junior tight end Love Jefferson was known primarily for his blocking. He couldn't catch, in other words. Through nearly three weeks of spring football practices, however, Jefferson has become the leading candidate to start in place of departed senior David Knuff. The 6-foot-2, 255-pound Jefferson made the catch of the day in Saturday morning's scrimmage at Martin Stadium, collecting a difficult grab over the middle for a 23-yard gain.

1. The University of Portland (in white) looks for the upper hand on its way to a 17-10 win over the Spokane Razorbacks. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. The Gonzaga women's team plows through Whitman College. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Washington State's Shawn Stevenson makes an airborne landing at home plate while Washington catcher Ryan Bundy waits for the ball in Friday's Pac-10 North opener at Pullman. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Pirates coach Toby Schwarz has his mind on track and field. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Washington State backup quarterback Steve Birnbaum looks for someplace to run - or hide - as defensive tackle Raonall Smith gives chase. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

1. Attrina Higgins, left, and Tamika Brown help power WSU to a school record in the 4x100 relay as the Cougar women earn a milestone first track win over Oregon on Saturday in Pullman. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review 2. WSU's Ian Waltz clears the 60-foot barrier in the shot put. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Mawindi

There was free coffee Tuesday night at Bailey Field, presumably to help keep spectators from freezing and not nodding off. Washington State baseball fans have often needed artificial stimulants during this season of rebuilding, but not so this night, when the feisty Cougars pushed Lewis-Clark State to the brink before enduring a 5-4 non-conference loss.

A somewhat weary Seville Broussard handily won the women's high jump and 400-meter hurdles during Saturday's Cougar Invitational track meet at Washington State University. The previous evening's Toyota Tercel Invitational had been another story entirely.

Gary Holmes said Saturday he expects to undergo back surgery April 11 and could be incapacitated for six weeks, meaning Washington State will be without both starting defensive tackles during spring football practices. Holmes has had chronic back trouble since suffering a herniated disc last summer. The 6-foot-7, 315-pound sophomore hasn't practiced since Wednesday, the day spring drills began.

Seville Broussard

Defensive coordinator Bill Doba puts WSU through the paces. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Ryan Leaf will be the quarterback, Michael Black will be the running back and at least one coach will mention just how hard these kids have worked during winter conditioning. This much seems certain. Just about everything else is subject to debate as Washington State prepares to open spring football practices Wednesday.

Scott Duncan, the top assistant under Washington State basketball coach Kevin Eastman, has accepted a similar position at the University of Wyoming. Duncan, 41, joins new Wyoming coach Larry Shyatt. The two worked together as assistants at the University of New Mexico in the 1980s. In his two seasons at WSU, Duncan focused on recruiting. His departure comes as the Cougars are working to sign two more players for next season. Three players have already been signed. Eastman was in Houston on Tuesday and could not be reached, a WSU spokesman said. Duncan, meanwhile, was apparently already in Laramie, Wyo. Duncan's departure marks the third coaching shakeup in Eastman's three years with the Cougars. With the spring signing period looming, Eastman is expected to name Duncan's successor shortly. Warren Riley and Alvin Williamson remain on the staff.

UCLA forward J.R. Henderson shoots under pressure from Cougars Rodrigo de la Fuente, left, and Cameron Johnson. Photo by Associated Press