Fast Break
Special section
Fishing 2007 in today’s paper
Anglers will consider Fishing 2007 a real keeper. The special section features updates on the best fishing waters in North Idaho and Eastern Washington, plus The Spokesman-Review’s exclusive fishing map, which locates nearly all fishing waters in the Inland Northwest. Find it in today’s Spokesman-Review.
College basketball
Vandals sign shooting guard
The University of Idaho men’s program Wednesday announced the signing of Mike Hall, a high school McDonald’s All-America nominee who made 163 3-point field goals in 52 games at the JC level.
He shot a combined 48 percent from beyond the arc in two seasons and, as a freshmen at Cincinnati State Tech, hit more than 60 percent of his 3-pointers (82 of 133) to lead the National Junior College Athletic Association.
The 6-foot guard helped Lon Morris College to a sixth-place finish at the NJCAA national tournament, averaging 18.8 points per game.
He played his high school ball at Troy (Ohio).
Baseball
M’s, Lopez agree to new deal
The Mariners and All-Star second baseman Jose Lopez agreed to a new, four-year contract with a club option for a fifth year in 2011. Terms were not immediately known.
Lopez’s original contract, which is paying him $420,000 this season, was to end after this season. The Mariners and Lopez’s agent, Martin Arburua, were talking about a new deal back in spring training.
The deal comes two weeks after Seattle signed 25-year-old shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt to a $13.75 million, four-year extension. That means the Mariners have their young double-play combination under contract at least through 2010.
Lopez batted .282 with 10 home runs last season.
College sports
NCAA ready to send message
Coaches have spent the last several years upgrading their gadgets and learning the new tricks of recruiting. Now it may be time to turn back the clock.
The NCAA Division I management council has recommended a ban on all electronically transmitted correspondence, including text messages, between coaches and recruits.
E-mails and faxes would be exempt from the new rule but would be limited by current NCAA guidelines.
Unlike restrictions on phone calls and in-person visits, there are no coach limits on text messaging.
The Board of Directors must still pass the legislation, and if approved at its April 26 meeting, the ban would take effect in August.