A little of this, a little of that

A GRIP ON SPORTS • You will find a short blog post on the other side. If you are wondering why it is so short, all I can say is, I’m under orders. Read on.

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• I’m sorry, but the past few days have been holy heck. My back has decided it a) doesn’t want to part of the Grippi culture any more; b) hates my guts; or c) is getting back at me for all the years I spent kissing up to its mortal enemy, my stomach. Either way, I’ve been advised not to sit too long, which sort of puts a crimp in how I do my job. So today, tomorrow, maybe longer, these blog posts are going to be abbreviated at best. Sorry but it’s just the way it is.

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• WSU: Xavier Cooper was the first Cougar drafted this year, and the first Cougar defensive lineman drafted this high in years. Jacob Thorpe has the story and a blog post on the development. We also found some stories from the Cleveland area about the Browns’ decision . … Jacob was also at the baseball game , a 14-5 loss to Arizona. … Finally, Jacob has a morning post with links.

• Gonzaga: The Bulldogs’ baseball team is at UCLA for a three-game series this weekend. It didn’t start out all that well.

• EWU: How did the spring go, Beau Baldwin? Pretty well. That’s the judgment from Eastern’s football coach, via this story by Jim Allen.

• Shock: Spokane is trying to put together a winning streak. Jim Meehan has an advance of tonight’s game at New Orleans.

• Preps: There were key baseball, softball and soccer games (or matches) in the GSL yesterday. It’s that time of year. In baseball, Mead edged U-Hi, 1-0. Tom Clouse has the story . … In softball, Shadle Park got past U-Hi, 5-4. Chris Derrick has the story . … And in soccer, Lewis and Clark won the battle of the South Hill, defeating Ferris 2-0. Jim Allen has the story . … The season’s biggest tennis tournament is also upon us. Steve Christilaw has more in this notebook .

• Golf: Jim Meehan’s column this week covers the retirement of the area’s most accomplished teacher, former Manito pro Steve Prugh.

• Seahawks: If I were healthy, the Hawks’ pick of Michigan’s Frank Clark yesterday would have been column-worthy. But due to circumstances beyond our control, we’ll leave that to others. Larry Stone and Dave Boling to be precise. … Clark , a defensive end with domestic violence accusations in his past, wasn’t the Hawks only gamble yesterday. Tyler Lockett, an undersized but quick pass receiver and kick returner, was their second choice , after they sent a bunch of picks to Washington to get move up a few spots. I wonder if the picks could have been flopped without a loss of other choices. The Hawk brain trust had their reasons for all the decisions. … Jerry Brewer is leaving Seattle. Like a lot of the Hawks’ draft choices yesterday, he’s headed to D.C.

• Mariners: Once again, the M’s couldn’t do the little things they need to do to win a game. It cost them for the second consecutive night as they lost , 4-3, to first-place Houston . … Dustin Ackley needs to hold up his end of the bargain. … Carson Smith is a Seattle record-setter.

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• That’s all I can do. Sorry. Wait, I have to pass this along . It was my favorite sports moment from yesterday. Two golfers almost getting in a fight. Seems out of place, doesn’t it? Until later …