AP-NW–Sports Right Now/735
SEAHAWKS-NATE ROBINSON
Seattle gives tryout to former NBA star Nate Robinson
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks have given former NBA standout and one-time college football player Nate Robinson a tryout.
The Seahawks confirmed that Robinson went through a tryout on Monday, first reported by The Washington Post. Robinson had indicated in video posted to YouTube earlier this spring a desire to play football again.
Robinson gave up his chance at football after his freshman year at Washington, where he was a standout defensive back. Robinson appeared in 13 games in 2002 as a true freshman and had two interceptions. He gave up his football career the following spring to focus on basketball and became a first-round pick in 2005.
Robinson has played for eight NBA teams in his career and was a three-time winner of the slam dunk competition.
MARINERS-RAYS
Walker to get start vs. Rays for Mariners
TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — The Seattle Mariners open an East Coast road trip in Florida against the Tampa Bay Rays this evening, with right-hander Taijuan Walker slated to start the series opener.
Walker comes into the game at 3-6 with a 3.48 ERA. The Rays will counter with Jake Odorizzi, who is 3-3.
The Mariners had Monday off after losing two of three to the Texas Rangers over the weekend, including Sunday’s 6-4 loss. Robinson Cano got thrown out trying for a double to end the game as the Mariners were threatening to come back against Texas. Cole Hamels picked up his 2,000th strikeout in the win for the Rangers.
NABC-NCAA TOURNAMENT
College hoops coaches to examine NCAA Tournament selection
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gonzaga coach Mark Few, Kentucky’s John Calipari and West Virginia’s Bob Huggins are among more than a dozen coaches and administrators who have been chosen to examine the NCAA men’s basketball tournament selection system.
The National Association of Basketball Coaches announced the ad hoc committee Monday. It will work with the NCAA in the coming weeks to discuss selection, seeding and bracketing processes.
Previous NABC committees have worked with the NCAA to adjust rules for student-athletes declaring for the NBA draft and to consider the demands placed on athletes’ time.
NABC executive director Jim Haney and former SEC commissioner Mike Slive will co-chair the committee, which also includes coaches such as Steve Fisher and Mark Turgeon, administrators Doug Elgin and Dan Guerrero and consultants Dan Davitt and Reggie Minton, among others.
SAINTS-KIKAHA
AP Source: Saints’ Kikaha has re-injured his left knee
METAIRIE, La. (AP) — A person familiar with the situation says New Orleans Saints outside linebacker Hau’oli Kikaha has an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee, the same knee in which the 2015 second-round draft choice had ACL repairs twice during his college career at Washington.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity on Monday because the Saints and Kikaha have not publicly discussed the injury. The person says physicians continue to evaluate the full extent of the injury, but that Kikaha will not play in the 2016 season.
Kikaha played in 15 games as a rookie and was in on 50 tackles with four sacks, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
He was injured during voluntary offseason practices last week, but the Saints have not yet placed him on injured reserve.
HENDERSON’S-ASCENT
Major championship victory marks Brooke Henderson’s ascent
UNDATED (AP) — When Ontario teen Brooke Henderson played her first LPGA Tour event at age 14, she marveled at Lydia Ko winning the Canadian Women’s Open at 15. Four years later, Henderson beat the top-ranked golfer in the world to win her first major championship.
Henderson’s victory over the weekend at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship marked a major milestone in her 18-month climb up the world rankings since turning pro. After being well over 200, she’s now No. 2 at age 18, a Canadian hero in the vein of 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir, and could soon become one of the faces of the sport.
Her next chance at a major is the U.S. Women’s Open at CordeValle in July and she will be a top contender there, less than a year after her first LPGA victory at the Cambia Portland Classic.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.