SPORTS Assignment editor: Dan Ruthemeyer 360-416-2143 / [email protected] WIAA expands committee seeding system for state tourneys By SKAGIT PUBLISHING Football has been seeded by coaches, athletic directors, admin- state seeding. Teams will still need onds to 30 seconds. committee the past two seasons. istrators and media. Each tourna- to qualify for state tournaments at Other changes include allow- High school state tournaments Now basketball, soccer, softball, ment will have its own seeding the district or regional level. ing volleyball teams to schedule for all team sports will be seeded baseball and volleyball will follow committee. On Monday, the WIAA two additional regular-season by committee instead of by com- suit. Previously, state tournaments The committee seeding system announced its 53-member Rep- matches, bringing the total to 18; puter rankings, the Washington for those sports were seeded using should help avoid pitfalls such as resentative Assembly approved allowing the Executive Board to Interscholastic Activities Asso- a Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) first-round matchups for teams 18 amendments to the state’s rule add a trial period for a new activ- ciation Executive Board decided system, which considers win-loss from the same league and unfair book. ity, such as lacrosse; and allowing earlier this month. records and strength of schedule. travel distances, WIAA officials One of the biggest changes wrestlers to compete in as many The new seeding format will go The seeding committees, like said. involves changing the boys’ bas- as six matches in a day, increasing into effect in the fall. for football, will be made up of The new system only affects ketball shot clock from 35 sec- the limit from five. COMMENTARY SEAHAWKS NOTEBOOK Dunbar’s time in Seattle SPOILED’S NEW FACE seems tenuous after By TIM DAHLBERG AP Sports Columnist armed robbery charges I’m not really sure what Twitch is, but I do know this — Blake Snell will By BOB CONDOTTA The report states that wish he was never on it. The Seattle Times there was conflicting He said on the social gaming site testimony on whether what a lot of Major League Baseball SEATTLE — Seahawks Dunbar was armed — players are probably thinking. Like defensive back Quin- three of the witnesses are him, they’re anxious about risking ton Dunbar, who was stated as saying they did their health by returning to play and acquired in a trade from not see him with a gun not happy they have to take a pay cut Washington in March and while one states that he to do so. expected did. Because of that, the But after a rant as ill-advised as it to com- report states that it could was tone-deaf, Snell — who attended pete not be conclusively stated Shorewood High School in Shoreline for the that Dunbar committed — is now the poster child for spoiled team’s aggravated assault with a millionaire ballplayers everywhere. starting firearm. But it states that And, really, let’s face it. He deserves right “upon the totality of the all the vitriol coming his way. corner- circumstances” that Dun- “I’m not playing unless I get mine,’’ back job, bar committed armed Snell proclaimed, saying he would is facing robbery. sit out any resumed season if his $7 four Dunbar One of the men who million pay is cut too much. He said counts was robbed alleged that other things, too, but his main point AP FILE of armed robbery with a Dunbar and Baker had seemed to be that even a pandemic Tampa Bay pitcher Blake Snell says he will not take the mound this year if semi-automatic firearm lost “around $70,000” shouldn’t spoil the riches he so richly his pay is cut further, proclaiming: “I’m not playing unless I get mine.” in connection with an gambling two days earlier deserves. incident late Wednesday at a party in Miami. “I’m not splitting no revenue. I across the country. players have a right to bargain he’s night in Florida, with The report alleges want all mine,’’ said the 2018 Cy The bottom line is there’s going to disappointed they’re holding out for a warrant for his arrest that the cars driven by Young winner for Tampa Bay. “Bro, be a new reality when sports resume “very, very high salaries and payments issued Thursday after- the three men were “pre- y’all got to understand, too, because and the real costs of the pandemic during a time when I think everybody noon. positioned” outside the y’all going to be like: ‘Bro, play for the become known. Guarantees that play- is sacrificing.’’ New York Giants cor- residence in a manner love of the game. Man, what’s wrong ers had in the past aren’t as solid any- Pritzker walked back his comments nerback DeAndre Baker suggesting that the rob- with you, bro? Money should not more and it’s anyone’s guess how it all a day later, saying players have a right is also facing four robbery bery was planned. The be a thing.’ Bro, I’m risking my life. plays out economically. to protect their health and safety. charges as well as four cars were reported as a What do you mean, ‘It should not be a Without fans in the stands, MLB They do, and they should have an charges of aggravated Mercedes, BMW and a thing?’ It 100% should be a thing.” signaled this week it wants to split option to sit out the season with no assault with a firearm Lamborghini. Well, maybe not 100%, but let’s try revenues with players on an 82-game penalty — and no pay — if they feel in the same incident in No one was reported as and cut the 27-year-old Snell some season as a way of reducing the risk threatened by playing while the virus which roughly $73,500 injured. slack. Maybe he’s been playing video of big losses. That idea was essentially is still active. in cash and watches were Tania Rues, the public games so much he hasn’t had time branded a nonstarter by the players’ But Snell seemed to attach a price stolen. information officer for to pick up a newspaper or watch the union, which has always been quick tag to his comfort level, saying he TMZ Sports first the Miramar PD, told The news on TV. to dig its heels in whenever the golden shouldn’t have to take a risk at the reported the news, which Seattle Times that as of He might not have seen the head- goose seemed threatened. was confirmed via Twit- same time he’s taking a pay cut. And 5:30 p.m. PT neither man lines that 36.5 million Americans The revenue split may not fly as ter by the Miramar, Fla., had been arrested but that have filed for unemployment in the presented, and that’s fine. There might that’s just wrong, especially coming Police Department. the department had been last eight weeks, or the poll that shows be better ideas that make financial from a player who is due $39 million The news of the war- in contact with the attor- 46% without jobs are worried they sense for both the leagues and the guaranteed over the next three years rant being issued for neys of at least one of the will not have enough food to make it players — and they should both feel once baseball comes back. Dunbar’s arrest broke a men about turning him- through the end of the month. the pain equally. That’s money ICU nurses can never few hours after he had self in. No bond was set. And maybe he didn’t peek into his But what Snell and the players’ hope to make as they go about saving spoken via Zoom with In a statement the bank account and notice that $286,500 union don’t seem to get is that they’ll lives every day. It’s money not even media who cover the Seahawks said: “We are has already been deposited there for have to compromise in some way if imaginable to grocery store clerks Seahawks. Dunbar said he aware of the situation this season without throwing a pitch. there is to be any hope of a season who risk being infected every time was doing the interview involving Quinton Dun- He’s also scheduled to get $43,210 for this year. What they also don’t seem to they go to work just so we can all eat. from his home in Florida. bar and still gathering each game — yes, each game — of the get is no one wants to hear any com- Go ahead, sit the season out or play The Seahawks list Miami information. We will defer schedule should the season resume. plaining about having to take smaller if you want. But don’t whine about as his hometown. Mira- all further comment to No, it’s not the $7 million he signed paychecks to make it happen. having to make sacrifices to do it. mar is listed as about 17 league investigators and up for. But that was silly money even Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker made that America is hurting too much right miles from Miami. local authorities.” before the virus began spreading point this week, saying that while now to listen. The robbers are alleged to have stolen more than SMITH RETURNS $12,000 in cash as well as The Seahawks agreed an $18,000 Rolex watch, to re-sign Geno Smith, a $25,000 Hublot and a who served as Russell MLB’s restart proposal doesn’t call for daily coronavirus testing: source $17,500 Audemars Piguet Wilson’s backup last year timepiece in an incident and will compete to do so By BRADFORD to do when players could many as 25%” of people mended coronavirus tests that the police report por- again in 2020.