A GRIP ON SPORTS • I guess it is an appropriate weekend for a surprise. Nothing's more surprising than when your 4-year-old discovers an Easter egg under a bush that was hidden there when she was a 3-year-old. So being able to pass along a story on roller derby, while surprising, isn't in that category. Read on.

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• Yep, we have a roller derby story to link. Seeing it on the S-R website this morning, I was immediately transported back to 1967, when KTLA 5 used to broadcast the L.A. Thunderbirds from the Olympic Auditorium. I even remember the announcer, Dick Lane, an old – and by "old," I mean a man much younger than I am today – bespectacled guy with a distinctive voice. Talk about a trip down memory lane. All I can remember is my mom never wanted me to watch, so I had to be creative in ways to hide the fact from her during warm summer Sunday nights. I was allowed to stay up and watch Mission: Impossible during the summer, so while the parents were busy with Bonanza or The High Chaparral, I would sneak a peak at the roller derby action. And what action it was. The blocks, the jumps, the elbows. It was like watching I-5 at rush hour without the cars. And, c'mon, there were women in skimpy outfits involved. I was a pre-teen male. Enough said. So, yes, there was no chance I wouldn't watch, no matter the edict from on high. 

• My picks for today's NCAA semifinals are ... heck, you don't care. I will be rooting for Duke and Wisconsin, if you want to know, though I'm sure you don't care about that either. Duke because it defeated Gonzaga and Wisconsin because, well, I like cheese. Or something like that. 

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• WSU: Kind of a quiet day but the Cougars' baseball team did win its second consecutive game at No. 12 California, with Joe Pistorese throwing a four-hit shutout.

• Idaho: The Vandals will hold a scrimmage today and, if the past is any indication, it will be a long one. Sean Kramer has a whole bunch of things to watch.

• Chiefs: The playoff series with Everett seems to have turned in the Silvertips' favor. A 3-1 win last night in the Arena gives Everett a 3-1 lead in the WHL first-round series. Chris Derrick has a game story and a blog post on the defeat while Colin Mulvany has a photo report.

• Shock: The Shock don't want to start the Arena season 0-2. But to even their record, they will have to get past Philadelphia tonight with a third-string quarterback. Jim Meehan has the advance.

• Preps: Gonzaga Prep's girls couldn't hold off Miami-Country Day, losing 60-59 in New York yesterday. Greg Lee has a story on the loss that snapped the Bullpups' 50-game winning streak. ... USA Today also has a story.

• Seahawks: Bob Condotta never rests. Or, at least, the Times writer never stops answering questions. ... He also has a question for you. ... I hope the next time Pete Carroll holds a press conference he begins it by saying "I sure wish George R.R. Martin would get the next Game of Thrones book done in my lifetime."

• Mariners: Man, the M's must be serious. After sending out indications the roster was set, boom, the ax fell on Dominic Leone (pictured), who was optioned to Tacoma yesterday. A poor spring actually did cost a guy a spot on the opening day roster. ... A late home run lifted the M's past Colorado 5-4. ... Nelson Cruz has been through the crucible, with many of the resulting burns self-inflicted. Now he's expected to be the cleanup hitter the M's haven't had since Edgar retired. ... Felix Hernandez is ready for the season to begin, even if his numbers don't show it.

• Sounders: The Houston Dynamo has been MLS wanderers recently, moving between the Eastern and Western Conference. They are back in the West these days and will be in CenturyLink tonight. ... They have a history with the Sounders. ... There is also a history between a couple of the principals. ... If you were wondering, the Sounders have found a new Spanish-speaking broadcast partner. ... Vancouver faces the L.A. Galaxy tonight while Portland has a match with FC Dallas. ... Real Salt Lake's new defense has been OK.

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• Enjoy your Saturday. I've tried to give you an early start. Until later ...

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