Fast Break

Coming Sunday

Keep an eye on Caroline Zhang

It is Caroline Zhang’s dream to win the women’s skating event at the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. That would be something her idol, five-time world champion Michelle Kwan, hasn’t yet accomplished in her prolific career.

Zhang is one of the favorites in the Junior Ladies at the U.S. Figure Skating Nationals in Spokane next week. In Sunday’s Sports section, staff writer Jeff Bunch takes a closer look at 4-foot-9 junior phenom.

SportsLink

This is not a mom-in-law joke

Online columnist Vince Grippi commented in his SportsLink blog on Eastern’s lack of defense against Northern Arizona on Thursday. It drew this comment from Rob:

“This is the same disease that GU and UW have, no defense. But I don’t think I have seen hardly a word written about it. Finally, today Few addressed it a bit. But the problems have been there all year.

“It is kind of like having your mother-in-law living in the house. Everyone knows there is a big problem there, it is obvious to everyone, but nobody will talk about it.”

Grippi will check to see if they’re playing defense today in Pullman when UW takes on WSU. Stay updated on all the local sports at spokesman- review.com/sports.

Baseball

Notre Dame star opts for baseball

Jeff Samardzija decided to give up football and stay with baseball.

The former Notre Dame receiver, projected as a first-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft, agreed Friday to a $10 million, five-year contract to pitch for the Chicago Cubs.

A 21-year-old right-hander, Samardzija was the Cubs’ fifth-round pick in last year’s amateur draft and had a 2.70 ERA in seven starts for their Class A teams at Boise and Peoria, Ill.

He returned to Notre Dame and helped the Irish make the Sugar Bowl, catching 78 passes for 1,017 yards as a senior.

Samardzija said there would be no returning to football, even though he’s headed for a stint in the minor leagues.