Any Mythbusters fans in the house? I caught last night’s episode and lo’ and behold, who do I see will be helping Jamie and Adam next week? Our own Olympic gold medalist Nathan Adrian.

I spoke to Nathan by phone today, and here’s what he had to say regarding the episode that will air next Wednesday at 9 p.m.

While Adrian can’t talk about specifics regarding the myth the show’s cast is trying to decipher, the episode is titled “Swimming in Syrup.”

“I’m still reaping the benefits of this whole Olympics thing and meet cool, influential people I never expected to meet,” Adrian said when reached by phone in Berkeley, Calif.

Adrian said he was contacted by USA Swimming who said the show was looking for a swimmer to help them with a myth. The show is filmed in the Bay Area.

“Of course I said yes,” he said. “It all kind of fell in my lap. It’s really a cool, fun show.”

Adrian filmed the episode last November, not long after returning to California after winning a medal as part of the 4×100-meter freestyle relay team in Beijing. Adrian said it took a full day to film, but his part was relatively small.

“It was really cool — the guys we’re awesome,” he said of Mythbusters Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman. “They’re exactly like they are on the TV show. Adam’s very excitable, Jamie’s really mellow … really cool vibe those guys put out.”

While Adrian has had to keep quiet about his part in the episode, as more and more previews for the episode have aired, he’s been hearing more and more about it, he said.

And he fully intends to watch the episode.

“Oh, yeah, absolutely, everybody’s been texting me,” he said. “I’m really excited about it.”

Poor guy just can’t get healthy this year. Here’s the AP story…

ATLANTA (AP) — Hawks forward Marvin Williams will miss his third straight playoff game because of an injured right wrist, while Miami star Dwyane Wade is suiting up after treatment for an ailing back.
Williams hurt his wrist in Game 2 of the series, which is tied 2-2 going into Wednesday night’s game. His shooting is clearly hampered as struggled to even get the ball up to the rim during practice. Coach Mike Woodson isn’t sure if Williams will be available again in this series — even if it goes the full seven games.
Wade suffered from back spasms in Game 4. He underwent treatment throughout the day and will be ready to go, according to coach Erik Spoelstra.

Ryan Villopoto, a Poulsbo native, finished fourth at the Monster Energy AMA Supercross race at Salt Lake City on Saturday.

Villopoto’s finish came off his first win of the season last week at Qwest Field. James Stewart earned the win.

Todd Linden might make it to Yankee Stadium sooner than later the way he’s hitting.
The Central Kitsap grad, an outfielder at Scranton Wilkes-Barre (Pa.) — the Yanks’ Triple-A affiliate in the International League — is hitting .322 with four home runs and a team-high 17 RBI in 14 games. He’s also got four doubles, a triple and he’ s walked eight times.
Linden’s 15-for-32 in his last eight games with three homers.

Problem for Linden is the Yankees have Johnny Damon, Nick Swisher, Brett Gardner and Milkey Cabrera in the outfield and all are swinging it pretty good except for Gardner (.235, 0 HRs).  Gardner’s the only center fielder of the bunch, although Linden has proven he can play that position in the past.

It’ll be interesting to keep your eye on Linden, the MVP at Triple-A Buffalo a year ago and a guy who had his moments in the big leagues with the Giants in the past. He’s just waiting for another opportunity to prove he can do it on a consistent basis.

Here’s an update on how the local major- and minor-leaguers are doing:

Willie Bloomquist, Kansas City Royals: Former Mariner and pride of Port Orchard went 2-for-3 on Wednesday to raise his average to .231. Normally an infielder,  he’s started three games in right field for the Royals. With third baseman Alex Gordon on the DL with a hip injury, KC plans to move Mark Teahen to third. That will leave Alberto Callaspo and Bloomquist to play second. Bloomquist will also continue to see action in right field.

Jason Hammel, Colorado Rockies: The SK grad has appeared in one game since the trade with Tampa Bay. He was used in relief by the Rockies. Hammel gave up five hits, including a home run, walked two and allowed two earned runs in 2 2/3 innings.

Aaron Cunningham, Sacramento River Cats: Aaron dislocated his shoulder after a collision at home-plate with Tacoma catcher Jeff Clement last Sunday in Sacramento and is currently on the DL. Cunningham was hitting .333 (4-12). The Oakland A’s prospect from South Kitsap is expected to be out at least two weeks. If he was healthy, he’d be in Tacoma Friday for the Rainiers’ home opener.

Todd Linden, Scranton-Wilkes Barre Yankees: The CK grad hit his second home run for the Yankees’ Triple-A team on Thursday, but is hitting just .206 (7-36) with two homers and seven RBI in eight games.

Jason Ellison, Leigh Valley IronPigs: Ellison’s also off to a slow start, hitting .208 (4-23) in seven games for the Phillies’ Class AAA team. Linden and Ellison, teammates at Fresno and with the Giants while in the San Francisco organization, played against each other in the season-opening Independent League season.

Travis Vetters, Great Lakes Loons: Vetters, another SK grad who’s made it professionally, is 3-13 (.231) for the Loons, a Class A team in the Midwest League. The former Portland star has played in four games.

Aaron Sele, Dodgers: The North Kitsap grad, who hasn’t pitched since the 2007 season, is the Dodgers’ minor league pitching instructor.

— Chuck Stark

You’re going to have to click here to find out.

Marvin Williams of the Atlanta Hawks was among the athletes featured in this week’s Pop Culture Grid in Sports Illustrated and that was among the questions the Bremerton native was asked.

The Atlanta Hawks forward from Bremerton is captured on video talking about and solving the puzzle. Marvin, back in the lineup after missing 16 games with a back injury, will try to help the Hawks solve the playoff puzzle this month. The Hawks pushed the world champion Celtics to seven games in the first round a year ago?

How do you think they’ll do this year? Besides the Hawks, any other sleepers out there? Or are we looking at Lakers-Cavs, Kobe vs. Lebron finals?

— Chuck Stark

South Kitsap product Jason Hammel is happy to be in Colorado.
Another SK grad, Willie Bloomquist, remembers that snowy series in Cleveland two year ago.

Marvin Williams could return to the Atlanta Hawks’ lineup Friday.
Williams, who has missed the Hawks’ last 16 games because of a lower back injury, went through a tough workout Thursday.
“We’re going to see how he feels after shoot-around and then we’ll gauge it from there and see what he wants to do,” Atlanta coach Mike Woodson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “If he tells me he’s ready to go, we’ll make a decision as to what we’re going to do with him.”
Williams, an All-American at Bremerton, said he felt fine.
“It just depends on how I feel,” he told the AJC. “Some days I work out and wake up the next morning and I feel fine. And then some days I work out and then wake up the next morning and I’m super sore. But I’m very confident I’ll have a chance to get back.”
Williams was hurt on March 7. After the injury, surgery was considered and it was feared he might be done for the season.
He was told he would be out for six to eight weeks. If he plays, it will be just over a month.
“I thought I was done [for the season] when they first explained it all to me,” Williams told the AJC. “The playoffs were certainly going to be a push or at least a stretch. I had high hopes, though. And now I definitely feel like I’m going to be back to my old self for the playoffs.”

Marvin Williams returned to practice with the Atlanta Hawks. It’s the first time in a month he’s practiced with the team. There’s still no timetable for his return.