Marvin Williams: The Bremerton-born athlete is walking tall again for the Atlanta Hawks after undergoing offseason back surgery. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2004 draft says he’s feeling good. It’ll be interesting to see how all of this translates to the court. You a Marvin fan? If so, ask Santa for tickets to the Feb. 18 Atlanta-Portland game. It’s a Saturday.
Prince Fielder: The slugging first baseman is what Mariners’ fans want for Christmas. But it’s doubtful they’ll get him. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com makes it seem like the Mariners — because of financial limitations and because Fielder reportedly doesn’t want to head West — are longshots to land Prince. That’s too bad because Seattle fans, who don’ t have a lot to get excited about, could use a Prince’s Court in the right-field seats to go with Felix Hernandez’s King’s Court. As it is, they don’t have a lot to cheer about. If Justin Smoak gets off to a hot start, they might considers opening a Smoaking Section.
Fat Kid’s Dream: This is what every defensive lineman in the NFL wants for Christmas.
Alex Smith: Merry Christmas, indeed. The Bremerton-born quarterback — dad Doug Smith was coaching football and teaching at Olympic High when Alex entered our world in May of 1984 — is one of the best stories in the NFL this year. A lot of people considered Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005, a bust. But first-year coach Jim Harbaugh has helped turn Smith into a potential Pro Bowl player. Harbaugh thinks Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Smith are the three best QBs in the NFC. FYI: His old high school teammate from Helix High in San Diego, Hesiman Trophy winner Reggie Bush, is having a breakthrough season, too. Bush was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2006 draft.
Kellen Moore: The kid from Prosser was a gift that just kept on giving for Boise State, the only college that wanted the left-handed quarterback. All he did was win. No college QB has won more games than Moore, who goes for his 50th victory in tonight’s Maaco Bowl against Arizona State. Ivan Maisel of ESPN suggests Moore has nothing Moore to prove. Great college career, but is he good enough to play in the NFL? It’s going to be interesting to see how pro teams end up evaluating him. If you’re in the camp that believes the Seahawks need a quarterback, would you use a middle or late first-round pick on Moore? Is he the second coming of Kenny Stabler? Or is he simply a product of the system at Boise State? Is he too short? Does he lack the necessary athleticism to make plays? Is his arm strength good enough? One thing we do know is that he’s a winner. That’ s got to count for something, doesn’t it?
