Blazers get their man
The Portland Trail Blazers finally decided on a coach, luring Nate McMillan away from the Seattle Sonics with a reported five-year, $30 million deal with a team option for a sixth year. The only other named candidate was Phoenix Suns assistant Marc Iavaroni, one of the minds behind the Suns’ up-tempo style.
Boxley plays in Vegas summer league
In more Blazer news, former PSU standout forward Seamus Boxley is playing on the Blazers’ summer league squad in Las Vegas. The Blazers are 2-0 so far and the “Big Three” of Sebastian Telfair, Travis Outlaw and Martell Webster have played beyond expectations. Boxley logged one minute of action with one turnover in last Friday’s 90-74 victory over Golden State.
Boone to Twins
The Minnesota Twins acquired Seattle Mariners second baseman Bret Boone Monday for a player to be named later. Boone has struggled for the past two seasons after a 2001 campaign that saw the 12-year vet hit .331 with 37 home runs and 141 RBIs and finish third in the AL MVP race. Boone was batting .237 and had seven homers and 34 RBI when the Mariners designated him for assignment earlier this month.
PSU Track and Field hires assistant
Portland State Track and Field added Western Oregon University alum Mathew Barreau to their coaching staff last week. He comes to PSU with U.S.A. Track and Field Level II certifications in endurance and sprints/hurdles/relays. Prior to his hiring at Portland State, Barreau worked at several 4A high schools and Adams State College in Alamosa, Colo.
PSU rounds out soccer roster
Portland State Women’s Soccer coach Tim Bennett announced the signing of two additional players last week, rounding out his roster for the upcoming 2005 season. Salina Karia (Portland, OR/UO), a transfer from the University of Oregon, and Sarah Smart (Lynwood, WA/Kings), an incoming freshman are the final pieces to a squad that should compete for a second straight Big Sky title.
Preseason props for PSU center
PSU senior Antonio Narcisse has been named a preseason All-American by Street and Smith’s College Football Magazine. Narcisse, a 6-1, 305-pound native of New Orleans, was part of a dominating offensive line that managed to remain healthy in 2004 and was named to the All-Big Sky Conference first team along with teammates Allen Kennett and Jordan Senn.