Although the journey was different than usual, the result was the same: Sounders FC advanced to the MLS Cup Playoffs for the eighth consecutive season – each year since its inception in 2009 – despite sitting near the bottom of the conference table for most of the campaign. Improbably, the Rave Green made one of the most spectacular runs in league history down the home stretch (8-2-4). This blistering form hasn’t stopped in the postseason, as Seattle sits in favorable position to continue its fight for the elusive MLS Cup.

Sounders FC was nearing a playoff berth by mid-October, but needed three points to control its own destiny. After a scoreless home draw against the Houston Dynamo and a late loss at first-place FC Dallas, Seattle entered Decision Day – the final day of the regular season – with a chance to finish anywhere from fourth place to seventh place. Interim Head Coach Brian Schmetzer, who is unbeaten while patrolling the sidelines at CenturyLink Field, led the home team to a 2-1 win and a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference. The comeback season had been completed, but the Sounders weren’t finished yet.

In the Western Conference Knockout Round, Seattle faced Sporting Kansas City on October 27 at CenturyLink Field. Forward Nelson Valdez scored the match’s lone goal, his first of the season against MLS competition, in the 88^th minute to advance his club into the next round. Three days later, Seattle hosted the first leg of a two-match Western Conference Semifinal series with FC Dallas. During an unforgettable span of eight minutes in the second half, Sounders FC scored three goals – one by Valdez, two from Nicolás Lodeiro – to give Seattle the 3-0 win. On Sunday, November 6, Seattle takes its three-goal lead into the second leg at FC Dallas. If Seattle holds on and advances, Seattle will be one of just four teams left to compete for the title.

The Seattle Mariners will commemorate the team’s 40^th Anniversary during the 2017 season. Players will wear special patches on the right sleeve of their home and away jerseys next year. The patches feature the Seattle skyline and Mt. Rainier with the nautical compass rose superimposed over the number 40. The logo will also appear on the Safeco Field outfield wall and former Mariners players will be welcomed back to Seattle for special appearances and promotions during the season-long celebration.

Authentic home and road jerseys featuring the 40^th Anniversary patch are scheduled to be available in Seattle Mariners Team Stores next week. Alternate jerseys, along with other apparel featuring the logo will be in stores in January. Seattle Mariners Team Stores are located at Safeco Field, at Fourth & Stewart in downtown Seattle, Bellevue Square, Alderwood Mall and Southcenter Mall.

The Seattle Mariners RBI Club will present the organization’s top award for community service to Mariners relief pitcher Charlie Furbush on Saturday, November 19. The 2016 Al “Moose” Clausen Community Service Award will be presented to Furbush at the RBI Club’s annual Toys for Kids fundraiser at the Bellevue Hyatt Evergreen. The RBI Club is an organization of Mariners season ticketholders who are active in the community. The Moose Clausen Award is given to a member of the Mariners organization (active or retired) for significant contributions to the community. 

Furbush is co-chair of the Annual Mariners Care Cystic Fibrosis Golf Tournament, which has raised over $5.5 million for CF research since 1986. Furbush is also an active participant in the Toys for Kids program, is on the Advisory Board for the Taylor Hooton Foundation, a non-profit organization that educates youth about the dangers of performance enhancing drugs, and he has taken the message directly to Boys & Girls Club members by participating in the annual PLAY Campaign at Safeco Field focused on children’s health and fitness. Furbush also supports the Baseball Assistance Team (BAT) which helps professional baseball alums in need of financial assistance.

Running a race can be fun, but it can also be challenging!

Training takes dedication, preparation and determination… And training for a marathon takes all of that in spades. 

At Alaska Airlines Rock 'n' Roll Seattle Marathon & 1/2 Marathon we want to reward participants that complete the marathon – all 26.2 miles of it. Register now for the marathon on race day, Sunday June 18, and receive a bonus Marathon Finisher Jacket as our gift to you. http://bit.ly/2c5bsF0

On December 9, 2016, the Wing Luke Museum of the Asian Pacific American Experience (The Wing) will be opening Who’s Got Game?, a new exhibition celebrating the pioneers, role models, and accomplishments of Asian Pacific Americans (APAs) in sports.

A Smithsonian Affiliate and an affiliated area of the National Park Service, the Wing Luke Museum operates in Seattle's Chinatown-International District. The Wing is the nation's only museum that shares the pan-APA experience, which includes more than 26 ethnic groups.  As a community anchor of the Chinatown-International District and cultural voice for the broader APA communities, The Wing is ideally situated to actively engage the APA community and connect their stories with a diverse audience. In addition, The Wing's location, just blocks away from the two sports stadiums, draws further connections between sports and the Chinatown-International District neighborhood.

Located in our largest exhibition gallery, Who's Got Game? will explore the personal journeys of Asian Pacific American athletes, from world-famous competitors to everyday local people who have made sports an important part of their lives. It will feature oral histories, media coverage and items from personal collections to represent the wide range of sports, ethnic and cultural identities, genders and generations.

From the father of surfing Duke Kahanamoku to the queen of ice skating Kristi Yamaguchi, the exhibition encourages Museum visitors to see themselves as athletes and inspires them to participate. The exhibition will invite visitors to:

• Physically play games like putt putt golf to show the universal important of play and how it connects people across boundaries
• Explore the wide range of sports played by Asian Pacific American communities, whether as hobbies, careers or even as a way out of poverty
• Examine the internal and external obstacles faced by Asian Pacific American athletes
• Learn more about iconic athletes who had to pave the way and are role models today
• Take away lessons learned from sports, including team work, perseverance, risk-taking and other values
• Add their own life lessons and nominate someone to the exhibition’s Hall of Fame

The Asian Pacific American athletes that have been selected for our exhibit’s Hall of Fame are: Eddie Aikau (Native Hawaiian, surfing), Michael Chang (Chinese American, tennis), Julie Chu (Chinese American, ice hockey), Chloe Kim (Korean American, snowboarding), Sammy Lee (Korean American, diving), Jeremy Lin (Chinese American, basketball), Greg Louganis (Samoan American/mixed, diving), Patsy Mink (Japanese American, Congresswoman who created Title IX, mandating gender equality in access to education, including athletics), Naomi Mulitauaopele (Samoan American, basketball), Apolo Ohno (Japanese American/mixed, speed skating), Peggy Oki (Japanese American, skateboarding), Stella Orechia (Burma/mixed, track and field), Henry Phan (Vietnamese American, ultimate frisbee), Sammy Santos (Filipino American, boxing), Junior Seau (Samoan American, football), Ichiro Suzuki (Japanese, baseball), Tiger Woods (Thai American/mixed, golf), Kristi Yamaguchi (Japanese American, figure skating).

All-tournament passes are on sale now at pac-12.com/tickets. These passes include admission to every game of the tournament and start at $90 each. Discounted group tickets, as well as premium court-side and VIP options, are also available. Full ticket information can be found at pac-12.com/tickets or by calling 1-855-MYPAC12.