Art Thiel

"It's only going to get worse."

Those are the words of KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel regarding traffic in Seattle's SoDo district.

Members of the King County Council this week echoed concerns raised by the Mariners, the Port of Seattle and many SoDo businesses that a third arena in the area would create huge traffic nightmares. Not that there aren't any of those already.

Members of the King County Council this week raised concerns about a proposed new arena in Seattle's SoDo district. Among the concerns is increased traffic - the same reason the Mariners, Port of Seattle and many SoDo businesses have come out against the idea of building third arena in the area.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel shares his insight on this issue tomorrow morning at 5:35 and 7:35 on 88.5 KPLU. Check back here for a blog of our conversation.

It's payback time. That's what a lot of Seattle Sounders FC fans are saying about Saturday's matchup with the Colorado Rapids at CenturyLink Field.

It's the first time they will be able to voice their opposition to Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan's vicious tackle last season of one of the Sounders' best players, Steve Zakuani. The hit left Zakuani with a broken leg as well as muscle and nerve damage from which he's still recovering.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says Sounders fans have a right to be angry and a right to voice that anger on Saturday - but he warns against going too far.

A controversial sports figure comes to Seattle Saturday. Colorado Rapids midfielder Brian Mullan will appear before Sounders fans for the first time since breaking the leg of popular midfielder Steve Zakuani last season.

They were the top two players on the University of Washington basketball team this season. They weren't able to get the Huskies to the NCAA Tournament, but sophomore Terrence Ross and freshman Tony Wroten are nonetheless leaving UW to enter the NBA draft.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says only one of them is ready.

They were certainly stars this season. But is that enough? Freshman Tony Wroten and sophomore Terrence Ross both announced this week that they're leaving the University of Washington to enter the NBA draft.

Find out what KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel thinks about their decision tomorrow morning at 5:35 and 7:35 on 88.5 KPLU. Check back here for a blog of our conversation.

The Mariners return from Japan Friday with one win and one loss under their belt, following the two-game series with the A's in Tokyo that kicked off their 2012 season.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says, overall, the trip was a success. He spent the week with the team in Japan.

TOKYO — Now he shows us.

In a game postponed from nine years ago, played 4,800 miles from where he’s hit leadoff for the last 11 years, following up an idea started eight years ago, Ichiro revealed himself to be baseball’s greatest No. 3 hitter.

ISHINOMAKI, Japan – Busing swiftly through the detritus of devastation is hardly a good way to get a feeling for the loss, in the space of a few hours, of about 20,000 people from a town of 160,000.

But then, what is a good way to comprehend  the unimaginable?

Seahawks fans like what they're hearing about new quarterback Matt Flynn. Team leaders touted his skills and leadership ability this week.

While the Seahawks welcome an important new player, a veteran player for the Mariners is preparing for a huge homecoming in Japan. 

Fan excitement is building for the Seahawks new quarterback Matt Flynn. Will he really have to compete for the job of starter?

It's up in the air who will be the starting quarterback for the Seahawks next season. The Hawks are said to still be searching for their next star. Will they find him in the free agent pool?

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel breaks down the moves the Seahawks have made so far, and what might be in their future.

With the signing of defensive end Red Bryant to a new, five-year contract this week, the Seahawks now have their two best free agent players locked up. Bryant's deal comes on the heels of star running back Marshawn Lynch signing a new contract with the team. 

So, what's next for the Seahawks in the offseason, now that it appears they're out of the running for quarterback Peyton Manning?

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel likes the idea of Peyton Manning coming to Seattle. He says the team and the city have a lot to offer him. And it goes without saying what he can offer the team - as long as he stays healthy.

For 45 minutes at City Hall Wednesday night, would-be arena mogul Chris Hansen calmly answered questions from politicians, bureaucrats and agency heads who reflected Seattle’s pain from repeatedly getting kicked in the bicuspids by pro sports owners, starting with the loss of the Seattle Pilots in 1970.

In the sometimes lame give-and-take, he made a point lightly understood but significant for grasping why his idea is different than those of his sporting predecessors more practiced in the art of shoe-leather dentistry.

“Our equity in this project is larger than the city (and county combined),” he said. “Are we going to risk a $600 million investment over a $2 million annual shortfall?”