Kirsten Kendrick

Three Seattle-area high school jazz bands have been selected from nearly 100 schools across the country to compete in this year’s prestigious Essentially Ellington Competition in New York City.

Jazz bands from Garfield and Roosevelt in Seattle as well as Edmonds-Woodway were the only three high schools selected from a region that includes 11 states and several Canadian provinces.

First came the American League Cy Young Award in 2010. Then, last year’s perfect game. 

But KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says nothing compares to the outpouring of emotion he witnessed this week at Safeco Field as the Mariners’ Felix Hernandez signed a contract that makes him the highest-paid pitcher in baseball. 

Mariner catcher Jesus Montero has been linked to a clinic in Florida that’s under investigation for distributing performance-enhancing drugs. His name was found on a list. 

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it’s nothing more than that right now.

Seahawks fans may have nothing but contempt for their division rivals the San Francisco 49ers. But when it comes to who to cheer for in the Super Bowl, KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel explains why it’s good to root for the 49ers over the Baltimore Ravens.

In the Western Hemisphere, January is typically the coldest month of the year.  Most of us feel that if we can somehow drag ourselves through January, things will begin to turn around and we’ll be on the road to springtime. 

But January is also typically the month that feels as if it will never end.  So as we slog through the cold rain and snow, awaiting January’s demise, here are five winter blues songs to help get us through:

The agreement to sell the Sacramento Kings to a Seattle investment group - with the goal of moving the team to Seattle - is not a slam dunk. It still needs NBA approval. And momentum is growing in Sacramento to try to keep the Kings there.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel tries to clear up some of the confusion Seattle fans may have about what's going on.

Seahawks fans still have a lot of anguish and, for some, anger about Sunday's playoff loss to Atlanta. KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel has some answers for fans, and a look ahead to next season.

The Seahawks have their work cut out for them Sunday in the NFC Divisional playoff game against the Falcons in Atlanta.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's going to be an uncomfortably close game.

Rookie quarterback Russell Wilson led the Seahawks past the Redskins 24-14 in the NFC wild card playoff game Sunday in Washington, D.C.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel was there.

Two rookie quarterbacks who've shined in the regular season will go head-to-head Sunday in Washington D.C., as Russell Wilson and the Seahawks go up against Robert Griffin III and the Redskins in the first round of the NFC playoffs.

Find out why KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel thinks the Seahawks will prevail.

What do a swimmer, a rookie quarterback, a perfect pitcher and a hedge fund manager have in common?

They're all on KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel's list of the top 5 sports stories of 2012.

The Seahawks will be in the national spotlight when they host the San Francisco 49ers for Sunday Night Football on NBC.

KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel says it's going to be an intense, high-scoring game that should live up to the hype. Not to mention that the Seahawks could seal a wildcard playoff berth with a win.

Washington State University has cleared its football coach of accusations of abuse. And the University of Washington is trying to lure more fans to Las Vegas for the team’s bowl game next weekend.

Both of those topics were on the mind of KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel this week.

The Seahawks are still very much in the running for the playoffs. That's why KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel thinks there's some sort of strategy around their two star cornerbacks and the status of their appeals of NFL substance abuse violations.

The Seahawks claim it's not a distraction. But KPLU sports commentator Art Thiel begs to differ. Star cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner will be playing under a cloud of controversy this Sunday in Chicago, as they appeal a reported violation of the NFL's drug policy.