Amid all the hype about bringing back Ken Griffey Jr., it seems that people are forgetting that Griffey was a problem in the clubhouse.

There were many "special" demands he asked that made trading him that much easier on the organization. And as exciting as his on-field performance might have been, it was only after we rid the clubhouse of the prima donnas (add to Griffey Randy Johnson) that they won 116 games.

Winning Baseball is as much about the chemistry in the clubhouse as it is the skills on the field. Let's hope Jack Zduriencik remembers that.

Skip Kotkins, Seattle

Griffey would bring back buzz

Getting Griffey would be absolutely genius by the Mariners in reviving the sports scene in the Northwest. Yes, we have the Huskies men's basketball team to look forward to, hopefully making the NCAA tournament. But other than that, what do we have?

If the Mariners go into spring training with Griffey, not only will there be a buzz about town but I believe they will see a huge increase in season-ticket sales. I'll go.

Here's another thought: What about bringing back Randy Johnson? Think about it. We love him too!

David Hobbs, Des Moines

Time for Zduriencik to sign Junior

Obviously, Jack Zduriencik has a very low opinion of Ken Griffey Jr., or he would have signed him long ago. Instead, Zduriencik has populated the roster with a lot of no-name, promising but inexperienced players to function under the helm of first-year manager, Don Wakamatsu. This has all the ingredients of a disaster in the making.

Nothing could be worse than seeing the Mariners firmly lodged in last place again in June, while Griffey enjoys a banner year for some other ballclub. I mean, come on! He comes cheap. He'll easily bring fans to the ballpark. And if he doesn't produce, you can always release him!

It is time for Zduriencik to put down his sabermetric book, and look at reality! Sign the man!

Douglas Q. Barnett, Seattle

No reason to get journeyman

Wake up and smell the Starbucks coffee, Seattle.

I empathize with the emotional ties you have for Ken Griffey Jr. He's one of the best to ever play the game. He lit up Seattle with both his play on the field and his infectious smile and personality off the field. And now, not surprisingly, he wants to return and play in Seattle. Who wouldn't want to play in Seattle? Attendance at Safeco is unwaveringly robust, regardless of results on the field. Fans are ridiculously polite, and you will be assured of at least one standing ovation per game.

This is heaven for a journeyman player. Unfortunately, Seattle, that is all Ken Griffey is currently. He is hardly a fit for a team in transition, one that is rebuilding with younger, fresh-faced prospects and talent.

In my opinion, this is Zduriencik's first real test. Does he have the fortitude to make the right decision here? We shall see.

Kevin Tefft, Seattle

Hall of Fame Smith was a wizard on defense

Did Dick Ays even watch Ozzie Smith play, or did he only look at offensive statistics in a book before writing his letter to the sports editor questioning Smith's Hall of Fame credentials?

Sure, he was never a hitting force. But what got Smith rightfully into the Hall of Fame was his defense. He won 13 straight Gold Gloves and shut down the left side of the middle infield. It's the same reason that Omar Vizquel will probably get into the Hall of Fame.

It's not always about offensive numbers.

John Hamilton, Kirkland

Super Bowl Seattle fans need a dose of reality

Jerry Brewer, the Gas Man and the rest of Seattle's whining, pathetic and wrong fans need to not only get over the Super Bowl from three years ago, they need to accept the reality and truth of that game.

Reality: There was one flat-out wrong call the tackle attempt by Matt Hasselbeck. Every other "controversial" or "questionable" call in that game was one that if the exact same thing had happened with the teams reversed, these same, sad fans would have been screaming for the flags!

Bigger reality: The refs absolutely did not cost the Seahawks that game. The refs had nothing to do with the Seahawks defense completely forgetting to put anyone close to Willie Parker or Hines Ward on three long plays that all led to touchdowns. The refs had nothing to do with Hasselbeck setting a season high for incomplete passes. The refs had nothing to do with Holmgren again forgetting that the league's MVP was wanting the ball, yet didn't even reach 100 yards rushing for the game.

The truth: The game was never that close. If Ben Roethlisberger floats that pass three inches higher and it goes over Herndon, it's 28 3 and it goes down in history as one of the most lopsided Super Bowl wins ever. And when you're three inches from it being one of the most lopsided Super Bowls ever, one bad call is not really making a big difference.

The only thing Brewer and Gas and these Seattle fans keep proving by dwelling on this is their ignorance of the truth and their inability to be mature and get over it.

Of course, these are the same people who are still booing Alex Rodriguez and who let the Sonics walk to Oklahoma City. No wonder the rest of the world thinks Seattle sports are the worst.

Matt Hilditch, Kent

Arizona should be force in future

Once again, Pittsburgh gets away with bad officiating. It reminds me a lot of the Seattle game. As shown on replays, on the winning touchdown only one foot was in bounds. In the Seahawks game, one TD was taken away and one was given to them when the ball wasn't near the goal line for a 14-point swing.

Arizona is a team to be watched the next few years. They are loaded at the skill positions where the Hawks are pretty old and beaten up. Maybe now that the dictator (Mike Holmgren) is gone, new blood will flow.

Frank O'Brien, Surprise, Ariz.

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